Conference misery::feline_v1

    Don't worry, "Mom"!
    
    I went thru it, too, and everything was just fine.  My Billie never
    did go into her first heat;  I had her spayed at 8 months.  I had
    to leave her overnight (which broke my heart);  when I got her back,
    she was fine.  She was a little groggy, not much appetite, but purring
    like mad.  She didn't seem to mind the stitches, and really was
    pretty good about not licking them.  
    
    About your going to see her, I can't think why this would hurt.
    I'd think it would make her feel a lot better to see her;  altho
    if you didn't I wouldn't feel bad, either.  Cats don't have the
    conception of time as we do.
    
    She won't be mad at you--!  She'll be happy to see you, and be with
    you.  Cats are pretty smart--they know when they are loved and
    appreciated.  It sounds like you're doing just fine.
    
    Best of luck to you and your kitty, and please let us know how you
    both make out.
    
    Jane

When Daisy was spayed, the vet kept her for 2 days after the surgery.  The
second day may not have been necessary, but I believe that most vets will
not let a pet go home the same day they have had anesthesia;  vets like to
observe your pet for 24 hours after the anesthesia has been administered to
make sure everything is OK.  I really think it's in the best interest of the
cat to let the vet do this.

Cats can have many reactions to being spayed.  Everyone I knew who had had
a cat spayed told me their cat had snapped out of it within a few hours of
coming home.  Well Daisy, being the princess that she is, took about 3 days
to be normal again.  

All she wanted to do at first was hide out under my bed.  The way my bed is 
structured, I had to take it apart to get near her.  I'll never forget
spoon-feeding her baby food for 2 days under my bed;  all I could see was
a little pink tongue licking the food off the spoon.  This is a cat who
lives to eat, but she wouldn't come out for food.

The other thing that seems to be common after a cat has been spayed is that
she will look hollow around the hips.  I don't know a better way to describe
it, but you will know it when you see it.  Daisy's scar puffed up a bit, but
the vet said that wasn't a problem.  The only side effect was that the hair
on the part of her belly that was shaved grew in colored differently - it
used to be peach colored with black spots but the hair that grew back has no
spots.

Daisy came back to normalcy somewhat slowly (over a 24 hour period), but by
the third day she was completely back to normal.

I know I was very concerned about the whole thing, even before she went in.
I waited until she was 8 months old (luckily she hadn't come into heat at all)
because she was so tiny.  It's not easy, but I'm sure she'll come through it
just fine.

Pam

    I know that vets like to observe patients coming out of
    anesthesia, but if they have no night staff, which most
    don't, then I don't see a real need for the animal to
    remain overnight.  Well, actually I think the reason
    they would give you is that the cat would be caged and
    therefore kept restrained, less likely to hurt herself.
    
    If there's no night staff there to observe my pet, I
    would feel much more comfortable with them at home, where
    I know I would be up all night checking on them.
    
    Donna

    Re: about not going home the same day the the puss is anesthesized
    
    Before I started using those little gauze tooth cleaners on Sweetie,
    he had to have his teeth cleaned occasionally, under general
    anesthesia.  He could come home the same day.  However, I found that it
    was better to pick him up quite late in the day, so the anesthesia had
    worn off enough so that he had his coordination back.  Otherwise he could
    hurt himself (falling when he tried to walk, heaven forbid he'd
    try to jump on a counter and so forth).  He was still quite groggy
    even then.
    
    However, Asia will be in a much more fragile condition due to surgery,
    and the risk of her hurting herself if she jumps is greater.  If
    she is in a cage, she will just settle down and sleep, I guarantee
    it.  Probably the vet also wants to check her over the next morning
    before he lets her go.
    
    I know it's hard without them; do you have a teddy bear to tide you over?
                                    

    I just had my three ladies spayed a week ago Saturday.  I brought
    them in to the Vet at 8:30am and I picked them up (in my own box
    with a blanket in it) at 3:00 that same day.
    
    They were groggy and still under anesthesia, which can make them
    hallucinate (They were growling at each other in the box).
    
    When I got them home, they didn't want to stay in the box or eat,
    they just wanted to either lie on or hide underneath my bed. 
    
    I watched them carefully for the rest of the afternoon.  When one
    would venture out of the bedroom, I could see her coming down the
    hallway and I would meet her at the stairs to see where she wanted
    to go next.  If they headed for the stairs I knew that it was for
    the litterbox, so I carried her down.  DON'T let them go near any
    stairs, either up or down.  They are too wobbly to make it on their
    own (same day as the operation) and could hurt themselves.
    
