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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

4220.0. "SCRATCHES & SCABS" by PARITY::HOWELL () Tue Dec 04 1990 10:44

    
    
    Hello,
    
    	My 8/9 year old female cat has had what appears to be scratches on
    her back.  They scab over and heal.  I don't know if these are indeed
    scratches or little bug (flea) bites.  I first noticed these about 2
    months ago and thought they would go away but they keep appearing on
    her back at different places.  At one time she did have a bite on her
    neck.  I have kept her indoors (just in case this was from a male cat)
    and she still gets these little scabs.  I did apply flea powder.
    
    	Has anyone else come up with this problem before?
    
    B.
    
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
4220.1Shel should see the vet - sounds like a flea allergyCUPMK::TRACHMANEmacX Exotics * 264-8298Tue Dec 04 1990 12:1512
    Sounds like a flea allergy.  I would reccomend bathing her once or
    twice a week, and then a visit to your vet - she may need a steriod
    to counteract the allergic reaction from the bites, which are forming
    scabs.  You might also consider spraying your house thoroughly
    with a carpet spray, and vacuum EVERY day.  Comb your cat every
    day also.  Fleas are nasty,and difficult to get rid of. Doing
    just one thing, like spraying, isn't enough.  You will need to
    treat the animal, the house, and the carpets, and vacuum.
    
    Good luck,
    
    E.T.
4220.2WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityTue Dec 04 1990 15:505
    If she is spayed, then male cats shouldn't be interested enough in her
    to be biting her on the back of the neck.  They like to practice on the
    real thing.
    
    Jo
4220.3Try garlicSUBURB::HARWOODJJudy Harwood - RDL - 899 5879Wed Dec 05 1990 12:125
    If it is an allergy to fleas, then you could try giving her
    garlic tablets.  This has worked a treat for our 3/4 year old
    kit-cat.  She rarely gets bothered by fleas now, and on those
    rare occasions when one dares take a bite, she doesn't show 
    any adverse reactions.
4220.4nBUNDLE::WHITEFri Dec 07 1990 12:528
    
    re: 4220.2
    
    My Mother's cat Susie has been spayed for years and that doesn't stop
    the constant reoccurance of male followers.  Susie often has bites on
    the back of her neck. 
    
    ....Cheryl
4220.5WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityFri Dec 07 1990 13:2010
    As they say...
    
    
    your mileage may vary.
    
    
    ;^)
    
    
    Jo
4220.6Spayed females have no desire for sexWR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityFri Dec 07 1990 13:2410
    But seriously folks, male cats tell female cats by scent.  A male cat,
    no matter how horny, shouldn't be trying to breed a spayed female 
    because the smells aren't right.  If this is happening to your mother's
    poor cat, then the vet might not have done a thorough job on the
    spay.  That can happen.  If your female cat is being harrassed like
    that then you might check into it.  I am sure that she isn't too crazy
    about these "attempted rapes."
    
    
    Jo
4220.7Anybody got an answer???SANFAN::FOSSATJUFri Dec 07 1990 19:4631
    This spayed female/male harrassment subject has been driving me crazy
    for the longest time.  I have one female and two males all of which
    have been spayed and nutered.  A complete job was done on the female
    but it's the boy's I'm wondering about - even though I know that all
    their stuff was removed as well.  My husband and I were present for two
    of the operations and I saw it with my own eyes - yep - they got it
    all.
    
    Both of the boys, at separate times, start out like they're playing with
    her and then then proceed to mount her and "assume the position" biting
    her on the back of the neck - and at times she's managed to take off
    with Stitch or Gino on her back - like a bucking bronco.  She hisses,
    spits, growls, swats at them (they both have had some scratches on
    their noses) and takes off to a high place to get away from them. 
    This can happen at any time - sometimes in the middle of the night I
    hear things sliding off the dining room table as she's running to get
    away from one of the "horney" little brats.  The water bottle doesn't
    do it, raising my voice while seperating them (no-no-no) has no effect
    - I just manage to get in between and rescue her from the non-existant
    big event - like she really gives a da*n.
    
    Can some one please explain why nutered males will go after a spayed
    female like this.  I can just imagine that it's got to put some kind of
    stress on her?  Friends think it's funny to watch these antics,
    especially if one of them gets on her and then forgets what it is he's
    supposed to be doing and walks away shaking his head.  I think the poor
    little lady has had enough!!
    
    ?????????????????
    
