The nonprofit Sacramento Area Animal Coalition (SAAC) is offering a deal too good for pet owners to pass up.

For just $15, male cats can be neutered and receive core vaccinations, a dose of flea preventive, and permanent microchip identification -- services that typically cost as much as $250.

SAAC has more than 150 appointments available for male cats as part of Spay Day Sacramento, which takes place at 18 area veterinary clinics and animal shelters on Sunday, February 26, 2012.

Residents of Sacramento and Yolo Counties who receive public assistance and/or have an annual household income of $35,000 or less can have up to two cats neutered at participating veterinary clinics and animal shelters on February 26.

Qualified pet owners can apply for a Spay Day appointment at www.sacanimal.org.

"Spay Day is a win-win for everybody," said Kim Kinnee, a member of the SAAC board of directors and president of the Yolo County SPCA. "We are reducing the burden unwanted animals place on our shelters while making an important veterinary service affordable for pet owners who may be struggling financially."

Neutering cats can lead to better health and improved behavior. For example, it can reduce fighting, reduce the tendency for animals to escape and roam in search of a mate, and reduce the risk of infectious diseases. It can also reduce the number of unwanted cats and kittens entering area shelters. Two unaltered cats and their unaltered offspring can produce 370,000 kittens in seven years.

SAAC will provide more than 630 spay/neuter surgeries for dogs and cats on Spay Day Sacramento. More than 150 male appointments remain, but the appointments for dogs and female cats filled up within two weeks, Kinnee said.

"We are a small, volunteer-run nonprofit, and providing more than 600 surgeries on one day is a big accomplishment," she said. "But it doesn't come close to meeting the demand for these low-cost services. Every year, we have to turn hundreds of people away."

SAAC has provided spay/neuter surgeries to more than 7,000 dogs and cats since 2000 through Spay Day Sacramento. It is consistently the largest one-day spay/neuter event in the country. 

Major support for Spay Day Sacramento 2012 is provided by Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor, Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli, Pfizer Animal Health, Avid Identification Systems, Born Free USA, City of Elk Grove, City of Sacramento Animal Care Services, The Humane Society of the United States, RedRover, Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation, Sacramento SPCA, Sacramento Valley Veterinary Medical Association, Teaching Everyone Animals Matter, and Yolo County SPCA.

For more information and to apply for a male cat neuter appointment, visit www.sacanimal.org.