Conference misery::feline

    I go to Dr. Mulcahy in Leominster, and I'm pretty sure she
    only charges around $40-45 for a female, so a male must be
    even less than that.
    
    Another alternative is to get a spay/neuter certificate from
    the Friends of Animals.  I believe the price is $38 for
    a spay (female) - not sure about a neuter, but again, it will
    be even cheaper.  Their number is 800-321-PETS.
    
    Good luck
    Pam

	Hi !! New to the conference, but needed to ask a quick 
	question of all you Feliners out there !!!

	We recently got a kitty, male, name is Peanut, born in 
	April.  He's one of SIX in our menagerie - I have two dogs,
	a 2 year old Toy Poodle and a 4 month old Bichon Frise; my
	housemate has a 16 YEAR old cat, an-almost 2 yr old Cairn
	Terrier and a 1 yr old Cairn Terrier.  They all get along
	wonderfully, although at times they drive US nutty !!!!

	Anyway, the reason I'm writing HERE (as opposed to the "intro's)
	note) is to ask about getting Peanut NEUTERED.  He's already
	had all of his kitty shots and was tested for Feline Lukemia, 
	and now I'm taking him to the vet's on Monday to get his rabies 
	shot (thanks to all the scares going on in Fitchburg - I live 
	in Leominster !!)

	The vet had told us to wait until Peanut was @ 9 months old
	before having him neutered - however, Peanut's mom's owner
	says waiting that long, we could have problems with him starting
	to spray around the house.  Also, he's really starting to give
	the 16 yr old cat (the ONLY female animal in the house !!) a
	hard time and we're wondering if it could be because he's
	coming into maturity and "knows" she's a female, even tho' she's
	spayed.

	So, to make this long story over, should we have him done NOW
	(@ 6 months) or wait ??  How long ??  Any ideas ??

	Thanks,
	Debbi J

    Wow...is this the Debbie J from years ago!!!!! My my your
    family has grown with four-legged creatures!!
    
    I have neutered all my males cats between 6-7 months and
    have had no problem.    It is true that once a cat starts to
    spray....he might continue to do this after he has been fixed.
    If he is bothering the older female....I'd say have it done 
    as soon as possible.
    
    Sandy M.....(with many cats!!!)
     

    Hi Debbie,
    
    I always have my male cats neutered before 9 months of age.  When
    Kelsey was 7 months old he was already starting to back up to cabinets
    and shake his tail (but couldn't figure out the spraying part thank
    goodness!), and dragging around his litter brother by the scruff!  So,
    my take on this is the sooner, the better, as long as the parts are
    ready to go!
    
    Most vets will recommend holding off until 9 months but I have never
    waited that long with any of my cats.
    
    Good luck!  That's quite a crew you've got there.  :^)
    
    -Roberta
    

    I was just asking this same question of the vet who spayed my little
    girl, Amber, yesterday.  They like to spay the females at age 6 months
    before they come into heat to prevent mammory tumors and neuter males
    8-9 months so their uretha (sp?) tube is developed more (narrow ones in
    males can sometimes get blockage when neutered too young, they said and
    maybe lead to FUS). 

    It depends on how "mature" your boy is.  Some "come into their own"
    earlier than others.  The best advice is from your vet.  My vet (and
    Pat's, too!) likes to wait a little longer on boys, but if they are
    like Biff and mature quickly, then snip-snip earlier.  Sometimes, the
    competition for "top cat" in a multi-cat household seems to bring out
    the worse in them--as it did with Biff.  My usual best guess is 8
    months, 7 for the manly ones...
    
    Mary

	Thanks for all the input !!  We go to the vet's this afternoon
	for rabies shot, so will discuss with him/her then.  Since this
	is my FIRST cat (have always been allergic/asthmatic with them,	
	but Peanut seems to have been born just for me - NO problems !!),
	I'm not sure I'd know "spraying" if I saw it so will talk about
	that too !!!!!!!!!!!

	Hi ! To Sandy Merritt - yup, it's me !!

	Thanks for the welcome - hope to be spending more time reading
	and getting "educated" into the feline world soon !~~

	Will post more later and let you know what the vet says!

