Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
related and try to produce offspring who are healthy and have certain
characteristic traits. Owners of pet cats may want their female to have
a litter, and they have the right to do so—although again, I suggest that
they visit their local animal shelter first and see what happens when
there are too many kittens and not enough good homes.
Sometimes time just gets away from a cat owner, and his cat is in
heat and pregnant before he's had a chance to have the animal steril-
ized.What are the options?
Ovariohysterectomy
Pregnant cats can be safely spayed, but most veterinarians do not like
performing the surgery when a cat is close to full term. If you know
your cat is in heat and that she got outside, she can be spayed before
significant fetal development has occurred.
If you are already noticing that the cat's belly is distended and she
looks pregnant, chances are the cat is at least six weeks pregnant. The
risks of spaying a pregnant cat are slightly higher than performing the
surgery on cat who isn't pregnant, due largely to blood loss and
increased surgery time. However, if you do not want kittens, spaying at
this time should be considered.
Medical Intervention
Currently there are no safe and reliable medications that will terminate a
feline pregnancy, and if your queen is bred by an undesirable male, you
are out of luck. Drugs are available that will cause the pregnancy to abort,
but they can also harm the queen. For the safety of the queen, let her have
the kittens if you are set on breeding her again; otherwise, spay her.
Kitty Birth Control
Veterinarians do not prescribe birth control medications for cats
because of the risks they carry.There is one drug, however, that is occa-
sionally used by breeders to suppress a female's heat cycle. Called
megesterol acetate, it is a synthetic hormone.
Because most hormones have multiple functions, there are possible
side effects to any hormone treatment. Cats who receive even small
doses of megesterol acetate run the risks of:
•
Developing diabetes mellitus
•
Developing pyometra, a uterine infection
