The pill for cats is a hormone-based drug to block female heat. This feline birth control tablet is not without risk. Serious side effects such as uterine infections, breast cancers or the onset of diabetes are now well known.
In a recent statement, the French National Veterinary Medicine Agency (ANMV) reminded that the cat pill should only be released on prescription and made recommendations to warn cat owners.
Let’s find out everything there is to know about the pill for cats in heat, as explained by the vet Isabelle Vixege a Todocat Francia.
How does the cat pill work?
When we know that a couple of unsterilized cats can produce more than 20,000 kittens in 4 years, we understand that feline contraception is a topic not to be treated lightly!
While neutering (“oophorectomy” in females) remains the safest solution, some owners prefer to opt for a less radical means: the cat pill. But how does this work feline contraceptive method?
The sexual cycle of cats consists of alternating periods of sexual activity (heat) and periods of sexual rest. The heat lasts a few days, the feline is therefore fertile and seeks the company of males.
It can be particularly demonstrative (the famous meows). A female cat has 2 to 10 periods of heat per year, with, in general, a break in the winter. A mating during this period is almost a guarantee of a litter, as it triggers ovulation in the feline species.
The pill for cats contains a hormone (“megestrol acetate” or “medroxyprogesterone acetate”) that blocks the cycle of the animal. So Micia no longer has heat and there is no more risk of unwanted litter.
When to administer the contraceptive pill for cats?
This feline contraceptive pill must be administered for the first time outside of heat or pregnancyon a regular basis (once a week or fortnightly depending on the product).
What are the side effects of the cat pill?
This repeated administration of a hormonal drug is not without side effects for the feline. The most common are:
- Weight gain due to increased appetite
- Breast mastosis (swelling of the breasts)
- Uterine infections (pyometra or metritis): it is a surgical emergency.
- Tumors to the breastsThey are cancerous in over 90% of cases in cats and lung metastases appear rapidly.
- Diabetes mellitus: Requires heavy medical care (insulin injections twice a day) and can cause many complications.
These last 3 types of side effects are serious and can lead to the death of the animal.
These side effects are more likely to occur after long-term treatment, but even taking them for a short time can sometimes trigger them.
It is also important to make sure that the dog is not pregnant before giving her birth control pills; in fact, this hormonal treatment can lead to the death of the kittens and the mother.
Faced with these serious risks, in May 2022 the ANMV issued several recommendations for limit the occurrence of adverse effects as a result of taking contraceptive drugs in cats.
Contraceptive pill for cats: the recommendations of the ANMV
As a first step, the agency recommends cat owners to contact your veterinarian to discuss the most suitable method of contraception for the animal.
Remember that ovariectomy is a safe and protective procedure for the female; there surgical sterilization carried out early protects the feline from uterine infections and mammary tumors. The ANMV also reminds that the pill for cats can only be administered on prescription, which requires at least a consultation with the veterinarian.
Among the other recommendations of the ANMV we find:
- Immediate suspension of the pill in case of unwanted effects (vulvar discharge, swelling of the breasts, increased water consumption, etc.).
- Limit the duration of the treatment to the bare minimum (for example 15 days in summer if the cat does not go out the rest of the year).
- Compliance with the dosage according to the weight of the cat to avoid overdosing.
- Regular check-ups with your vet in case of prolonged use (over 3 months).
To this, it must be added that the effectiveness of the cat pill is far from certain. The effect on feline fertility is in fact directly linked to the regular oral intake of the drug …
Raise your hand if you have never found a freshly spit pill on the kitchen floor or between the sofa cushions!
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Article written for Todocat.com by:
Isabelle Vixege
Veterinarian doctor