Tubal ligation for a cat?

[Arkteia]

I had a black female cat who we got as a young kitten. Well, since I am in the medical field I have observed how a person''s character may change after hormone therapy. I decided to leave my cat as she was and let her have a normal life.
We once mated her with a male cat we found. Two other times she found a partner herself. In short, after 3 litters and 12 kittens (we found good homes for all of them!) we decided, enough is enough. But since she already had a "personality" I felt bad at spaying her and, finally, found a vet. who agreed to perform tubal ligation (it cost me a lot more than spaying and I had to drive 70 miles to his office but no one else agreed to do it. Why? It is so much easier than big surgery).
She lived for several more years and then disappeared 18 months after we moved to WA. Many animals disappear here, there are many raccoons and coyotes in the woods.
Now we have another cat, a 6-months old British Blue. We do not have the time to go to breeding clubs and frankly, the owner of my cat''s mom had a very hard time finding families for the kittens. She sold one, I got this one, and the third one stayed at her house.
Same problem: I do not feel comfortable spaying her. I mean, she is our family member, would you castrate a human being or tear out his nails?
So very soon I have to start looking for a vet. Hopefully, I shall find one here. And then trying to find a "normal" cat (I guess I have to go to Craigslist).
What do other people think of it? Has anyone tried to subject their cat to tubal ligation instead of spaying?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I''ve never heard of anyone having a vet perform a tubal ligation on a cat. I just googled and found a website saying the reason it''s not done is because it doesn''t prevent a cat from going into heat and attracting males.

For my cat, I spayed her after she went into heat for the first time. She was an indoor cat at the time and I have to say watching her in heat was terrible. She kept howling and sticking her rear up in the air.

After spaying her, her personality didn''t change. She was a little monster when I brought her home as a kitten and still is as an adult. She very much stands her own ground. My male cat is very subduded and she picks on him like crazy.

 

[elrohwen]

I''m not a cat person, and don''t know the specific issues around spaying cats, but I have to say I''m pretty much always in favor of spaying and neutering. I think it makes pets happier and healthier and reduces the number of unwanted animals in shelters. I think it''s a win-win.

 

[Matata]

Tubal ligation does not prevent a female from going into heat and does not prevent health issues that can occur in unspayed females. Aside from the very real feline overpopulation problem, there are some valid health reasons for spaying female cats. Spaying before the first heat helps to further protect against the common health issues listed below. Following is excerpted from a vet web site.

* Decreased Risk of Mammary Cancer
Ideally, to give a female cat protection against mammary cancer, she should be spayed prior to her first heat. Each subsequent heat brings a greater chance of mammary cancer at a later time.
* Eliminates Risk of Ovarian or Uterine Cancer
Spaying a cat involves the removal of the uterus and ovaries. No organs: no cancer; simple as that.
* Eliminates Chances of Pyometritis
Pyometra is a virulent bacteria that attacks the uterus of cats, usually a week or so after estrus, and is a potentially fatal infection.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 2/11/2010 1:09:46 PM
Author: Matata
Tubal ligation does not prevent a female from going into heat and does not prevent health issues that can occur in unspayed females. Aside from the very real feline overpopulation problem, there are some valid health reasons for spaying female cats. Spaying before the first heat helps to further protect against the common health issues listed below. Following is excerpted from a vet web site.

* Decreased Risk of Mammary Cancer
Ideally, to give a female cat protection against mammary cancer, she should be spayed prior to her first heat. Each subsequent heat brings a greater chance of mammary cancer at a later time.
* Eliminates Risk of Ovarian or Uterine Cancer
Spaying a cat involves the removal of the uterus and ovaries. No organs: no cancer; simple as that.
* Eliminates Chances of Pyometritis
Pyometra is a virulent bacteria that attacks the uterus of cats, usually a week or so after estrus, and is a potentially fatal infection.

This.
I know, it sounds terrible to fix a cat that you feel doesn''t need it, but really, every cat I have ever had was SO much happier - and healthier! - once we had it done. Watching them go through heat without a male was heart-breaking, they were so distraught.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 2/11/2010 1:13:29 PM
Author: MonkeyPie


Watching them go through heat without a male was heart-breaking, they were so distraught.