	Debbi J

    You may not notice spraying if you saw it...but you would smell
    it immediately!!  (yuck...strong stuff!!)
    
    Nice to hear from you after all these years...and believe me there
    is a wealth of knowledge in this file that will help you become
    familiar with cats....   
    
    Sandy <

    Does anyone have an update for spaying prices in the Massachusetts
    area?
    
    I just took our little one in and was confirmed at $75.00 for the spay
    and for distemper and rabies shots.  
    
    Is this reasonable?  I remember doing my others (course this was four
    years ago) but it was $60.00 then for a male and female.
    
    Thanks in advance,
    
    cj
    

    Those rates do sound normal!!
    
    You can contact Friends of Animals and try to get a spay/neuter
    certificate that will atleast help with some of the cost.  If your 
    in the Fitchburg/Lunenburg area you can contact the Pat Brody Shelter
    and receive one of their certifcates that must be used with one of the
    local vets we use at the shelter. (Dr. Fallon)
    
    Pet care is expensive...but it is definitely needed. (especailly
    spaying!!)
    
    Sandy
         

    Thank you for your quick reply.  I figured it was pretty normal, but
    didn't know the rates have gone up so much with pet care.  Guess its
    like everything else in the world.  
    
    I also agree about the importance of this.  This particular cat was
    abandoned, along with several other kittens and cats, in an apartment
    below us.  We saved what we could before the man claimed to shoot the
    rest.  No, I did not report him.  Because he knew where we reside, I
    thought it was better left alone.  Now, Gypsy, at one year and only four
    (4) pounds still has trouble with people getting near her.  It was a
    hard time getting her to the vet today for sure.
    
    Thanks again,
    
    cj
    
                                                    

    Well, I got my little one back but she is traumatized worse than I
    thought.  She refuses to eat or drink anything (its been 48 hours now)
    and hides from the cats and people.  
    
    Do you have any ideas as to what I can do to get her to eat?
    
    Thanks,
    cj

    re .12 -
    
    If it seems to be related to the medical procedure, call your vet.
    Kittens will sometimes come home from surgery a little groggy, but 48
    hours sounds too long.  Some vets insist on keeping an animal overnight
    after surgery so they should be past this stage by the time you take
    them home.
    
    If it's "just" the psychological burden of the visit to the vet, lots of
    solicitous attention and TLC will help.  Does she have any special
    treats you can offer her?
    
    len.
      

    I would call the vet.  If it has been 48 hours since the surgery and
    she is exhibiting abnormal behavior, it is time to let him know.
    
    Jo

	Mine hid under the chair for about 4 days.

	She refused drunk and food for 24 hours, but after that I got her
	to dring watered down milk, and mashed soft-boiled egg.
	Once she stared to drink/eat, she soon picked up, and realised that
	it was hunger she was feeling, not just hurt.

	Try putting something she really likes on her paw or mouth, to get
	her to lick it off...it might just make her realise she's hungry.

	It's the not drinking that really worries me - 48 hours is a long time,
	especially after the operation, I'd call the vet if the above tactic
	doesn't work.

	Heather

    Update on Gypsy
    ---------------
    
    My kitten is no longer the same kitten.  She is more friendlier than
    she has ever been.  *she used to be so timid and ran away from
    everyone including myself and husband when we approached her* and comes
    to sleep with us at night.  She likes to be petted, which was a
    definate no no before.
    
    Is this because she was spayed a few weeks ago?  She was even o.k. when
    I took her to the vets to get the stitches out!  Its nice to see her
    acting so great after the trauma I put her through.  Mommy is no longer
    the meany in the family!~ :)
    
    cj
    

    So happy Gypsy has changed for the better.   My guess is you
    have finally "won" her trust and maybe she is SOOOOO happy to
    be back home after the visit from the vets.
    
    I personally very seldom see much of a change when my females
    are spayed...but I do see quite a bit of change in males!!  They
    seem less aggresive and more settled down.  I guess it could
    happen to a female too!!
    
    Sandy

    I noticed a change in Lizette after she was spayed.  She became more
    playful with toys and the other cats.  She seems even more loving to
    me, now.
    