    Well, mostly they just wanted to sleep for the rest of the afternoon
    and through the night.  
    
    The next day (Sunday, I was home to watch them again) they still
    didn't want to eat or drink but they were getting around much better.
    
    Monday morning, they finally started to eat again.
    
    Note of caution:  Check their stitches to see that they aren't pulling
    on them.  One of mine has pulled out at least 3 of hers (about 6
    in all), but that was about 5 days after the operation and she seems
    to be alright.  They will get their stitches removed this Tuesday
    night.
    
    So, the vet probably just wants to keep and eye on her, she may
    hallucinate (my male did when he was neutered-very scary for them),
    or she may exert herself too much at home.
    
    Good luck.  There shouldn't be any problems. 
    
    Pam
    

I'd leave her the recommended time...she needs to be quiet and inactive
for awhile.....she will be while crated at the vet's.  When she comes
home she will be feeling better and should be less a cause for concern.

I've been through it and didn't find much difference in my girl, once
she recovered fully from the surgery - a few days at most.

Relax, Mom, you'll live through it....

    Thanks for all the support!
    
    I went to visit her last night.  The nurses there told me to be
    careful because Asia wouldn't them near her.  I reached in and
    everything was fine...for a while...all of a sudden she wanted down
    so I put her back in her cage.  From then on she hissed and swated
    at me.
    
    Is this normal?  Will she hate me forever?  I think I am going to
    die.
    
    
    Linda

    Me again...
    
    I have thought about what everyone has said about taking Asia home
    tonight....I decided against it.  The doctor does come back at 7:00
    night to check, feed and walk the dogs.  At first I was going to
    have her come home and stay in the bedroom all night with me, but
    now I think I would be wrong to do this.
    
    I want to visit her tonight, but, boy, is it going to be hard to
    leave once again.
    
    Linda

    Linda--
    
    The reason why Asia hissed and swatted  at you is because she doesn't
    feel like her old self, and can't figure out why.  Whenever I've
    had my Billie put out for one thing or another, when I get her home
    and out of the carrier she is rotten!  Believe me, it's NOTHING
    personal--they can't understand why their reflexes are so slow,
    and sometimes the anathesia makes them nauseous (did I spell that
    right?!).  NOBODY likes feeling sick to their stomachs!  
    
    Just pat her and tell her she's a good girl tonight, and that she'll
    be home soon.  The other noters are right--the vet's is the best
    place for her right now, so she doesn't hurt herself.  By the time
    you get her home, she'll be MUCH better--and so will you.
    
    Everything's normal, and you're doing the right thing.
    
    Take care,
    
    Jane

    
    Don't feel bad about the way your cat is treating the people at
    the vets.  When we took Sunny in to have her spayed it was early
    in the morning.  The doctor said we could call after noon to see
    how the surgery went.  Well, she called me at about 11:30.  I figured
    that she had finished early and just wanted to let me know how it
    went.   Well, she said she was sorry she couldn't call earlier but
    she (the doctor) had just gotten back from the doctor.  Sunny had
    bitten her hand when she took her out of the cage to get her ready
    for surgery.  So she went to the doctors to get checked and a tetanus
    and she wouldn't be able to do any surgery that day because she
    couldn't use her hand.  I felt terrible. Sunny is one of the most
    friendly kitties you could ever know.  I guess she just didn't like
    being at the vets.  When I came to pick her up she hissed at me
    until she was able to get a good sniff to make sure I was her friend.
    I had to give her a tranquilizer before I brought her in the next
    week.  But even then they said she was still pretty wild.  
    
    It must be natural for them to act like this in strange surroundings.
    Your kitty will be fine when she gets back to her house and gets
    to feeling better again.  You'll see.
    
    Good luck...Susan

One thing I've noticed is how fast the recovery is...in a few days, you'll
hardly notice anything has changed...just a little shaved patch of skin.
She'll be her usual adorable, naughty self in no time.

    gee,i guess i was lucky.
    when i had cindy done she was just fine.she was only there over
    night.
    isnt really funny how cats/pets somehow know they are going to the
    vets! i wonder if it could just be in part the smell of other animals
    that is in the office??? the only time cindy ever got "angry" was
    when there were other animals around...
    
    i have one question though...
    after i had cindy done ,she didnt get fat or anything but her stomach
    seemed to sag after,is this normal?
    
    kelly

    Our late departed had the same problem.  We found out years later
    that the vet hadn't sewn her up right.  The skin under the abdomen
    almost dragged on the floor. It's pretty common, and no threat (except
    to her vanity).
    
