Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

For all your feline miscellany - any interesting stories, news or subjects that do not fit in the other sections.
Post Reply
Joe_Danger
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 537
Joined: Sat May 31, 2014 9:04 pm

Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

Post by Joe_Danger »

Of course me being the overly emotional guy that I am this doesn't mean I'm over the loss of the one before her nor does it mean the new one is a replacement for my dear Anastasia, but I just really really needed my life to get back to normal if you know what I mean, I just couldn't get used to it all.

Seems this was a smart decision to make and the new kitten is wonderful, but now we have a bit of a disagreement with vets on when to get her fixed. As you guys might remember I live in Europe, Macedonia which means vets here don't quite stay up to date on the latest stuff and many are rather incompetent. I think the lady that's going to be her vet now is great and very knowledgeable and experienced, we found her a bit too late but maybe if we took Anastasia to her earlier she'd still be around. But she as every other vet here believes it's best to let the cat go through heat once and then have her fixed after that's done and over with.
People where I live are generally opposed to spaying and neutering since it's not "natural", so there's that too. Like I've seen cat breeders/owners refuse to give kittens to people who plan on doing it.

The vet explained how supposedly she needs to fully develop first and everything before the surgery is performed and that's it's the best possible time for surgery and not before her first heat, but I keep reading the opposite online so I'm very confused. I don't want to argue with the vet or anything because at this point I'll just run out of vets to take my pets to if I keep pestering them to do as the internet says, they really don't like that. :)

Well there's that, but man this new kitten is hyper and then some, got her at about 3 months or 3.5 months and she just fit right in, no adjustment period no nothing, just like Anastasia before her except this one is 10 times more hyper. Fully litter trained and all so there's no accidents or issues regarding that.

I hope to God this cat lives a long and happy life, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried, but so far she is just amazing

here are some pics
http://s25.postimg.org/5kcrk1l27/DSC03212.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://s25.postimg.org/nxdculvj3/DSC03209.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://s25.postimg.org/py8ht6h27/DSC03230.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Her name is Mila and the main character of that game in the background is also named Milla :)
http://s25.postimg.org/l9shxzrvj/DSC03195.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://s25.postimg.org/jzq3578pr/DSC03226.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And here's how hyper she gets, I don't even know how she got in there
http://s25.postimg.org/52m7hxkv3/DSC03228.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
hgale
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 458
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2014 12:51 pm
No. of cats in household: 1

Re: Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

Post by hgale »

Hi Joe

Isn't Mila beautiful! Please give her a fuss from me and my new boy Denver.

As for the speying question - a neighbour across the road decided to let her female cat have "just 1 heat" before speying. The cats name was Mischa, and from that 1 heat she ended up having 3 kittens on my mums bed at midnight at 11 months old before adopting us. I have also read about cats even younger than that giving birth.

I think the only thing you can do (other than try and persuade your Vet to act) will be to keep her fully inside when she has that 1 heat, and you may have to barricade the cat flap if you have one, otherwise every Tom in the area will be trying to get in! Then when thats over, you can take her to the Vet. How old is she at present? Its always difficult trying to judge when its best to act, so I hope everything goes ok.

Helen
User avatar
Jacks
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 767
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2014 5:40 pm
No. of cats in household: 7
Location: Enfield, North London
Contact:

Re: Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

Post by Jacks »

Oh Joe! What a gorgeous little girl Mila is, and already adept at chopsticks, by the look of it!

I don't think there is any advantage of her going through 1 heat (this is pretty old science here) but there won't be a lot of harm either and cats can be fertile from as early as 4-5 months, so it might be sooner than later! Sexual maturity in a cat has nothing to do with physical maturity and the vital thing is that you don't let her outside - at all - until she's spayed.

I think the decider is the quality of vet. If you've found one you can trust, go with what she suggests but ask her what 'symptoms' you're to look out for to know she's in heat! One of them will be that she will be driven to mate if there is a tom around, so watch for cracks in windows that she might press through, as well as the obvious open doors. I wouldn't let a really young kitten outside for access in any case - I don't know if you have outside access for your girl.

If you think it might help, this is a nice article on the benefits of early spaying (before the first heat cycle) in cats:
http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-he ... n-cats/318" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The main factor seems to be a reduction in the potential to develop breast cancer with early spaying. You might consider printing and showing to your vet - say your British friends suggested it :roll: - as you say you do not want to antagonise her.

Apart from the obvious inability to get pregnant, early speying in cats is related to quicker recovery time, but as long as she is still a kitten this is not going to make much difference:
http://cats.about.com/cs/spayneuter/a/earlyneuter_2.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The other argument over the age of speying is generally related to obesity. Most articles review this in dogs. This 2013 article makes it clear that speyed females have a greater tendency to obesity than non-speyed because of the reduction in metabolic needs, but the age of speying is not an issue:
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2013/08/benefi ... f-obesity/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My wild kitten was speyed when I caught her - around 4-5 months - and recovered almost instantly with no problems. She is of the body type that can get pudgy, but outside access sorted that out within a week. My second I got at 4 months and she was already speyed. She eats more than the first, but is a lean mini-panther. Our vet says it depends on the breed/body type and kitten 1 has the body type which could get over fat, kitten 2 is very unlikely to do so. She is a lean, mean hunting machine, like the black panther.

