Vancouver Feline Hospital - Cat Veterinary Clinic

What alternatives exist to spaying and neutering? This is what I will discuss in this series of articles, as well as describing for you a spay and a neuter surgery.

We all know why to spay, don't we? Can we not hear enough horror stories of humungous heaps of the dead bedraggled bodies of the unwanted? So why must the kids see kittens born? Does that poor cat really need to have a litter of kittens and experience what YOU perceive as the "natural" joys of motherhood? Could you not be bothered? And for heavens sake, why did you go to a shelter or pet store and adopt that kitten if you cannot afford to spay or vaccinate her? Animal companionship has immense benefits for human mental and physical health. Should those benefits only be available to those who can afford their care or are there other ways to approach the problem? Are these animals lives precious or just a commodity we own? Does the "mutilation" of neuter or spay fall into the category of cosmetic surgery for human benefit or is it really for the better life of the cat?

Yup, an ethical and very frustrating can of worms. Cannot resist digging a paw in there and patting the wriggling things.

Traditionally, veterinarians have discounted the cost of spay and neuter surgeries to the extent that they make significant losses on these surgeries. Because of the overpopulation of unwanted domestic pets. Has not seemed to help at all. Veterinarians however will continue to perform this essential charity.

At Vancouver Feline Hospital, we feel that neutering and spaying is an acceptable method of birth control for our pets. Birth control, or removing the reproductive drive, of household cats (in particular) does make them better pets - the reason people want them around. We also offer the alternatives, but if you the owner elect the alternatives, you should be aware of the consequences. Enjoy the reading.