    Gary

    Re: .13
    
    Hadn't "sewn her up right"?  Puzzlement and curiousity.  Can you
    explain (maybe under a form feed if it will distress those of delicate
    sensibilities...)
    

    As I understand it, when roaming around inside, the abdominal
    musculature is separated from the normal anchor points. When leaving,
    it is not easy to tie up said undercarriage, and sometimes it hangs,
    as in your (kitties) case.  I await a better explanation from another
    listener.
    
    Gary

    
    We had Sunny spayed only about 2 months ago and she has really
    ballooned.  She used to be sooo skinny but now she looks like she
    will be delivering 20 kittens any day.  What a porker!  But she
    sure is a lot more cuddly than she was before.
    
    Susan

        This message is from Pookie....
    Please,please don't feel bad about leaving youe little friend at
    her personal physicans.. tee-hee.. I did the smae thing to my 
    Mummy.. she cam to visit me on her lunch hour when I was being operated
    on...just for G.P. TEE-HEE.. THEN I felt bad. cuz I made her cry...
    so whne she picked up.. I hugged her .. just a little... tee-hee..
    your baby will be just fine.. she will be talking with the other
    Kitty -guests..  P.S... anew toy also helps!!! 
    meowr
    Pookie...

    
    Boy, I've been embarrassed by Sebastion's behavior at the vets so many
    times, and I thought... "I bet this is the worst kitty they have ever
    had to put up with."  I feel better that I'm not the only one with a
    tempermental kitty.  He's never hissed at me, don't ask me why, but boy
    has he taught those vets not to play games with him.  He hisses,
    growls, swats, bites, struggles, etc.  When the vet examines his body
    by feeling his back and abdomen she can never tell if something hurts
    because he whines and growls the ENTIRE time. 
    
    The last time, when she was examining him after he had been limping,
    she stopped, looked him in the eye and said "now look, Sebastion, if
    you're going to whine like that I can't tell where it REALLY hurts."
    He just looked at her with a sheepish face. 
    
    It is SO embarrassing.
    
    I had even changed vets because the one before her seemed too afraid of
    him to examine him properly. 
    
    Amy.
    
    P.S.  I agree, it's better to leave them overnight if possible. I
    brought Sebastion home once after the vet had to knock him out to clean
    out an infected wound.  It was so horrible to see him in that state, he
    was like a wet noodle.  I thought he was dead when the vet handed him
    to me.  It took a long time before he was back to his old self.

re: sagging tummy muscles

I asked the vet about that with the oldest of our cats, Tabitha.
The answer was that it is a common problem with older cats, as the
method of surgery used to be different and the muscles of the tummy
were often "damaged" by the surgery causing a cosmetic problem, no
medical problem.  Now days, however, the surgery
can be performed differently (and usually is by most vets around here)
and the problem is much less likely to appear.  I know Hannah is her
normal sleek little self, even though I know she has been spayed.

    Once upon a time....
    
    I went to see Asia after the "you_know_what" (I'm not allowed to
    say that word in front of her anymore) and she was pretty well out of
    it.  I left her there, I wouldn't have taken her home in that condition
    anyways, she was still pretty dazed.  I missed her Tuesday night
    but got up early and picked her up.  As soon as she got home she
    sniffed around and used her litter box.  One thing tho, she didn't
    eat all day, I guess this is normal, right?  She is much more lovable
    and that I LOVE.  Anyway, to keep this short, she is almost back
    to herself....still sleeps on top of my pillow!  These things take
    time and I don't want to rush anything.
    
    Thanks for everyones input and a special thanks for Pookie's words
    of wisdom.
    
    ...and we all lived happily ever after.
    
  
 

    Re:.  she didn't eat all day
    
    Sometimes anesthesia makes them nauseous for awhile.
    

    
    This looks like a good note for discussing spaying-related
    difficulties, so maybe you folks can help me out, too.
    
    I have two kitties, a female and a male, named Gilbert & Sullivan,
    respectively. I just brought Gilbert back from the vet's this
    afternoon, and she seems fine; she's alert, friendly, and eating
    normally (but she does look so skinny with her tummy shaved!)
    
    Here's the strange part: Gilbert seems fine, but Sullivan (the male)
    greeted her return with much hissing and spitting - as though I
    were bringing in a totally new, strange cat!
    
