Question:
Is there an alternative to male kitten neutering?
anonymous
2010-01-25 11:12:26 UTC
Hi, I hope someone can help. I have an 8 month old male kitten, who has a heart murmur. When we adopted him from the RSPCA, at 12 weeks old, we were told his heart murmur wouldn`t cause problems, apart from maybe anaesthetic. His heart was improving every time he went to the vets, but when I took him in to see if he could be neutered and have his ID chip, a couple of weeks ago, I saw a different vet who spoke to me at length about how serious his heart murmur is, and that they really wouldn`t want to operate unless absolutely necessary. They also said his heart could get worse at any time, and if that happens, then they will sedate him, neuter him then and carry out chest x-rays. She did point out that he could live a normal life, we just don`t know.
He had seemed to be calming down a little, but now spends a great portion of the day prowling and pacing and meowing, seemingly wanting to go out, and can get quite intent on biting...he really doesn`t seem to mean it viciously, and it starts playfully with him batting me or my daughter with his paw, but can really hurt when he clings on with his claws, and goes to bite hard. The vet advised that he remain an indoor cat, and he has toys to play with etc, but shows less interest in them than he used to.
I am also 8 weeks pregnant, so I do want him to calm down.... I`m sure he will a little over time, after all he is still a baby. But is there an alternative method/remedy to help? He doesn`t seem happy when he is pacing and meowing, so it`s for his sake as well as ours.
I would be very appreciative if someone could shed some more light on this for me.
Four answers:
sky
2010-02-01 11:32:02 UTC
have you asked vet about local instead og general
Michele the Louis Wain cat
2010-01-25 17:02:59 UTC
Chemical neutering is an alternative to surgical neutering. This would involve you giving him hormones but obviously you'd need to discuss this with your vet to see if this is a viable option for your cat.



http://www.saveapet.co.uk/neutering-options-for-rescue-pets.html



Feliway is very good for making cats feel relaxed, and it can be useful in stopping them from scent marking. A lot of cat owners also use Bach Flower Essences, and these might help him feel more calm.



http://critterchat.net/bach.htm



I appreciate the vet suggested he be an indoor cat, but could you build him a small run outside or install cat-proof fencing? It would provide him with an opportunity to burn off some energy and he would be calmer in the home. These articles have advice on how to do that.



http://www.fabcats.org/owners/fencing/info.html

http://www.woodycoon.com/html/cat-proof_fencing.html



This web has lots of suggestions on how to keep indoor cats happy, and ways to deal with spraying.



http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/pet%20problems/cats/cat_main.html



Hope you find a solution.
patty k
2010-01-25 14:02:10 UTC
Hey read this do not know if they can do cats although I found a article about cats but they would not let me paste it, interesting really check it out before doing and I would contact another vet just to check......



FDA Approves Use of Neutersol for Male Puppies





June 6, 2003







By Brian Sodergren

Giving a new meaning to the term "shrinkage," the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took the first step toward the chemical sterilization of pets—i.e. non-surgical spaying or neutering—by recently approving the use of Neutersol for male puppies. The testicle and prostate-shrinking drug is already available at some veterinary clinics for about the same price as a surgical sterilization.



Neutersol approval has been a long time in coming. The HSUS has been actively involved in pursuing alternatives to surgical spaying and neutering for decades, and worked with the late Dr. Mostafa S. Fahim, the developer of Neutersol, in early field trials of the product.



In contrast to the standard surgical castration, which removes the testicles, Neutersol is a zinc and l-arginine-based compound injected into each testicle, causing them and the prostate to shrivel. With just one quick shot, the solution causes permanent sterility. While anesthesia may be needed for the procedure—which, at this point, is approved only for male dogs age three to ten months—the time your pooch spends at the veterinarian will probably be somewhat shorter.



"Some people are uncomfortable with surgery and anesthesia," said Dr. Bruce Addison, the founder of Addison Biological Laboratory, which markets the drug. Addison hopes that the ease of Neutersol will entice more people to sterilize their pets and help solve the pet overpopulation problem.



