Dog person finds a kitten - help!

Irish Stones

aonb wrote: »

The thing is that this morning the vet (new to me) that I saw said that in his opinion Tux is approx 9 months old!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek::eek::eek: She is fine and healthy and a good weight. But how could she be 9 months - that means that when I found her in wk 1. October, she was 4-5 MONTHS old!?!?!? Could this be possible?!?!? That she would be such a tiny creature, fitting in my hand and be 16 weeks (minimum)? I asked the vet twice if he was sure she could be this age, and he was very confident....

Anyway, it just seems amazing to me, but on the plus side Tux can be spayed in 2 wks, and he says she is very healthy/good condition etc...

What is Tux's weight now?
If Tux had been starving for a long time or had a poor nourishment then it can be that she didn't grow up to her true age.
Cats change their milk teeth around 4-5 months of age, so this could be a very good method to determine her age. But catching a cat in the act of changing their teeth is very difficult, so if you miss those moments there's no way to tell that it happened.
So, if the vet is true, Tux should have her heats in less than four weeks time. If he's wrong then this won't happen

Be aware that if the vet is right you must have her spayed in a moment that she's not on heat.

Nody

Definitely can happen; we picked up a "kitten" on behalf of our rescue coming in at 1.4kg to the vet (estimated 3 months old) which turned out to be a lovely 2 year old cat who simply had been malnourished growing up and when she moved on to her for ever home she had reached her final weight of 2.5kg. Still small as a 3 month old kitten but fully grown

aonb

Jeez, this cat business
Ok so what you both say makes sense. I shudder to think how tiny and kittenlike she was, to be that age. I dont suppose, like her sibs she would have lasted much longer before I found her, so we both benefited - Im quite content in my cat-slave world now! She weighs less than 2kg still...

BUT!
You will think I am totally ignorant - Ive never had bitches or mares, and hens dont have heats/seasons :cool: - but it never struck me that Tux could come in to season!! Is a cat in season going to show the same "symptoms" as a bitch in season?? Will there be 'spotting' or how will I know if shes in season?

Nody

aonb wrote: »

You will think I am totally ignorant - Ive never had bitches or mares, and hens dont have heats/seasons :cool: - but it never struck me that Tux could come in to season!! Is a cat in season going to show the same "symptoms" as a bitch in season?? Will there be 'spotting' or how will I know if shes in season?

Howling, rubbing against legs; sticking her ass up in the air, face down when touched and if she gets out she'll drag down every male cat in the area...

honerbright

You'll know when/if she's in season by the noise! Cats howl/call out loudly and constantly for a mate. They also stick their bums up in the air with their tail to the side, presenting themselves to pretty much anything. It's all very classy :pac:

aonb

ok, so thats all to look forward to!!!
Shes pretty vocal at the best of times, it will be interesting to see how it goes if shes more vocal when in season! She isnt allowed outside, so getting her spayed is now a priority. Have to just wait to finish the vaccinations

Last question I swear - its ok to have her spayed before shes had a season? I know (thank you Irish Stones) she cant be spayed WHILE in season.

(would it be possible that since she is so tiny and has had such a bad start, that her first season will be delayed??)

Thank you Cat experts!

Pumpkinseeds

We had a 4 month old foster kitten go on heat:eek: It was actually disturbing to see such a tiny little cat on heat, thankfully our cats were neutered.

Irish Stones

aonb wrote: »

Is a cat in season going to show the same "symptoms" as a bitch in season?? Will there be 'spotting' or how will I know if shes in season?

Some she-cats won't let you sleep at night, other are so noiseless that you don't even know they're on heat, apart from some "posing" like Nody said

My cats are both ladies , one was spayed before she could show her heat, the other was silent and we realized that she was "ready" because she would present her... rear, with her tail set aside and used to roll on the floor a lot.

The heat lasts 5 to 7 days, then there's a rest for about a week or less and then again. The vets prefer to make the surgery between the two "hot moments", because the risk of a hemorrhage is reduced. During the heat the uterus and ovaries are very rich in blood.
Latest theories, that I second, say that it's better to spay a cat BEFORE she has had her first heat.
This way there will be less than 5% chances that she will develop a cancer in her life. They say that just one heat is enough to raise those chances to 10-15%, and every single heat would raise up to 50-60%.

And no, the fact that she is underweight and undersize does not save her form her heats when they're supposed to happen.

aonb

Yes, the vet talked about the reduced incidence of cancer in a spayed cat...

Ok, so FINGERS CROSSED that Tux gets to finish her vaccinations BEFORE she has her first season, then she can get spayed and then life will be good - dont fancy all the yowling etc for 2 wks!! (Which is why we've always had dogs and geldings!!)

Now back to playing "Throw the tiny piece of dismembered teddy" for Tux

Nody

It is up to two weeks; our last foster going into heat lasted only a couple of days and was not overly loud compared to normal (mainly at night as she was alone as she was recovering and did not have her shots yet).

aonb

Tonights question is whether a cat can actually be 'taught' not to do something?!

Tux, our young cat refuses to stop clawing up and down the backs of two very expensive armchairs, and up and down the curtains of our best room
We dont mind what she does in the other rooms of the house, but when we sit in the 'nice' room at the weekends, if she wants to be with us in this room, she cant wreck havoc on the very old/expensive furnishings (arent we humans odd!)

When she starts scaling with her claws up the backs of the chairs, I shout NO! at her and pick her up and put her out in another room. She knows shes in trouble, because she runs away when she sees me coming to pick her off the chair! Even my poor not very bright dog knows shes doing something wrong

This has been going on for ages. How do I get her to stop this behaviour, or should I give up the fight, she being a cat afterall, and just not allow her into this room (which is a bit sad, as the stove is lighting and she loves to snooze with the dog, when shes not clawing up and down the furniture)

Pumpkinseeds

Sounds like she likes vertical scratching. You could try putting a scratching post beside the chairs and encourage her to use that. One thing I'll say about scratching posts is that they need to be sturdy so that the cat can have a good claw at it. We got this wall mounted one on Zooplus and put it on the wall at the side of the living room door. It's narrow enough to slot into a small space and nobody notices it. Felix loves it, stopped him clawing the sofa. We've lots of different types, the cardboard ones are great too, all 4 of them use the horizontal cardboard ones. Furniture is always an attractive scratching surface because it's so sturdy and they can really claw it.

Maryd.

I got scratching posts for my cat years ago but he still scratches the sofas whenever he feels like it. Cats can easily train humans but i don't think humans can train cats.

Nody

aonb wrote: »

Tonights question is whether a cat can actually be 'taught' not to do something?!

Only if they feel like it.

Tux, our young cat refuses to stop clawing up and down the backs of two very expensive armchairs, and up and down the curtains of our best room

Do you have a very high scratch pole for Tux to sit on? Something suitably high like this (height is important both from a exercising point of view and to be a good spot to watch what's going on) and place it next to her scratching / climbing points; bonus if he can climb up on them and get to you. Secondly add double sided tape to the spot he's currently scratching (they don't like the feel of double sided tape and the scratching post allows him to redirect his scratching directly avoiding confusion and directing his behavior to scratch on the "right" stuff).

aonb

Will try the double sided tape (on my lovely antique wing back chairs?!?!)
She has a fabulous tall, home-made scratching post in the family room, that she uses a lot

The problem is that when we are in the drawing room, and has had a lovely long snooze by the stove, shes full of her beans, then she claws her way up to the top of 1 chair, leaps from it to the the next chair, then leaps on to the sofa, then uses the curtains to get to the next sofa, and does the circuit of the room (with our terrier in flight after her :cool:) so its more fun and games than scratching posts.

Jeez the dogs would stop doing something after 2 or 3 shouts of NO! and being turfed out. This cocky-cat business makes me wonder how they survived as such popular pets for thousands of years!! I swear she gives me this look when I give out to her, or if I bop her on top of the head that just oozes complete and utter feline contempt.

Gave her a worming tablet this a.m - she is still sulking and giving me that look since (although she did come and take some of her fav treats - under sufferance)

Nody

aonb wrote: »

The problem is that when we are in the drawing room, and has had a lovely long snooze by the stove, shes full of her beans, then she claws her way up to the top of 1 chair, leaps from it to the the next chair, then leaps on to the sofa, then uses the curtains to get to the next sofa, and does the circuit of the room (with our terrier in flight after her :cool:) so its more fun and games than scratching posts.

