[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

3128.0. "It must be the Morgan Hill water" by WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JO (set home/cat_max=infinity) Mon Dec 11 1989 23:15

    This is the story of Mysinhs Moody Blue, a lovely little blue point
    male Birman, whom Ken and I have considered keeping as either a
    show cat/stud, or as a neutered premier.  Moody was born on June
    the 5th, 1989.  He has a very sweet face, and sometimes even I forget
    that he is a male.  He turned 6 months old on December 5th, and
    since December 9th, I will always remember that he is, in fact,
    a male.
    
    I had a friend come out and stay with me for a show this past weekend.
    Her name is Patsy, and she owns a male of my breeding named Manny.
    Well, Manny is now 8 months old, and his mother, Lysentia, has been
    in season for many months.  She had an arranged marriage planned
    with another male, but due to circumstances, we had decided to wait
    till her third litter to send her off to him.  We planned to rebreed
    her to Kalliste, since that breeding had produced Manny, who is
    very nice.  Lyscentia would be due for her vaccines in a few months,
    so I was going to boost her now, then give her a week or two before
    breeding her to Kalliste.
    
    Well, Patsy, Ken and I came home from the show on Saturday night,
    flipped on the light, and there were Moody and Lyscentia in the hall,
    having a great time (if you know what I mean, ;^}).  We were all
    too stunned to react at first,  we just stood there with our mouths
    open, not believing that the kitten whom I had corrected that morning
    for nursing off his mother, was now in the hall breeding Lyscentia!
    I came to, and pulled Moody off Lyscentia, saying "boy, we got here
    just in time".  It took me about 15 seconds to realize that he looked
    like he knew what he was doing, and that they had been loose together
    all day.  Usually, if it is the first time, the cat takes a long
    time to figure out what he is supposed to do.
    
    The funny part is that Moody only weighs about 6 pounds, and is
    half the size of Lyscentia.  He had to grab her on the middle of
    her back since he couldn't reach the back of her neck. :^)  It was
    truly a funny sight, him doing the best he could with my largest
    queen, and her looking over her shoulder, cooing encouragement to
    him.
    
    Now, this kitten is very much a kitten.  He hasn't exhibited any
    of the usual male behaviors that signify that he was maturing. 
    I have been looking for that type of thing, but hadn't seen it in
    him.  Manny, on the other hand, is showing those behaviors and was
    kept separate from the girls while he was there.
    
    So, I put Moody in with Manny, and put Lyscentia in another room.
    Moody went right up to Manny and started smacking him with his paws.
    Manny is at least twice the size of Moody, so that seemed rather
    stupid to all of us.  Ken says that Moody was probably teasing Manny,
    saying, "I just bred your mother, neaner, neaner, neaner". :^)
    
    This isn't that bad of a situation for me, it wasn't exactly what
    I had planned, but it will be okay.  Moody and Lyscentia are only
    distantly related, so this wasn't a complete disaster.  I have marked 
    the date on the calendar.  If she is pregnant by Moody, once he gets 
    out of kitten class (he has two months to go, he could still be
    in kitten class when this litter is born :^D), I will take him out 
    and try to grand him.  Then, if the litter turns out great, I may keep 
    him as a stud.  If the litter turns out to be not so nice, he will be 
    neutered and shown in premiership.  If she isn't pregnant, I will go 
    ahead with the original plan, vaccinate her first, wait a couple of 
    weeks, and then breed her to Kalliste.
    
    The moral of the story, if they are boys, they will be boys!  Be
    careful, never underestimate the male sex drive.  And, they don't
    always act like boys, but underneath it all, they are boys!  :^)
    I learned my lesson the hard way.  And to think, this is exactly
    the type of thing that I have been warning Linda about these last
    couple of weeks.
    
    This may actually cause me to make a decision about Moody's future,
    something that I have been undecided about for months.
                                          
    Jo
    Jo
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
3128.1CRUISE::NDCDTN: 297-2313Tue Dec 12 1989 10:364
    Well Jo, if she turns out to be pregnant you won't have to wonder
    what Moody's kittens would be like :-)
      N
    
3128.2IAMOK::GERRYHome is where the Cat isTue Dec 12 1989 11:5912
    Jo,
    
    Stripees got his first girl pregnant when he was in kitten class.  And
    he was showing no agressive male behavior.  But, a few months later,
    boy, did he "stink"!!!
    
    Now, it's fall, and he's back to his old peaceful self, and is again
    allowed free roam of the house...till spring, I'm sure!!!
    
    Of course, I still wouldn't trust him along with a girl!!!
    
    
3128.3when is it time for that Kitty vasectomy?TALLIS::DUTTONIts only rock'n'roll, but I like itTue Dec 12 1989 12:449
    Well, now, this story raises an interesting question.  Our two young
    boys, Thor and Loki, are 4 months old now.  From my reading and talking
    to the vet, I know that they should be neutered before 10 months.  But
    here I read about a 6-month old boy who's come into his own.  I
    understand that once the boys start spraying, its hard to break them of
    the habit.  What are the signs we should watch out for?  Previous notes
    imply that they show some signs (other than spraying?) that should let
    us know, "it's time"...
    
3128.4CRUISE::NDCDTN: 297-2313Tue Dec 12 1989 13:195
    Males that live with unneutered females will mature more quicky.
    Dundee was neutered at 9 months and only showed one sign of maturity
    which I'm too embarrassed to discuss ;-)  but did not include
    spraying.
      N
3128.5NO...no Vasectomy!IAMOK::GERRYHome is where the Cat isTue Dec 12 1989 13:2018
    The first signs are often the beginning of "calling", play mounting
    with either boys or girls, which is usually accompanied by biting on
    the back of the neck or ears.  
    
