Identifying Spayed or Neutered Ferals

[Kristin_Happy Texan]

I've been looking up online ways to tell is a cat is spayed or neutered. (Chubby jowls, etc). It's difficult to tell on a game camera, but I would imagine we have some experts here that have been successfully catching ferals and strays for a long time now. Perhaps some of you can give your guesses? I'm pretty sure one of the cats in these two videos is the cat I saw show up last night. It might even belong to a neighbor somewhere. (We're in the country).

I don't know if videos are allowed, so if not I apologize in advance and feel free to take them down.



Also, in your experience can the shelter tell us fairly quickly if they think a cat has been spayed or neutered? (I sure am hoping it's male, b/c their surgeries are nothing compared to the females. Also, I don't know how we would take care of the cats after their surgeries. The Mama Kitty especially is pretty feral, and I think she would just hurt herself in a cage. I also have no way of cleaning the pet crate and I can't handle her whatsoever).

Thanks in advance for any help. It's appreciated. One of these days my life will return back to normal. Lol!

 

[Antonio65]

From what my experience is, it's close to impossibile to tell if a female cat has been spayed by just looking at her, even if you can handle and fully inspect her.
Only a vet could tell through an ultrasound scan.

A male is much easier to tell, provided you can have a look under his tail.

I don't think such a reply can be given by looking at a video.

 

[Kristin_Happy Texan]

I figured, but thought it was worth a shot. I just hope I don't traumatize that other cat for nothing. I would feel so bad over that.

 

[Antonio65]

Sometimes it happens that we trap a cat, even feral, which was already spayed by someone else.
It happened twice to me. It sounds weird and unexplainable, but it happens, and we feel sorry for traumatizing a cat for the second time.
I'm still wondering about who did that since I was the only one taking care of the feral colony.

 

[Kristin_Happy Texan]

Sometimes it happens that we trap a cat, even feral, which was already spayed by someone else.
It happened twice to me. It sounds weird and unexplainable, but it happens, and we feel sorry for traumatizing a cat for the second time.
I'm still wondering about who did that since I was the only one taking care of the feral colony.

I'm sorry that happened. That would have really upset me. It upsets me just thinking about being in that situation.

I'm actually very conflicted over trapping that other cat, which I think would be the easiest of the two to trap. All I know for certain is that the Mama Cat MUST be spayed because she's the one that keeps having babies on our property.

 

[Antonio65]

Sometimes it is even hard to tell a boy from a girl, so, in the attempt to spay a girl, you end up to trap a boy.

In your case, because you don't know if one of these cats has been fixed, the only thing you can do is trap them.
You can always use this occasion at the vets to have the cat checked

 

[theyremine]

Around here for the past 5 years or so, vets have been tatooing neutered cats. So eventually, it will be easy to tell if a stray/feral has been neutered once shaved.

 

[tabbytom]

I've been looking up online ways to tell is a cat is spayed or neutered. (Chubby jowls, etc)

I'm no expert but I try to guess. You may have a rare male Calico here and the other could be a diluted tortie and most likely a female.

Outdoor cats/Strays and Ferals have either tipped ear, tattoo, ear tags or microchipping to distinguish if they are neutered or spayed. If other than ear tipping, it's pretty hard to tell them apart unless they are recaptured and given a more thorough examination.
If it's a right ear tip, it's a female and if it's a left ear tip, it's a male but for your case, both of these are non existence so it's hard to tell if they are female or male except just to go along the line if it's a diluted tortie, most likely a female and for the calico, it's because of his jowls, a male.

I may be wrong as it's just a guess. Let those with real experience in this area give you the correct answer.

 

[Maria Bayote]

In my part of the world, its the tipped ear. But others here are also doing the TNR without cutting a part of the cat's ear because they say its more expensive or others simply chose not to, so its also difficult. One time I also caught a cat, turned out to be male - and also already fixed.

 

[Antonio65]

Outdoor cats/Strays and Ferals have either tipped ear, tattoo, ear tags or microchipping to distinguish if they are neutered or spayed. If other than ear tipping, it's pretty hard to tell them apart unless they are recaptured and given a more thorough examination.
If it's a right ear tip, it's a female and if it's a left ear tip, it's a male

Over here, cats that are trapped in the TNR project on the town council's expense should be microchipped and ear clipped after the fixing, but as far as I know, no vet ever microchipped a feral cat that they fixed, and ear clipping might even be optional.
Furthermore, I do know that there should be a difference in the clipped ear, right and left, but it seems it's a thing that rescuers know and vets don't, so they always clip the same ear.
No tattoo or ear tags over here.

In my part of the world, its the tipped ear. But others here are also doing the TNR without cutting a part of the cat's ear because they say its more expensive or others simply chose not to, so its also difficult. One time I also caught a cat, turned out to be male - and also already fixed.

