Feline abortion is a topic that is full of controversy in animal husbandry. It involves terminating pregnancy in cats as a strategy to manage population control in feral cats. Some people view aborting kittens up until birth as an appropriate method of controlling how many feral cats are free roaming the streets, others view it as unnecessary, and cruel. On the positive side of things one might point out that feline populations can grow quickly if left unattended to, without means of natural predators nearby, and increasing food supply. This can lead to issues like overcrowding, cats competing over resources, and the spread of diseases within a feline community. By preventing pregnancies (people assume are “unwanted”), and by controlling how many cats coexist together, people think that abortion can help to address these concerns. If a feral cat colony is growing rapidly in a neighborhood due to uncontrolled breeding cycles and limited resources, population control through abortion can help alleviate the strain on resources, and prevent overcrowding within that particular community, so some see that it improves the overall welfare of all the cats. This approach hopes to maintain an optimal number of animals within a population that is within the surrounding environment’s carrying capacity, and therefore presents its place for arguement with other methods required for effective husbandry.

Positive Aspects of Feline Abortion:

1. Population Management: Feline abortion helps with population control within large communities of feral cats.

FALSE: Although this method aims to prevent unwanted litters, feline abortion has not been proven to reduce the number of homeless cats, or alleviate issues such as malnutrition and competing for resources. It does nothing to improve the overall health  or quality of life of outdoor cats.

2. Health and Welfare Considerations: In situations where the pregnant cat's health is at risk, feline abortion can be a medically necessary. Pregnancy complications, such as dystocia (difficulty giving birth), can be life-threatening for both the mother and the unborn kittens. Aborting the kittens can prevent unnecessary suffering and expensive veterinary treatments.

TRUE: When the genetic health of the pregnant female or the entire population is a concern, abortion can prevent congenital abnormalities and the transmission of hereditary diseases which improves the long-term welfare of that feline community, and also for the entire cat population in that surrounding area.

There are those that say it is better to preserve the natural reproductive process in feral cats, and any means of population control should be left up to factors such as coyotes, automobiles, owls, and other maladies that feral felines face every day in our current world.

Negative Aspects of Feline Abortion:

1. Natural. Allowing feline pregnancies to progress naturally maintains the biological integrity of the species and respects their natural instincts. 

TRUE: It ensures that cats can engage in natural reproductive behaviors, providing them with a sense of fulfillment and allowing for the perpetuation of their genetic traits.

2. Ethical Concerns: Feline abortion raises ethical concerns due to the question of when it is permissible to terminate a pregnancy in animals. Some argue that all life should be respected and that aborting potential kittens infringes upon their right to exist.

TRUE: From this perspective, feline abortion may conflict with the principles of animal welfare and respect for life. The decision to perform a feline abortion should be made carefully, taking into consideration the individual animal's best interests and ethical guidelines.

2. Psychological Impact on the Mother Cat: Feline abortion can have psychological effects on the mother cat. Just like humans, cats can experience emotional distress or confusion after undergoing an abortion.

TRUE: The loss of kittens may cause behavioral changes, such as depression or aggression. This psychological impact needs to be addressed by providing the mother cat with proper care, support, and a suitable environment to recover from the abortion process, just like human mothers do.

If you are against it: 

Those that are against feline abortion argue that allowing cats to reproduce naturally respects their natural reproductive instincts and aids the preservation of the species, and their point of view aligns effective husbandry in the way that it promotes behaviors that satisfy cats' natural instincts to the best extent possible.

Effectiveness of Feline Abortion in Animal Husbandry:

To effectively manage feline populations while considering animal welfare, several requirements should be satisfied:

1. Responsible Decision-Making: Feline abortion must be performed only after careful consideration by qualified professionals such as veterinarians, animal welfare organizations, or experienced breeders. Decisions should be based on factors such as population density, available resources, individual health, hereditary risks, and long-term sustainability.

2. Complementary Strategies: Feline abortion should be integrated with other strategies for population control, such as trap-neuter-return programs, educational campaigns promoting responsible pet ownership, and increased availability of spay/neuter services. A comprehensive approach to animal husbandry will address both the immediate concerns of population management and the long-term sustainability of feline populations.

Personal Note:

Those that favor feline abortion see population control as an effective way to manage feral cat populations, while those that are against it, emphasize preserving the natural reproductive process. Though both pose valid arguments, and both take into account the requirements for effective husbandry, the decision to perform feline abortion or not should be based on careful considerations of the specific circumstances and welfare implications for each cat individually. I am personally against aborting kittens; I do not see how this method of trying to control nature is humane in any way, and I do not understand how people can see it as so, especially after witnessing it being performed. It makes me angry to say the least, to see five or six helpless kittens a day or so away from being born naturally, being cut out of their mother, wiggling in their amniotic sacs and being slid across the cold operating table into the trash can to die, while their mother is sewn back up, after ensuring she can no longer reproduce, and sent back out to the streets less than 24 hours later, not knowing what hit her or why her babies were taken from her. The reality is that these female cats suffer something equilvalent to what humans know as “post-partum”, and they go through psychological distress, brought on by hormones and whatever else we may not even understand. I am going to make it my mission to expand research regarding better communication practices with animals, so they are able to have more of a voice when it comes to the way they are treated, and so that they can help to define their own methods of “good husbandry”.

Reference:

American Psychological Association. (2019). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).