Conference misery::feline_v1

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Note 1993.0                     $$$ of Neutering                      No replies
BONOVX::BARRY                                         0 lines  21-NOV-1988 17:10
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    I just made an appointment to have Al neutered next Monday.  He
    seems to have started spraying when attacking my spayed female...
    The vet I am taking him to, I have a lot of respect for.  They
    don't recommend having males fixed until they are at least 9 mo.
    because there is apparently some feeling that neutering them too
    early is one of the causes of the urinary tract blockages that males
    get so frequently...  Al is just about 9 months now (well, actually
    in about 2 weeks) but do to the spraying they agreed that it was
    time.
    
    Now for my question...  I know this is in here somewhere but I wasn't
    successful in finding it and the information may be outdated anyway.
    How much did it cost you to have your male cat neutered?  This vet
    is charging $35 PLUS $10 for the daytime boarding!  Maybe I should
    just be thankful that I have found a vet that I can trust, but I

    $35 last Spetember for Elmo.  I thought the price was very reasonable.
    
    Incedently, when I was in my vet's office last Saturday, I overheard
    one of the assistants on the phone.  Somebody had called asking
    the price of neutering.  I heard the assitant ask the animals age
    before quoting the price.  She went on to explain that the older
    the animal gets, the more expensive it is to neuter since there
    is more muscle tissue to cut through etc.

    I just had Jasper done yesterday.  It will cost me $33.00, which
    I considered reasonable for the operation and boarding (over night).
    I think a separate boarding fee is a rip off.  What else are they
    going to do with the animal as they monitor s/he after surgery?
    Seems to me that the one day boarding is necessary.  But if you
    like the vet, you'll probably pay it for peace of mind.
    
    I sure do hope the surgery takes care of the spraying.  I think
    I've spent as much as the surgery on solutions to clean the rug!
    Aside from that "nasty" flip of the tail, he's a sweetheart!
    

    To:  .4
    How old was Jasper, when he started spraying?
    
    I've heard of cats spraying anywhere from 5 mos old to 12 mos old.
    This is making me nervous, since my twins are 5 mos already.

    hmmm...
    
    Since my original note never made it here last night, I will try
    to sum it up now...  I am questioning the cost because Tiggy (my
    female) was spayed 4 years ago and it only cost me either $30 or
    $35 at Central Animal Hospital in Leominster.  Since I knew that
    females are more expensive, I really thought the $45 my new vet
    is asking for was high.  I loved Central Animal Hospital but have
    since moved to Worcester and because Tiggy hates riding in the car
    so bad I felt it would be mean to take her all the way back to 
    Leominster.  My new vet is just down the street.
    
    Anyway, I guess I will pay the $45 since I do like the new vet...
    But I really feel like telling them that I think their prices are
    high!!!  I would never get up the nerve though and it probably 
    wouldn't do me any good anyway!
    
    Meanwhile, I have told Al that he had best find some females quick
    before it was too late! ;-)  But he just rolled over and went back
    to sleep...  I guess he's not too concerned...  I, on the other
    hand, felt guilty as $#%& just making the appointment yesterday!!!
    I really dread next Monday morning!!!
    
    Thanks for the info...
    
    Lesa

    I had Mijo neutered yesterday.  I don't know the price.  I trust
    the vet we go to.
    
    However, I have a question.  I had Selina spayed in August. Our
    vet did the surgery through her belly.  Her daughter, Cleo, was
    spayed in August too.  However, the vet that Cleo went to shaved
    her right side and did the surgery through her side.  
    
    Now the question...  Which way is safer?  I've never heard of a
    vet going through the cat's side to do the operation.  Is this
    unique? Has anyone out there ever had their cat done that way?
                       
    
    Shelly, Selina, & Mijo
    I was just wondering.

    re .5
    
    Jasper is not quite 8 months old.  However, we got him from a pet
    store, and I've always been a little suspicious of his age.  But,
    then again, to be fair, he is a BIG cat!  He's already 10+ lbs.
    It took me a few weeks to realize that the horrible smell wasn't
    the litter box (after trying everything to keep the box clean).
    Then it took crawling around on all fours (my fours) to find the
    spot.  
    