    Steffi
    
    

    Hi, can anyone tell me how I can optain the nauter spay citificates
    for fixing at a reduced fee. I want to offer these to some people
    to fix their cats. I feel obligated.
    
    			Thank You....John scales
    			            
                                      Jupitr::Scales
    
    

    Call Friends of Animals at 1-800-321-PETS
    

    Does anybody tell me where I could get a certificate for spaying the
    cat. Some time ago, I've read about that in the Feline notes but
    I could not remember who was offering such thing. I have a mother
    cat which I captured with her 3 kittens (meanwhile all of them
    in Fitchburg Animal Clinic). I called to the NE Animal Shelter in
    Salem this morning and was told that they could take the mother
    (they put her on waiting list) but she must be tested agains FELV and
    FIP, have rabbies and distemper vaccionation, and she must be spayed.
    Pretty heavy bill. huh? I asked Norm in Fitchburg Animal Clinic how
    much they charge for spaying. He said $55. I wonder if I could save
    a few bugs if I would get a certificate.
    
    Please advise.
    Jana

    call FOA 1-800-321-PETS
    
    a female spay is $38.

    I took cat in this morning to get spayed. I had the certificate
    from the friends of family. He charged me an additional $20 because
    she was older - a year and a half. He also charged me an additional
    $30 because she went into heat last night. ( I was afraid she'd do
    that ). I had called for the appt before christmas and mentioned at
    the time that I was afraid that if I waited she'd go in heat.
    
    

    I have never heard about the older rule...which I find crazy, but
    I do know that it is a more difficult procedure if she is in heat.
    
    I've also heard some vets will not spay if the cat is in heat!!!
    
    Sandy
    
    

    Geez - that sounds kind of fishy to me (the older part).  I've
    known of dozens of people who had older cats and used spay/neuter
    certificates, and weren't charge more - what's the difference how
    old the cat is?  It kind of sounds like your vet was trying to
    get the money the he/she would have originally charged, and made
    that excuse (?)

    Some vets prefer to do geriatric profiles on an older pet before
    performing surgery, if it isn't one of their "regulars".  My vet is
    one. My vet also refuses to do a spay during heat, too much risk to the
    pet supercedes the annoyance factor of the pet owner of waiting until
    fully out of heat and all swelling has subsided.
    Sarah

At our place, animals over 6 or 7 (forget which) get a blood workup prior to
surgery and that costs a bit more. That goes for any surgery - one of our cats
had a dentistry a couple of weeks ago and had blood work done. For older
animals, starting somewhere like 10 or above depending on their general health,
we use Isoflurane for anesthesia. Again, guesses on cost, but I believe
Halothane runs like $12/pint and Iso is like $45/2 ounce bottle. Think we charge
an extra $10 for using Iso - I dunno - I just pay my bills as they show up ;-)

							Trace

	Where is there a good place to get a cat spayed in the
Framingham/Natick area? My roomate is FINALLY getting around to
spaying her, and where she seems to jump into heat every 2 weeks,
I'd like to find a place ASAP to get this done BEFORE she goes back
into it.


Thanks


Glen

    I think I've seen this in here before, but can't locate it now...
    
    My sister-in-law has three cats: 1 male, 2 females.  The male has been
    fixed, but the 2 females have not.  The other day one of the females
    "escaped", but luckily there appear to be no new kittens in the future. 
    She'd like to have the females spayed, but she doesn't have the approx.
    $120-$160 needed to take care of them both.  
    
    Isn't there a place called "Friends of Animals" or something like that
    that she could call to get a certificate for free/reduced spaying?  If
    so, does anyone have the phone number?
    
    Thanks for the help.
    
    - Lauri
    

    Laurie,
    
    	Here is the number for Friends of Animals. 1-800-321-7387.  I had
    got a certifcate from them and I believe for the male cat, it was
    $25.00 but its higher for a female cat.  
    
    Good luck!!
    
    Anila
    

    Thanks.
    
    I'm getting the info sent to me.  The woman said a female was $45. 
    Still pretty good, I think.
    
    - Lauri