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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

4008.0. "Romantic evening for two!" by SUBURB::ODONNELLJ () Thu Sep 20 1990 16:26

    A few days ago we had a power-cut in our flat. It lasted until around
    midnight and we had to use oil lamps and candles until the power was
    fixed. 
    It seemed to affect our cats in the same way you would expect it to
    affect humans! 
    In other words, we discovered 4 month old Jimmy on top of 3 month old
    Rosie - and she wasn't complaining!
    I thought they weren't old enough to get interested in each other like
    that, but it would explain some of the recent scraps they've had. 
    Anyway, we separated them; Jim slept in Claire's room and Rosie was on
    with me. This was fine for me, apart from the dawn greeting, but hell
    for Claire because Jimmy yowled at intervals all through the night for
    his beloved!
    They are still separated when we aren't there (we both work different
    shifts, so it isn't often) and the vet says she can't give them their
    'ops' for at least another month and a half. 
    
    Can Rosie get pregnant at such a young age, and are we doing the right
    thing by separating them?
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4008.1WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityThu Sep 20 1990 17:4513
    At 3 months old, Rosie may be experiencing kitten heat.  If so,
    she can get pregnant.  
    
    More likely, this is a dominance thing on Jimmie's part.  He is
    trying to establish dominance over Rosie.  Jimmie may be maturing
    to the point where he can breed, depending on his breed, so it is
    best to keep them separated to be safe.
    
    There is no cut and dried time that cats mature in, it can vary
    with individual cats, so it is better to be safe than sorry.  Keep
    them separated until they are fixed.
    
    Jo
4008.2watch ALL the timeTYGON::WILDEillegal possession of a GNUThu Sep 20 1990 21:027
>    There is no cut and dried time that cats mature in, it can vary
>    with individual cats, so it is better to be safe than sorry.  Keep
>    them separated until they are fixed.
    
and, don't leave them together if you are out of the room for 2 minutes....
it doesn't take long.  Pregnancy at that young an age is life-threatening
and should be avoided at all costs.
4008.3SUBURB::ODONNELLJFri Sep 21 1990 08:504
    Thanks for the replies - they'll be separated until they get their ops. 
    Jimmy, for the record, is a ginger tom (and seems to be living up to
    the notorious reputation!). Little Rosie is a black female. 
    I think we'll take Rosie to the vets, just to make sure she's OK.
4008.4excellent ideaTYGON::WILDEillegal possession of a GNUFri Sep 21 1990 16:543
>>>    I think we'll take Rosie to the vets, just to make sure she's OK.

good idea!  better to be safe....
4008.5Where there's a will....SUBURB::ODONNELLJMon Oct 01 1990 19:5710
    We have been separating Jimmy and Rosie, but had a mishap the other
    day.
    Jimmy was safely shut in my room, but we forgot to shut Rosie up too,
    and she must have been tantalising him outside the door. 
    Anyway, Jim became so worked up and desperate that he tried to dig his
    way out - you should see the carpet! Then, for good measure, he tipped
    up a spider plant and ripped it to shreds. All in 30 minutes flat!
    
    Luckily our landlord was very nice about it. He says he's very
    forgiving where cats are concerned. Fortunately!