ALLEY CAT RESCUE
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Spay and Neuter Procedures

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Spay/Neuter is a vital component of preventing cat overpopulation.

​Veterinarians and animal welfare groups widely recognize the importance of this medical procedure. Although most Americans are familiar with the traditional surgical spay/neuter procedures, there are several methods to sterilize a cat. Some of these approaches, such as through oral medication, need to be studied further before Alley Cat Rescue would recommend their use as a typical spay/neuter protocol. Chemical sterilants can have a place in controlling cat population in the U.S. but, again, at this time they cannot adequately replace surgical sterilization and more research is required. 
 
Neuter procedures for male cats:
  • Traditional neuter (orchiectomy): removing the testes
    • Advantages: decreases problem behaviors such as aggression, spraying, and yowling
    • Disadvantages: surgery is needed, procedure can be longer than other options
  • Vasectomy: veterinarian makes an incision in the scrotum, blocks off tubes
    • Advantages: surgery is usually quicker, faster recovery period
    • Disadvantages: male cat still produces high levels of testosterone which will not prevent problem behaviors
  • Injectable sterilant: a chemical compound is injected into a male cat’s testicles causing sterility
    • Advantages: does not require anesthesia or surgery, procedure is fast
    • Disadvantages: potential adverse side effects such as swelling, used abroad but not approved for use in the U.S.
 
Spay procedures for female cats:
  • Traditional spay (ovariohysterectomy): removing the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus
    • Advantages: reduces problem behaviors, chances of complications are low, prevents all potential diseases to the ovaries and uterus
    • Disadvantages: requires surgery, greater risk of bleeding when the uterus is removed
  • Tubal Ligation: blocking the fallopian tubes to prevent sperm from reaching the egg; the uterus and ovaries stay intact.
    • Advantages: less invasive
    • Disadvantages: increased risk of disease, pyometra, and infections, does not reduce problem behaviors
  •  Left lateral flank spay: surgery that uses a side incision rather than a midline incision, predominantly used in England
    • Advantages: less of a chance for infection, decreased risk of evisceration, easier to monitor recovery of incision on feral cats
    • Disadvantages: spay scar will be covered with fur once healed, making it difficult to know if the cat has been spayed, some studies show this surgery causes more discomfort in cats
  • Progestins: hormone that can be given as an injection or oral medication
    •  ​​Advantages: less stressful for feral cats (medication can be placed in their food)
    • Disadvantages: cats need multiple courses of medication or injections, caregivers might not know if all the cats consumed the medication; adverse side effects including mammary and cystic tumors, pyometra

​Both spay and neuter procedure:
  • Immunocontraceptives: contraceptive vaccine that targets hormones
    • Advantages: no surgery is required, can activate the cat’s immune system to fight infections, diseases and cancers
    • Disadvantages: not approved for use in cats in the U.S., not reliably effective for females, swelling or movable masses can develope at injection site, booster vaccines required every two years

References
Fischer, Amy et al. "Effectiveness of GonaCon as an immunocontraceptive in colony-housed cats." 2018 Feb. 21,  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29463201/. 
“Alternatives for Surgical Sterilization.” (2015). CatWatch. Retrieved from https://www.catwatch
newsletter.com/issues/18_8/health/Alternatives-for-Surgical-Sterilization_141464-1.html.
Briggs, J. (2015). “Non-surgical fertility control: current and future options for cat health and welfare.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 17, 740-741.
Kristensen, Tom. “Feral Cat Control in Denmark.” The Ecology and Control of Feral Cats, The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (1980): 68–72. Print.
McKenzie, B. (September 14, 2017). “Pros, cons of surgical sterilization, neutering options for females.” Retrieved from https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/pros-cons-of-surgical-sterilization-neutering-
options-for-females/.
Murray, J.K., Mosteller, J.R., Loberg, J.M., Andersson, M. Benka, V.A. (2015). Methods of Fertility Control in Cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 17, 790-799.
Zeltzman, Dr. Phil. (n.d.). “Two Ways of Spaying a Cat: Ovariohysterectomy vs. Ovariectomy.” Retrieved from http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/cat-health/cat-surgery-a-z/two-ways-spaying-a-cat-
ovariohysterectomy-vs-ovariectomy.



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  • Home
    • About ACR >
      • Our Team
      • History
      • Board of Directors
      • Email Sign-up
      • Financial Information
    • ACR in the Press
    • ACR Publications
    • Adoptions >
      • Adoption Application
      • Advice for Adopters
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Contact Us
    • Partnerships
  • Action Alerts
    • The Feral Fix
    • Spay Neuter Pledge
    • No Declaw Pledge
  • Spay/Neuter
    • Early Age Spay/Neuter
    • Misconceptions About Spay/Neuter
    • State Low Cost Spay/Neuter
  • Community Cats
    • What is a Feral Cat? >
      • Feral vs. Stray Cats
      • Benefits of Feral Cats
    • Trap-Neuter-Return >
      • TNR Step-by-Step
      • TNR/Community Cat Care Resources
      • Introduce TNR to Your Shelter
      • Solutions to Common Complaints
      • TNR Statistics
    • CAT Action Teams: TNR Groups by State
    • Feral Kittens >
      • What to do if you find kittens
      • Orphaned Kittens
      • Fostering Kittens
    • Providing Shelter
    • Health Care
    • Cat Overpopulation
    • Relocation
    • How to Adopt Out Cats
    • Protecting Cats During Winter
    • Protecting Cats During Summer
    • Feral Cats and the Law
    • Cats and Wildlife >
      • Why Eradication Methods Fail
    • Handbook 2023 Ed
  • Cat Health
    • Health Care for Your Cat >
      • Vet Care Financial Assistance
    • Common Cat Health Issues >
      • FeLV and FIV
      • Feline Panleukopenia
      • FIP
      • Rabies
      • Zoonotic Diseases
      • Indoor/Outdoor Cats
    • Cats & Claws
    • Animal Cruelty Against Cats
    • Poisonous Hazards >
      • Poisonous Plants
    • Cats and COVID-19
    • Pet Food Banks
    • Pet Disaster Preparedness
  • Cat Behavior
    • Solutions to Prevent Surrendering your cat >
      • Rehoming
    • Introducing Cats
    • Tips for Entertaining an Indoor Cat
    • Lost Cat
  • African Wildcats
    • AWC Conservation Projects
    • Press Release on African Wildcat Campaign
    • AWC Photo Contest
  • Donate
  • Store