    The technician at the vets told me that if they have reason to spray
    after neutering (mine has a rabbit to be very jealous of) they will
    continue it until their hormones settle down--a couple of weeks.
    Needless to say I was not a happy person when after picking Jasper
    up yesterday, one of the first things he did was find the spots
    that I cleaned with Natures Miracle (expensive stuff!!!) and he
    sprayed them both again!!!!!!!!!  I sure do hope the technician
    is right and that his hormones will settle down.  I HATE that smell!
    
    I can understand your feelings regarding bringing your little one
    to the vet for this surgery.  My Jasper was the terrorist of the
    clinic, and terrorist is no understatement.  We have always known
    him to be mouthy, calm, gentle, but bossy.  At the vet EVERYONE
    was afraid to go near him.  He yelled, growled, hissed whenever
    anyone went into the room.  When I got there they told me that I
    was going to go get him out of the cage.  I couldn't believe that
    the cat I saw in the cage was my gentle Jasper.  He was like a wild
    man.  He hissed, growled and yelled at me, but did let me pat him.
    He never did try to bite, but I sure was afraid of him.  We let
    him get out of the cage himself and he went right over to the cages
    at his level and yelled at the other dogs and cats.  When we got
    him out of the room he was better, but still acting very mean. 
    When I got him in the car, both he and I were shacking at this point,
    he sat on the seat and relaxed.  He was still very grouchy the rest
    of yesterday, so we just left him alone.  But today he seems like
    his old self.  But we can tell that his bum is sore.  I don't blame
    him for being grouchy, but I am still amazed at the wild man I saw
    at the vets.  I wonder now if I would be able to board him if I
    went away.  Neither we or the vets want to bring Jasper back there
    again.  The sad part is that he used to be such a sweetheart when
    he went for his checkups and shots.  Now I'm afraid he'll remember
    stay there and be crazy even at checkups.  I DO HOPE that your visit
    to the vets is much more pleasant than Jaspers.
    
    My main concern now is to find a solution that will keep him from
    going back to the soiled spot.  I can't afford all these "miracle"
    fixes!
    

    Cost me $40.00 to have Sly neutered a year or so ago. Not too bad,
    considering I later had all four of my females spayed at the same
    time, and the total cost (including overnight stay and stitches 
    taken out) came to just a bit under $300.00!
    
    Worth every cent, though . . .
    
    Marleen (Sly, Adrienne, Paws, Springer, Midway)

    RE:  "Side Spay"
    
    That's very unusual...considering the anatomy, unless the cat was
    just a tiny kitten, I would imagine that laying the cat on her back
    and making a small 4" incision would be the route to go!  It is
    possible there were complications, or maybe just trying a new
    technique... 
    
    I have medical periodicals called "clinics" that are published 3
    times a year...one is on neutering.  Male cats that are neutered
    at 3 months have had no urinary problems.   The authors of these
    clinics are beginning to think that is "wives tales" thinking...
    Crystalizing urine and testicles have very little to do with one
    another.  But, they are still researching!
    
    The hospital where I worked did not charge a boarding fee for
    castrating a male cat.  He would be admitted at 8:00, operated on
    by 10 and home at 4.  There is very little involved in neutering
    male cats...However, for more detailed surgery...technicians are
    paid, Dr.s are paid, laundry needs to be done and autoclaving the
    instruments needs to be done....surgical patients soil a fair amount
    of towels and blankets during a 24 hour stay...
    
    Poor Jasper!  He does not sound like the "I'm going to camp" kinda
    guy!  I have seen many a sweet wonderful kitty that became a totally
    different character at the hospital!  Sometimes I can't say I blame
    them!!! 8^}
    
    Glad things are ok now!
    
    Jean

    The cost I think I paid was $45.00 for a female this included the
    anaesthesia,  I don't pay any extra for stiches taken out the next
    week or an overnight stay since I bring the cat (or dog) home the
    same day (in by 8:30 out by 4:30).  The vet said it was better for
    the animal to be home where it is happier plus I'm there to keep
    an eye on it.
    Regarding (which noter I forget) the fact that your paying more
    now somewhere eles than 4 years ago that is understandable seeings
    how prices do go up just like everything eles.
    
    Cindy
    

    
    
    I paid $30.00 for my males to get neutered and $52.00 for my female
    spayed.  There were no extra charges since I didn't leave them
    overnight.  Ya know, in by 8:00, out by 5:00 (sounds like you're
    bringing them to the dry cleaners).
    
