Great news , glad for you both. The anaesthetic is always a worry, I find the males are a little more careful leaping about for a couple of days but apart from that they don't seem to suffer too much

Amber is a housecat for the most part, but we do tend to let her escape when we are about at the weekends and in the early evening if one of us is home!! She is scared of anything bigger than a fly though and soon hops back through the window if anything bigger than a bee is in the vicinity! She's pretty enclosed and wont venture far, bless her (its a shared garden and she stays in the rosebushes). I would never leave her to run wild before she is spayed though, its not fair. I haven't seen many other other cats about but don't want to take chances.

My little one sits at the window and howls most nights before bed, we're not sure she is calling all the boy cats ot just wants to go out and play

The vet did say she'll get nosier though and that's how we know its time! Going to book her in for a few weeks time and as I say I'll take a few days off. Smothering "mother" that I am


I'm glad he is OK - its such a worry isn't it? Glad Arwyn is back safe and sound

Hi RG, how old is Amber? The reason I ask is there's a slightly higher risk of complications involved if the spay is done during the "heat". In other countries in Europe they spay as young as 3months but vets here don't seem to do this, they say wait til 6 months- I don't know why this is
I had Betty done when she was in heat as she had been sick for a long time and by the time she was healthy enough for the op she was in heat you can't mistake it, the yowling and the offering of her backside to you, the sofa and anything else available-much to the disgust of my other neutered/spayed cats. Its like looking at the worst excessess of Saturday night slappers

Amber is just over 5 months, the vet said they would wait until she is 5 1/2 - 6 months! So it will be this month for sure.....

She has been a bit yappy, slightly more than usual (she is a pretty quiet girl so still not beingoverly nosy?) and I haven't noticed her wagging her bum about? She's a huge tart anyway though, so maybe I wouldn't notice the difference

Will the vets make sure she is not in heat / its safe to go ahead before they take her in? Or could it be a wasted journey? Maybe I need to get her done sooner?

I absolutely love cats,even just watching them sleep cheers me up!

I don't have one at the moment since the last one passed on several years ago,but I am seriously thinking about getting a couple of kittens in the future.

Everyone loves kittens but I am equally happy when they grow older and lazy and just want to sit on your lap all day.

I don't know anything about pedigree cats though,I would be happy with any old moggy.

6 months is the usual for UK and Ireland. It would be virtually unheard of for them to come into heat before then, she'll be fine for the next month or so
You'd definitely know if she was in heat-theres no mistaking it , the constant yowling and the bending of her front legs whilst her bottom is in the air is a sure sign. Betty was reversing around the house like that for 3 days when I eventually cracked and got her done anyway. She was a stray so we could never be sure of her exact age but vet said she was probably about 7 months at that stage and the heat could last for a couple of weeksI really couldn't stand it any more. Escape attempts became more and more daring too
Betty was fine and recovered well (I took time off work too)but the vet did mention the higher risk of complications, he was happy to do the job and agreed an indoor queen in heat is not pleasant to live with I wonder how breeders cope

I have 2 kittens wispa and fudge (my hubby is a chocaholic hence the names!!) they are little terrors but i love em!

Excellent, she'll be just under 6 months when I get her done so that should be fine.

I am glad Betty recovered well (loving the name!!), and I know it has to be done!!!

As yet Amber hasn't been in heat as far as I can tell.... She's just a little monster in general anyway

Thanks for the advice!!

[I have two Maine Coons who are both eight years old and gorgeous. QUOTE]

I have a Norwegian Forest Cat - very similar. And, yes, cats are fab. My NFC is eight also.

I like cats, and dogs, and I like both a lot.

I found out today that my friend's cat, or one of the, died today.
But, he said he's going to get a kitten, who will have more kittens.

do you have any pictures

I like cats too.
I have three. Two young ones, only a couple of years old plus one oldie from the John Major era!!

Just your bog standard British shorthairs though. One B&W, one totally black and the other a nice caramel coloured tabby.

I love cats and have always had them. Some peope dislike them intensely but I had one friend who said "don't you think their eyes look evil the way they look at you?" Of course I love my cats and think it's the friend who is bonkers.

I like dogs too but as I work full time don't think it was ever fair to keep one. And I would hate walking them in all weathers. I just don't think I'll ever be a dog person though I love to pet my friends dogs.

Cats are just cool. They can look at you as if to say "what the hell are you doing?" in that way they have. But as soon as you say din-dins, you are God.

They can sleep all day till you come home from work and always be pleased to see you, unlike humans. Even when you're grumpy they still love you no matter what. But dogs do that too.

