What are psychological implications for having cat spayed?

Question
Hello Jennifer,

I have an 8 month old kitten who has gone on heat for the first time. I need to make a decision about getting her spayed, or allowing her to have a litter of kittens. I have read a lot of literature on this and am aware of the health benefits to getting her spayed. I am also well aware of the moral implications i.e unwanted kittens and contributing to the problem.  That aside however, I really want some advice to do with behaviour. All of the literature states that there is no benefit at all to letting a cat have a litter before you spay her, however I feel this is aimed at drumming into people the need for birth control rather than actually explaning the psychological consequences. Are there any studies you know of that might give me a balanced argument, I really want to know how I am going to affect my cat by making this chioce for her. In all likelihood I will not let her have a litter as I love cats and don't want to contribute to the overpopulation but I would rather make an informed choice, I object to being strongly told that its cruel to do anything other than spay my kitten as soon as she is old enough, without any evidence or reference to studies to back this up. How do they know it won't damage her and she won't miss not fulfilling a natural role as a mother? I just want whats best for my kittie!

Thankyou so much for your help.  

Answer
Spaying is what is best for your kitten, and she is old enough now....health benefits far outweigh any potential negative side effects.  She will have more damage to her psyche should she get a uterine infection and need repeated trips to the vet, or end up needing a C-section if she can't give birth on her own.  

And there isn't any way to evaluate true psychological effects on cats as they can't talk to us and tell us what is bothering them.   There are many articles out there about behavioral changes after DECLAWING but not spaying.  The only thing I can suggest is that you contact an animal communicator and talk to your kitten and have the communicator explain what is going to be done ahead of time so she understands the procedure.

Millions and Millions of cats have been spayed throughout time and have lived long, happy healthy lives--I think this speaks for itself regardless of seeing a "study" that actually gives numbers and statistics from a controlled setting.

As far as breeding...are you going to let her outside to choose her own mate, who may be disease-ridden and potentitally expose her to Feline Leukemia, Feline AIDS, fleas and intestinal parasites?    Or are you going to choose her a mate, thus forcing an unnatural selection upon her, which inevitably may psychologically scar her even more?