Here there is no extra charge from the vet that has to clip a cat's ear, it's in the process of fixing it.
I always chose not to have my feral cats ear clipped because I didn't want to ruin their beauty. The vets and my town council (who paid for part of the fixing I had to do) always criticized my choice, but I never allowed the vet to clip an ear, except for two times. It was for the first cat I spayed, and for a cat which looked very like another one in the same colony, and I didn't want to trap the same cat twice.
And because, like in your case, I happened to trap two cats previously fixed, it seems I'm not alone in asking for not clipping ears.

 

[tabbytom]

Over here, cats that are trapped in the TNR project on the town council's expense should be microchipped and ear clipped after the fixing, but as far as I know, no vet ever microchipped a feral cat that they fixed, and ear clipping might even be optional.
Furthermore, I do know that there should be a difference in the clipped ear, right and left, but it seems it's a thing that rescuers know and vets don't, so they always clip the same ear.
No tattoo or ear tags over here.

Ear clipping is the most common for strays and ferals. Also it is an international indication for left and right ear tips to distinguish males from females.

When I too my boy, who is a rescue for neutering, I was asked if I want his ear tipped which of course I said no as he is going to be a strictly indoor cat.

As for the other type of identification, guess it varies from country to country.

 

[Antonio65]

Ear clipping is the most common for strays and ferals. Also it is an international indication for left and right ear tips to distinguish males from females.

Well, it seems the vets who fixed my ferals were unaware of this international code

When I too my boy, who is a rescue for neutering, I was asked if I want his ear tipped which of course I said no as he is going to be a strictly indoor cat.

I refused to have my feral cats clipped for the reason above, they were too beautiful, I didn't want to have them "maimed".
When the vets asked me how I thought to handle this thing when someone else would have stepped in for the care of my colony, my answer was "Do you really think that there will be another crazy person who wants to get involved in this?"

 

[tabbytom]

Well, it seems the vets who fixed my ferals were unaware of this international code

That's why I tell members if they can, bring their cats to a vet that own cats. This way, the diagnosis and treatment will be more spot on. My boy's vet has cats and she does research on cats and I know my boy is in safe hands.

She asked me if I want to have my boy's ear clipped thinking that I'm releasing him back to the streets and I told her no. Her clinic supports TNR.

I refused to have my feral cats clipped for the reason above, they were too beautiful, I didn't want to have them "maimed".
When the vets asked me how I thought to handle this thing when someone else would have stepped in for the care of my colony, my answer was "Do you really think that there will be another crazy person who wants to get involved in this?"

 

[fionasmom]

I can only add a few experiences of my own. Trapping can be upsetting, even to those of us who do a lot of it, but you have to steel yourself and remember that you are doing a great service for these cats.

Over the years, I trapped three females who were fixed, but not ear tipped. In two cases, the vet found an incision line on the underside and we agreed that it was very likely to be for spaying, so we did not proceed and no future kittens were born. The other female had no visible incision, so the vet began the surgery and then called me in the middle of it to say that she could not find any reproductive organs. One cat may have been an abandoned pet, but the other two seemed as if they had been TNRed.

I did have an orange female once, but never a male calico.

Chubby jowls are more easily identified than you might imagine, but only in older males. If you see one who looks that way, you will remember as it often is a somewhat exaggeratedly wide face. I am not seeing those in your cats, but it is not a trait that I would ever take as definitive.

 

[Maria Bayote]

Over here, cats that are trapped in the TNR project on the town council's expense should be microchipped and ear clipped after the fixing, but as far as I know, no vet ever microchipped a feral cat that they fixed, and ear clipping might even be optional.
Furthermore, I do know that there should be a difference in the clipped ear, right and left, but it seems it's a thing that rescuers know and vets don't, so they always clip the same ear.
No tattoo or ear tags over here.



Here there is no extra charge from the vet that has to clip a cat's ear, it's in the process of fixing it.
I always chose not to have my feral cats ear clipped because I didn't want to ruin their beauty. The vets and my town council (who paid for part of the fixing I had to do) always criticized my choice, but I never allowed the vet to clip an ear, except for two times. It was for the first cat I spayed, and for a cat which looked very like another one in the same colony, and I didn't want to trap the same cat twice.
And because, like in your case, I happened to trap two cats previously fixed, it seems I'm not alone in asking for not clipping ears.

I also prefer not to clip a cat's ear. I did not know of this before, but when I rescued Bourbon off the street as she was coughing, I brought her to the vet to check for microchips etc. The vet said she has no owner and that she is already fixed as also evidenced to her tipped ear. I initially thought someone had intentionally cut the ear as an act of abuse. I was new to animal rescue before. But each time I look at her, it would have been better if her ear wasn't tipped. She would have been more beautiful.

 

[Antonio65]

I can only add a few experiences of my own. Trapping can be upsetting, even to those of us who do a lot of it, but you have to steel yourself and remember that you are doing a great service for these cats.

