If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
To neuter, or not, or something else? (Redux)
Sorry I've waited so long to respond to your input. Real life went wild
on me and I haven't had time to respond until today. I am grateful to you for your information and common-sense advice. I particularly want to thank Margaret, Mary and Megan. That little flame war must not have been the most pleasant of things for you all, but it allowed me to see the issue from several sides, which is why I posted the question here in the first place. I learned a lot, and Sam the Cat is going to have a better life because of you. Thank you. My car, which was totalled in a flood, has now been replaced, so I'm taking Sam to the vet as soon as he can be fit into the schedule. I'm going to have him neutered, so he will be serenely meowing soprano from now on. Arjun Ray, you have some very strong opinions on feline care. Opinions that definite don't usually come lightly. What are the aspects of your background that formed them? Do you work in the animal healthcare field? Are you a student? Do you run a shelter or a rescue home? Knowing that about you would help me get the most out of what you have to say. I have a second question for you all. Sam dearly loves to look out the window at the outdoor cats and 'talk' to them. In fact, he drives me nuts at night now as he runs from window to window, often in a continual circuit. Often over my weary body. Too often both! I work seven days a week and I'm wondering if Sam, who's active, inquisitive and intelligent, would be happier with a companion cat. What do you think? What have you experienced and observed? In grateful anticipation of more gems of wisdom, Ingrid |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
wrote in message oups.com... Sorry I've waited so long to respond to your input. Real life went wild on me and I haven't had time to respond until today. I am grateful to you for your information and common-sense advice. I particularly want to thank Margaret, Mary and Megan. That little flame war must not have been the most pleasant of things for you all, but it allowed me to see the issue from several sides, which is why I posted the question here in the first place. I learned a lot, and Sam the Cat is going to have a better life because of you. Thank you. My car, which was totalled in a flood, has now been replaced, so I'm taking Sam to the vet as soon as he can be fit into the schedule. I'm going to have him neutered, so he will be serenely meowing soprano from now on. Ingrid, kudos to you for making the right decision. He will be the same lovable boy afterward, only not as inclined to spray or wander. [...] I have a second question for you all. Sam dearly loves to look out the window at the outdoor cats and 'talk' to them. In fact, he drives me nuts at night now as he runs from window to window, often in a continual circuit. Often over my weary body. Too often both! I work seven days a week and I'm wondering if Sam, who's active, inquisitive and intelligent, would be happier with a companion cat. What do you think? What have you experienced and observed? In grateful anticipation of more gems of wisdom, Ingrid How much space do you have, Ingrid? Meaning, is there room enough for you to comfortably have two cats? Usually this means two cat boxes and many cats like to have their own little territory to retreat to, even if it is just in a single room. I feel certain Sam would be happier with a companion since you work so much--but another consideration is this: do you want TWO cats running over you at night or do you have room to shut them out of your bedroom and still give them room to play? |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 14:38:13 -0800, ingrid.seim wrote:
My car, which was totalled in a flood, has now been replaced, so I'm taking Sam to the vet as soon as he can be fit into the schedule. Congratulations, great decision! Sam will be all the happier and healthier cat for it. I'm going to have him neutered, so he will be serenely meowing soprano from now on. There won't be any change in the timbre of his meows. :-) What are the aspects of your background that formed [your opinions on feline care]? Do you work in the animal healthcare field? No. I have worked extensively with feral cats and TNR programs. My own cats are "side effects" of such work. All of them walked into traps set by me. One group I've been associated with is http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/. I work seven days a week and I'm wondering if Sam, who's active, inquisitive and intelligent, would be happier with a companion cat. Quite probably so. Go for it. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
|
#5
|
|||
|
|||
ugh. I have a 600-square-foot loft apartment. The only doors in it are
to the bathroom and the closets, so i've learned to sleep through Sam enthusiastically "massaging" my scalp with his paws/claws at night. Listening to him purr while he does it makes it worthwhile. I often don't feel I can meet all of Sam's emotional/psychological needs, but HE found ME, not the other way around. He ran in my door one night and no one answered my announcement of that in the newspaper. No one called either of our animal shelters, responded to the notices I put up on the doors around where I live, or called the vets around me to claim him. He's an absolute angel of a cat. I love him now and there's no way I could turn him over to the pound. I just hate to see him looking so lonely. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
On Fri 28 Jan 2005 09:51:14p, wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav
oups.com): i've learned to sleep through Sam enthusiastically "massaging" my scalp with his paws/claws at night. LOL! I had a cat who did that to me. He'd drool on my face and hair too. Then he'd sleep on my head. I can't tell you how many mornings I'd wake up with fur in my mouth. He was the reason I had to draw the line with sleeping arrangements and had to shut the BR door. He got used to it. I, however, didn't. I missed him. -- Cheryl |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
wrote in message ups.com... ugh. I have a 600-square-foot loft apartment. The only doors in it are to the bathroom and the closets, so i've learned to sleep through Sam enthusiastically "massaging" my scalp with his paws/claws at night. Listening to him purr while he does it makes it worthwhile. I often don't feel I can meet all of Sam's emotional/psychological needs, but HE found ME, not the other way around. He ran in my door one night and no one answered my announcement of that in the newspaper. No one called either of our animal shelters, responded to the notices I put up on the doors around where I live, or called the vets around me to claim him. He's an absolute angel of a cat. I love him now and there's no way I could turn him over to the pound. I just hate to see him looking so lonely. Why is Sam lonely? Do you work a lot? |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
On 23 Jan 2005 14:38:13 -0800, wrote:
Sorry I've waited so long to respond to your input. Real life went wild on me and I haven't had time to respond until today. I am grateful to you for your information and common-sense advice. I particularly want to thank Margaret, Mary and Megan. That little flame war must not have been the most pleasant of things for you all, but it allowed me to see the issue from several sides, which is why I posted the question here in the first place. Well, it got me off my butt to make a web page about "Alternatives to Spaying / Neutering" and other matters, which I'd been meaning to do for a long time -- and now have up at my site, or at least a start on it. Margaret S. -- http://www.sangerfan.com Nothing I say is professional advice. Consult your own doctor, lawyer, veterinarian, butcher, baker, and candlestick maker. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
To neuter, or not, or something else? | [email protected] | Cat health & behaviour | 67 | January 24th 05 07:26 PM |
Upside Downy Hit Parade Redux | Kreisleriana | Cat anecdotes | 3 | October 27th 04 09:54 PM |
Barn Kitties REDUX | TBird | Cat anecdotes | 6 | September 14th 04 04:07 PM |
Time to neuter? | bowensanders | Cat health & behaviour | 28 | April 17th 04 11:52 PM |
Feral neuter and release | RobZip | Cat health & behaviour | 28 | April 11th 04 02:05 AM |