Spay and Neuter Procedures
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:
Spay procedures for female cats:
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.
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
- 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.