Why Ear-Tip A Feral?

A VETERINARY VIEW ON EAR-TIPPING

Ear-tipping involves removing about 1 cm of tissue from the left ear of feral cats at the time of neutering.

Done under the anaesthetic the process is painless. The procedure means that a neutered cat can be spotted from a distance. Thus a cat can be spared the trauma of a second trapping for neutering, as well as the risk of unnecessary anaesthetic.

Anaesthetic risk is higher in an unfit or very frightened cat: one cannot check heart or lung functions or open the mouth to check for anaemia before anaesthetising a feral cat, so fewer anaesthetics justifies ear-tipping.

In a female cat we cannot tell at all whether neutering has been carried out once the fur has regrown, so an ear tip prevents the need to open the abdomen and stitch up muscle and skin layers for a second time.

It can require a larger incision to find a small stump of uterus to prove, beyond doubt, that a cat has spayed than to spay initially, when the uterus can be found without difficulty in most cases.

Ear-tipping does not count as an unnecessary mutilation, in my view, because it prevents more suffering than it causes, and aesthetically the affected ear is no less attractive than a lot of the shredded ears that have been damaged by cats themselves in fights.



© Katie Whitcomb, BVSc, MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon

Aha! I wondered about that. Thank you.

Why would a vet refuse to do this? My vet is a wonderful person, but won't tip the ears of the strays I bring for shots and neutering. I don't understand her reasoning.

She also won't trim dogs' nails way back under anesthesia, while other vets do.

Mary

Thanks for posting this nice explanation! I am often asked by visitors to my house (and by a couple of people on PT as well), why my outside strays all have the tip of one ear missing.

I must say it DOES make life so much easier when I trap ferrals too - at least then I don't have a wasted trip to and from the vet - I can release the "tipped"cat and immediately set up the trap again.

I thank you for the tip. I have begun the project of taking in feral cats in the neighborhood and having them nutered.

At the moment I have taken in only one white cat and her kittens. The kits helped me to capture the mom in a cage and bring her in.

I was going to find the kits homes and release the cat after I had her spade. So far we have had her since May and I don't have a way to get her into the vet.

I have begun to find out what a wonderful pet she will make. Skitterish and bolts at the sound of my voice but otherwise she is demanding now in the last two weeks, to grab all the attention from me she can. That is she will come climb all over me for attention. I am just starting with getting her comfortable enough to be picked up just a little off the floor.

This cat will be needing a home to go to. She will no longer have the fear of man she needs to be feral.

Saddama is beautiful and fully white.

I'm glad to see this information posted so that those new to TNR will recognize this indication of previous neutering and will not have to waste their time or their vet's time if an ear-tipped cat is trapped. I don't understand why a vet would refuse to ear tip; in fact, all vets should automatically ear tip all ferals that are brought in for neutering.

My Sky has his left ear tipped and I didn't know what why until I asked the Humane Society. Apparently he was living with ferals so he could get food but he's not really a feral. They must have trapped him, neutered him, tipped his ear and then realized that he wasn't really a feral cat and could be adopted out.

I think it should be done myself to save them from the stress of trapping and being cut when it is not needed! To me, it is the kindest thing to do.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Laura's Babies
I think it should be done myself to save them from the stress of trapping and being cut when it is not needed! To me, it is the kindest thing to do.

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I agree completely! This seems a much more humane act than the alternative.