The BC SPCA is issuing a warning after two cats were found to be victims of an attempted home neutering earlier this month. While the brothers were brought to the SPCA in Vancouver for care, tragically, one of the cats didn’t survive from his injuries.
“Someone had tried to do a home neuter and tied the genitals with elastic bands. The wounds on both cats were horrific,” says Jodi Dunlop, manager of the BC SPCA in Vancouver. “This is the third home neuter that we have seen in two weeks. We’d like to remind the public that this is a surgery that can only be done by a specialist.”
The surviving cat was named Geiger by staff. Due to his injuries, Geiger required Perineal Urethrostomy (PU) Surgery, a procedure that is most commonly done in male cats whosuffer from Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD).. He also needed treatment for an ear infection.
Despite his horrific pain, Dunlop says that Geiger was “always purring and ready for any attention from a human.”
Luckily his story has a happy ending as he recovered swiftly from his surgery and is now safe and sound in his furever home.
Geiger’s story is a reminder that home neutering should never be an option when it comes caring for your pet. If you require financial assistance, learn about low-cost spay/neuter programs in B.C. Also, if you are adopting your cat, dog or rabbit from the BC SPCA, spay/neuter is included in the adoption fee. The cost of spaying/neutering is small when compared to other costs of pet care, such as what you will spend on food for your pet over their lifetime.
Animals like Geiger was a victim of needless pain. His life saving surgery was only possible because of donations towards emergency care. Please help animals that have suffered like him by donating at spca.bc.ca/donations/holidays.