Kitten Update
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 12:33pmI took the kittens to the shelter yesterday to get their last dose of worm medication (which they HATED). Our ACO (animal control officer) was quite pleased with how well they’ve been tamed, and impressed with how much weight they’ve gained. They’ll be spayed on Monday (Mary-Kate still needs to gain two more ounces, but I’m sure she’ll put on that and then some by the weekend.) I also asked her about a lump I’ve felt in both their bellies - turns out they were born with hernias. Those will also be fixed during their surgery. Awww. While I was waiting for them to get their medicine, the ACO told me to look into this one cage nearby. I saw a mommy cat and about five tiny babies, all nursing. She said that the babies were just a few days old and she’s never seen such a happy mother cat. I looked at the cat and said, “Proud mommy!” and damn if that cat didn’t blink and smile at me, then roll over to show me her gigantic nursing belly, knocking several of her kittens off the teat as she did it. My knees nearly buckled. I want them next! ALL OF THEM.
Bluebunny on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Wow - they are being spayed already! I was told I couldn’t have Jeremy neutered and Nia spayed until they were six months.
Michael on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 1:44 pm
“Turn Your Head and Cough: Freakgirl’s Guide to Home Hernia Detection.” On store shelves soon!
I still chuckle over the names of those darn cats. Eventually you’ll have to dress them up like the twins….maybe just drape them with a black doily.
Lee on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 2:38 pm
This is how it all starts, you realize. It’s a slippery slope down from here…
Megan on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Pookies!
Susan on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 2:56 pm
nursing belly!!! love it!
freakgirl on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Bluebunny, the vet the shelter works with does pediatric spay/neuter (on cats; not sure if they do the dogs too). It’s awesome, as it allows kittens to go up for adoption when they’re still babies and at their cutest.
genevieve on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 3:25 pm
I think it’s a fairly recent thing. We had it done at 8 weeks when we fostered kittens a few years ago. But, when we adopted our cat Audrey 7 years ago at bout 3 months old, she wasn’t spayed and we had to sign a contract that we would have her spayed when she was old enough.
Lauren on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Around here if you adopt a pet too young to be spayed/neutered you have to give a deposit which you get back once you show paperwork saying the deed has been done.
Maggie on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 3:58 pm
We got Pippa when she was only 8 weeks old, but we did have to sign a contract saying we promised to have her spayed. I’ve read that it’s safe to spay kittens as long as they weigh at least two pounds, but many vets won’t spay before 6 months of age. I don’t know why. We took Pippa to be spayed at 5 months, she was certainly big enough and our vet said she’d do it. I didn’t want to risk her going into heat before we spayed her.
I think it’s a good idea to spay them younger, because people are more likely to adopt if the spaying has already been done.
Maggie on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Bluebunny, I’m also thinking of getting Jeremy neutered.
BWA HA HA HA!
freakgirl on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Maggie, ha!
Apparently early spay/neuter is a bit controversial, although it is endorsed by the American Veterinary Assocation. Opponents say that it can lead to some issues later in life, like incontinence and other stuff. Proponents disagree. But most of the information I read pertained to dogs only.
GeekBoy on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Maggie, that’s the first thing that popped into my head when I read Bluebunny’s comment. I wondered who the heck Nia was. Then I saw that you hadn’t made the comment.
Serena on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Female kittens can come into heat as early as four months - we’ve seen it in our rescue program. Prior to six months is becoming more ideal.
Serena on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 5:03 pm
(Ideal for getting them fixed, I mean)