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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
I recently took over feeding 2 presumably feral cats that live around my office building. The women who were feeding them moved to a new location.
My plan is to trap and spay/neuter but I don't know if they are truly ferals or just "outside cats" from a nearby residential area.
One in particular gets very close as I'm preparing its food and water. Meet Oreo:
See how his one ear is clipped? The woman said that her cat had it's ear clipped when it was spayed/neutered and insists that it was never feral. I've never heard of this so wanted to know... is the clipped ear not a guarantee that this cat is feral?
I want to do the responsible thing here. I feel like its wrong for me to fix someone else's cat, if it's really not feral. But if they cared about that, they'd probably keep their cat indoors, no?
Message edited 7/17/2013 3:12:33 PM.
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Posted 7/17/13 3:10 PM  |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
Also... I intended to contact Save-A-Pet to get a trap and find out the cost and time involved with this process. Anyone have advice or helpful hints for me on this? I've never done it before.
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| Posted 7/17/13 3:11 PM |
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Traysee
LIF Adolescent
Member since 12/10 652 total posts
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Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
First, They don't usually clip the ear like that, it's more of a tiny notch like if an earring got ripped out. I wouldn't go by that. I think if the cat doesn't have a collar or an active micro chip it's fair game. It's not like you are going to someone's house and trapping their cat. Once the cat is off their property that is the risk they take. Plus anyone who lets their unaltered cat roam the streets is contributing to a major problem. My rescue pays I think something like $10-$25 for a spay/neuter at the ASPCA in Queens. I would shop around and see what you can do to get the best rates you can. Maybe a mobile spay/neuter unit would be budget friendly.
Once you catch the cats they will get an exam, get scanned and check and see if they are already fixed. They might have already been done But that doesn't look like the way I have seen them marked. I will see if I can get a pic of my cats ear tonight. Hers is notched.
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| Posted 7/17/13 6:12 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
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:)
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Re: Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
Posted by greenfreak
I want to do the responsible thing here. I feel like its wrong for me to fix someone else's cat, if it's really not feral. But if they cared about that, they'd probably keep their cat indoors, no?
I will say it's likely not someone's cat. And if it is, it should be fixed already. Or it should have a collar or be chipped. So if it has neither, then it's extremely unlikely someone's cat. I would not worry at all that I was fixing someone's cat if they did not chip, neuter or even have their cat wear a collar. That looks like an old injury to me, but of course no one can be sure unless a vet confirms.
Message edited 7/17/2013 8:36:57 PM.
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| Posted 7/17/13 8:35 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
Posted by Traysee
First, They don't usually clip the ear like that, it's more of a tiny notch like if an earring got ripped out. I wouldn't go by that. I think if the cat doesn't have a collar or an active micro chip it's fair game. It's not like you are going to someone's house and trapping their cat. Once the cat is off their property that is the risk they take. Plus anyone who lets their unaltered cat roam the streets is contributing to a major problem. My rescue pays I think something like $10-$25 for a spay/neuter at the ASPCA in Queens. I would shop around and see what you can do to get the best rates you can. Maybe a mobile spay/neuter unit would be budget friendly.
Once you catch the cats they will get an exam, get scanned and check and see if they are already fixed. They might have already been done But that doesn't look like the way I have seen them marked. I will see if I can get a pic of my cats ear tonight. Hers is notched.
That would be very helpful because there's at least one other one around, and I want to see if I can identify it being fixed before I try to trap it. They do feed in different areas, so that would determine where I would put the trap.
I thought there was aftercare involved with stitches and such that would prevent me from doing something like a mobile spay/neuter. I can't keep these cats while they're recovering as I have 2 dogs and I'm allergic.
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| Posted 7/18/13 7:18 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
Posted by Goobster
Posted by greenfreak
I want to do the responsible thing here. I feel like its wrong for me to fix someone else's cat, if it's really not feral. But if they cared about that, they'd probably keep their cat indoors, no?
I will say it's likely not someone's cat. And if it is, it should be fixed already. Or it should have a collar or be chipped. So if it has neither, then it's extremely unlikely someone's cat. I would not worry at all that I was fixing someone's cat if they did not chip, neuter or even have their cat wear a collar. That looks like an old injury to me, but of course no one can be sure unless a vet confirms.
None of the ones that come over have collars. My friend said people who have outdoor cats will sometimes not collar them because they're afraid of them getting caught and strangling themselves. 
But you're right, if they're already fixed or chipped then that changes the game some.
I was surprised to see half the ear gone but it's so straight that it looked intentional. We'll never know I guess!
