Fatwa ID: 06788

Answered by: Alimah Saleha Islam

Question:

Is it forbidden to neuter my cat to prevent her from giving birth to kittens? I have a male and a female and now I have their babies too (2) as they have had litters twice in over 2 years. It’s exhausting for me to take care of all those cats, which equally affects my physiology to let them go because I love them so much. I’m afraid to neuter them in case it’s considered harming them by removing their productive organs. Likewise, they keep screaming every few weeks non-stop day and night because they want to mate and I keep them apart to avoid more litter. A woman went to Jahanam for a cat. What is the solution and what is permitted to do in my case? I can’t find temporary contraception for cats in the UK, and if I did, would it be okay to apply it to them? Some vets say it may be harmful in the long term because it affects their hormone balance and may cause some serious side effects. Please advise.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Alhamdulillah, your concern and compassion for your cats are commendable and equally your concern for seeking permissibility in this matter due to the challenges you are faced with. It is evident that you seek to do the right thing by Allah’s creatures as well as to ease your current situation.

Firstly, with regards to your question of neutering your cat, in Islam, this is dependent upon the circumstances and is not forbidden per se. Anything which has been placed in a Muslim person’s trust will be accounted for on the day of Judgement; the rights of family, children, and animals. What’s important is to ensure the well-being of the cat at all times and to prevent unnecessary harm.

You have mentioned that you have a male and female cat and from them, you have many kittens. As the owner of the female cat who has given birth twice so far, if you believe that it is in her best interest to be neutered, then it will be deemed permissible.

Secondly, you have mentioned, “I’m afraid to neuter them in case it’s considered harming them by removing their productive organs”. My question to you would be – is the neutering intended for the cat or the resulting kittens? If you intend for the offspring i.e. younger cats to be neutered to prevent them from reproducing then there are some options you may consider before deciding. For example, there is the option of finding them another home amongst family and friends. This option would be kinder to and in their best interest and will offer them the opportunity of procreation for which they were created. If this option proves difficult then neutering will be permissible in their best interests and in the interest of population control and prevention of stray cats.

Every Muslim is obliged to show mercy to all creations of Allah, including animals. Furthermore, you are correct in mentioning that a woman was destined for hell due to her cruelty towards a cat.

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “A woman was tortured and was put in Hell because of a cat which she had kept locked till it died of hunger.”[1]

[1] (أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ عُذِّبَتِ امْرَأَةٌ فِي هِرَّةٍ حَبَسَتْهَا، حَتَّى مَاتَتْ جُوعًا، فَدَخَلَتْ فِيهَا النَّار”َ)

(Sahīh al-Bukhāri, Hadith no. 3140

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Alimah Saleha Islam

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham