Non-surgical neutering

[emilymaywilcha]

The FDA either did or will approve one-time intratesticular shots for permanent sterility in male dogs this year. A few other countries approved it already and in Colombia, cats also can be sterilized this way.

Meanwhile, studies are being done on giving cats of both sexes the same drug used by the USDA and EPA to control the deer population.

Link: http://www.acc-d.org/About

The ACCD is trying to sterilize cats and dogs in other countries where surgery is not an option because there are no surgery facilities and that is not the only problem. How about all those cats who can't have surgery for medical reasons, but are old enough to sire kittens or go in heat? I also see a potential for TNR kitties: just give them a shot on site and let them out of the trap.

 

[StefanZ]

Yeah, and it could also be a way in countries where they dont even allowe neutering, like in Saudi-Arabia. Like a couple of our members told.

So, or very similiar, may be in other countries as well.

A Pill, or an injection, seems not to be much to bother about. Surgery is.

Interesting!

 

[mrblanche]

The problem, of course, is that while these methods may prevent siring kittens, it may not block the testosterone-driven behaviors such as spraying and fighting.
 

 

[Willowy]

Our neighbor in Japan (on a Navy base, about 20 years ago) couldn't get a neuter appointment with the base vet so they took their adult tomcat to a Japanese vet. He was given an intratesticular injection and within a month, his testicles had shrunk to nothing and he looked and behaved like any castrated male. I don't know what it was called, what chemical was used, if they still use it in Japan, or why they don't use it here. But obviously it's possible. Apparently Neutersol (the one approved for dogs) doesn't destroy testicular tissue or fully remove the testosterone source. So I don't think it's the same thing.

One problem with using it on ferals is that they still usually have to be sedated to administer the injection. A cat that isn't handleable isn't going to let you stick a needle THERE! So the thought of simply administering the injection then releasing the cat is sadly not really a possibility. For tame strays/farm cats, yeah, it would be great.