          Giudi
4220.8hormonal imbalance?BTOVT::MUNROE_RLET'S GET BUSY!Mon Dec 10 1990 12:355
    re .7)
    I think it could be some type of hormonal imbalance.  About 10 years
    ago, I caught our female (spayed) dog trying to mount our female
    (spayed) cat.  They were both about 3 years old at the time.
    --Becca
4220.9hmmmmm, interesting...FORTSC::WILDEillegal possession of a GNUMon Dec 10 1990 13:0517
re: .7, .8

given that hormones are the basis for the sexual behavior of all animal
species, I believe it is on target to credit this behavior to hormones.
Now, I have two sexually mature, spayed, females, and two neutered males
and have never seen this form of play -- however, my boys were both
neutered at 6 months of age - before they were ever exposed to any
incentive to be sexual.  They have been kept indoors-only from birth
and were never exposed to whole females other then their mom.
If your males were neutered after they had begun to be sexual, or if
they are exposed to sexual influence from other cats in the area, perhaps
whole females going into heat nearby, that may be triggering this
response of theirs.

I would suggest that you discuss hormone therapy for the males - something
to suppress their sexual play...you are right, I think, this is certainly
stressful to your female and should be treated.
4220.10SANFAN::FOSSATJUMon Dec 10 1990 13:5917
    re.9
    
    Well, here's the kicker.  Pippin managed to slip into one heat at the
    age of 6-1/2 months - she was spayed shortly after - Gino at the time
    was 4 months old (now he's a Siamese) and while she was in heat he
    tried to to the deed.  He managed to mount her but kept falling off!
    (this was a true sight to behold).  Question - do you think this bit of
    sexual activity at the age of 4 months could have caused a lasting
    Impression on him?  
    
    So she got spayed at 45-1/2 months and he got
    nutered 3 months later (6 months).  Stitch has never been around a
    whole female and none of the cats go out beyond the front stoop when we
    collect mail or the paper - so maybe it is run-away hormones.  Stitch
    is going in to the Vet this January for his yearly check up and I am
    definitely going to pin Dr. Scott down - last time I brought it up he
    just kind of shook his head - maybe he didn't think I was serious
4220.11WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityMon Dec 10 1990 14:1211
    I think that this is an act of aggression and has nothing to do with
    sexuality.  The males in your house are trying to dominate her.  I 
    agree that the hormone therapy will help, but only because it will 
    curb the aggressive tendencies of the males.  
    
    The reason that they do nothing once they get on her back is that this
    isn't a sexual problem.  Just getting on her back is a display of
    dominance.  Check with your vet about the hormone therapy.  Your poor
    female will thank you.  :^)
    
    Jo
4220.12SANFAN::FOSSATJUMon Dec 10 1990 14:1411
    re:10 - oops - sorry - something happened during my reply - and that
    shouldn't have read 45 months
    
    Anyway - I am going to pin the Dr. down and see what he has to say
    about this.  Yes, I believe it is stressful - the poor little thing
    will let me pick her up after one of these bouts and let me carry her
    off to safe place burying her head in my arm pit on the way.
    
    Giudi
    
    Mother to two over sexed nutered males
4220.13CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds DTN:297-2313Tue Dec 11 1990 07:4212
    This seems like a good place to interject this...  Last night I
    caught Dundee spraying!!!!!!!  This is the same cat that was nursing
    kittens a few months ago.  He seems perfectly fine, but boy am I
    confused.  ;-)
    
    Seriously tho, the kittens are about 5.5 months old now and I think
    Angel is in a mild heat.  This is probably what's stimulating the
    behavior (Dundee has been neutered since he was 9 months old).
    I'll be calling the vet about ovaban this morning.  I'm going to
    try and maintain him on the lowest possible doseage.
      N
    
4220.14Flea bites...PARITY::HOWELLTue Dec 11 1990 09:3717
    Hello again,
    
    The cat went to the Vet and she is allergic to flea bites.  We have
    some flea spray for the floor, chair, etc. and flea spray for the
    cat.  Cat is to be held by the scruff of the neck and pump sprayed
    until she is thoroughly wet, keeping this out of her face and eyes.
    The house is to be vacumed before spraying.  After this the little
    scabs should go away.
    
    There is a new cat in the neighborhood, don't know if it is male or
    female.  This could account for the pucture wound in the neck.  We
    have seen no more of this kind of wound on our female cat.
    
    Thank you everyone,
    
    Barbara
    
4220.15WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityTue Dec 11 1990 13:076
    The wound on the back of the neck could be from her scatching there.
    I am glad that the problem is just fleas.  You should be able to
    control that without too much trouble now that winter is here.  Can be
    much more difficult to handle in the summer.  
    
    Jo