Kindred Spirit Kindred Care's Feral Cat Project Shannon Fujimoto Nakaya, DVM

Note: KSKC is not a 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization. 100% of donations to the Feral Cat Project go directly towards expenses associated with the Feral Cat Project and only the Feral Cat Project. The Feral Cat Project does not contribute to personal income. Itemized accounting for the Feral cat Project avaialable upon considered request.

Goals:

• To contribute to feline spay-neuter efforts on our island to maintain a balanced island ecosystem. (Click here to read about Hawaii's feral cat situation, concerns, and solutions.)
• To contribute to the health of cat colonies, pet cats, and human public health.
• To offer a protocol respecting the fact that we are trapping and imposing sterilization on sentient animals.
• To educate people on standards of care in veterinary medicine.

Rules:

1. By appointment only. I understand that this might be on short notice depending on when cats are trapped. I just do not want "surprises" on my doorstep.
2. All cats must arrive in secure traps or carriers. One cat per trap or carrier please! KSKC does not offer trapping services.
3. FERAL AND STRAY CATS ONLY. NO COMPANION ANIMAL OR PET CATS. I am not set up to uphold the standards I believe in for companion animal medicine. (Click here for details.)
4. I will see cats through their spay/neuter recovery; however, additional health care beyond that is considered companion animal medicine. It is available, but is not part of this project.
5. All cats will be ear-tipped. No exceptions. I have on more than one occasion had a cat anesthetized, prepped, and surgically explored before realizing that it had already been spayed.
6. Cash payment is required at the time that I receive the cat.
7. KSKC is not a cat sanctuary. Any abandoned cat (>24 hours) will be taken to the Hawaii Island Humane Society.

Cost:

• $45. per cat. This includes anesthesia, spay or neuter, pain medication, and FVRCP vaccination (not FELV). Half of this goes towards costs for that individual: anesthetics, pain medications, surgical prep, drapes, gloves, masks, sponges, suture, and FVRCP vaccination. The other half goes towards a portion of the capital investments made specifically for this project and maintenance thereof: anesthesia machine and accessories, surgical instruments, sterilization equipment, table, lights, clippers.
• Feline leukemia (FELV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) testing is an additional $20.
• DONATIONS ARE WELCOME (link to PayPal at the top of this page) and go 100% towards subsidizing other cats or enhancing the Feral Cat Project. The KSKC Feral Cat Project is a community service project that does not contribute to my personal income.
• Limit 6 cats per week.

KSKC Feral Cat Project protocol:

• Cats should be fasted for no less than 4 hours and no more than 18 hours (especially younger animals) prior to surgery.
• Visual examination.
• Transfer from the trap to a mesh bag for weighing and auscultation of heart and lung sounds.
• The cat receives an injectable "cocktail" dosed according to body weight. This is a combination of drugs that achieves short term anesthesia and analgesia. I tend to dose this conservatively as it is the most common cause of anesthetic complications and deaths. If additional anesthesia is necessary, I use isoflurane gas, which is safer.
• Subcutaneous fluids are administered if deemed necessary.
• Cat is spayed or neutered and the ear is tipped. Instruments are cleaned and steam sterilized between patients.
• PDS suture material. Double ligation of blood vessels so that post operative hemorrhage is unlikely even if the cat is released and active.
• Meloxicam is given for additional pain managment. Fortunately, a little goes a long way in cats; the effects of this drug last for several days.
• FVRCP vaccination.
• If the patient is still heavily sedated at this stage, a drug is given to "reverse" the "cocktail."
• Cat is returned to its trap.
• Monitored for appropriate recovery prior to discharge.
• I expect cats to be 80% or better 24 hours post operatively. This applies to attitude, alertness, eating, drinking, and mobility.

Standard of Care:

Question: Why does it cost more to spay or neuter a pet cat than a feral cat?

Answer: Standard of Care.

Most people would find it unacceptable if their companion animal or family pet has complications or worse, just dies, during elective surgery. To minimize these events, certain precautions are taken: pre-op blood work; dedicated anesthesia nurse; heart, respiration, and blood pressure monitors; thermal support; IV catheters and fluids; dedicated surgery suite; appropriate instrumentation; proper sterilization; quality suture materials; appropriate recovery ward; etc. The additional space, equipment, and staffing necessary to provide these services and maintain this standard of care is costly.

In order to make spaying and neutering of feral cats as economic as possible, the "bells and whistles" that help to predict, prevent, and minimize complications are sacrificed. Different projects and different veterinarians sacrifice different "bells and whistles" according to their goals, values, experiences, and funding.

KSKC's feral cat project is no different. I have invested in equipment that allows me to use an anesthetic protocol that is, while not necessarily the cheapest, comparatively (a) reliable; (b) safe; (c) allows cats to recover quickly; and (d) minimizes my use of drugs with the highest incidence of adverse reactions. I insist on quality instruments and suture materials, proper sterilization, and appropriate pain management. I do not have a dedicated anesthesia nurse, a dedicated surgery suite, or monitoring equipment.

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Last revised: December 03, 2009
Text and images © 2009 by Shannon Fujimoto Nakaya