What are the contraceptives for cats: types, names

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Cats, like any living creature, feel the need to reproduce, because this is inherent in nature. Nevertheless, the pregnancy of pets does not always become a joyful event for their owners, as in the future this may result in a number of problems. The main one is where to attach the kittens that were born. Contraceptives for cats will help prevent this situation.

What is contraception for cats

In order to prevent unwanted pregnancy, animals use drugs that affect the hormonal background. Their action is aimed at ridding the pet of the desire to mate.

Today, veterinary pharmacies offer a large selection of contraceptives. They are usually given as injections, pills or drops and are aimed at preventing pregnancy.

Classification by type of impact

Depending on the composition of contraceptives for cats are divided into twomain groups:

1. Drugs with a high content of hormones that cause false pregnancy. In the case of taking such a contraceptive, the cat calms down, mistakenly believing that she continued the birth.

2. Low-dose hormonal drugs. More modern drugs that suppress the cat's need to mate and have a sedative effect.

By the method of administration, contraceptives are divided into means in the form of injections, tablets or drops.

Contraceptive injections

Today, veterinarians often use Covinan injections as contraceptives, eliminating estrus for up to 6 months. The first injection should be given exclusively by a doctor, and all further injections can be done independently.

Introduce the drug should be before the onset of estrus, otherwise it will not work. Moreover, it can cause he alth problems. Injectable contraceptives are highly discouraged if the animal is pregnant. Contraindications to taking "Covinan" are such serious diseases as endometritis and inflammation of the kidneys, because the administration of the drug can lead to complications. Also, the medicine should not be used if the injection is given for the first time to a cat that has reached the age of 5.

The advantage of injectable contraceptives is ease of use and reversibility, i.e. after the expiration of the injection period, the cat is again ready to mate and can become pregnant. If pregnancy is not desired, reintroduceinjection.

Pills

Contraceptive pills for cats come in two varieties: natural and chemical.

Natural contraceptives are based on the beneficial properties of plants and other natural ingredients. Their action is usually mild and short-lived. Cat contraceptive tablets, made on the basis of plants, have a sedative effect and calm the animal for a certain time. The advantage of such medicines is that they have a positive effect on the cat's body and do not contain harmful components.

Chemical contraceptive pills affect the hormonal background. After their application, the animal ends its love games and after a certain time calms down. The drug begins to act within a day.

Some manufacturers of oral contraceptives recommend taking contraceptives constantly, based on the fact that such treatment will help permanently eliminate estrus. In fact, excessive intake of hormones will not only not save a pet from sexual desires, but can also provoke the development of diseases of the reproductive system in a cat.

Contraceptive drops

Drop-shaped contraceptives have the same properties as pills. They can also be of natural or chemical origin, but most often such contraceptives are made from natural ingredients. Howas a rule, these are various herbal infusions and decoctions. The effect of taking drops is not based on the regulation of the hormonal background, but on its imitation. They tend to imitate sexual satisfaction, so that the cat becomes calm until the next estrus. However, care should be taken when giving the drug to an animal.

Contraceptive for cats (drops) is convenient to use: the product is much easier to drip into the animal's mouth than to make him swallow a pill.

Popular contraceptives

The most popular today are the following contraceptives (including for Maine Coon (cats)):

• "Sex barrier" - reduces arousal, prevents unwanted pregnancy and minimizes negative consequences. Available in drops and tablets.

• "Gestrenol" - have a contraceptive effect and inhibit sexual desire in cats. Produced in the form of tablets.

• "Stop-Intim" - a hormonal contraceptive in drops that suppresses sexual arousal, delays and interrupts estrus in cats.

• "Libidomin" - blocks the onset of ovulation, inhibits the development of estrus, reduces sexual desire. Available in the form of capsules, tablets and drops.

• "Counter-sex" - removes sexual arousal. Available in both tablets and drops.

• "Antisex" - popular hormonal drops and pills that reduce excitability, block ovulation andstop estrus.

Sterilization as an alternative to contraceptives

Of course, contraceptive drugs, due to their ease and reliability of use, are in great demand. However, they are good to a certain extent. Veterinarians consider contraceptives harmful, because hormonal intervention, even in small doses, does not go unnoticed. Contraceptive medications can cause side effects and adversely affect your pet's he alth. Therefore, if the owners categorically do not accept replenishment in the cat family, then it would be most humane to carry out the sterilization procedure.

The advantage of this method of contraception is that it gives a permanent effect, reduces the risk of developing cancer in a cat.

Today, there are three options for sterilization: drug, chemical and radiation.

Contraceptives for cats: which is better?

Hormonal contraceptives are considered by veterinarians to be a very effective way to prevent unwanted pregnancies in cats. The choice of this or that drug should be based on the joint decision of the doctor and the owner of the animal. In addition to effectiveness, it is also important to consider the safety of the drug for the pet's he alth.

There is an opinion that the use of certain contraceptives can cause infertility, diseases of the uterus and ovaries in cats, and even cause cancer. Such pathologies do sometimes occur. In particular, thisconcerns cases when drugs with a high content of hormones were taken. With the right choice of contraceptive and its dosage, all risks are minimized.

However, the best and most reliable method of contraception for a cat is sterilization. The best time to do it is between the first and second estrus, that is, when the animal is 8-10 months old.

Conclusion

Those or other contraceptives for cats should be used after consulting with a veterinarian. Also, these drugs are selected based on the well-being of the animal after taking them. If the owners flatly refuse to have kittens in their house, then it is better to resort to sterilization in order to maintain the he alth of the pet.