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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

3339.0. "to spay. or not to spay." by DYO780::AXTELL (Dragon Lady) Wed Feb 14 1990 12:15

    I've got a couple questions about spaying an older cat.
    
    Tasia is a 7 year old Burmese who had a few litters (and lots
    of successful kids!)  I think she's tired of being a mom and though
    I'll miss kittens she won't be bred again.  Maybe we can "adopt".
    
    Is she too old?  Or is it more risky for an older cat?
    
    -maureen
    
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3339.1I wouldTUNER::JENKINSWed Feb 14 1990 15:3417
    Maureen,
    
    I can only give you the benefit as to my experience as a dog breeder.
    I do spay my older female dogs once they are retired for breeding. 
    Everytime an animal goes under anesthesia there is a risk that they
    won't make it through surgery.  I have had friends lose their pets
    to simply teeth cleaning.  I would personally think that a bigger
    risk to her health may come from not spaying her than to allow her
    to continue coming into season and the stress both mentally and
    physically that she goes through with each successive heat.
    
    If she were mine and I wished to retire her from breeding I would
    spay her.  
    
    Hope this helps,
    
    Nancy
3339.2MOSAIC::TARBETWed Feb 14 1990 19:385
    Maureen, 7 isn't even middle-aged yet...you could always check with her
    vet, but I can't imagine that the well-managed risk of a hysto could
    compare with probably 10 more years of regular heat.
    
    						=maggie
3339.3Hernia surgery at age 10CRUISE::NDCPutiput Cattery - (DTN: 297-2313)Thu Feb 15 1990 11:489
    Maureen,
      My 10 and 12 yr old cats recently had anesthesia to get their
    teeth cleaned.  They had no problems.  It just took abit longer
    for the anesthesia to wear off.
      Also, Bumpy-tail, now 12, had HERNIA surgery at age 10 and had
    absolutely NO problems at all.  I would think that they would use
    similar anesthesia for a hernia as for a spay as they would need good
    smooth muscle relaxation for both types of surgery.
      Nancy DC
3339.4Spayed at 7WOODRO::IVESThu Feb 15 1990 13:0510
    The cattery owner who owned Ming decided to retire her at 7 years
    of age and had her spayed. We got her 3 months later and she is
    wonderful. No problems. At her yearly check up, the vet always check
    her "underparts" he says, sometimes retired queens develop breast
    cancer.
    
    Talk to your vet and then you will have peace of mind on making
    your decision.
    
    Barbara
3339.5Try to have her spayed before next pregnancyPHAROS::LAURIEThu Feb 15 1990 17:0315
    
    If your cat is not spayed, will she continue to be bred and have
    kittens, or is it possible to isolate her during her heats?
    
    If you isolate her, you and she will probably suffer some distress.
    
    If you spay her, in addition to the already mentioned risks of
    anesthesia, the operation is more difficult and risk if the cat is
    pregnant at the time.  The further along the pregnancy, the more risk.
    
    From experience with spaying older cats, I would say that if you can
    spay her before she becomes pregnant again, or at least very early,
    the risk would be acceptable.
    
    
3339.6DYO780::AXTELLDragon LadyFri Feb 16 1990 18:5211
    A LITTLE discomfort?  Have you ever been trapped in a house with
    a Burmese in heat?.  Or out of heat for that matter.  :>)  She's
    not really that bad - just want's to be held a lot.
   
    She was bred regularly until this last heat.  She won't have a chance
    to be bred again soon.
    
    Do cats have Menopause?
    
    -maureen
     
3339.7WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityFri Feb 16 1990 19:158
    Cats don't really have menopause, but their reproductive lives do
    come to an end eventually.  You think heat is bad, just think what
    hot flashes would be like in a cat. :^)
    
    Seriously though, one Burmese in season couldn't be any worse than
    FIVE Birmans in season.  Spring is in the air...
    
    Jo
3339.83 burms = 5 birms?DYO780::AXTELLDragon LadyFri Feb 16 1990 20:326
    Let's not even think spring till Tasia gets to the vet :>)
    
    Besides, Spud and Joshua (boys,de-bitted) are too dumb to know they
    are boys, so they yell too.
    
 
3339.9Testosterone rules KOSUBURB::TUDORKSKEADUGENGASat Feb 24 1990 11:239
    Tarots not too dumb to know he is a boy, he's just too dumb to know
    he's de-bitted.  He's busy trying to be a boy all over the house
    with Isis at the moment, and yes - he's not too dumb to know its
    spring either.                        
    
    The sparkle is back, the bounce in the walk is there and every time
    his tail waves I rush for either him or a cloth!
    
    Sigh
3339.10I should have known better.DYO780::AXTELLDragon LadyThu Jun 07 1990 12:0910
    Poor Tasia Marie gave birth to 4 still born kittens this last week.
    
    We bred her one more time just so she would accept Joshua back into
    our house (she's a bit nasty with other cats).  I couldn't bring
    myself to request a kitty abortion and the result was some really
    deformed kittens and one heck of an infection for mom.  Needless
    to say, Tasia has had the kitty version of a total hysterectomy.
    
    -maureen
    
3339.11WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityThu Jun 07 1990 12:3413
    Maureen,
    
    I am sorry to hear about the still born kittens.  I recently went
    through a similar situation with Kaitlin, she delivered too early
    for us to save her litter.  A few days later, she had an infection
    too, and was spayed.  I hope that Tasia Marie is recovering well
    from her surgery.  It took Kaitlin a good two weeks before she was
    back to her old self.  Probably due to the strong antibiotics she
    was on.
    
    Hugs to you and Tasia Marie,
    
    Jo
3339.12CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds - DTN: 297-2313Wed Jun 13 1990 08:446
    Maureen -
      I'm also very sorry to hear about the kittens.  I have put
    "Tasia Marie's kittens" on the Silver Lining Memorial list.  If
    you would like them listed differently let me know.
      Nancy DC who is nervous about Halie's impending litter.