The use of Neutersol, however, will not completely stop testosterone production in dogs, leaving open the possibility that the drug will not eliminate hormone-related disease such as testicular cancer or prostate disease. Both possibilities are eliminated when a dog is surgically neutered.



Addison said that they are addressing these things with the FDA, and that while he didn't want to get ahead of the agency's review of its research, he feels that testicular cancer is not an issue because Neutersol atrophies the testicles by 77 percent, eliminating most of the cells that could potentially cause cancer.



Another concern is that the continued production of testosterone may not decrease unwanted secondary behavioral characteristics, such as roaming, marking or aggression, which surgical castration is thought to tackle. While Neutersol's 41% to 52% decrease in testosterone levels could also have some of the same positive behavioral effects as surgical castration, no tests have been done comparing dog behavior and the use of the drug. In fact, the drug, on its packaging, claims that as with surgical neutering, Neutersol may not alter unwanted male behaviors.



Side effects to the drug include testicle swelling within 24 hours of injection, which is a normal reaction to the compound; other potential side effects include vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, and diarrhea.



"Although this product is limited in scope, we're excited about the FDA approving this first step in chemical sterilization," says Stephanie Shain, Director of Companion Animal Outreach at The HSUS. "For people who may be unnecessarily squeamish about having their dog surgically neutered, Neutersol may be a suitable alternative for them to explore."



Given Neutersol's limited usage for puppies, Addison said that they are moving forward with testing on older dogs and cats. Scientists have tried chemical sterilization on these populations in the past, but the results thus far have been mixed. If you have an older dog who is not neutered, your best bet is not to wait until chemical sterilization is available, Shain says, but instead to talk with your veterinarian to have dog altered the "old fashioned" way.



With the number of dogs and cats entering animal shelters reaching eight million annually, and almost half of them being euthanized, unplanned and irresponsible breeding make the pet overpopulation problem one that also costs taxpayers millions, Shain notes. By taking the time to neuter or spay your pets, she adds, you are doing your part to end the tragedy of unwanted pets.



Because Neutersol is such a new product, many veterinarians may not yet have it in stock. Based on those who do, however, it is expected to cost about the same as surgical neutering. Your veterinarian can fully explain the benefits of neutering to you, along with the best age at which to sterilize your pet, and whether you should go the chemical or surgical route.
anonymous
2016-11-08 03:52:38 UTC
i've got had 4 male cats in my lifetime, and none of them have ever had spraying issues. Even the 1st one, which we by no ability have been given neutered (which replaced right into a mistake) did no longer spray...that one replaced into probable fortunate nonetheless. in case you get him spayed somewhat youthful, i do no longer think of you have spraying themes. i'm strongly destructive to declawing, myself. If it comes all the way down to declaw him or permit him be placed down, declawing is the lesser of two evils...yet please attempt habit exchange first. be beneficial you get a solid, solid, tall scratching submit. It needs to be tall sufficient for him to have the flexibility to stretch each and each of how up and scratch, and could be solid sufficient that he feels preserve putting his weight against it. you additionally can get those scratching boards that lay flat. placed it next on your settee, no longer tucked away in a corner. If he scratches the settee or the carpet, say "NO" and flow him to the scratching submit. protecting his claws trimmed severe-high quality and short will certainly help shrink injury till he's discovered what to no longer scratch. In my journey cats do no longer very comparable to to scratch leather-based, so your settee must be ok. you additionally can preserve spots against scratching by using taping them- ie we placed tape on the corners of the couches, because of the fact it is not a solid texture for scratching and the cats leave it on my own, whether it is tough to tape the full carpet. in case you're frightened with regard to the hot carpet, perhaps you need to place down some old section rugs to guard the owner's carpet. as quickly as he's knowledgeable to apply the scratching posts, you may take off any tape or coverings. solid luck!


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