I swear, when my cat went into heat, she kept staring at my husband. I know that''s beyond weird to even mention. . .lol

 

[movie zombie]

i find spaying a cat much easier than separating the mother and kittens from each other....that is something i would find heartbreaking.

i still remember my parents giving away the puppies of our female dog and how it effected her: she was distraught and it effected her personality. i would not put any dog or cat i owned through that.

mz

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 2/11/2010 1:16:53 PM
Author: MC

Date: 2/11/2010 1:13:29 PM

Author: MonkeyPie

Watching them go through heat without a male was heart-breaking, they were so distraught.

I swear, when my cat went into heat, she kept staring at my husband. I know that''s beyond weird to even mention. . .lol

LOL my dads cat did that to my husband, too! And she would find his dirty clothes, like socks and pants, and roll in them incessantly. It was hilarious.

 

[Loves Vintage]

I would be more concerned about letting my beloved cat go outside where "[m]any animals disappear [because] there are many raccoons and coyotes in the woods. Or, letting my beloved cat mate with another cat when there are thousands and thousands of unwanted pets in shelters.

Anyway, very curious -- what does this mean: "And then trying to find a "normal" cat (I guess I have to go to Craigslist)?"

 

[Maisie]

Date: 2/11/2010 1:16:53 PM
Author: MC

Date: 2/11/2010 1:13:29 PM

Author: MonkeyPie



Watching them go through heat without a male was heart-breaking, they were so distraught.

I swear, when my cat went into heat, she kept staring at my husband. I know that''s beyond weird to even mention. . .lol

Hehe!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 2/11/2010 1:40:39 PM
Author: Loves Vintage
I would be more concerned about letting my beloved cat go outside where ''[m]any animals disappear [because] there are many raccoons and coyotes in the woods. Or, letting my beloved cat mate with another cat when there are thousands and thousands of unwanted pets in shelters.

Anyway, very curious -- what does this mean: ''And then trying to find a ''normal'' cat (I guess I have to go to Craigslist)?''

Is there such a thing as a "normal" cat? I''ve always had at least one cat and NONE of them have been normal! lol All of them have been neurotic in one form or another. My female cat chases me into the bathroom every time I go in so she can drink fresh water dripping from the tub tap. Another cat, who passed away, use to LOVE Smart Food popcorn. Oh, and my female will take a q-tip and drop it on the floor nearby me, meow, and have me pick it up, throw it, and she''ll run and chase it. Just like a dog.

 

[purrfectpear]

Date: 2/11/2010 12:32:16 PM
Author:crasru
I had a black female cat who we got as a young kitten. Well, since I am in the medical field I have observed how a person''s character may change after hormone therapy. I decided to leave my cat as she was and let her have a normal life.
We once mated her with a male cat we found. Two other times she found a partner herself. In short, after 3 litters and 12 kittens (we found good homes for all of them!) we decided, enough is enough. But since she already had a ''personality'' I felt bad at spaying her and, finally, found a vet. who agreed to perform tubal ligation (it cost me a lot more than spaying and I had to drive 70 miles to his office but no one else agreed to do it. Why? It is so much easier than big surgery).
She lived for several more years and then disappeared 18 months after we moved to WA. Many animals disappear here, there are many raccoons and coyotes in the woods.
Now we have another cat, a 6-months old British Blue. We do not have the time to go to breeding clubs and frankly, the owner of my cat''s mom had a very hard time finding families for the kittens. She sold one, I got this one, and the third one stayed at her house.
Same problem: I do not feel comfortable spaying her. I mean, she is our family member, would you castrate a human being or tear out his nails?
So very soon I have to start looking for a vet. Hopefully, I shall find one here. And then trying to find a ''normal'' cat (I guess I have to go to Craigslist).
What do other people think of it? Has anyone tried to subject their cat to tubal ligation instead of spaying?

You "found" a cat to breed yours with, then allowed it to "find" it''s own mate two more times? I have no words.