    They were all sort of groggy when I picked them up them but back to
    normal the next day.
    
    If you like and trust your vet then by all means stick with him/her.
    You may want to call the Friends of Animals and see if you qualify
    for a discount coupon, good for a spay or neuter.
    
    Good luck.
    
    
    Roslyn (mother of Esco and Brandy)

    Friends of Animals offers very reasonable prices for neutering --
    $19.00 for a male, $31 for a female.  Only certain vets will honor
    the certificates but it is well worth it if you have multiple animals
    to spay/neuter.  Tabby Kitty's neuter at the Westboro Animal Hospital
    cost $41.00.
    
    /Roberta
    

    Thanks for all the replies!  I know that prices go up in 4 years,
    but I just figured if I paid 30-35 for a female 4 years ago, and
    males are cheaper then they must have been around $25 at the most
    then.  So that means the price has almost doubled in 4 years!  That
    seemed a little extreme!
    
    But...  I took poor Al in this morning so I would imagine that he
    is walking a little lighter by now!  Poor guy!  He sure was a little
    hellion last night though!!!  I think he was mad because his food
    dish got taken away!  Did 2 tap dances on our sleeping heads in
    the middle of the night and also turned one of my largest plants
    over!!!  What a mess!  I still have to clean that up tonight!  He
    also decided to try out my kitchen sponge for a midnight snack but
    (fortunatly) didn't seem to find it to his liking!  There was only
    a little corner chewed off of it and that was laying in the floor
    next to it...
    
    I was soooo mad at him this morning when I got up!  Funny how that
    changed when I got him in the car on the way to the vets.  He looked
    so scared!
    
    I can't wait to pick him up tonight!
    
    Lesa

    I have an appointment to take Samson to the Vet on Wednesday and
    having very mixed emotions about it.  He is so beautiful (a tortoise
    shell siamese) and I have a female sealpoint that I wanted to breed
    him with, but he is being so obnoxious what with his loud mouth
    and constantly attacking Delilah (who spends most of her day hidden
    under a table or box just to get away from him)!  And my husband's
    complaints are as annoying as the cat!
    
    I did contact the NH Spaying Assistance office and they sent me
    an application.  Yes, they are certainly more reasonable.  $16 for
    a male; $28 for the female.  The biggest objection I can find is
    that not all vets will honor these coupons.  The nearest one for
    me is about 20 miles away.  Samson would come home the same day;
    Delilah would have to stay over night.  And I guess I also feel
    like a concerned mother.  The vet that I have always taken them
    to charges $31 for the male and $52 for the female.  And, of course,
    the person who made the appointment said there could be extra charges
    if more anethesia is needed, etc., etc., etc.  She says they always
    tell you to allow an extra $20 even though it probably wouldn't
    cost that much, especially if they are up to date on their shots,
    etc.  I think I am having feelings about taking them to a vet that
    I don't know and doesn't know the cats.  I almost feel like I would
    be taking my children to an unknown doctor.  
    
    Has anyone else out there had these guilt feelings and am I just
    being foolish?  One other thing is that my current vet is only a
    mile from my home in case of any complications.
    
    Bev
    

    Bev,
    
    I take my crew to Dr. Norman, and only Dr. Norman since he is the
    one that I have grown to trust.  I understand what you mean about
    not wanting to take your kitties somewhere else.
    
    I never care about how much it will cost, or how far I have to drive,
    etc. since I know in the end, I wil have less aprehensions.
    
    Besides, Portia absolutely adores Norman, and is so good there,
    yet I know how vicious she can be, I won't dare risk trying to bring
    her any where else.
    
    Trust you instincts.  Bring them where you feel most comfortable.
    Is it  really worth saving a couple bucks if you end up giving yourself
    ulcers.
    
    	-Nancy

    Regarding the cost of neutering, I'd like to point out
    that vet care for a litter of four kittens in the
    Boston suburbs can cost upwards of $200 for the 
    first 12 weeks.  Not to mention food.
    
    I am cheerfully paying $35 to have the Amazing Dit-Dit
    neutered tomorrow.  Interestingly, he is spraying only
    in his litter box.  It smells terrifically awful, but
    it's easy to clean.  He is only 6 months old, but he really
    seems ready....poor guy.
    
