We love animals and we especially love kittens. So why would we always recommend a spay abort for a pregnant cat? We know that we cannot save them all. The current state of animal welfare and the world sets very real limits on how those of us in the field can reasonably help those in need. Therefore we must be strategic with our efforts. If we can save them, we will save them. However, the finite resources available for rescue efforts will run out before every animal is saved. We must focus our efforts on animals that are in need at this very moment. 

 

Spaying a pregnant cat is a safe, humane option. It is not something rescuers or veterinary staff desire to do, but its benefits are well established and vital to all of our missions, to end animal suffering. A spay surgery for a pregnant animal involves removing the uterus and ovaries all together. The tissues are removed in the same way for a pregnant animal and in a non pregnant animal. The animal receiving surgery is under general anesthesia and feels no pain. Fetuses are unconscious during gestation and will also be under the effects of general anesthesia, so there is no pain or suffering during the procedure. A spay abort surgery is able to be performed up until labor begins. 

 

Cats that are pregnant often do not receive proper care, nutrition, or medical care during gestation. They are most often underweight, receiving poor nutrition, and have a high parasite load. All of these factors lead to poor health for the mother and poor health for the fetuses. It can increase the chance of death for the mother and fetuses both during pregnancy, birthing, and in the neonatal period. 

 

All shelters and rescues are limited by the space and resources they can provide for animals in need. It is much more ideal if animals spend as little time as possible using these spaces and resources to find a home. It is a never ending cycle of animals in and out. A cat that receives a spay abort surgery will be able to be adopted in just 3-4 weeks. A cat that has a litter of newborn kittens will be able to be adopted in 12 weeks, which is three times as long. This difference is significant when it comes to saving lives. 

 

Animals everywhere are euthanized for a lack of space and resources. This will continue to occur regardless of anyone’s efforts at this time. Allowing more kittens to be born can lead to more euthanasias even in our local community. Young kittens are subjectively more adoptable than older kittens or adult animals. If the available adoptive homes are saturated by young kitten adoptions, there will be less older animals that are adopted. This will lead to more euthanasia for space and resources. Kittens that are born outside to feral cats will most likely die before they reach adulthood. They are most commonly dying of illnesses or injuries. If they do survive, they will go on to contribute to the endless cycle of overpopulation. 

 

Neonatal care for nursing mothers and litters is often outside of any given shelter or rescue’s capabilities. They inherently use more time and resources, which will drastically decrease the amount of animals they are able to help. This specific population should also not stay in a shelter setting as it will increase the chances of illnesses and death to these more at risk animals. 

 

This is where FTLOJ comes in. We fill a very specific gap in care for a very specific population of animals. We must work in conjunction with the greater efforts for animal welfare in our community, not against them. This means that while we are a neonatal rescue, we will recommend spay abort surgery for any pregnant animal. We will always be a critical resource for nursing mothers and litters that have already given birth and for orphaned neonates requiring bottle feeding. These animals are desperately in need of our help now.