08/15/2025
Spay/abort is one of the hardest but most necessary choices in rescue. 💔 It saves lives, prevents suffering, and protects the cats already here.
Over the past couple days, we’ve experienced a mix of emotions as the topic of spay aborts has resurfaced online. It’s disheartening to see another organization spark outrage over an issue we believed we all understood and agreed upon.
We don’t often talk about spay aborts — not because they don’t happen, but because they are one of the most emotionally difficult parts of rescue work. Are they necessary? Yes. When kittens are born outside our control, we do our best to help them — if we have the capacity. But we refuse to contribute to the larger problem by allowing a cat in our care to give birth when we know the outcome could mean fewer resources for kittens already alive and at risk of euthanasia in shelters.
When our fosters ask about our stance on spay aborts — often excited at the idea of fostering a pregnant mom — we always share the story of Lourdes. Lourdes was found abandoned on someone’s doorstep, visibly pregnant. Our volunteers were heartbroken at the thought of a spay abort, and although it was a tough decision, they knew we couldn’t afford to take risks. With no funds for potential complications, they took her to TCAP.
Yes, she was pregnant — but would she have had kittens? No. Her uterus had already ruptured. The kittens inside her were necrotic and mummified. It’s a miracle she survived, and even more incredible that she went on to be adopted. Lourdes is our why. She — and so many others like her — are the reason we make these difficult decisions. Because while a cat may look pregnant, it doesn’t always mean there’s a miracle waiting to happen.
We are committed to making the hardest decisions with compassion and responsibility — always keeping the bigger picture in mind and honoring the trust and support of our donors.