    Susan
    

    Susan, $35 is a great price for a neuter!  Kirby's cost me $69.
    The neuter itself was $41, then there was a $20 office visit charge
    on top of that, plus $8 for pre-op bloodwork.  The bloodwork is
    optional; however, I elected to have it done.  Does that $35 cover
    everything?
    

    When I took in that stray cat that Linda Gogolin adopted, his neuter
    only cost me $25.00.  Regional differences, it looks like.
    
    $200 for the first 12 weeks is a very conservative figure too. 
    Say you have a litter of four.  They need to have vaccines at 6,
    9 and 12 weeks.  Office visit, $21 per kitten.  Shots, $17 per kitten.
    Now take that and multiply it by 3 vet visits, and you have a grand
    total of $456, and that is not including what it would cost if any
    of the little critters actually got sick, or if mom needed a c-section
    to have them.                                                        
    
    Jo

    Re: 18
    
    Charges for neutering at Stow Animal hospital:
    
    $12 anesthesia
     15 surgery
      8 hospitalization (8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
    
    $35
    
    Actually, that's Apple Country Animal Hospital, to be specific.
    Spaying females costs $66.
    
    
    RE: .19
    
    Yes, I guess I got off easy on the money.  I stopped really
    counting after $200, I have to admit.  A wry story:  This week
    I went to get a replacement drivers' licence and forgot to bring
    3 forms of positive ID.  I was desperately searching through my
    purse for a signed medical bill, but I kept pulling out receipts
    from the kittens (my purse is a bottomless void) from this
    summer.  "My cat goes to the doctor more then *I* do!"  I exclaimed.
    This moved the cat-loving Registry worker so much that she let
    me get away with a signed time slip, my Digital contract worker
    picture badge, and a letter addressed to me.  None of which are
    on the official list of "positive forms of identification", except
    maybe the badge.
    
    :-)  Thanks, kitties.
    

    	I brought both Pixie (male) and Dixie (female) to get neutered
    and for the both of them, including 2 nights stays, was $65.00.
    I think it was $40 for the female (never been in heat otherwise
    it would have been $45) and $25 for the male.  I brought them in
    at 7:30 on a Wednesday, they had the operation on Thursday, and
    I picked them both up on Friday.  In reply .6 they said that the
    Central Animal Hospital had moved to Worcester, but unless they
    have a branch office in Leominster, they are still in Leominster.
    The vet is 20 miles away for me, but the lady is very nice and the
    prices don't appear to be outrageous.
    
    	When I went to pick them up, Pixie was howling up a storm. 
    I asked the woman at the desk if that was my cat and she said yes.
    I couldn't believe it!!!  All the way home he was a howling banshee,
    but after a few minutes out of the box and into familiar surrondings
    he was back to normal.
    
    	Both of my cats weren't very lap oriented, but now that they
    have been fixed, Pixie can't wait until I sit down.  When I get
    home from work, I change into something more comfortable, then I
    let them out of the cellar and sit down to look at the mail.  The
    next thing I know, here comes Pixie jumps up on the couch, and sneaks
    (if you want to call it that) up to my lap and curls up in a little
    ball.  Dixie is now starting to do the same thing although if she
    doesn't want to sit in my lap she won't let me put her there.  It
    has to be up to her.  It was great Sunday night when she climbed
    onto the couch and laid in my lap, but I wish she were more like
    Pixie, but each cat (as we all know) has there own personality.
    
    	Oh well, just thought that I'd let everyone know that Central
    Animal Hospital is still (or back again) in Leominster and that
    I don't mind driving 20 miles because they are nice people there
    and the prices are very reasonable.  One more thing, the vet wouldn't
    let me get the cats neutered until 1) they had been checked out
    (they had never been to a vet before) 2) they had their shots, and
    3) had to wait about 10 days so that their bodies had built up from
    the shots.
    
    
    		Dixie, Paul, and Pixie

    Yes - $34 - $45 for a neuter and $65 for a spay are VERY VERY VERY
    good prices.  Consider yourselves lucky.
      Nancy DC

    re .15
    
    Does anyone have the phone number for the NH Spaying Assistance Office?
                
    Please send me mail as soon as possible, if you can help.
    
    Thanks.
    
    TLE::BENTLEY