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Cats/My pregnant cat was nuetered

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Expert: - 3/6/2009


Question
I recently took my female cat to the vet to be neutered. She had a preliminary visit as this was her first time to the vet. (She was a stray that adopted me.) When I went to pick her up I asked why the charge was so much. I was told she had been pregnant. I was never told or consulted about this. Was this an unfortunate incident that could not be avoided or did the vet overstep their bounds? I have some real moral issues about any taking of life.
Thank you,
Gerry

Answer
Gerry,

I'm terribly sorry about this, I suspect that the situation was simply a misunderstanding between the vet clinic staff and you. In most cases the consent that you sign when you drop off a pet for spay surgery has a clause that gives consent for the surgery to continue in the event that the cat is pregnant. As far as I know you would have had to specify that the vet was to perform an examination which may have included x-rays and ultrasounds prior to the spay surgery to avoid this situation. While I agree with your view on the sanctity of any life it must be understood that there is a severe pet overpopulation problem affecting shelters, rescue organizations, vet clinics and good samaritans such as yourself which leads to perfectly adoptable pets being euthanized due to time and space constraints, I can assure you that the vet most likely has as difficult a time with the moral issues inherent in having to end the lives of any animals in any circumstances, sadly in our society cats are often seen as disposable pets and they suffer greatly from acts of cruelty, abandonment, neglect or injuries suffered at the hands of uncaring guardians. In future to avoid any mix ups I'd recommend that you have a specific conversation with the veterinarian about your wishes in case another pregnant stray adopts you. My recommendation would be that you request examinations and x-rays to determine whether or not a cat is pregnant prior to making an appointment for spay surgery. Again, I'm so terribly sorry about the loss of the kittens in this case, a more direct line of communication would almost certainly have prevented this misunderstanding.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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