Finally this is a rather good article (2004) presenting a large scale follow up study of neutering pre and post 5.5 months:
http://www.agiliscattus.pl/dokumenty/ea ... n-cats.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The conclusion is that early neutering for both sexes is associated with decreased incidence of gingivitis and that there are protective health and socialisation factors for males in early neutering, although some higher incidence of shyness. There don't seem to be any social implications of early or later neutering for females. Very interesting (if you like reading the science of course! Lol!)

Mila looks so adorable and the perfect blend of lovely and cheeky - take care of each other and keep us updated!
User avatar
bobbys girl
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 3095
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2014 8:58 pm
No. of cats in household: 5
Location: Co. Fermanagh

Re: Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

Post by bobbys girl »

Hi Joe,
What a beautiful Kitty you have there! I wish you many years of happiness together.
I agree with what the others are telling you regarding spaying. All our cats have been neutered, but at different ages.
Tom was an adult when he came to us with an injury. Injury and neutering happened at the same time - less stress. Bobby was only 'done' recently. We would have done it early but he had other problems to deal with!
With the girls, we had them spayed when they showed signs of their first season. It worked well for the first one, so we did the same for the others.
We know now that the big problem with this is getting to them before the local Tom cat does!
Better sooner than later.
So pleased for you, best wishes
User avatar
Janey
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 930
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2014 1:04 pm
No. of cats in household: 1

Re: Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

Post by Janey »

Hi Joe!

welcome to your new addition, she really is lovely. Regarding spaying/neutering here is some info which you may find useful:

http://www.catchat.org/neuter.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
lilynmitz
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 1090
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2014 2:41 pm
No. of cats in household: 2

Re: Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

Post by lilynmitz »

So pleased you feel able to bring another puss into your life, and that it's been part of your healing process. She's a very lucky puss to have found herself with you.

I agree with the others re spaying, but as you say, if you've found a vet you like and trust, it's worth keeping a good relationship with them, even if others don't particularly agree with her on this issue. Ask her to be clear with you about the symptoms of her first heat (as she's so hyper anyway it may be difficult to spot), and MAKE SURE YOU KEEP HER IN!! She will become Houdini reincarnated when she's in heat, so be REALLY REALLY vigilant, including keeping toms out! Once she's spayed, then it's up to you how much outdoor access she has.

All good wishes to both of you, and well done taking this step.
Joe_Danger
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 537
Joined: Sat May 31, 2014 9:04 pm

Re: Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

Post by Joe_Danger »

Thanks guys
until I got Mila I had nightmares about Anastasia's dying days literally every night, now they're gone.

On the spaying issue, if it's not harmful to her health I will wait simply to maintain a good relationship with the vet, the vet said her first heat is probably going to be barely noticeable anyways. Another reason she doesn't want to go with the procedure now is the weather, it's too hot and this cat in particular doesn't seem to like the heat much.
I know for a fact she'd get a bit offended if I link her to all that info, plus I don't think her English is good enough to understand it all either.

As for Mila going out, nah Mila much like Anastasia before her is a strictly indoors cat, after losing two cats to sick in the head people back when I was a kid I'm never letting a cat out again, plus I live on the 4th floor of a building so it's all good.
My windows and balcony door are cat proof...though this cat in particular I think might find a way to open the balcony door one of these days lol
User avatar
Crewella
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 3605
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2014 9:59 pm
No. of cats in household: 6
Location: Hertfordshire

Re: Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

Post by Crewella »

If you're otherwise happy with the new vet, and as Mila will not be going outside, I'd feel the same and follow the vet's advice for the sake of a good future relationship.

Congratulations, Mila is absolutely beautiful. :)
User avatar
bobbys girl
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 3095
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2014 8:58 pm
No. of cats in household: 5
Location: Co. Fermanagh

Re: Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

Post by bobbys girl »

Keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on with that lovely kitty :)
User avatar
Lyn from Australia
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 277
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2014 4:23 pm
No. of cats in household: 9

Re: Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

Post by Lyn from Australia »

Mila is the sweetest little thing. She has such character in her face.

Only last night I read an article in Cat's Protection Society's (Australia) magazine - they apparently led the charge here to introduce early de-sexing in cats - the operations are now done routinely at 6 - 8 weeks of age. It's for the best to wait for longer in your situation which is a pity but can't be helped. Hopefully over time your vet will catch up with all the "new" research and results. :D

Enjoy your baby girl and fusses to her from me and my lot.
User avatar
SarahT1 [PLLE]
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 1644
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2014 12:41 pm
No. of cats in household: 4
Location: Putney, London

Re: Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

Post by SarahT1 [PLLE] »

What a beautiful little girl. So glad she has adopted you!
Joe_Danger
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 537
Joined: Sat May 31, 2014 9:04 pm

Re: Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

Post by Joe_Danger »

She eats wet food, so that's a good thing I guess and also eats some dry sometimes but isn't a big fan of that.
I still have that paranoia over whether she drinks enough water or not but given her hyperactivity and the fact that she mostly eats wet food I'd say she probably gets enough liquid inside her.
The whole water thing was a ton of stress with Anastasia as she was extremely picky about it and well it was a mess even when she was healthy.
I see this one drink sometimes but since I don't/can't always keep an eye on her I assume she drinks when she needs to, I know cats don't feel the need to drink that much so I hope there is no room for concern, it's just some left over stress from Anastasia lol
User avatar
Janey
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 930
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2014 1:04 pm
No. of cats in household: 1

Re: Well that didn't take long, I got me a new cat...

Post by Janey »

Some cats rarely drink Joe, in fact out of all the cats I've had the only ones which I've seen regularly drinking were the oldies and the young ones have been fine. I presume they get enough moisture from their wet food.
Post Reply