On Tue 03 Jun 2008 02:03:01p, Jean B. told us...

> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>> On Tue 03 Jun 2008 12:53:00p, Jean B. told us...
>>
>>> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>>> On Tue 03 Jun 2008 07:32:56a, Kathleen told us...
>>>>
>>>>> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> We presently have 3 males and 2 females, all neutered or spayed
>>>>>> quite young. We have never had a spraying problem with any of
>>>>>> them. I may be wrong, but I know I was told that the younger you
>>>>>> have them neutered, the
>>>>>> less likely they will ever spray, regardless of circumstances.
>>>>> True. And the current trend is for very early pediatric spay and
>>>>> neuters in both puppies and kittens prior to adoption from shelters,
>>>>> in an effort to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
>>>>>
>>>>> My own vet feels, however, that in a responsible, well controlled
>>>>> household that it is preferable to wait a year prior to speutering
>>>>> in order to allow the animal to pass through puberty and develop an
>>>>> adult-sized genito-urinary tract. The thinking is that this will
>>>>> help prevent issues caused by crystals and stones in the urine later
>>>>> in life which, while disastrous in a dog or cat with an undeveloped
>>>>> urinary tract, may pass unnoticed through grownup-sized plumbing.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> That's an interesting and perhaps very valid concept. I suppose
>>>> we've been lucky with all of our cats, because they have all been
>>>> either spayed or neutered at a very early age and none have every had
>>>> urinary tract problems. This includes some 16-17 cats over a long
>>>> period of time.
>>>>
>>> Well, we have just lucked out in this department. A couple of years
>>> ago, on my birthday no less, Mingy was blocked because of crystals.
>>> So, of course, that is a worry. Now it's compounded by the fact that
>>> I don't know how much he is peeing--or even whether he is peeing, so
>>> my early warning mechanism is gone. The good news is that I guess
>>> he's peeing/spraying more frequently, which I think is good from the
>>> crystal POV.
>>>
>>> Given his problems, I doubt he's going to have a really long life.
>>> That thought used to devastate me, but not I can think that at least
>>> he won't be spraying. Still...
>>>
>>> Now why are the two foster cats so healthy? Must be in the genes.
>>>
>>
>> Have you had him to the vet for the spraying/peeing problem? I'm sure
>> you had him ther efor the crystal problem, but still...
>>
>
> Oh, of course! That was of minimal help though. And I'm not about to
> cast him out.
>

Nor would I. I could never give up a pet, nor have one put down unless his
health condition dicated it. They are my children.

--
Wayne Boatwright
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Tuesday, 06(VI)/03(III)/08(MMVIII)
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'Ever stop to think, and forget to
start again?'
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