    Sometimes you will see them beginning the "marking motions" without
    really spraying.
    
    I feel that males should be neutered between 6 and 8 months, depending
    on if their "parts" are there.  Most of my males are born with "parts"
    but sometimes they take a while to "drop down".  If the "parts" are
    there, there shouldn't be any problem with neutering.  
    
    Make sure you DO NOT ask for a kitty vasectomy....they really do them! 
    All that will do is take away the kitty's ability to make a girl kitty
    pregnant, rather than take away the male behavior.
    
    cin
    
3128.6Besides, your cute when you blush!!IAMOK::GERRYHome is where the Cat isTue Dec 12 1989 13:252
    Aw, come on, Nancy...you don't have to be shy!!!  ;-)
    
3128.7Neuter, not vasectomy!TALLIS::DUTTONIts only rock'n'roll, but I like itTue Dec 12 1989 14:088
    Thanks for the background info.  We have a while before we have to
    worry about this, but I wanted to catch the warning signs in time!
    
    RE: vasectomies vs neutering -- oops, you're right, I knew the
    difference.  Serves me right for getting "cute" -- don't want anyone
    to end up misinformed...
    
    
3128.8FSHQA1::RKAGNOA Cat Makes a Purrfect FriendTue Dec 12 1989 15:1510
    I have five male cats, 3 of them are neutered, and Kirby is being
    done today.  I probably could have held him off until 8 months (he
    is 7 months now) but as soon as Murdock arrived, Kirby started spraying
    the cat beds something awful.  I have washed more cat beds in the
    last 2 weeks than actual laundry!  I'm just glad he chose the beds
    and not the carpet or waterbed.  I probably should have realized
    he was coming into manhood the day he peed on Dana (my husband)!
    
    
3128.9OOPS!FORTSC::WILDEAsk yourself..am I a happy cow?Tue Dec 12 1989 15:488
>>    I probably should have realized
>>    he was coming into manhood the day he peed on Dana (my husband)!
  

In fact, that IS one of the early signs in some males I have seen..when
they "mark" other males (same or other species) it seems like they are
feeling the urge to spray, but don't have all the connections yet....
hopefully, it happens on a tolerant male 8^}
3128.10WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityTue Dec 12 1989 15:5928
    Another sign that no one mentioned, they like to lick their parts
    a lot! :^)  You will often find them sitting with both back legs
    straight in the air, just licking away.  Also, they rub the sides
    of their faces on everything.  
    
    Of course, Moody never did any of these things!  The poor boy can't
    decide whether to nurse off of Laci and Kyrielle (they have kittens
    now), or breed Lyscentia.  He is still his sweet kittenish self
    when she isn't around.  When she is around, he gets right down to
    business.  
    
    Like Nancy said, now we will find out what kind of kittens he can
    produce.  We have been hoping and praying that we could keep him
    as our blue stud, since he is the most gorgeous kitten we have had.
    But, as he got older, and wasn't growing at the rate most of our
    boys do, I started to worry that he wouldn't have the size I like
    to see in a stud male.  Ken commented this morning that he seems
    to have grown overnight! :^)  I think it is just because his chest
    is all puffed out with pride, and his head is big too! (Moody, not
    Ken).
    
    Course, Kalliste isn't going to be too happy when Lyscentia doesn't
    show up in his stud room next week!  
    
    Gee, I had just hoped to get Moody out of kitten class before any
    breedings took place.  :^)
    
    Jo
3128.11SANFAN::FOSSATJUTue Dec 12 1989 17:5019
    I had a similar experience with Pippin & Gino.  Pip was 5 1/2 months
    old and went into a full blown out heat - Gino is just about two
    months younger.  Well, I came home to poor Pippin calling and
    slithering on the carpet and Gino was just looking on at that point.
    Well, about a half hour later Gino decided to put her out of her
    misery and mounted her - he assumed the position (correctly) but
    kept falling off!  It was so very funny - but what he did manage
    to do was trigger a false ovulation - she went out of heat and we
    were able to have her spayed just a few days after.  
    
    Maybe its true when they that Siamese are the Nymphos of the kittie
    kingdom.  He still has a go at her from time to time (he was fixed
    at 7 months) but when he gets her behind the neck he just kind of
    sits there and looks around, shakes his head and forgets what he's
    supposted to do.  "ONCE WAS NOT ENOUGH".
    
    
    
    Giudi in SF (Pippin, Gino & Stitch) 
3128.12unrealEM::TRACHMANExotic Shorthairs=NO GroomingTue Dec 12 1989 19:157
    Hey Cin, and then there is Lil (showing signs, and alllll)
    
    Jo, that's a hoot - not really funny funny - you know what I
    mean - I think Cin probably can tell you about Lil - it would
    take a year for her to enter it here.
    
    E.
3128.13WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityTue Dec 12 1989 19:296
    Just to clear up any confusion, cats won't ovulate until and unless
    they are penetrated.  They are what you call "induced ovulators" 
    So, please don't try this method at home kids, it ain't worth the 
    risk.  :^)
    
    Jo
3128.14WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityTue Dec 12 1989 19:319
    Elaine, 
    
    Well, I thought is was pretty funny funny.  When I picture them
    in my mind, like right now, I laugh out loud!! :^D
    
    I can't wait to hear the story of Lil, send me mail.
    
    Jo
3128.1599% sure that she is pregnantWR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityThu Dec 28 1989 18:107
    Well, the jury is in on Lyscentia.  Saturday will mark three weeks
    since she was bred by that rascal Moody, and already she is pinking
    up!  So, either he was shooting blanks, and this is false pregnancy,
    or she is really pregnant.  At any rate, this proves that actual
    matings did occur prior to when I caught them.
    
    Jo