This is so true! Trapping is an upsetting activity, it can lead to a burn out. I, myself, had to take a long break from trapping in the past because I couldn't take it anymore!

The other female had no visible incision, so the vet began the surgery and then called me in the middle of it to say that she could not find any reproductive organs.

It happened to me in 2020, I trapped a cat from my colony to have her spayed. The vet opened her and couldn't find anything in her abdomen, so they concluded she had been spayed before... only later they saw the cat was a boy, but he hadn't any "masculine features" either
They had a deeper look at him and found nothing, so no spaying, no neutering on that poor cat.

 

[Kristin_Happy Texan]

After a YEAR I FINALLY caught the Mom this morning. Unfortunately, I'm not very comfortable with the shelter right now. A lot of double-speak. I had to bite my tongue when I caught the person lying, because what's important is the cat.

I'm afraid they're going to lie, saying she's Feline HIV + when she isn't. (To put her down).

By the way, we brought her 4 babies in the other day, and today I was told they might not be able to be socialized after all but that they're not giving up.

About the Mom cat though: We were working with the shelter last summer. (They told us they were only working with us personally because we agreed to keep the Mama Cat after she was caught/spayed). They wrote on their business card for us to bring in Momma Cat on Tuesdays or Wednesdays by 9 am, because that is surgery day.

Today I showed that card to the shelter lady, and I heard her speak to the woman over the phone about the card. I heard her even say it was her handwriting, so it is verified.

When we first got there, the shelter lady told us they were full up with cats right now. She seemed very definitive in her statement/tone of voice, so I asked if that means they won't take her. Her response was "Well I didn't say that. Let's think positive." She was doing her best, thinking on her feet. She called the vet's office that's next door. She was going to ask if they could do the surgery, but they never called her back.

She finally got us to put the cat in one of their rooms. (They couldn't put her in the quiet, dark room the kittens were waiting in the other day because they're expecting a dog to be in there today).

We still have no answers. We couldn't even pay them yet because we don't know what the plan is.

But... she says they're "full" with cats, and yet I have a Facebook message from them on January 5th that read: " Hello! We are tremendously over capacity with dogs! We have room for cats at the moment. It is always better to bring on Tues or Wed, but right this minute we can take them anytime!! Thank YOU for trying to help these little stray helpless lives that cannot help themselves."

Today is Wednesday, and we were there by 9 am... just like the other lady said.

The lady mentioned there being 12 or 13 surgeries today, and then later she said "today wasn't surgery day." So.... double-speak.

I bit my tongue though. I didn't wish to make them mad when I just want this all over with for the cat. I wish I had the Facebook message with me as well, but at least I did bring the card with the "Tuesday or Wednesday Morning" written on the back of it.

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Edit: Sorry. This should have been a new thread, but I can't find a delete feature for this post.

 

[fionasmom]

This is not unusual, sadly, although that does not solve your problem or make you feel any better. If they say that she tests positive, do you have the option of saying that you want her back? Biting your tongue was a good idea; these situations don't get any better if you agitate everyone, even if you are right. What is going on with Mama Cat right now?

 

[Kristin_Happy Texan]

This is not unusual, sadly, although that does not solve your problem or make you feel any better. If they say that she tests positive, do you have the option of saying that you want her back? Biting your tongue was a good idea; these situations don't get any better if you agitate everyone, even if you are right. What is going on with Mama Cat right now?

I did tell her we want her back. I even wrote on a sticker, which I placed on the trap door: "We want her back." (If she's HIV+ however, they will euthanize her because she's feral and is living outdoors. I hate that, but I totally understand. I just hope they don't lie, saying she's HIV+ when she isn't, just to be rid of her).

We still haven't heard a peep from them. I'm worried but am trying not to obsess over it. I'm trying to think positively.

If they have zero intentions of spaying her, I would at least like the opportunity to make plans with my dog's vet. (A month or so ago we told her about the Feral. She told us that she would spay her any day, but she would have to be in a cage where she could reach her easily to administer the shot. I don't know if she remembers telling us that, as it was a month or so ago, but I AM NOT releasing this cat again until she's spayed. It's taken me a YEAR to catch her, and mainly because the shelter wanted us to bring her in on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning... which we did today, and they're making us feel like we're being bothersome. I'm only following THEIR rules. Most people wouldn't bother trying to work with them. They would just show up unannounced. Even with the kittens on January 7th, I announced ahead of time that we had 4 feral kittens on the way. I even asked beforehand if they were overcapacity with cats. They said no).

 

[fionasmom]

No good deed goes unpunished. But you are doing the right thing with trying to work with their regulations and being polite.

My regular vets will fix ferals brought in with a trap. They tip the trap so that they can give the first injection and sedate the cat and go from there. I agree that if they are not going to work with you, they need to hand her back over and let you get her fixed. Since you were emphatic about wanting her back, they should not lie about the HIV.