As Bob Barker would say...

As a child, I never understood the importance of spaying and neutering animals. But I remembered former "The Price is Right" Host Bob Barker giving everyone this advice at the end of his show.
I thought to myself, "If everyone spayed and neutered their animals, they would eventually become extinct and we'd have no more puppies or kittens!"
However, when I got older and realized how irresponsible some people could be with their animals, I understood Barker's advice.
Some people feel that if their female animals get pregnant, they can simply drop off the offspring to the animal shelter. Wrong!
Instead of being reactive, animal owners should be proactive and get their animals "fixed."
Many local animal shelters and humane societies operate solely from volunteer work as non-profit organizations. In addition, many of them are severely overpopulated — the amount of animals in need of loving home alarmingly excels the amount of willing adopters these animals desperately need. According to americanhumane.org, 3.7 million animals are euthanized each year due to overpopulation.
However, this could be prevented through spaying and neutering. (And adopting from animal shelters and humane societies... But that's a different post for a different day.)
Spaying is the procedure that takes place in female animals that prevents them from reproducing.
Neutering is the procedure that takes place in male animals that sterilizes them. Both procedures are performed by removing reproductive organs.
Although it may seem expensive to have this procedure performed on your animal, many local humane societies offer it at a lower cost. As long as there were no complications, my local humane society offered to neuter Charlie for $35. However, this was not the case.

Charlie was very sleepy for the first couple of days after being fixed.

As Charlie was approaching his first birthday and I had spent a pretty penny on the furniture in my house, I decided it was best to get him neutered to prevent him from spraying and an unplanned kitty pregnancy between him and Lily. I tearfully dropped him off at the mobile unit and was instructed to pick him up after they called to tell me he was ready. Later that afternoon, I received a phone call informing me that they could not perform the procedure on Charlie because he suffered from a double cryptorchidism; which means that neither of his testicles had descended into his scrotum. I would have to take him to a veterinarian to complete the procedure. He wouldn't be able to reproduce, but he would still be able to spray and it was likely that he could develop cancer from it. Although Charlie wasn't technically spayed, he was fixed the same way.

Charlie's face stayed swollen for about a week afterword.

Recently, Lily was spayed and everything went normal for her.

Lily was sore and lethargic for about three days after being spayed.

Although I waited until they were older, it's possible to have the procedure completed at a younger age. Weight also plays a factor in whether or not the procedure can be performed. 
Having your animals spayed or neutered prevents health problems later on, such as uterine and breast cancer in females and testicular cancer and an enlarged prostate gland in males — not to mention the elimination of aggressive behaviors and the annoying whiny meow of a female cat in heat.
I can tell you first hand that since they have been fixed, they have been sweeter and gentler. Sure, they are more likely to become obese, but through other preventative behaviors on my part it can be avoided. I don't think it's wrong to take away an animal's right to reproduce.
I think it's wrong to euthanize innocent animals due to overpopulation.

Lily - The bombay cat

The cat with golden-colored eyes

This is Lily, my 8-month-old bombay cat. She holds a special place in my heart because I rescued her. 

Last summer, my aunt's cats kept having litter after litter (spay and neuter your cats!) so much so that she wasn't sure what to do with them. In Lily's case, her mother gave birth to four of them, then disappeared. She was abandoned at about a month old, which is not exactly an ideal age to be taken off momma's milk — but she had no choice. My aunt was having a hard time trying to take care of these kittens, so for a few days I went to her house to help. After the second day, we discovered that Lily's sister died and I already became too attached to let another die too. So without a second thought, I took her home with me. She was the meanest kitten out of the litter, but that's why I chose her. I felt that if my aunt was able to give the kittens away, no one else would want her because she hissed each time someone would pick her up. She looked a little rough and she was extremely skittish and untrusting at first, but after giving her my time, effort and love — while receiving many cat scratches in return, she came around.

Lily, the day she came home

Lily is not the cat to greet me at the door, but she is the cat that won't let me out of her sight. Each night, she sleeps at my feet; each morning, she acts as my alarm clock, forcing me awake and making sure I get out of bed. While I get ready in the morning, she cheers me on by meowing the entire time and when I get home, she's sure to find a spot to relax in my lap. 
This is due to her breed.
Bombays are known to be the "parlor panthers," as they were originally bred to look like a mini panther from the burmese and American shorthair breed. However, what sets them apart from these breeds is that each part of them — the pads on their paws, all of their bodies and their noses — are black. They are also known to have eyes that are the color of a penny. They are normally done growing at a year old and are long a lean cats. When Lily got fixed last month, she weighed 6.7 pounds.
Personality-wise, they are known to be loud with a specific sounding purr, social, high-jumpers and over-eaters. 
Although they are social, they tend to become attached to one specific person and because of their over-eating tendencies, they are at higher risks for obesity and cat diabetes. 
Bombays make great companions and are great around kids and other cats.

Lily at 3-months-old, bombay cats are known to be long and lean

Charlie — the maine coon

This is Charlie, my maine coon cat. He was born on Sept. 8, 2011, (my first day of college!) that makes him a little over 1 year old. He is very different than any cat I've ever owned — by that I mean he has personality flowing out of his ears.
Each time I walk in the door, I am greeted by my loving cat, begging for attention. When you pick him up, he is sure to give me a hug and a kiss. (Not a real kiss, he licks the tip of my nose.)
He likes being held like a baby, but he's no lap cat. However, not a second will go by that he won't be curious about what you're doing. He's a very nosy cat.
When you're lonely or he wants something, he talks to you. Not only by meowing, he also "chirps."
Unlike many cats, he likes water. I never walk into the bathroom without being accompanied by him, regardless of what I'm in the bathroom for or how long I'm in there. He starts meowing and chirping, asking me to turn the shower on so he can get a drink and get his head wet.
Because of his long fur, he stays hot most of the time. I've caught him sneaking into the refrigerator a few times, looking for a cool place to lay.
When he was spayed last August, the vet said he weighed 9 pounds. I'm not sure how much he weighs now, but I'm sure it's a little more than that. Funny thing is, he won't be done growing yet.
All of these aspects of his personality are due to his breed. Even his fascination with water.
Maine coons are the second most popular breed in the United States. (Behind the persian.)
They are known to be the "gentle giants" out of the domestic cat kingdom. They are not done growing until they are 3 to 5 years in age.

Charlie's paw

They are known to be very sweet, loving and nosy cats. Although they aren't fans of being held, they like to be in your business.
Chirping is also a prominent trait in maine coons. They are also known to be talkative.
Their love for water is said to have come from how they came to the United States, which was by boat.
And yes, they are actually from Maine! They are the only cat to have came from there and their fluffy tails and fur between the pads of their feet are to protect them from the cold.