HUGE A&P Dilemma, object to dissecting cats, any options?

Monica RN,BSN · Sep 30, 2004

We dissected cats also.... I remember vividly my cat had fleas.. dead of course, but in the fur, nonetheless.

My lab partner found kittens in hers when she opened her cat.

Don't think it is an option to dissect the cat... at least not in the college I attended, it was mandatory.

TexasPoodleMix · Oct 1, 2004

I know this may sound funny, but I think they may have saved a few patient's lives or so.

I sure hope so. :)

LadyMadonna · Oct 1, 2004

Cadavers....yuck! Wild horses couldn't drag me into a room to dissect dead people, it really bothers me to even look at dead people. When someone dies at work it always makes me very uneasy when I have to go look at them...

P_RN, ADN, RN · Oct 1, 2004

You would think that with all the technology in computer animation and virtual scenarios that actual animal dissection would no longer exist. I love my kitty. I learned not one thing from Anatomy lab. I also made As in A&P.

Back in 1963 was the last dissection I ever did. November 22, 1963 1PM we were cutting up that cat and then the instructor came in and said put the cats away, the President just died. That is all I ever learned by destroying that cat....that it wasn't the important thing.

NurseDiva04 · Oct 1, 2004

Take the class online and you will not have to worry about dissecting animals.

Being an animal lover I was appalled to find out that the A&P class I will be starting this spring dissects CATS in their lab. I find this very offensive. I would like to know if anyone has had experience with this and if there is a way to opt out of participating in the mutilation of dead cats and still get through the class?

Nrs2B · Oct 1, 2004

Hello Everyone. This is my very first post I am in the second A&P. We too dissect cats. I am not particulary overjoyed with it, but, it's what I have to do. Frankly, I'd much rather we do cadavers. I agree with the previous poster who said it would be much more relevant to our education. After all, we are not in vet school. JMO

Dawn

bruinlaura · Oct 1, 2004

but supposedly the cats are BRED to be dissected. THAT is what I find deplorable.

have no fear, cats are absolutely not bred to be dissected. i am taking anatomy right now and my professor addressed this issue. a small percentage of the cats (a few thousand) that are euthanized due to overpopulation (over 1 million) are sold to universities for dissections. you do not have to worry about a cat being killed just for your education. they were going to be euthanized no matter what so instead of just throwing them away they are used for education.

others have mentioned that it is not relevant to dissect a cat. i agree a human is more relevant but i was in a neuroscience lab that used sheep brains and it was extremely useful. animals have similar structures and while i am not looking forward to cutting up a dead cat (i have an adorable cat myself) i know that it is going to help me be more knowledgable and thus a better nurse.

TexasPoodleMix · Oct 1, 2004

have no fear, cats are absolutely not bred to be dissected. i am taking anatomy right now and my professor addressed this issue. a small percentage of the cats (a few thousand) that are euthanized due to overpopulation (over 1 million) are sold to universities for dissections. you do not have to worry about a cat being killed just for your education. they were going to be euthanized no matter what so instead of just throwing them away they are used for education.

Oh good, I hope that is true ! I heard they were bred in Mexico , and it was very disturbing to me.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2004

I had a vegan friend who was ethically opposed to dissecting animals. The instructor gave her drawing assignments and other assignments that were tough but a good learning experience.

Talk it over with the instructor first you might be pleasantly surprised that you're not the only one. If it's for strong moral conviction, rather than an "eeww gross" kind of thing, they should work with you.

Good luck.

MikeLPN · Oct 1, 2004

We dissected fetal pigs in APII (cats for those with religious preferences). I don't see what the point was of the whole excercise.

And then we had to take a lab test to identify the parts of the animals. :uhoh21:

This is the third time in my life I have had to do this and I do not see the value in it. And now that I've been an LPN for a couple of years I REALLY don't get it. I thought it was a huge waste of time better spent.

fleasle · Oct 1, 2004

have no fear, cats are absolutely not bred to be dissected. i am taking anatomy right now and my professor addressed this issue. a small percentage of the cats (a few thousand) that are euthanized due to overpopulation (over 1 million) are sold to universities for dissections. you do not have to worry about a cat being killed just for your education. they were going to be euthanized no matter what so instead of just throwing them away they are used for education.
Unfortunately, that is not true. Another instructor fed us the same line (although we did not dissect cats) about the cats coming from reputable companies that get euthanized cats. I wanted to be sure and did a little research on the internet. There are many biological supply companies that may very well get their cats that way, but there are many more companies in Mexico that are snatching cats off of porches and answering "free to good home" ads. I know this information probably makes it more difficult, but I think it is important to know that these cats are not always taken ethically, and, are often killed inhumanely. This is a great reason to check with your university to see if there is a cadaver dissection class, virtual dissection software, or other alternatives, or better yet...start the campaign to get them to change their cat dissecting policies.
Here is one of many links with information.
http://www.sniksnak.com/aavs3.html

rnmi2004 · Oct 1, 2004

I am sorry, but this whole "cats are bred for dissection" thing smacks of an urban legend. There are way too many unwanted cats in our society for there to be a need for creating more to fulfill a "demand" by some colleges for lab specimens.