    These kitties have practically grown up together, and gotten along
    wonderfully (actually a bit too wonderfully, which is why I had
    Gilbert spayed at the earliest time the vet recommended). 
    
    My question is: What's going on? Why is Sullivan acting this way?
    He hasn't tried to attack her, but treats her with much suspicion,
    hisses loudly, and generally won't have anything to do with her.
    
    Here are a couple of theories, anyone care to confirm or deny?
    
    1. The vet apparenty gave her a bath before the operation, and 
    she smells kind of funny from whatever soap/antiseptic they used.
    Maybe Sullivan can't smell her scent, and therefore doesn't recognize her?
    
    2. She was in heat, and now she isn't, and so THAT scent is gone,
    too, and Sullivan is frustrated with her non-responsiveness. 
    
    
    If this is just scent-related, I suppose it will wear off, but
    could there be something else going on? Help!
    
    
    							Scot
        
    
    

    Re .22: You've got it - it's a scent problem. Every time I've brought
    one of the cats back from the vet, the other one has fits for a
    day or so. Be comforted; it will wear off.
    
    (Actually, *my* cats have another problem. Abigail wants to be Only
    Cat, and whenever Chiun is gone for a day or so she begins to think
    her wish has been granted. The look of disappointment on her face
    when he comes back is a little sad - but then she gets over it and
    condescends to wrestle with him now and then.)
    
    -b

    Also,  why didn't you get Sullivan neutered at the same
    time?
    
    Donna

>    Also,  why didn't you get Sullivan neutered at the same
>    time?
    
Add my vote to this one as well....unneutered males can become hostile to
spayed females (at least I have seen this happen) and the problem went
away with castration for the male.

    There is a theory in some vet circles that a male neutered later
    is less apt to block. As a result, many vets reccommend neutering
    the little girl ASAP, and waiting until the little boy is about
    8 or 9 months old (sooner if he starts marking).
    
    Deb

    Gee Deb, I thought the same thing until last night when I took
    my two baby boys in to be neutered.  I hesitated leaving Pasha,
    but Brody said, "The latest theory is that if they are going to
    block they will block no matter when they are done."  His office
    is now doing them as early as 3 or 4 months.  Even if they are
    neutered, their urethra will still develop and grow to size.
    I guess it's like any other disease - if you have a predisposition
    to a disease, you will get it - if you don't you probably won't.
    Pasha is 6 1/2 months old and weighs in at almost 7 lbs. - guess
    he must be pretty much developed - Misha is 8 months old and
    weighed in at 8 1/2 lbs. - now I know who has been cleaning
    out the food pans!  When I got up this morning, there was
    still food in the pan from the night feeding.  The house
    was so quiet with the little boys away - I didn't have to
    dig Pasha out of the bottom of the tall kitchen trash can at
    least eight times before bedtime, nor did I have to yell at
    Misha to stop chewing on any of the big guys as they passed
    by his path - I'll be very glad when they come home tonight!!!!
    Surgery should be done by now - gotta go and make the first
    of at least 3 calls to the Vet's office to make sure they are
    ok!
    
    E.T. 
    

    The theory of early neutering contributing (not necessarily
    causing) to FUS, was simply that, a THEORY.  There were never
    any scientific studies substantiating it.
    
    As for performing the surgery at 3 or 4 months, that seems
    way too early.  Why?  Really, what are the chances of a male
    cat becoming sexually mature at that age.  Pretty slim.  I'd
    prefer not to administer anesthesia to a 3 or 4 month old
    kitten unless absolutely necessary.
    
    Donna

    Yes, and I guess what he (the Vet) said last night was a "new"
    theory.  I don't know - I feel comfortable when the boys
    are at least 6 1/2 to 7 months at the earliest.  If possible
    I like to wait until 8 or 8 1/2 months.  The little 6 1/2 
    month old recently thought he would try and become active
    but his sister gave him the a piece of her mind!  He has
    been very aggressive of late - the other little boy had
    already started spraying - hope that stops real soon!
    The little red boy weighs over 7 lbs I believe, so i
    guess anesthesia should be more risky than normal - these
    Vets use a combination of tranquilizer & anesthesia - the
    tranquilzer cuts down the amount of anesthesia.  The previous
    2 girls I had spayed came home  playing & purring & wide awake.
    When I called at 11:30, both boys were up at at'em - they were
    awake enough to be put together again in one cage as they were
    last night.
    
    Theories are nice, but I (and I'm sure we all)would prefer hard
    facts!
    
