P-Piller for Cats

[Carolyn]

Anybody know about getting a kitty on the pill? We've adopted a stray female yesterday, very sweet, still quite young, and I've heard that rather than spaying, one can shove a little birth control down them on a regular basis. Once I make sure nobody is going to claim her as their lost kitty, I want to get her to a vet for a check-up.

[Beverly]

I am really against putting cats on birth control pills (sorry, I just don't understand the argument that spaying is "unnatural," put that filling them with hormones isn't ). Spaying is by far the better option, in my opinion, for both cats and owners.

Anyway, the pill for cats is to be given once a week. Here's a list of some more common side effects:

De sidoeffekter av p-piller som kan ses är:
Viktökning - en kombinerad effekt av att katten äter mer och rör sig mindre
Temperamentsförändringar - en del katter blir surare, andra vänligare och mer tillgivna. En del katter kan också bli slöa och hängiga.
Ökad törst och urinering
Diabetes - dräktighetshormon motverkar insulin, och p-piller kan därför utlösa diabetes, sockersjuka, hos individer med anlag för sjukdomen.
Livmoderstörningar - de effekter som dräktighetshormon har på livmoderslemhinnan gör att långvarig p-pillerbehandling orsakar förändringar i densamma. Särskilt i kombination med löpningshormon ökar också risken för livmoderinflammation.
Juverförändringar - Behandling med dräktighetshormon kan i enstaka fall, både hos han- och hondjur, orsaka en förstoring av hela eller delar av juvret. Detta går oftast över utan behandling, men om det är kraftigt kan man behöva uppsöka veterinär. Om man regelbundet i flera år behandlar katten med p-piller ökar risken för både godartade och elakartade tumörer. Medelåldern då tumörerna uppträder är 9 år. Kastration minskar risken för juvertumörer, ffa om man kastrerar katten före 2 års ålder.

[Sabeine]

I don't know too much about the birth control pill for cats. I only know that they are available. I guess one could do a Google search online to see what comes up. Both of my cats are spayed, not only to prevent pregnancy but also to avoid them going into heat each month.

[Sabeine]

Speaking of adopting stray cats... Leslie what happened to that sweet furry cat that found it's way to your home? Did an owner claim it, or do you still have it?

[Carolyn]

Okay, thanks, Beverly, I didn't know that. We just had this little lady show up on our doorstep yesterday and are still trying to see if she has an owner that's missing her, but if not, I want to keep her.

[Beverly]

No problem! I saw the picture of her in your LJ, and she's absolutely gorgeous! ;D

[Pam]

I'm not up on birth control pills for cats but they used to give shots. My vet advised against starting young cats on them because they were known to cause tumors if given over a long period of time.

[Natooke]

Our cat is from a litter where the owners forgot to give their female her pill.

You’ll find Vets & clinics are encouraging getting cats sterilized … your local clinic may have a Saturday Special ;D … however I’m not sure if the cost for a female is more then a male.

It’s a good idea to get her to the vets (once no one clams her) for a check up. Make sure to tell them she’s a stray as (from our experience) they’ll want you to enter in another door in case of contagious cat distemper.