CONTRACEPTION
Immunocontraception
- A humane way to deal with the feral cat population around the world is the use of immunocontraception.
- Viral-vectored immunocontraception (VVIC) has been shown to be more efficient in reducing feral cat populations than poison baiting1.VVIC uses a virus administered to female cats which prevents fertilization of the ovum2.
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH) have potential uses for immunocontraception in cats. GnRH administration stimulates the production of GnRH antibodies which have shown to have contraceptive effects. Given as a vaccine, GnRH contraception has shown to be a viable option for cat contraception3. In male cats, GnRH immunocontraception was shown to be an effective immunocastration method4.
- However, immunocontraception is difficult to administer which makes it a less than ideal solution to the feral cat problem5.
Progestin Implant
- A reversible contractive, that is able to prevent cyclicity and pregnancy in female cats for up to 2 years. The implant is a similar size as a microchip and can be administered without sedation if the cat will tolerate handling6.
- After implantation, ovarian activity reduces quickly, therefore this is a fast acting method for female cat contraception7.
- Courchamp, F., & Cornell, J. (2000). Virus-vectored immunocontraception to control feral cats on islands: a mathematical approach. Journal of Applied Ecology, 9, 112 – 123.
- Gorman, S.P., Levy, J.K., Hampton, A.L., Collante, W.R., Harris, A.L., & Brown, R.G. (2002).
Evaluation of porcine zona pellucida vaccine for the immunocontraception of domestic
kittens (Felis catus). Theriogenology, 58, 135 – 149. - Samoylov, A., Cox, N., Cochran, A., Wolfe, K., Donovan, C., Kutzler, M., . . . Samoylova, T. (2012). Generation and characterization of phage-GnRH chemical conjugates for potential use in cat and dog immunocontraception. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 47(6), 406 - 411.
- Levy, J.K., Miller, L.A., Crawford, P.C., Ritchey, J.W., Ross, M.K., & Fagerstone, K.A. (2004). GnRH immunocontraception in male cats. Theriogenology, 62, 1116 - 1130.
- Denny, E.A., & Dickman, C.R. (2010). Review of cat ecology and management strategies in Australia. Australia: Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre.
- Verstegen, J.P. (2006). Long term (>2 years), reversible, and side effect-free contraception with a co-extruded silastic-based progestin implant in dogs and cats: An efficient alternative to immunocontraception. Theriogenology, 66(3), 1879 - 1891.
- Romagnoli, S. (2015). Progestins to control feline reproduction. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 17(9), 743 - 752.