Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Flip

Original poster

Feeling awful - neutering

21 replies

FrozenAteMyDaughter · 13/04/2015 12:38

This is utterly ridiculous if you are an experienced cat owner probably, but our male kitten has gone in to the vets to be neutered today and, although there is nothing I can do to change that now, I feel awful about it. He is such a loving and friendly cat and I feel dreadful to be taking away part of him without him having a saying it (I really do know how mad this sounds honestly).

Anyway, I think I am just after some reassurance that this really is the best thing for him in the long run (even though I know logically, and DH has repeatedly reassured me, that it is or at least it is from the point of view of the neighborhood female cat owners).

Also, I have a weird idea in my head that his nature might somehow change when he gets back - that he will know something has happened (even though he won't know what) and won't be happy about it (who could blame him?)

God, I really am mad aren't I? I used to be scared of cats too, but I have completely fallen for him.

OP posts:

gamerchick · 13/04/2015 12:41

Well a cat with nads only job in the world is to make baby cats. That's it! Oh and spray the crap out of everything. He can wander too far and not pay attention to roads if he gets a whiff of an intact female.

Really, don't feel bad about it.

chockbic · 13/04/2015 12:42

Well, you're as normal as me . If that's any consolation.

Seriously though, I had a few wistful stares at the nether regions. It does seem a bit cruel.

He was fine afterwards. Maybe slightly lighter, but you wouldn't know he had gone through the op.

It calmed ours down slightly, as he was very scratchy and bitey. Not so much now.

goshhhhhh · 13/04/2015 12:42

He will be fine. It really is for the best. He us less likely to get into fights or stray. In my experience they also get even soppier after being neutered.

Original poster

FrozenAteMyDaughter · 13/04/2015 12:44

Thanks Gamerchick - I knew I was being stupid. We were always going to get it done. I think it was just hard seeing him go off this morning. I'm sure he'll forgive us after a few bowls of his favourite fish

OP posts:

Moln · 13/04/2015 12:47

How old?

Honestly if he's young he's not going to notice a thing. I too was a bit 'I'm so mean' feeling but it didn't change him one bit.

He didn't start to wander or spray either so that's positive!

Original poster

FrozenAteMyDaughter · 13/04/2015 12:47

thanks chockbic. It is a consolation. And it would be nice to be chewed a bit less!

And goshhhhhh, fights and straying have been big concerns. We don't want him to be an indoor cat (and it wasn't feasible really anyway, as he kept staring mournfully out of the back window until we let him out) but we do live on a busy road and it would be nice if he stuck a bit close to home - so far, he hasn't strayed much out of the garden but it was on'y a matter of time...

OP posts:

Original poster

FrozenAteMyDaughter · 13/04/2015 12:50

He is 7 months odd, Moln - we should have done it before Easter but were going away so left it until now. He hasn't started spraying or anything yet - I am glad yours didn't change

OP posts:

gamerchick · 13/04/2015 12:51

It is. We misjudged our cats first season before her op and she was determined to get out. She didn't but they're fast little buggers when horny and some do get out and get caught.

Honestly he's better off without those extra hormones.

RubbishMantra · 13/04/2015 12:53

Like you, I felt a bit of guilt. It's absolutely the best, and only option.

Mine didn't even notice they were gone. Apparently he was poking his paws through the cage after he came round, trying to get the nurses to play with him. He got home, gambolled out of his carrier, and demanded food. All night. He's probably the only cat in the world who enjoys going to the vet. (He is an attention whore.)

Original poster

FrozenAteMyDaughter · 13/04/2015 13:05

Thanks all. I feel much better . I was a very reluctant cat owner initially, but now can't imagine being without him. He is being chipped too today, so hopefully we won't lose him any time soon.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 14/04/2015 12:55

How did the lad get on?

Original poster

FrozenAteMyDaughter · 14/04/2015 13:55

Fine thanks cozietosie He was a bit wobbly and woozy still when I got home (DH collected him from the vets) but still wanted to be let out to see his mate (a ginger cat who hangs out in our garden). Obviously he had to wait until today for that.

It doesn't seem to have calmed him down much. He still made a frenzied attack on DH's toes in the early hours of this morning and generally leapt round the bed making a nuisance of himself.

So I guess I was worrying for nothing as, to be fair, you all said

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 14/04/2015 14:24

Cat or human, a GA always carries a slight risk - so not completely for nothing. They're pretty quick and straightforward procedures generally - with huge benefits in the long term - but it's still good to have them signed out and back home.

My boys have always been completely stupid immediately after a GA so I usually just take them to bed and let them sleep it off. (Siamese in particular rarely say No to a sleep-cuddle.) Mostly, they seem to be no different the next day though.

Glad he's fine.

Stinkersmum · 15/04/2015 04:04

You've done the best thing. No spraying, no inclination to stray or fight, no chance of testicular cancer (yes, it does happen to cats), no responsibility for more unwanted kittens being created. Boys are stupid, he won't even know what's happened :)

Ratfinkandbobo · 15/04/2015 10:00

I have all my cats splayed or neutered. I know it can make you feel bad, but it is necessary.

Ratfinkandbobo · 15/04/2015 10:08

Spayed!!!

Original poster

FrozenAteMyDaughter · 15/04/2015 10:28

The bill we got referred to "cat castration" - that made me feel doubly bad! I am totally over it now though as FrozenCat seems to be back to his usual bouncy, occasionally attacky, occasionally friendly, personality. Although, if anything he seems to be more rough and tumbly with his ginger friend in our garden than he was before he was done. So much for calming him down.

OP posts:

sweetkitty · 15/04/2015 10:38

You've done the right thing. There's an unneutered Tom round here, he sprays everything he stinks, he always has wounds from fighting, he looks a raggedy old thing.

cozietoesie · 15/04/2015 10:59

He should (that's a 'should') calm down with a bit of age on him, Frozen. You just have to imagine what he would have been like if he hadn't been neutered.

RubbishMantra · 15/04/2015 11:57

It'll take a couple of weeks for the hormones to leave his system.

Then again, mine's a year. I'm still waiting for him to calm down.

Original poster

FrozenAteMyDaughter · 15/04/2015 12:05

That's interesting, thanks both. To be honest, I loved him just as he was before, so I don't mind if nothing much changes liveliness-wise. Although I could slightly do without the 4am head-pouncing.

OP posts:

Flip