    E.T.

    Agreed, it is just a theory. My vet told me that he personally didn't
    beleive it but he followed it just on the outside chance that it
    might be correct. Also, what Donna said about anestisha is also
    a concern. When I brought poor little Eirene in on her 6 month birthday
    she was so tiny they had to be very careful with the dosage they
    gave her. I really wanted to have the twins fixed togeather so they
    wouldn't have readjustment problems. Luckily, they didn't.
    
    Interesting that the vet community has reversed it's feelings in
    so short a period of time.
    
    Deb

    Re: .22 
    
    When Adrienne, Springer, Paws, and Midway went in to be spayed,
    Sly was _depressed_! He moped around the house for the whole time
    they were gone. I thought that he would immediately pounce on them
    (playfully) as soon as they got back. I was even worried that I
    would have to keep him away from them, until their stitches healed
    a bit.
    
    However, as soon as the four little girls got out of the cat carriers,
    Sly wanted nothing to do with them. If they came too close, he hissed
    and spit at them. I think that his actions had to do with
    the strange scent (vet's office) and the fact that cats usually
    stay away from, or hiss at, a cat that is sick.

    After a few days, Sly was back to normal again, cuddling with the
    other cats and getting cuddled in return. 
    
    Wait a few days -- things should be back to normal.
    
    Marleen
   

    I found it interesting also - but it's not the first time I'd heard
    this (neutering early) - the vet I used to use in Lowell almost
    a year ago was following this theory.  I feel a little better
    about the anesthisa beacause they have lowered the dose and
    mixed it with the tranquilzer - when I picked up the two 
    boys they were jumping (really !!) around in their cage -
    they came home ran out of the carrier - ate, played, pounced
    on all the other kids - it's like they just came home from a
    jaunt - both were really fine.   I guess I won't have to worry
    about it again (remember I said this folks) - everyone in the
    Inn has been spayed and neutered!  Finally!   THE INN IS FULL!!
    I guess for others, the only thing to do is follow both what 
    you think and feel, take into consideration what your Vet
    reccommends, how big is the cat and how much does he weigh?
    Do you have any unspayed females around....I think it's too
    bad that we don't have more real facts to go on.  I guess if
    we feed low ash & Mag. food to the males neutered both early
    and late, maybe that will still help prevent future problems.l

I would like more concrete info -- early vs later -- together not together -
I'm taking Boo Boo in for spaying and had originally planned to take Beau Beau 
but because they are only 6 months old, I decided to wait taking Beau until he's
eight months old -- I know about the hissing etc. because we've gone thru
this before -- 

What I might do is take them both in and let the vet make the decision if
Beau should be castrated now or wait until he's 8 months.  

Any ideas?

    One thing I heard about early vs. late neutering is that it affects
    the size the cat will grow to be.
    
    If the cat is neutered earlier (prior to eight months) he could
    end up smaller, presumably because he is not yet fully developed
    yet.
    
    Since I love big BIG kitties, I waited until eight months to do
    Carrington, but only seven for Colby (because I wanted them neutered
    at the same time). The result seems to be that Carrington is larger,
    as he weighs 14 lbs. fully grown, and Colby weighs 11 lbs.fully
    grown.
    
    Anyway, that's what I heard, and my own experience!
    
    -Chris R.

    RE: .34
    
    If that's true, I can't imagine how big Argus would be. I'm told
    he was neutered at 5.5 months; he is 22 lbs, and at least an inch
    taller at the shoulder than any other cat in the house. And he has
    huge paws (his paw can cover the palm of my hand!)

    Deb

    I have a question regarding my Silver.  She just went into heat
    this weekend.  She is crying LOUD (If you think Siamese cry loud,
    you should hear a Korat!!), she hasn't eaten much at all, and she
    is VERY lovey!!  There is one thing I am concerned about.  She is
    quite bloated around the belly area.  Is this normal?  My mother
    doesn't remember this ever happening with our other cats and neither
    do I.  We are not going to Spay her because we plan on breeding
    her next year.  Please tell me if this is normal for her to be bloated
    like this.
    
    Also, Tabby is being brought to the vets to be spayed on Thursday
    Morning and is coming Home on Thursday night.  I was a bit surprised
    that they weren't going to keep her over night.   What should I
    do for her when I get her home?  I know that she will still be aufully
    groggy from the anesthesia (sp).
    
