It may be winter now, but I promise you that spring is just around the corner and the heat is on the way — and not just the external temperature.

Spring turns up the heat on the sex drives of unaltered dogs and cats.

An un-spayed female cat can produce, oh, I don’t know, about ten bazillion kittens. That’s an exaggeration, but to the folks who take in unwanted kittens at the pounds and shelters of our area, that number may sound low-balled.

You can help your girly kitty avoid littering and save a chunk of change, too, by taking advantage of Mountain View Humane Spay/Neuter Clinic’s “Beat the Heat” spay program during the month of February. Sponsored by PetSmart Charities, the program will fix your female cat for just $20, a $38 saving.

The program will cover the first 280 cats whose guardian mentions “Beat the Heat” when making the appointment.

Kittens as young as eight weeks old can be spayed, thus preventing them from making more kittens before their first birthday.

The American Veterinary Medical Association endorses spaying and neutering and backs up that endorsement with research that shows that the procedure can improve behavioral problems and even reduce the risk of certain cancers and infections.

Mountain View Humane has two locations: 53 W. Main St. in Christiansburg and 5363 Peters Creek Road in Roanoke. Call 855-447-7647 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

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