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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:	Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:	FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:	MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO

Created:	Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5089
Total number of notes:	60366

2135.0. "When will they start spraying???" by SAFETY::MORRELL () Wed Jan 11 1989 15:06

    My two male cats have been acting strangely with each other lately,
    they seem to be fighting more roughly with each other.  Is this a
    sign that they might be getting ready to start spraying.  They are
    5 months old and I have been planning on getting them neutered in
    March, (with x-mas and all the bills have been piling in).  Is there
    any way to tell when they will start spraying?  At what age do they
    spray and what can I do the prevent this from happening until March.
    
    Please help...
    
    Kathy

T.R	Title	User	Date	Lines
2135.1		YOSMTE::CORDESBRO_JO	`Wed Jan 11 1989 15:59`	21
	There is nothing you can do to prevent it from happening til March. Five months is fairly young for them to be maturing (if there are no unspayed females around). Having uspayed girls around will help them to mature faster. Just ask Kalliste, he was dragging Joui around by the scruff when he was only 5 months! More aggressive playing is a sign that they may be starting to get sexually mature. Cats mature at different rates. One of them might be more mature than the other. One of the first behaviors that you may notice is that they back up to things and twitch their tails, but no urine comes out. Also, they may try to mount each other (they aren't particular about partners at this stage);^) My stud cat didn't start spraying til he was 8 months old and he only does it occasionally. Most other studs that I know of started about the same time. Maybe you can get one of those low cost neuter coupons and have them done in February. JO
2135.2	Where oh where could the certs be...	SAFETY::MORRELL	`Wed Jan 11 1989 16:45`	6
	Does anyone know where I could get these neutering certificates? Thanks, Kathy
2135.3	I HAVE APPLICATIONS FOR LOW COST NEUTER	CRUISE::NDC	`Thu Jan 12 1989 08:50`	12
	Anyone who needs applications for low cost neutering can send me their mail stop. I have two types available: K&H Spay which is Massachusetts based. These are also the folks who won't handle declawed cats. FRIENDS OF ANIMALS which has participating vets all over the US. I also have a list of participating vets and can personally recommend the one from Waltham Mass. He is my parent's dog's vet. Nancy DC
2135.4	What do your cats look like from behind?	PAR5::K_CIOFFI	`Thu Jan 12 1989 15:34`	25
	Well, I had the same about my little guy. I guess I was particularly thick about his maturation process. I found that I kept cleaning the litter box to get rid of a lingering urine smell. After some time, and much litter, I realized he was spraying. We had a rabbit that I believe prompted this jealous/instinctive behaviour. One day he was watching for birds and sprayed the window sill. At first I thought he just got so excited he urinated (he practically turns inside out, and barks, when he sees a bird). But I eventually caught on. He was 8 months old when I decided I HAD to do something about the spraying. The vet didn't want to do him until he was at least 10 months old. I would say that he was physically mature at about 6 months. When I look back on it, I can see now that his meowing at the doors (even though he doesn't know what the outside really is), and his meowing in the middle of the night, was part of his maturing process. Since he's been neutered he doesn't meow so obnoxiously anymore. He sprayed for the first 10 days after being neutered, which had me frantic that it didn't work. But we have since moved and there is no signs of spraying (thank God). So, I guess even though each cat is different, if you notice that yours are becoming more aggressive in their behaviour, you might want to make that appointment. I was told also, that if they don't get a chance to start spraying, they may never spray. I'm hoping mine guys hormones have gotten the message!!