I HAVE HEARD IT IS POSSIBLE TO USE AN ELASTRATOR RUBBER BAND AS A CASTRATION DEVICE FOR CATS. WE USE THIS ON OUR SHEEP AND GOATS DOES IT WORK ON TOM CATS. I HAVE READ ON A PREVIOUS FORUM THAT IT WORKS PERFECTLY WELL, ALTHOUGH THE TOM WOULD BE SORE AND SORRY FOR A FEW DAYS. HAS ANYBODY HAD ANY EXPERIENCE OF SAVING VETS BILLS THIS WAY? RUBBER BAND AT THE READY! SUE. B B

-- sue aynsley (SUEAYNSLEY@cwctv.net), February 17, 2001

Answers

I have never done it (our kitty is a female!), but a good friend has ample experience with this method, and it works well for her. Just make sure you have BOTH ot the testes behind the band, or the operation will be for naught!!! Have someone help you hold kitty. He won't be happy for a few days, then all will be forgiven (and forgotten!).

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), February 17, 2001.

Ask Ken S. about that. Theres a thread in the archives on the subject also.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), February 17, 2001.

Yes, I did two at once. One went fine. One left me a 'treat on the seat I still don't appreciate' since apparently I didn't get enough in the band besides the testicles. Should be in the Pet Care category in the archives. Still love the Burma-Shave-type poem therein. (P.S. Whoever holds the tom needs to wear thick gloves!!!)

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), February 17, 2001.

Hello Sue, It is really quite easy to fix a male cat. I saw it done by a vet, as he did it while I was holding the cat. He first gave the cat a tranquilizer (which I think is the most important part). He lightly sliced the back of the scrotum and pulled out this little cord. Then he cut the cord in half. Then he tied the cord together with a square knot or surgeon's knot, (very similiar). Stuck the cord back in and rubbed some vaseline over the openning. That was it! The cat woke up a few hours later and was on his way! Sincerely, Ernest www.communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks

-- Ernest in the Ozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), February 18, 2001.

No No No NO No!!!! First it is inhumane (for livestock as well) In addition tetnus is a big risk and gangrene would be a remote possibility. I understand the need to conserve money, however (I risk alienating folks here, sorry) unless you can afford to properly keep animals, don't get them.

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), February 18, 2001.

I've never tried the elastrator bands on cats. I don't like the bands for goats as sometimes you end up with a surprise buck breeding your does when he is supposed to be a wether. I have used thinner rubber bands, but they work best on youing cats that don't know what they're giving up. The older toms try very hard to chew the bands off. My Father in law was a vet, and my husband told me that when he was a boy, he assisted in a lot of cat neuters. They would wrap the cat up in a towel and hold it firmly, and castrate with the knife method, without any painkiller, and that was it. He said dogs are another story, they bleed so you have to tie off and put them to sleep while you do it.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), February 18, 2001.

I would think about it this way. If you do it yourself and it is successful, you avoid a $50-$80 vet bill. If something goes wrong, well, you have a $50-$80 vet bill. Basically my vet said the problem with the one was the band had been placed too high up on the scrotum so it only went through the skin and didn't pinch off and kill the cords. Thus, when the scrotum separated, it was left hanging from the cords.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), February 20, 2001.

I am far to squiemish to do anything like that myself. Around here, the bill would be more like $100- 120. But that includes rabies shots since I have scheduled such an event around booster shots. I still prefer to let a vet handle that, then if anything unforseen happens, you haven't lost your best friend.

-- Cindy in Ok (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), February 23, 2001.

One year later I was reading these posts to find out any other answeres that may be out there...I helped my father castrate a male cat 15 years ago. (squemish bow out now)We held the cat in a small rug (or a thick towel-a small sack works best)large enough to cover body AND head. We used a knife and cut the sac, pulled out the cord, cut that and sprayed blue coat on him. We let him down, he just ran up to the house, SAT down no less and wanted to come inside (he was a barn cat that my dad would let come in once in a while). He was fine and healthy for years. He still even liked us !!! I agree it is not pleasant, but it was quick and cheap. I take my house cats to the vet. I plan to try it again on two male barn cats we decided to keep. Only this time I will be doing it with a sharp scapel from Farm and Fleet (instead of a dirty jack knife)and Schreiner's Herbal Solution ( GREAT STUFF !!!! )It is better than not doing ANYTHING.

-- Lea Michigan (pony_girl_70@yahoo.com), January 06, 2002.