Francis' "little procedure"

Well, Francis had his cold trip in his carrier this morning. OK, not so
cold since he had a hot water bottle (it was 11 F so I relented) and was
traveling on my lap in the cab of my neighbor's pickup truck. I dropped
him off at about 7:45, and around 9:30 I got a call from the vet that
Francis was done with surgery, was a little groggy, and would sleep for
the afternoon. I had also asked them to clip his claws, and he got
chipped while he was under.

I go pick up my little baby after work, and my neighbor will drive us
home.

I know this was the right thing to do, and that it'll be for his good,
but part of me is feeling sad. He's a beautiful young male, with very
distinct and bulgy balls. He could have been the icon of healthy
maleness. Those distinctive balls are gone now, and so is some of his
maleness. I feel sad about that, while I know I wouldn't have
considered doing anything different.

Does anyone else experience this when they have their cats neutered?

Priscilla

On 2005-02-01, Priscilla H. Ballou penned:

Does anyone else experience this when they have their cats neutered?


It's definitely a little bit sad to me. When I was nine years old, I cried
the day Puma (RB, dog) was snipped. But unfortunately, given the reality (way
too many unwanted pets, behavioral issues, and the inability to teach pets
"safer sex"), it's the best thing. At least in my opinion.

The spay procedure on girls is a lot more invasive than the neutering
procedure on boys. If I had thought it reasonable not to do this to Oscar, I
would have avoided it. But I'm glad she had it done.

--
monique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!*

"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote:

On 2005-02-01, Priscilla H. Ballou penned:

Does anyone else experience this when they have their cats neutered?


It's definitely a little bit sad to me. When I was nine years old, I cried
the day Puma (RB, dog) was snipped. But unfortunately, given the reality (way
too many unwanted pets, behavioral issues, and the inability to teach pets
"safer sex"), it's the best thing. At least in my opinion.

Oh, definitely. But sometimes the best decision can have accompanying feelings.

The spay procedure on girls is a lot more invasive than the neutering
procedure on boys. If I had thought it reasonable not to do this to Oscar, I
would have avoided it. But I'm glad she had it done.

I wonder if I'd react the same way if Francis were Frances and had been
spayed. Francis had big beautiful bulgy balls, and they are very
obviously Not There Anymore. It's a visible reminder of the loss.

BTW, he's home now and doing just fine. I'm probably seeing what I
expect, but he already seems to be behaving less agressively towards his
older siblings. This is a Good Thing.
;-)

Priscilla

"Priscilla H. Ballou" wrote in message
...
"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote:

On 2005-02-01, Priscilla H. Ballou penned:

Does anyone else experience this when they have their cats neutered?


It's definitely a little bit sad to me. When I was nine years old, I
cried
the day Puma (RB, dog) was snipped. But unfortunately, given the
reality (way
too many unwanted pets, behavioral issues, and the inability to teach
pets
"safer sex"), it's the best thing. At least in my opinion.

Oh, definitely. But sometimes the best decision can have accompanying
feelings.

The spay procedure on girls is a lot more invasive than the neutering
procedure on boys. If I had thought it reasonable not to do this to
Oscar, I
would have avoided it. But I'm glad she had it done.

I wonder if I'd react the same way if Francis were Frances and had been
spayed. Francis had big beautiful bulgy balls, and they are very
obviously Not There Anymore. It's a visible reminder of the loss.

BTW, he's home now and doing just fine. I'm probably seeing what I
expect, but he already seems to be behaving less agressively towards his
older siblings. This is a Good Thing.
;-)


Not to worry. The testicles are generally not the best thing about
the man.

Mary wrote:
"Priscilla H. Ballou" wrote in message
...
I wonder if I'd react the same way if Francis were Frances and had been
spayed. Francis had big beautiful bulgy balls, and they are very
obviously Not There Anymore. It's a visible reminder of the loss.

BTW, he's home now and doing just fine. I'm probably seeing what I
expect, but he already seems to be behaving less agressively towards his
older siblings. This is a Good Thing.
;-)


Not to worry. The testicles are generally not the best thing about
the man.

LOL! My attitudes towards humans and felines are not identical. At
all. ;-)

Priscilla

"Priscilla H. Ballou" wrote in message
...
Mary wrote:
"Priscilla H. Ballou" wrote in message
...
I wonder if I'd react the same way if Francis were Frances and had
been
spayed. Francis had big beautiful bulgy balls, and they are very
obviously Not There Anymore. It's a visible reminder of the loss.

BTW, he's home now and doing just fine. I'm probably seeing what I
expect, but he already seems to be behaving less agressively towards
his
older siblings. This is a Good Thing.
;-)


Not to worry. The testicles are generally not the best thing about
the man.

