Unable to get cat spayed due to medical reasons

Help! We got Molly 2 years ago for a Christmas present for the kids. When we went to get her spayed her hear rate dropped from the anesthesia and the vet discovered that she has a enlarged kidney. It is the size of a tennis ball and is non functioning. To have her fixed would be very exspensive over $2,000 and no guarantee that she would survive surgery. We decided to just take her home and love her. She is very much loved, but she is going into heat every three weeks and is driving everyone insane. She is starting to get more aggressive while in heat. She has been coming up close to my face and hissing at me. Does anyone have any ideas on how to make this time more bearable for everyone?

Diane

Oh my goodness. What a thing.

It seems there should be some help for you somewhere. Is there a cats only practice near you. It couldn't hurt to get a second opinion.

I am sure someone will have some other ideas, what about a vet school? I'd just try all venues.

This is so unfair to your kitty and you. You surly are a good cat parent for taking her in and seeing to her.

In this very sad and upsetting situation I would want answers to two questions:
does kitty have heart disease
and
is the non-functioning kidney affecting the functioning of the other kidney; does kitty have severely impaired kidney function as a result that makes any surgical procedure impossible.

A heart ultrasound could answer the first question and blood work and urine test results could answer the second question. Also, an abdominal ultrasound done at the time of the heart ultrasound would answer all possible remaining questions.

Depending on what the answers are, if suppose there is no heart disease and kidney function is not severely impaired, an excellent, first-rate anesthesiologist at a vet school could make sure kitty survives the surgery.

I'm with the other poster farleyv on this. Please, don't give up and start by contacting the small animal clinic at the vet school in your state.
http://vetmed.illinois.edu/vth/
In fact, hopefully, your vet can help you find the help at the vet school that you need. Talk to your vet about a referral. If you can't get a referral (I can't imagine that you couldn't), go ahead on your own.
To keep expenses down your vet can order the necessary ultrasounds.

Maybe you could ask your vet if cat contraceptives might be a safe option ? I'm definitely not a fan of the pill for cats but going into heat is probably a huge strain on this kitty.

It is a shame Suprelorin has not been studied for use in cats more already. I don't even think it is on the market in the US anyway, in Europe it is approved for use in dogs but a lot of cat breeders are using it off-label.

Suprelorin is a small implant that reders the cat temporarily infertile with most of the other effects neutering would have too (no heats, thicker fur, toms get smaller testicle, etc).

Originally Posted by Mimosa

Maybe you could ask your vet if cat contraceptives might be a safe option ? I'm definitely not a fan of the pill for cats but going into heat is probably a huge strain on this kitty.

It is a shame Suprelorin has not been studied for use in cats more already. I don't even think it is on the market in the US anyway, in Europe it is approved for use in dogs but a lot of cat breeders are using it off-label.

Suprelorin is a small implant that reders the cat temporarily infertile with most of the other effects neutering would have too (no heats, thicker fur, toms get smaller testicle, etc).

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You are thinking correctly .. to date No BC is available in the US outside spaying and neutering...

having said that I would encourage the OP to discuss it as Meds are available for medical reasons .... I have done it and yes it is work but well worth it... Plus the vet may think it is now safe or knows of a procedure that can make it safer for this poor dear cat

I know that people can get along fine with only one kidney, even having surgery. I'd get a few more opinions from other vets. If it really isn't an option, see if there are meds available.

I always said that if I had a cat with a medical condition that made spay/neuter risky, I'd take the risk and have them fixed anyway. If they died in surgery, at least it's better than having an intact cat. There's just no way I can live with an intact cat for any length of time. But this would be figuring that it would be a new cat and I wouldn't be too attached at that point. It would be harder with a cat that I'd had for a couple years.

Originally Posted by sharky

You are thinking correctly .. to date No BC is available in the US outside spaying and neutering...

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That can't be true since I know breeders in the US who currently use birth control.

I would be wary of her going in and out of heat, she'll end up with pyometra which can kill her.

It's not intended for pet cats, but there is Feralstat....

http://www.feralstat.com/

Originally Posted by missymotus

That can't be true since I know breeders in the US who currently use birth control.

I would be wary of her going in and out of heat, she'll end up with pyometra which can kill her.

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I know some who travel to get such items but generally no they are not available at a typical vets office for this purpose.. from some basic reading the BC pill is avail here but used for other conditions ..

Originally Posted by sharky

I know some who travel to get such items but generally no they are not available at a typical vets office for this purpose.. from some basic reading the BC pill is avail here but used for other conditions ..

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Why in the world wouldn't it be available? It's not like it's a controlled substance!