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| Posted 7/18/13 7:20 AM |
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Traysee
LIF Adolescent
Member since 12/10 652 total posts
Name:
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Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
Well you got me curious and it appears that the notch in my cats ear is the old way of doing it. "Ear Tipping" is the new way of doing it. But it also looks like that cat you posted had it done very drastically because it's only supposed to be the top 3/8" - 1/4" of the left ear. The sites that I looked up are pushing for ear tipping because it is easily recognized from a distance for animal control and rescuers. They said they don't want to notch anymore because it can get mistaken for a cat fight injury. The previous way was how my cat was done with a small "V" cut out of the ear.
You learn something new every day.
Here are photos of my cat's notched ear: Image Attachment(s):
Message edited 7/18/2013 8:30:31 AM.
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| Posted 7/18/13 8:26 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
WOW your cat is gorgeous!! Thank you for posting that, it's so helpful. Now - what is your cat's history? Did you adopt her already fixed, with that notch in her ear? If so, was the ear notched while she was in care of a rescue/shelter?
I guess I'm not going to know for sure until I trap them. But I really appreciate your info, it helps me understand because honestly I know next to nothing about cats!
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| Posted 7/18/13 1:33 PM |
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Traysee
LIF Adolescent
Member since 12/10 652 total posts
Name:
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Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
My cats story is kinda funny...
I decided I wanted a bengal cat. I found a one year old neutered male for adoption. I call the person (who was a breeder who also takes in bengal breed rescue cats) and we talk about him and I decide he is for us. So I drive out there and pay a pretty high adoption fee ($300) but I kinda justified the high price in that he was a purebred silver bengal, was the right temperament for my family, had all his shots and was already neutered. So I take him home and he is an awesome, amazing cat. A few weeks after I get him he starts meowing like a lunatic all night long and goes crazy when I brush him. Then he would shove his butt in the air, I thought he had problems with his anal glands. I called the vet. They said to just keep an eye on him and come in if he started getting smelly but within a couple of days he started acting normal.
A few weeks later I decide he should have a friend since he grew up in a house full of cats. So I find a kitten. I take him to the vet to make sure he is 100% healthy. The vet tells me he is healthy but that he is NOT a he, he is a SHE and she is not spayed. She was going crazy because she was in heat! So I call the person I adopted him from and she is mortified and tells me that she must have mixed up the male cat with one of her breeders. I ended up getting one of her young up and coming breeders. I still don't know if she just miss sexed her initially or if she had the male in with her females. But whatever happened someone notched my cats ear to mark that she/he was neutered, which we discovered was not so. She also made arrangements to have her spayed at her vet. I had to drive an hour away to get her spayed at her vet. It was a real pain in the butt but luckily she didn't try to make me give the cat back because I really LOVE my cat so much and we are all very attached to her.
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| Posted 7/18/13 7:59 PM |
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Domino
Always My Miracle
Member since 9/05 9923 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
Thought this could be good starting resource for you:
TNR
This is a good picture of an eartipped feral at a friend's colony:
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| Posted 7/21/13 2:20 AM |
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Domino
Always My Miracle
Member since 9/05 9923 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
this is a video of a newly tipped cat:
Remington
Oh...and if anyone is interested, he would love to be adopted 
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| Posted 7/21/13 2:26 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
Traysee, that's amazing! You know when I saw the pic, the cat looked "off" to me, and I thought - that's an unusual housecat. I've seen bengals before and noticed the ears were different. Man, you got lucky! 
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| Posted 7/22/13 2:25 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
Domino, thank you for the pic! That's exactly what the other cat looks like that I'm going to try to catch. Same coloring. I haven't seen it in a few days but something is eating the cat food. 
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| Posted 7/22/13 2:26 PM |
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Gigi143
LIF Toddler
Member since 6/12 435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
My cat is also a rescue from a neuter and release program and he doesn't have the notch, the top half of his ear is off as well Image Attachment(s):
Message edited 7/31/2013 2:16:36 PM.
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| Posted 7/31/13 2:15 PM |
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WannaBeAMom11
LIF Adult
Member since 1/11 7391 total posts
Name:
Name
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Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
My cat is a rescue and the notch is a deep V. Helps me identify who is stepping on me at night in bed.
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| Posted 7/31/13 8:21 PM |
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TheWhiteRabbit
Thru the rabbit hole!
Member since 7/06 4412 total posts
Name:
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Re: Cats that are fixed - do they all have their ear clipped?
All of my feral's ears are tipped, it needs to be clear to the trapper from a distance. A little notch is exactly what happens when non-fixed cats fight, if i saw a little notch like that I would assume that was from fighting & the cat needed to be fixed. It would be safe to assume that cat you posted is fixed.
You're awesome, by the way 
ETA: I have 19 cat's pictures from my colony showing tipped ears, but I forgot my phone today of course!
Message edited 8/1/2013 9:43:17 AM.
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| Posted 8/1/13 9:42 AM |
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