 

[MsP]

Date: 2/11/2010 2:11:40 PM
Author: purrfectpear

Date: 2/11/2010 12:32:16 PM

Author:crasru

I had a black female cat who we got as a young kitten. Well, since I am in the medical field I have observed how a person''s character may change after hormone therapy. I decided to leave my cat as she was and let her have a normal life.

We once mated her with a male cat we found. Two other times she found a partner herself. In short, after 3 litters and 12 kittens (we found good homes for all of them!) we decided, enough is enough. But since she already had a ''personality'' I felt bad at spaying her and, finally, found a vet. who agreed to perform tubal ligation (it cost me a lot more than spaying and I had to drive 70 miles to his office but no one else agreed to do it. Why? It is so much easier than big surgery).

She lived for several more years and then disappeared 18 months after we moved to WA. Many animals disappear here, there are many raccoons and coyotes in the woods.

Now we have another cat, a 6-months old British Blue. We do not have the time to go to breeding clubs and frankly, the owner of my cat''s mom had a very hard time finding families for the kittens. She sold one, I got this one, and the third one stayed at her house.

Same problem: I do not feel comfortable spaying her. I mean, she is our family member, would you castrate a human being or tear out his nails?

So very soon I have to start looking for a vet. Hopefully, I shall find one here. And then trying to find a ''normal'' cat (I guess I have to go to Craigslist).

What do other people think of it? Has anyone tried to subject their cat to tubal ligation instead of spaying?

You ''found'' a cat to breed yours with, then allowed it to ''find'' it''s own mate two more times? I have no words.

:-/ I agree. This hardly sounds responsible.

 

[waterlilly]

I think you need to spend some time volunteering in your local animal shelter before you consider pet ownership again.

You say how much of a family member you consider your cat to be - yet you willingly contributed to the disgusting cat overpopulation epidemic, and then let your cat be killed by having it wander outside.

In the time it took me to type this, take a guess how many terrified cats and kittens were dropped into a barrel at a severely underfunded shelter and are being gassed to death as you read this, perfectly good adoptable cats and kittens. Any guess?

ETA: Castrating or ripping nails out of a family member? Sorry how is that even remotely related to performing a routine surgical procedure on an animal that is incapable of controlling the instinct to mate?

If the human population were so out of control that we were sending pregnant mothers, newborns, orphans, grandparents into gas chambers to cull the population - yeah, I'd have no problem getting myself or a family member "fixed".

 

[MissMina]

When we get a purebred cat as a pet they don''t come with breeding rights.
So spaying or neutering is a given.
I have not seen personality changes in any of mine.

 

[HollyS]

Cats and dogs, unless you WANT litters - - that you will sell because they are pedigreed - - should be neutered. No exceptions. All the most adamant animal lovers agree.

And, yeah, somebody here might own a Tom, but he's fathering dozens of Thomasinas every year if he spends any time outdoors.

There are far, far too many of these animals penned up in shelters, or abandoned to the elements. Their basic nature of mating keeps their population exploding. It IS up to humans to do the humane thing by our furry friends. Shivering in a shelter waiting for a new master (or the injection) is no place for Fido.

Yes, I have had both cats and dogs. They were neutered. And lived long and happy lives.

 

[waterlilly]

Date: 2/11/2010 2:56:06 PM
Author: HollyS
Cats and dogs, unless you WANT litters - - that you will sell because they are pedigreed - - should be neutered. No exceptions. All the most adamant animal lovers agree.


And, yeah, somebody here might own a Tom, but he's fathering dozens of Thomasinas every year if he spends any time outdoors.


There are far, far too many of these animals penned up in shelters, or abandoned to the elements. Their basic nature of mating keeps their population exploding. It IS up to humans to do the humane thing by our furry friends. Shivering in a shelter waiting for a new master (or the injection) is no place for Fido.


Yes, I have had both cats and dogs. They were neutered. And lived long and happy lives.

Sadly, it is a common misconception that dogs and cats are "injected" to be euthanized. The overwhelmingly common procedure due to cost and time at overrun shelters is to gas the animals in large groups. Very few shelters have the luxury of keeping animals for more than 10-14 days (even that is a long time) or providing them with a dignified death.

