Cat Spaying Alternatives

Spaying is a surgery to remove the ovaries and uterus from a female cat and prevent her from becoming pregnant. Owners usually spay cats they don't plan on breeding. Although spaying a cat can prevent unwanted pregnancy and mammary tumors, some owners choose not to spay their pets. Cats must be intact if they show competitively, and certain illnesses such as asthma can make anesthetizing the cat dangerous. Luckily, there are alternatives for owners reluctant or unwilling to spay their cats.

  1. Separation

    • Separate your female cat from any un-neutered male cats while she is in heat. If she is around intact males, she probably will become pregnant. Keep windows shut, because local tomcats can smell a cat in heat and can become agitated. Your female cat also is likely to get agitated while in heat and may yowl loudly. Comfort and distract her as much as possible.

    Birth Control Injection

    • Ask your vet about birth control injections for un-spayed cats. The name of the drug is Depo-Provera, and it contains a hormone that prevents ovulation in cats. Although Depo-Provera is safe for cats, it puts the animal at higher risk for diseases such as mammary tumors, diabetes and uterine infections. Depo-Provera can also cause a cat to gain weight because of reduced energy.

    Prescription Birth Control

    • Ovaban is a prescription birth control tablet that prevents the heat cycle in un-spayed cats and dogs. Ovaban contains megestrol acetate, which is a hormone supplement. The side effects of Overban include an increased risk of mammary gland cancer, liver disease, diabetes and uterine disease. The risk of developing these diseases is higher for cats that are on the drug long-term.

    Sham Breeding

    • Sham breeding is a procedure in which a veterinarian inserts a cotton bud through the cat's vagina and rubs it on the cervix. When the reproductive system feels the cotton bud on the cervix, it is tricked into thinking that the cat is being mated. The ovaries then release eggs, and the heat cycle ends. As an alternative to the cotton bud, mate the female with a sterile male cat that has had a vasectomy.