Have you seen any outdoor cats running around that are missing an ear tip? This
means the cat has been sterilized, and is unable to reproduce. A veterinarian performs the
procedure while the cat is asleep under anesthesia, usually just after it’s spay or neuter
operation. The last ¼ inch of the left ear is surgically removed leaving a flat end rather
than the usual pointy tip.
Ear tipping is most often employed when managing feral cat colonies. Feral cats
are unsocialized, wild cats that usually can only be caught using traps and handled under
sedation. Ear tipping allows colony caretakers to identify cats that have already been
sterilized from a distance without having to put the cat through the trauma and stress of
trapping and sedation.
Many people consider outdoor cats a nuisance and classify all outdoor cats as
strays or unwanted pets. These cats run the risk of being shot at, poisoned, or trapped to
be taken to the shelter and euthanized. However, cats that are not producing litters can be
helpful by removing vermin and other pests. Furthermore, when you remove cats from
an area, new ones often move in. By leaving sterilized cat colonies alone, you are
leaving a cat population that will remain stable. Otherwise you may have unsterilized
cats move in that will quickly overpopulate.
Domesticated housecats that go outdoors can also benefit from ear tipping. By
ear tipping their cat at the time of its spay or neuter surgery, an owner can mark their cat
as one who is not able to reproduce or likely to spray or fight with other cats.
Additionally, because of the high incidence of rabies in Pennsylvania, all cats that
are presented for spay and neuter surgery are vaccinated for rabies. Hence, a person can
be assured that an ear tipped cat has been vaccinated and is unlikely to transmit rabies.
Now when you see an ear tipped cat you’ll know that it has been spayed or
neutered and vaccinated for rabies. Plus, if you are getting your own cat spayed or
neutered and that cat goes outdoors, consider getting it ear tipped. Ear tipping is safe and
humane, and it may help save your cat’s life!
Written by
Marina Siegert DVM