Perhaps if more people knew this sad truth, they wouldn't question the value and need of properly spaying/neutering their pets, and more people would support shelters by adopting rather than lining the pockets of those that are irresponsibly breeding their animals.

 

[FrekeChild]

Appalled.

I am grateful to the irresponsible owners who let their 4 dogs mate that gave me my two mutts, but I would NEVER have been so irresponsible myself.

 

[Maisie]

Thats awful. I can''t bear to think of them being gassed.

 

[Aloros]

I''d do her a favor and just get her spayed. I''ve never noticed a personality change in my pets after spaying/neutering.

The latest statistics for a local animal shelter show that 683 cats were euthanized in October 2009. June was 747, September was 651. This is normal. I live in a medium-sized city. There are two other animal shelters within a 30 minute driving distance from our house. These are all kill shelters.

 

[Matata]

Date: 2/11/2010 3:07:19 PM
Author: waterlilly

Sadly, it is a common misconception that dogs and cats are ''injected'' to be euthanized. The overwhelmingly common procedure due to cost and time at overrun shelters is to gas the animals in large groups. Very few shelters have the luxury of keeping animals for more than 10-14 days (even that is a long time) or providing them with a dignified death.

Unfortunately the gassing may not even be the worst of it. When I volunteered at the Humane Society shelter in my hometown, I found out that they stuffed the gas chamber so full that not all of the animals died and they were taken to the burial sites still alive. To say that I went nuclear is a gross understatement. Long story short, the shelter now uses injection and I took that damn chamber apart with my own hands.

 

[Hest88]

Get your cat spayed asap before she goes into her first heat. At six months old you''re already in jeopardy.

This is just the responsible thing to do.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 2/11/2010 4:07:11 PM
Author: Aloros
I''d do her a favor and just get her spayed. I''ve never noticed a personality change in my pets after spaying/neutering.

The latest statistics for a local animal shelter show that 683 cats were euthanized in October 2009. June was 747, September was 651. This is normal. I live in a medium-sized city. There are two other animal shelters within a 30 minute driving distance from our house. These are all kill shelters.

There is a no-kill shelter about an hour away from me and it''s so full that they do not accept any new cats.

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 2/11/2010 5:12:37 PM
Author: MC

Date: 2/11/2010 4:07:11 PM
Author: Aloros
I''d do her a favor and just get her spayed. I''ve never noticed a personality change in my pets after spaying/neutering.

The latest statistics for a local animal shelter show that 683 cats were euthanized in October 2009. June was 747, September was 651. This is normal. I live in a medium-sized city. There are two other animal shelters within a 30 minute driving distance from our house. These are all kill shelters.

There is a no-kill shelter about an hour away from me and it''s so full that they do not accept any new cats.

That seems to be the case with all no-kill shelters, sadly

They just don''t have the room or resources to take in all of the animals who will be euthanized.

 

[waterlilly]

The shelter my rescue works with will gas puppies and kittens along with their mothers right after birth if they are unfortunate enough to give birth in the shelter before a rescue group steps up to pull them - they can''t afford to spay/abort them and they can''t afford to keep them long enough to be weened. They do it with tears in their eyes and no other choice.

It is barbaric, and we as a society condone it anytime we purposely breed our pets for fun or vote to reduce funding for these shelters in our community.

We try desperately to pull as many pregnant mothers as we can - at the expense of the poor sweet adult dog that was dumped because some loser was "moving and couldn''t take him" with them. You can''t take that sweet dog because you''ve got an impending litter of 7 to deal with because some fool didn''t spay their dog then tossed it.

It makes you pretty angry at society to deal with the never ending flood of perfect dogs and cats that get tossed away - so to hear someone purposely letting their cat have multiple litters and then question the need for a proper spay? Intolerable.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Date: 2/11/2010 4:09:19 PM
Author: Matata

Date: 2/11/2010 3:07:19 PM

Author: waterlilly


Sadly, it is a common misconception that dogs and cats are 'injected' to be euthanized. The overwhelmingly common procedure due to cost and time at overrun shelters is to gas the animals in large groups. Very few shelters have the luxury of keeping animals for more than 10-14 days (even that is a long time) or providing them with a dignified death.