You've just described the concept of the cat highway . This is something every cat looks for in every room; a way to navigate the place with out touching the floor. Honestly the only advice then is to give an alternate route (preferably higher) for Tux to use instead; if you google cat highway you'll find plenty of versions and ideas.

gubbie

I've just read through this thread and it's amazing! I love the change in the cat and how you've gone from a non cat person to that post just above! It brought a tear to my eye!

And the pictures! God, I absolutely love it. And you sound like the nicest, most caring of people.

aonb

Jeez thats very nice Gubbie
But you know Im the most amazed one - NEVER saw the point of aloof independant standoffish cats - stuck all this time with my dogs/horses/hens only - then this brat of a kitten arrives and my husband and I are cat-slaves now. Even the poor remaining dog is a cat-slave (shes in his bed with his teddy, hes on the floor!!) But its great - shes super-tiny after her bad start in life (weighs less than 2kg) but shes healthy and shes got a lovely life now, so its win/win

(Now I just have to figure out how to minimise the destruction of my drawing room!!!)

SpaceTime

You just have to show your cat what to scratch.
I actually just interrupt the cat if he starts to scratch furniture and give him a demo of how much better the scratching post is.

Just put his paws on it and also scratch it yourself and hide things (stringy toys) to encourage him to give the posts a try.

Cats actually learn fast but they're not motivated by seeking approval nor do they respect rules like dogs do. They'll always find a way sound a rule either by waiting until you're not looking or by bribing you with 'cute' behaviour.

They enjoy the sensation of scratching much like we enjoy a bursting bubble wrap. It also removes the outer layers of their claws keeping them in good condition. So it's actually kind of essential for cats to keep themselves maintained! You need to turn the post into a fun activity that the cat enjoys.

They quickly learn : post is nice and scratchy ... Furniture gets weird reaction from the big cat that owns the place...

Also replace worn posts by putting a new one beside the old one then when the cat starts using it ditch the old one. The scent mark them with their pads so, taking it away will just cause confusion.

The main thing about cats is to realise they don't think like dogs. They're very friendly and loyal but they are basically hedonistic. They actually luxuriate in various activities much like we do. Soft surfaces, fabrics, scratchy things, nice food (they can be very picky) etc etc..
They're big into enjoying themselves in a way that I don't think dogs do.

A dog tends to constantly need and seek approval and reassurance from the pack leader (you). Cats live socially but not in hierarchies...so you're just some guy the cat likes. It doesn't need or want approval but loves ya anyway. They do encourage you to do stuff for them though. If you feed a cat or do something it wants you to do, you'll get a big rub as a "thanks". They're complex social animals despite the nonsense people tend to believe about them.

Cats will also leave if they're mistreated where as dogs can be blindly loyal.

A cat generally won't be too bothered learning tricks to impress and they're not obedient.

Once you understand the psychology a bit they're actually very interesting creatures.

Level of intellect can be surprising too. Our guy figured out door handles and how to use the knocker!

aonb

So, TUX is scheduled to be spayed on Tuesday
Anyone got any advice for post-op care?
I will obviously ask at the vets, but just to plan ahead:
I assume cats dont have a cone on like a dog would?
Do cats usually have dissolving stitched for a spay?
As a rule how long to recover from a spay to consider letting her outside.

I know now that Tux is going to HAVE to be an indoors/outdoors cat - presumably from being originally feral she is MAD to be outdoors. She somehow escapes once/day. I have been putting her in a playpen outside every day, when I take her in, the yowling starts.
When she does escape outside - through an open window or if someone comes in a door too slowly, or darts out the garage door etc etc - I usually have no prob getting her back inside. So basically any ideas how long it will be after being spayed before she is healed enough to go outside?

(gulp)

Ken.

Every female cat I've seen spayed has had a collar. Ours had it on for a week.

Nody

ken wrote: »

Every female cat I've seen spayed has had a collar. Ours had it on for a week.

Depends on how they do the operation; the last couple we done were all peephole operations and none had to wear a cone (we got one in case they got to interested in the wound but none did).

