Conference misery::feline_v1

    Hopefully it is just some type of vitamin deficiency.  Portia had
    this when she was still a little girl.
    
    Elmo, on the other hand, in 9 months now.  And he is absolutely
    into everything.  He tries to eat the sponges, the kleenex, the
    Christmas tree, etc.  He even tries to eat the wallpaper off the
    walls (my lanlord is gonna love me when we move out!).  But with
    Elmo, even though he tries to eat everything, I have yet to see
    him really digest anything.  Granted, I have yet to do a major analysis
    of his stools or anything.  We just know that Elm's has been chewing
    on things.  We wonder if he's teathing. .  
    
    Check to see if Pippin is really eating these things or just chewing
    on them.
    
    	-Nancy

    re: spaying - She should be spayed at 6 months.  Most cats don't
    go into heat before that time, but I've heard of one or two who
    have.  If you are letting her out and she's 6 months old, don't
    take any chances.  Get her spayed now.  If you can't afford the
    regular price, send me your mail stop and I'll send you a couple
    of low cost spay applications.
    
      Also, if she's eating much less than she used to and also
    eating lots of things she shouldn't CALL THE VET.  Most vets
    will at least discuss the problem over the phone.  If its
    nothing serious the vet will tell you and if you should be
    concerned you can make your appointment then.  Better safe
    than sorry.
      Good luck.
      Nancy DC
    
    p.s. You could also try restricting her to one room when you're
    not around.  That way she wouldn't be able to eat anything but her
    food.  (Oh, and Isis has been known to gnaw on sponges)

    Re .2
    
    My vet doesn't like to spay until the cat has gone into heat once.
     He had told me why, but I don't remember.
    
    	-Nancy

    Different vets, different practices, I guess.  I've always had my
    cats spayed at 6 months and its never done them any harm. (My vet
    waits until 9 months for males).  On the other hand, I've had
    people tell  me that their cats either went into heat at or before
    six months and it drove them crazy, or they were letting their
    cat out and ended up with unwanted kittens.  You should probably
    consider that too.
      Of course if you trust your vet, then you do what s/he tells you.
       Nancy DC
    

    Vets generally don't like to spay earlier than six months, because
    before that time the cat's reproductive organs aren't completely
    developed.  To spay before that period of time is called an immature
    spay.  We got out 2 kittens spayed at 4 or 5 months.  When the reports
    came back, they told us that one was an "immature spay" and the
    other wasn't.  Strange.  Don't ask me how that could happen, these
    kittens were sisters!  Obviously, it's something a vet can tell
    once they "get in there," if that helps.  
    
    We insisted on getting the kittens spayed early because their mother
    was 5 months old before she had them.  Her appointment
    was already scheduled and everything...TOO LATE!!! She had only
    been out 2 or 3 times in her life, but I guess that's all it takes.
    
    Stacie

    Re spaying early: I _believe_ there's still a minimum age recommended
    for neutering males, due to the increased risk of urinary problems if
    they haven't matured enough prior to surgery. But my vet recommended
    spaying my new female kitten at about four months, or "as soon as she's
    had all her shots". I asked him about the change in procedure, and he
    said it was due to improvements in anaesthesia and surgical technique.
    Before, it was too risky to put a very young animal to sleep, and the
    surgery was difficult if the cat was tiny. Now (he said), it's a lot
    safer, and since younger animals heal more quickly he figures it's a
    win to get it over with early.
    
    Sirocco came through her operation quickly and easily (didn't even slow
    her down), so he may be right; I suppose only time will tell if there
    are any detrimental side effects. 
    
    -b

    In any case, Pippin is old enough at 8 months to be spayed.  I 
    would really question the "wait till they've had one heat" bit.
    It sounds rather peculiar unless there's some specific health
    reason for that particular cat.  You could call another vet and
    just get another opinion. 
    
    Course your note is about eating, not spaying...I'd ask a vet
    about that too.  Better safe than sorry.
    
    Karen, Tristan and Tenzing.

    Re: Going in heat before spaying
    
    Now that I think back, Portia was really sick when we got her, which
    was maybe why the vet wanted to wait with her.  She's my only female,
    so I don't have other cats to judge by.  We didn't have her spayed
    until she was almost 10 months, and even then we only did it since
    it was a dire emergency (she got knocked up).  Otherwise, we probably
    would have waited at least another month, maybe 2.

    	-Nancy

    When I asked my vet why we should wait until the first heat to get
    our female cat spayed, he said that to spay her before that would
    increase the risk of (ovarian, I think) cancer. Since I am not well
    acquainted with what actually comes out, ovarian cancer may not
    be correct. It _was_ some kind of cancer related to reproductive
    organs. Since we had a litter before she was spayed it was no big
    deal.
    
    The Doctah

    Not to discount -.1, but wouldn't going into heat be a reasonable
    indication of fully developed sex organs?
    
    Edd

     Actually, I believe that although a cat will go into heat the first
    time at about 6 months, it's reproductive organs do not finish
    developing for a year. I'm pretty sure that's what the vet told
    me. They usually spay around 6 mos- or first heat.
    
    The Doctah

    re: .9 (?)
    
    It certainly can't be ovarian cancer since it the ovaries that
    are removed during spay.  In the case of a cat that's already 
    pregnant, they remove the tubes as well.  I seem to recall something
    about cat anatomy that they don't have a uterus like humans but
    rather modified falopian tubes which is where the kittens grow.
    At any rate, your vet may be concerned about mammarian cysts.  
    Since my oldest cat is 11 and was already spayed when I got her
    at age 2 I can't base anything on my experiences with her.  My 
    9 1/2 year old was spayed right a 6 months and hasn't shown any
    cysts or cancer yet.  Of course, 9 yrs isn't old or an indoor
    cat.
      My opinion is that if you are letting the cat out, have her
    spayed early (6 months) or you run the risk of ending up with kittens.
    If you want to wait, then I'd advise you to keep her in so there's
    no way she can get pregnant.
      Good luck
        Nancy DC
    

    Nippa was spayed at 5 mo. because, we caught her in the "act". 
    She is 2 1/2 yrs old and has not had any real serious problems
    since then (except a recent bout of a parasite type infection),
    and she always goes out.  
    
    michele ( & Nippa)