Unfortunately the gassing may not even be the worst of it. When I volunteered at the Humane Society shelter in my hometown, I found out that they stuffed the gas chamber so full that not all of the animals died and they were taken to the burial sites still alive. To say that I went nuclear is a gross understatement. Long story short, the shelter now uses injection and I took that damn chamber apart with my own hands.

That is so sad!

Honestly, Crasru, I feel like you're really trying to do right by your cat(s) and do the best for them, but I wonder if you'd be doing more for them if you got them spayed. Considering the incredible overpopulation of cats in the world, I can't imagine a responsible pet owner allowing their cat to birth three litters (even if you eventually found homes for all of them). I say this as someone who just got her kittens neutered, and one of them had an issue (a testicle that didn't descend) that required surgery, two big incisions, sutures, and now a cone. I feel awful when he looks at me with those sad eyes and that cone and when I see how much weight he has lost. On the other hand, I know he'll be healthier and happier neutered than not, and he's already bounced back. Both my babies are just as sweet and playful and loving as they were pre-neuter. Additionally, my kittens aren't going to go around adding to the overabundance of cats in the world.

 

[movie zombie]

Date: 2/11/2010 5:39:54 PM
Author: waterlilly
The shelter my rescue works with will gas puppies and kittens along with their mothers right after birth if they are unfortunate enough to give birth in the shelter before a rescue group steps up to pull them - they can''t afford to spay/abort them and they can''t afford to keep them long enough to be weened. They do it with tears in their eyes and no other choice.

It is barbaric, and we as a society condone it anytime we purposely breed our pets for fun or vote to reduce funding for these shelters in our community.

We try desperately to pull as many pregnant mothers as we can - at the expense of the poor sweet adult dog that was dumped because some loser was ''moving and couldn''t take him'' with them. You can''t take that sweet dog because you''ve got an impending litter of 7 to deal with because some fool didn''t spay their dog then tossed it.

It makes you pretty angry at society to deal with the never ending flood of perfect dogs and cats that get tossed away - so to hear someone purposely letting their cat have multiple litters and then question the need for a proper spay? Intolerable.

this breaks my heart...and has me sitting here in tears.

mz

 

[cakeny]

PLEASE Spay spay spay SPAY! Please?

 

[waterlilly]

Date: 2/11/2010 7:12:02 PM
Author: movie zombie

Date: 2/11/2010 5:39:54 PM

Author: waterlilly

The shelter my rescue works with will gas puppies and kittens along with their mothers right after birth if they are unfortunate enough to give birth in the shelter before a rescue group steps up to pull them - they can''t afford to spay/abort them and they can''t afford to keep them long enough to be weened. They do it with tears in their eyes and no other choice.


It is barbaric, and we as a society condone it anytime we purposely breed our pets for fun or vote to reduce funding for these shelters in our community.


We try desperately to pull as many pregnant mothers as we can - at the expense of the poor sweet adult dog that was dumped because some loser was ''moving and couldn''t take him'' with them. You can''t take that sweet dog because you''ve got an impending litter of 7 to deal with because some fool didn''t spay their dog then tossed it.


It makes you pretty angry at society to deal with the never ending flood of perfect dogs and cats that get tossed away - so to hear someone purposely letting their cat have multiple litters and then question the need for a proper spay? Intolerable.

this breaks my heart...and has me sitting here in tears.


mz

I''m sorry.

I didn''t mean to make you cry. It''s just so close to my heart, I can''t help myself - I just feel like if people only knew the truth, maybe they would become involved in helping.

People always say to me "I don''t know how you can foster dogs, I''d end up with 50 dogs at home because I love them so much I couldn''t let them go to new homes"

I just think to myself...if you saw what I''ve seen - it would break your heart to not be able to give a dog up in order to make room for another one.

I''m relieved when a foster finds a home - that means I''ve got a new space open to save another perfect dog from a lonely and undeserved death.

 

[lulu]

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/facts/why_spay_neuter.html


I can''t say anything else. I''m flabbergasted.