LOL! My attitudes towards humans and felines are not identical. At
all. ;-)


I know, you just love your little Francis. I think it is adorable that you
are
grieving his lovely bulging balls! As you know, they would have become
the source of some unlovable behaviors. I imagine if I had gotten
Cheeky intact instead of from a shelter that had already spayed
her, I would have grieved for the parts they took out of her.
Irrational, but so is love. :P

On 2005-02-02, Priscilla H. Ballou penned:
"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote:

The spay procedure on girls is a lot more invasive than the neutering
procedure on boys. If I had thought it reasonable not to do this to Oscar,
I would have avoided it. But I'm glad she had it done.

I wonder if I'd react the same way if Francis were Frances and had been
spayed. Francis had big beautiful bulgy balls, and they are very obviously
Not There Anymore. It's a visible reminder of the loss.

Yeah. I guess I just get irked when male-type-humans get really worked
up about neutering. They don't have at all the same reaction to
spaying. Just because spaying isn't visible doesn't mean it wasn't a
big deal! Guys' egos notwithstanding, snipping boys is a much simpler
procedure.

BTW, he's home now and doing just fine. I'm probably seeing what I expect,
but he already seems to be behaving less agressively towards his older
siblings. This is a Good Thing. ;-)

I'm glad he's doing well.

--
monique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!*

"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote:

On 2005-02-02, Priscilla H. Ballou penned:
"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote:

The spay procedure on girls is a lot more invasive than the neutering
procedure on boys. If I had thought it reasonable not to do this to Oscar,
I would have avoided it. But I'm glad she had it done.

I wonder if I'd react the same way if Francis were Frances and had been
spayed. Francis had big beautiful bulgy balls, and they are very obviously
Not There Anymore. It's a visible reminder of the loss.

Yeah. I guess I just get irked when male-type-humans get really worked
up about neutering. They don't have at all the same reaction to
spaying. Just because spaying isn't visible doesn't mean it wasn't a
big deal! Guys' egos notwithstanding, snipping boys is a much simpler
procedure.

Indeed.

I actually felt a little squeamish about asking my (male) neighbor to
drive us to and from the vet for the procedure. When other women at
work who are cat people have been talking cats with me there has been
the occasional human male who's expressed discomfort with the casualness
of the way we toss around terms like "castration." That may have made
me a little more sensitive. Women don't have the same reaction when
hearing about other women having their ovaries removed, and that's
exactly the same thing. We have a reaction, just not the same one.
There's something about one's gonads being on the outside of one's body
that makes them loom larger in one's self-image I guess. I guess. I'll
never completely understand, since I am irrevocably (and gladly) female.


BTW, he's home now and doing just fine. I'm probably seeing what I expect,
but he already seems to be behaving less agressively towards his older
siblings. This is a Good Thing. ;-)

I'm glad he's doing well.

I want to leave now to go home to my snuggle-muffin! I think it's rude
and unfeeling how my employer insists upon my earning my pay check. Harrumph.

Priscilla

HI Priscilla,

I'm in the process of arranging the ritual for my siamese Moxie who is 6
years old and still intact. Vet visit Friday for pre-surg check/labs and
then schedule the neuter.

This winter he has taken to the time-honored tradition of Male Cat Marking
and this morning backed up against ME in bed and plastered the duvet with
grossness.

He is the epitome of Handsome Male Cat, but the innate behavior that
arrived ( which I truly did not expect to happen after all this time)
rules out his retaining the gonad equipment.

I've sent for the Feliway to help curtail the behavior as much as possible
for as long as possible, until he regains some propriety about his home and
surroundings.

I'm also feeling very guilty that I did not do this when I should have.

So yes, I understand your feeling sad, but I also know you've done the
right thing!

Sue
( yep, the Western Maine one)

"Priscilla H. Ballou" wrote in message
...
Well, Francis had his cold trip in his carrier this morning. OK, not so
cold since he had a hot water bottle (it was 11 F so I relented) and was
traveling on my lap in the cab of my neighbor's pickup truck. I dropped
him off at about 7:45, and around 9:30 I got a call from the vet that
Francis was done with surgery, was a little groggy, and would sleep for
the afternoon. I had also asked them to clip his claws, and he got
chipped while he was under.

I go pick up my little baby after work, and my neighbor will drive us
home.

I know this was the right thing to do, and that it'll be for his good,
but part of me is feeling sad. He's a beautiful young male, with very
distinct and bulgy balls. He could have been the icon of healthy
maleness. Those distinctive balls are gone now, and so is some of his
maleness. I feel sad about that, while I know I wouldn't have
considered doing anything different.

Does anyone else experience this when they have their cats neutered?

Priscilla

"sue and dave" wrote in message
...
Sue
( yep, the Western Maine one)

That's what I was wondering, too. ;-)

Cathy