Birth Control for veterinary use is easily available in the US in a multiple of forms. You can use Depo-provera as an injection that lasts for about 6 months. There are also pill forms--Ovaban and Megestrol to start. Any vet's office can order these items.

The issues with the BC is that apparently it can have some nasty side effects. Read up about the risks of Ovaban...

That said, I am not sure what I would do in your case. Maybe keep getting blood tests to check her kidney(s), maybe it will get better? Did they tell you what was wrong with the kidney?

I don't know about giving birth controll, but I wouldn't risk my cats life "just" to get her spayed. As long as you are responsible and keep her inside ALWAYS, that means indoors 100% of the time, which I am guessig she is since she hasn't has kittens. So many ppl are going to disagree with me.

Yes, there is a small chance that she may bolt out the door and get preg and in that case I do not think she could lie though birth... in that case I would try the surgery as a last option.

She will make a ton of noise, cry, meow, be aggressive and just be annoying when she is in heat. There is no changing that except the BC, but that itself sounds risky too, exsp for a cat with kidney issues.

Only you can make that decision, it really is a personal/tough one. Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

I would get a second opinion. My cat has CRF and recently was sedated due to a very bad ear infection. She survived the procedure, though it or the ear infection did take a toll leaving her skinny and weak. She has recovered and has gained weight. Of course she still has CRF, but she is no longer at death's doorstep.

Being constantly in heat is putting your cat in misery for half her life or more. That seems more cruel to me than to take a risk on the surgery. I would look for another vet.

Originally Posted by KatKisses

but I wouldn't risk my cats life "just" to get her spayed.

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Have you ever lived with a cat who is constantly in heat? I have....we lieved overseas and the spay list was a mile long. She was in heat off and on for 3 month, during which time the only thing that kept us from strangling her or throwing her outside was the thought that this was temporary, that she'd be spayed soon and it would all be over. If there had been no way to have her spayed ever I doubt we could have kept her. It was awful. She was miserable, we were miserable. If a cat is in danger of losing her home (and therefor her life, in most cases), I think it would be better to take the risk of surgery.

Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom

I
Being constantly in heat is putting your cat in misery for half her life or more. That seems more cruel to me than to take a risk on the surgery.

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I agree with this.

Originally Posted by Willowy

Have you ever lived with a cat who is constantly in heat? I have....we lieved overseas and the spay list was a mile long. She was in heat off and on for 3 month, during which time the only thing that kept us from strangling her or throwing her outside was the thought that this was temporary, that she'd be spayed soon and it would all be over. If there had been no way to have her spayed ever I doubt we could have kept her. It was awful. She was miserable, we were miserable. If a cat is in danger of losing her home (and therefor her life, in most cases), I think it would be better to take the risk of surgery.

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Yes I have.

For way longer than 3 months actually, and I know what you are talking about. The screaming, yowling, butt in air, clingy annoying cat. I know it too well.

This person doesn't sound like the type to "throw a cat outside" to me. IMHO a cat screaming in heat is waaaay better than a dead cat, personal decision though.

Do you have a female cat? Lets pretend that she isn't spayed. The vet tells you that surgery is HIGH high risk, that it is likely to kill her. She has almost died before from surgery, do you get her spayed anyways? Just because you can't stand the annoying howling? What if she dies? Or worse, what if she lives but has a severe reaction, say brain damage?

Things are not always black & white, this is one of those grey areas. I don't think we will agree on this though, lol.

Originally Posted by mews2much

I am sorry but I do not agree with everyone.
If I had taken the risk with Coco she would have died.
Yes there were times when she would be in heat for weeks and it was loud.
She is now 18.5 years old and has not gone in heat for about 3 years.
I was taught to look for infections and had a cat with a uterus infection before.
I did have Oreo altered and there was a risk with her but not like Coco.

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I agree. I would have done the same in your situation. Did you ever try the BC for Coco? Or do the side effects scare you too?

Is your cat allergic to the anaesthesia? Is this what happened? I have heard of some animals (and people too) that are allergic to it, and so they can never go in for surgery in the normal fashion.

Even if there's no bc you can find, there are some shots that you should be able to give her to regulate her hormones I would think. I know in Mississippi at the vet's office we gave shots to a female cat for birth control issues, so I would think you could find some somewhere else in the states?

I mean, it's not like you want her having babies, and you just want her to be happy!

Best of wishes for you and your baby!

This is a tough situation, but I side with the poster that said take a chance rather then let her cycle over and over and risk pyrometra.

With pyrometra the infection would be a more painful death if not caught in time. Its hard to make that decision. But I would see what a vet school has to say. It might be expensive, so cost will have to figure on what is best.

To me letting a cat cycle all the time is more risky for all kinds of things then to take a chance and spay her. I wish you the best in your decision on how to handle things.