Irish Stones

aonb wrote: »

So, TUX is scheduled to be spayed on Tuesday
Anyone got any advice for post-op care?
I will obviously ask at the vets, but just to plan ahead:
I assume cats dont have a cone on like a dog would?
Do cats usually have dissolving stitched for a spay?
As a rule how long to recover from a spay to consider letting her outside.

When back home keep her in a dim-light and quiet room. This room has to be safe, no place where she can climb onto (and where she fall from), no toys, no electrical wires. During the recovery from the anaesthetic she won't know what she's doing, she could get herself in trouble very easily.
Don't be afraid if she doesn't recognize you or the house, it can happen. It'll be over in a couple of days.

No food or drink for at least 8 hours before the surgery, no food for at least 12 hours after it. You can leave a little water, though, just half an inch of water in a bowl.
When she's back home she'll probably be still sleeping or not much lively. The reaction varies from cat to cat. One of the two I have slept for two days in a row. The other one was like a bomb when she was back home, she could have walked on walls and ceilings, but after a few hours she fell in a deep sleep for 36 hours.
Mine didn't receive a cone, but your vet will tell you more.
The cat will be given an atibiotic (possibly Convenia) and the effects could last several days, it will be one-off injection and will be enough.
The stitches should dissolve in a pair of weeks.
I'd keep her indoor for at least one week post-op.

Ken.

Nody wrote: »

Depends on how they do the operation; the last couple we done were all peephole operations and none had to wear a cone (we got one in case they got to interested in the wound but none did).

I should have added that all I've seen done were by the same vet so maybe that's his way.

NamelessPhil

I've kept my cats in the bathroom after spaying. It's easy to clean up and to keep them warm. It also means that you'll be seeing them regularly during the day. I can't add much more to the excellent advice given above by other posters.

My cats are indoor/outdoor cats, most of them were semi-ferals who adopted us. We have a cat flap in the kitchen and that stops us being total cat slaves. We developed a special cat calling whistle than means their dinner is ready and they all come running. We've never had problems with them getting lost after they've been neutered. They tend to sleep all day and hassle the neighbours for food if we're not quick enough to feed them! They are fed twice a day at regular times. (We have six cats from two years old to sixteen years old).

aonb

collected Tux after being spayed this afternoon.
No Cone = hurrah (HATE those things!) But took 1 home just in case.
Tiny incision on her side - huge area shaved so she looks pathetic, shes pretty restless, is asleep right now sitting up, but cant seem to settle. Ate a little portion of chicken breast. Poor little tux. Check up in 3 days, and another in 7 days.

Irish Stones

aonb wrote: »

Ate a little portion of chicken breast. Poor little tux. Check up in 3 days, and another in 7 days.

She shouldn't have eaten anything... I hope the vet told you that.

SillyMangoX

Irish Stones wrote: »

She shouldn't have eaten anything... I hope the vet told you that.

It's fine to give them a small meal a few hours after surgery once they've come around a bit.

aonb keep an eye without the cone on, we thought peach was fine without one but in the morning her wound was red from her licking on it. Might be worth just leaving it on when she's unsupervised?

aonb

Vets said that she could eat that evening ... she did throw up (which they said might happen) ... left some food overnight for her - all gone this a.m.
Seems to be doing fine - a little bit quieter maybe

She doesnt seem to be interested in licking the wound at all. (shes not very "into" grooming in general - shes a bit of a scruff really ) Now that she has her side half shaved, she looks very bedraggled! Oh well, no one in this house is high maintenance, so she fits right in :cool:

Going back for check up on saturday, so will keep a close eye on her until then. Thank you for the input/advise - have the cone here in case she starts showing an inclination to lick, I think the cones stress them out so much, its great not to have it - when its not necessary

morgana

She'll be just fine - our baby slept for about 1 1/2 days after the op curled up in a little domed cat bed (perfect spot, nice, safe & warm, she found one of the best spots in the house for recuperation :P). She also had the incision on her side with a huge area shaved! No bother at all, she just left it alone. She was getting more alert and was up more after two days and back to her usual exuberant self a few days after! It took about 1/2 a year for the fur to fully grow back (long haired cat)!


a few days after the op.