I just love animals. They just want to be loved and have a nice home. Their needs are simple.

That's so true I like the way if I come in late one of them appears at the top of the stairs and looks at me to say "And what time do you call this?" like a disapproving parent .

We did have a naughty tortie and my mam has a westie. It was comical putting them together. The cat ran up ontop of the cupboards in the kitchen and the dog sat and whined for her...I won't tell of the breakages that happened in this incident, just suffice to say I have no more lovely display dinner set left But who cares, we tried to bond them later, but our mams Westie isn't of the placid kind when it comes to cats and our hamster who has passed away along with our beloved norty tortie.

Hundreds! Unfortunately I have no idea how to post them here.

We've got 4 between us, all RSPCA rescue and all completely radio rental.

I got this by email the other day, which you may find amusing...

How To Give Your Cat A Pill:

1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard, and close door onto neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw Tee shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12. Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.

13. Tie the little bastard's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.

14. Consume remainder of scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15. Arrange for RSPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

How To Give Your Dog A Pill

1. Wrap it in bacon.

2. Toss it in the air.

/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\

'Tis so true

Our little one had to have antibiotics a few months back - the vet showed us how to do it (gently tilt head back and light pressure on the jaw etc) and the little one didn't even flinch.

When I came to do it the next day I nearly broke her little neck and she spat the pill out twice before I had to call the BF to hold her down

And it got progressively worse day by day. She took to scratching, biting, hiding, screaming. It was horrid!!

When my childhood cat had to have tablets for her thyroid we used to stick it in a bit of ham - she would eat the ham and spit the tablet out!!!

My two are due for the op on the 14th of this month, and we're already dreading it ! OH actually suggested we'd put it off - especially since the vet said they are unlikely to go into heat until spring.. not worth the risk for me - they're still babies, and if they get preggers it'll physically take its toll on them. I'm worried that they'll pick at each others stitc hes...

I really don't think they'll be happy with us - particularly the staying in for two weeks - they're only just getting very limited outside privilages but they love it !

I happily confess to being a cat lover, I must be with six of 'em!

As I am typing this, I have a large black cat sprawled all over me, four of my ladies sunbathing on the windowsill, and the other one warming my bed pillows.

My oldest is sixteen now, but still very sprightly and playful. The youngest, (an adorable little tuxie), we *think* is around seven/eight - she was a rescue too.

She was in by far the worst state I have ever seen a cat when she was found. She was nothing but fur and bone - I have never seen a cat so thin! She didn't know how to play even. Amazingly, she is now a fat, furry, extremely contented and loving little cat, despite the start she had in life. She hates being away from me, as does her adopted brother, (who is asleep on me right now).

Whenever I pull up outside in the car, they both run to meet me, and jump in the car for cuddles, as soon as the car door is open - a lovely welcome home. The other four form an "honour guard" inside the front door.

How old are your little one's?

I'm going to book Amber in for 23rd and will then have a few days off of work to make sure she is OK etc....

I know it has to be done, and hope she doesn't "hate" me too much!! I also hope it doesn't change her character?

But there is no way I'd want her pregnant, she is still my little baby

At present she is only allowed surpervised 'outside time', but we do let her our pretty much everyday for a bit so keeping her in for two weeks should be fun

Mine were fine, and Lyra even washed Daisy sometimes. An excuse to show this photo!

http://mine.icanhascheezburger.com/v...x?ciid=1728525

This must mean that Madridista23 smells as well.

After all, your waste, like any other human, smells every bit as bad as a cat's or dog's.

Not the animal's fault that we don't provide it with an easy means to flush its waste away. Given the panic on our female cat's face when she has to go into the litter tray that hasn't been cleaned out (she *loathes* having to), I suspect that if it had a flusher she'd learn to use it soon enough

When the two girl cats I used to have were spayed (long time ago - one's gone now and the other is enjoying her dotage with my ex), one of them shrugged it off with no apparent ill-effects at all, while the other was very upset and moved into the wardrobe for a week. Two weeks after the event both were completely back to normal, apart from their comedy bald patches

You can train a cat to use the toilet, but you shouldn't train them to flush or they will do it for the attention!

I love cats. I have 2. Homer, who is a huge fat black and white tom and is completely daft and stupid, he likes to lick people, and is scared of the chinchillas and our late rabbit (we think his brother was also his father) and little-oy, who is a stray who adopted us and despite their initial misgivings, they get on ok now (most of the time)

I also have 5 chinchillas who neither of the cats really pay any attention too, although Homer did go through a phase of staring attentively at my only male. He wanted to be friends, there was no animosity!