    Holly
    

    Check with your Vet re: bloating - maybe a phone call will do it
    or bring her in with Tabby - When Tabby comes home, just leave
    her in the carrier for an hour or two, unless she really
    wants out - she will decide when she is ready.  Mine usually
    just sleep in the carrier they came back from Vet in -
    I leave it over in a corner in the living room so they know
    I'm around - the other guys check it out then go on about
    their business.  Around 8 or 8:30 they wake up, stand up
    and seem to want out - I open the door and leave it open.
    They wander around, sometimes go back in sometimes just
    sleep for another little while near it - they sometimes
    want a drink of water - mine don't rush into eating much.
    Some use their litter - some don't.  Your baby will tell
    you what she wants.  I don't pick them up - just pat and
    stroke them.  Sort of just leave them to settle for 3 - 4
    hours.  The next morning, it's pretty much like old times.
    Just watch the incision to make sure she isn't chewing her
    sutures - and watch for redness indicating infection.  The
    vets reccommend no jumping (ha ha) for 10 days - Just plan
    on a quiet restfull evening for both of you and things 
    should go very well.
    
    E.T.

    Re: .36  Bloating

    > We are not going to Spay her because we plan on breeding
    > her next year.

    I have just read that Vets and Breeders sometimes bring their
    females out of heat by simulating mating.  They just barely
    penetrate the vaginal canal with an object like a thermometer. 

    This is worth looking into as females can easily be in full heat
    for seven days and repeat this every two weeks for a couple of
    months.  It is not pleasant for the kitties (or us). 

    Good luck with Silver. 
    				Julie

    re: .38 and simulating mating...
    
    I'm guilty!  I must admit that I felt a bit weird, and the
    friend who helped me hold the female cat has never let me
    forget my sins!  ;-)
    
    The vet told me how to do it;  ask for a demonstration if
    you are not sure.  Too little pressure, and it will do
    no good...too much and it *could* cause harm.  If you
    manage to do it effectively, the cat will make very
    characteristic sounds and behaviours afterwards.  
    
    Some of my females have been miserable (for themselves as
    well as me) when in heat, and others have barely seemed to
    notice their condition.
    
    	Penelope

    Re:  .38 and .39
    
    I read about this in my home vet book.  They suggested using a small
    glass rod or a Q-Tip.  The Q-Tip was my choice.  It worked perfectly
    on Amelia.  Guess this is why she has such an affection for playing
    with Q-Tips. ;-)
    
    Jan

    Well, let me give you an update on Silver.  I called the vet and
    they said that they couldn't understand what could be wrong because
    she was eating and she was using the litter box (as far as I know).
    They figured that is was just her growing.  She was still quite
    playful so I didn't worry.  She is now finished her heat cycle and
    is no longer bloated.
    
    Tabbatha was spayed yesterday.  They brought her out in her carrier
    and she just looked at me and meowed and said, "Mom, you wouldn't
    believe the day I've had!"  I brought her home and let her out of
    her carrier.  The first thing she did was head for her food.  She
    walked ever so slowly around the house and finally decided to get
    up on my bed.   She slept there until about 10:00pm.  Then my mom
    came home and she decided to go and sleep with her.  From what I
    understand, Tabbatha slept with her all night.  She was just fine
    this morning, except maybe still being a bit soar.
    
    Holly
    

    Two comments about questions raised in this note. 
    
    First, I read in a recent Cat Fancy that you could erase the unfamiliar
    smell of being at the vet's by rubbing your cat with lemon juice.  This
    will neutralize the unfamiliar odors for the other cats and help
    prevent the un-welcome home!  I suppose you would put lemon juice on a
    wash cloth and rub down their fur? 
    
    Secondly, I remember reading somewhere that you needed to wait until a
    male cat's testicles were fully developed, or fully descended, or
    something like that before neutering him.  If true, then it is
    important to not neuter him too early. 

    re: -.1
    
    Yes, it's true that you should wait till a male's testicles are
    fully developed to neuter him.  It's really a question of letting
    all of his "plumbing" mature, and get as large as possible, to help
    lessen the possibility of FUS.  Apparently, according to our vet,
    the larger the tubing, the less chance of a blockage later on.
    
    Our vet had recommended originally that Tristan be at least 10 months
    old before we have him neutered, because he was very small.  At about
    8 months, though, he was driving our spayed Tenzing crazy, jumping
    her bones at every opportunity.  We went to the vet hoping he was
    developed enough, and the vet agreed that he was.  Needless to say, 
    Tenzing was thrilled.
    
    Karen