Alternatives to Spaying or Neutering

Controlling pet reproduction is of utmost importance if you can't provide good homes for the kittens or puppies that result. For pets you don't intend to breed, spaying and neutering is the most popular route and a permanent solution. However, there are options that won't permanently end your pet's ability to reproduce.

  1. Quarantine

    • Keep your pet quarantined when it's in heat. This will be hard on the pet and you. The female cat will vocalize annoyingly and mark her home with an oily urine to alert males that she's in reproductive mode. A female dog will be more affectionate to humans and other dogs, spending a lot of time licking herself or exhibiting mounting behavior.

    Birth Control

    • Birth control injections prevent ovulation through an artificial progesterone called medroxyprogesterone acetate. There are a number of side effects, though, ranging from mild to serious. They include an increased appetite, weight gain and lethargy, a higher risk for diabetes, mammary tumors and uterine infection.

    Prescription

    • The prescription drug Ovaban stops the heat cycle. In recent years, its use with cats has decreased because of its association with liver disease and diabetes.

    Sham Breeding

    • Sham breeding involves tricking your cat's body into thinking intercourse has occurred. However, a professional breeder or veterinarian should perform the procedure. It involves inserting a cotton swab into the vagina and rubbing the cervix to make the body release eggs, ending the heat cycle.