Ear-tipping is extremely safe and is performed while the cat is already anesthetized for spay or neuter surgery. There is little or no bleeding involved, and it is not painful to the cat. The ear heals up quickly and the tipped ear doesn't detract one bit from the appearance or beauty of the cat.
If you've ever spotted a cat with the tip of one of their ears missing, you might assume they've been involved in a fight or had an accident. However, it's more likely that it has been removed in a common procedure called ear-tipping or ear-notching, a humane way of signifying that a feral cat has been neutered.
If you find a cat with an ear tip, you should leave them where they are, unless they appear unhealthy/injured or in immediate danger. Studies have shown that the presence of cats within a community will prevent other cats from moving into the area.
It was once thought that the ear fold was the only impact on cross-bred Scottish Folds but in the early 1990s, Australian veterinary researchers proved that all cats with the ear fold will develop the painful effects of osteochondrodysplasia to varying degrees.
Ear-tipping does not hurt the cats. The procedure is performed while they are already under anesthesia for their spay or neuter surgery and in sterile conditions to ensure safety. Cats heal pretty fast after surgery and it doesn't affect their ability to live in their community once released.
Spaying and neutering significantly changes the picture. Male cats no longer fight and roam. Female cats no longer bear kittens. Feral cats frequently live 10 years and longer and have the same rates of disease as pet cats.
You may hear some individuals or groups claim that community cats are suffering. In reality, feral cats live full, healthy lives outdoors. They low rates of disease just like pet cats, and their lifespans are about the same, too.
One of the best ways you can protect yourself from getting sick is to thoroughly wash your hands after handling, cleaning up after, or feeding cats. By providing your cat with routine veterinary care and following the Healthy People tips, you are less likely to get sick from touching, petting, or owning a cat.
While your cat might be grateful if you allow it outdoors, restricting it to your home isn't cruel. Indoor cats are less prone to injury and getting lost. If you've been thinking about making your outdoor cat an indoor one, you can do so without upsetting it. A gradual transition is best in these circumstances.
It's best not to risk it — cats who are unknown to you and your other pets may cause real harm. Here's what to do instead. Someone recently asked me if it's OK to pick up a stray cat. Here's my answer: It is never OK to pick up any cat — unless they're your own.
After being neutered it's normal for male cats to experience side effects from the anesthesia and the procedure itself including lethargy, nausea, vomiting, and discomfort. This makes it important to follow your vet's post-operative care instructions carefully, so your cat can recover as safely and quickly as possible.
Generally, spaying or neutering your pet will not change its personality. If there are any effects on behaviour, they tend to be positive (reducing unwanted behaviour). Spaying or neutering will not change your pet's affection level or playfulness.
At feral cat clinics, Telazol (equal parts tiletemine and zolazepam) is frequently combined with ketamine and xylazine to form an intramuscular anesthetic mixture that provides good sedation and analgesia for the purposes of spay/neuter surgeries.
Exclusion fencing has proved to be the most effective current control technique for feral cats. Unfortunately, the high cost of fencing makes this technique useful only for small areas of land.
To keep cats away from gardens, flower beds, or specific areas of property, scatter fragrant items that don't appeal to a cat's sense of smell, like fresh orange or lemon peels, organic citrus-scented sprays, coffee grounds, vinegar, pipe tobacco, or oil of lavender, lemongrass, citronella, or eucalyptus.
Chamomile. Many people drink chamomile tea before bed to help them relax, and the same anti-anxiety properties are just as effective for cats. However, the dried flowers are a better way to expose your cat to its stress relief benefits.
There are have been several viral pieces on the Internet over the past few weeks about whether or not spay/neutered pets may be depressed. In short – the answer is a resounding “NO!” I think.
There are many benefits to the surgery, however, and one of these is neutered cats can be more affectionate. While it won't change their personality completely — a plus for cat owners who love their kitties just the way they are — it will lower their testosterone levels and reduce behaviors caused by hormones.
Cats respond to our loving behavior.
s with, and nurtures the cat, then the kitty is more likely to reciprocate with affection. So clearly, cats recognize our nurturing behavior and give it back to us.
As expected, neutered cats will feel uncomfortable and be in some pain for about 36 after being neutered, which is why your vet will provide your pet with long-lasting pain medications in the form of an injection, to help manage your kitty's pain.
Can Cats Use the Litter Box After Being Neutered? Yes. Sometimes litter can get stuck to the incision, so veterinarians will often recommend using torn newspaper in the litter box for 24 hours after surgery to avoid this.
Recovery Immediately After the Procedure
The impact of the anesthesia may cause your cat to act aggressive or agitated, so keep your distance and don't handle him unless necessary. Keep your cat in a crate or small room to sleep, and make sure he is comfortable and secure.
Many of these cats avoid people; however, stray cats will sometimes yearn for human interaction (or the full bellies that these interactions tend to guarantee). In these cases, it seems as if stray cats decide to “adopt” an unsuspecting person as their new caretaker.
Over time, a stray cat can become feral as her contact with humans dwindles. A stray cat may be socialized enough to allow people to touch her, but she will become less socializedor even feralif she spends too much time without positive interaction with humans.
A stray kitten will almost certainly have fleas, and may also have worms. Fleas carry parasites, so if your kitten has ingested any fleas while grooming herself, she's probably taken in a few parasite hitchhikers.