Conference misery::feline

    
    
    	Anne,
    
    	It's never been a comforting feeling bringing a pet
    	in for a major operation.  I hate having my cats 
    	put under anesthesia.  
    
    	However, you ARE doing the right thing.  Your kitty
    	will be much happier and even tempered after being
    	neutered.  And especially if he's going to go outside,
    	it good you're getting him fixed.  There are far too 
    	many unwanted cats and kittens already.  You're
    	doing the responsible thing.
    
    	JJ
    

<soapbox alert>

I didn't  feel  bad at all getting any of my cats neutered/spayed.  I had no
plans to use them in a breeding program (they were all shelter kitties), and
wanted  no  part of cleaning cat pee repeatedly from places it shouldn't be.
I  also  didn't  want  them  to  be  involved  in  fights, thereby saving me
potentially *lots* of bucks and heartache in the long run.

In my opinion, my cat's ignorance is my bliss.  I have no doubt that my cats
are better off without their reproductive parts.  They are healthy, there is
no yowling because they are in heat, no spraying to clean up after.  I don't
believe for a minute that they are aware that anything is missing.  My first
question  to the vet when acquiring each of my cats has been "How soon may I
schedule their first (and hopefully only) surgery?" If they get out (they're
indoor  only  cats),  I  am  assured  that they won't be contributing to the
unwanted  cat  population.   I won't ever have to worry about getting rid of
kittens that I hadn't planned on (and feeding them and keeping them healthy,
etc...)  Yes,  you  have a male cat and won't have worry about *your* having
kittens,  but  wait until some nasty irresponsible neighbor with an unspayed
female  figures  out  that  *your*  cat  made  *their* cat pregnant.  Or the
neighbor that doesn't appreciate *your* cat spraying their lawn furniture or
barbecue,  or flowers.  Imagine picking some flowers to bring inside to make
your  house look and smell nice, only to find out that they had been blessed
by the neighborhood tom cat.   Yuck.

I wouldn't  feel  bad about what you are doing.  You are being a responsible
pet owner.  So many people are not.  Count yourself among the elite.  

    No matter how many times I bring a kitty to be neutered/spayed...
    it bothers me because they are going through surgery, but it does
    not bother me in the fact that he will be missing parts.  I do
    know that we won't be adding to the over population problem, the
    cat will be happier in the long run..and I won't have to deal
    with the problems with a non fixed cat.
    
    Yes...you can feel bad but you are definitely doing the only
    thing a responsible pet owner should do.  Kudo's to you!!
    
    Sandy

      I currently have 11 cats, but always had all my cats fixed. It's
    mandatory.  There is no reason for a cat not to be fixed. Unless
    of course you're in some kind of a breeding program for purebreds or
    something.  They definately don't seem to know what has happened or
    suffer from any ill effects.  Theyre' personalities are more stable,
    they don't stink, spray, have unplanned kittens, wander, fight or any
    of those things you've heard about.  When Tiger gets home, tell him how
    much better he's going to feel real soon and take comfort knowing
    you;ve absolutely done the right thing.

    Yes, you are doing the right thing, but also tell the vet that
    your kitty has been urinating in the wrong places.  That's often a
    sign of a urinary tract infection, which needs treatment promptly.
    

    I always worry about my cats when they have any type of surgery.
    But, I know that when it's a spay or neuter surgery it's the right
    thing to do.  
    
    Don't worry, they'll get over it very quickly.  Just tell them you
    got them "tutored". :^)
    
    Jan

    RE .4
    
    I agree with everything you said, except for one thing.  Male cats,
    when neutered are *less* likely to spray, and true enough, some
    don't after surgery.  But, neutering doesn't stop some cats from 
    spraying.  (Mine, a full 10 years after being neutered, began
    spraying....and he'd *never* done it prior to being neutered).
    
    I still, however, wholeheartedly support the spaying or neutering
    of our babies.  
    
    Sue
    Sue

    I presently have 7 kitties and everybody is spayed/neutered.  I don't
    feel bad about having it done because it's the right thing to do. 
    However, the part that bothers me is having to withhold food and water
    after a certain hour the night before surgery.  This is hard because of
    the others who are allowed to have these things.  It makes me feel
    guilty!  To avoid these guilt feelings, I bring the cat to my vet the
    night before.  It works out well.
    
    Donna
    

    I have 7 cats and only felt bad about having Silver neutered.  He is
    such a handsome boy that I would have loved to have him sire some
    gorgeous kittens.  But, I did sign the paper stating that I would
    neuter him, so I did bring him into the vet's at the proper age.  My
    cats are all happy and don't even notice that they are now
    *different*.  I know I am happier without all the yowling and spraying
    from 7 cats.
    
    Sandi, mom to the Notorious Seven
    

    Anne,
    
    I can understand your feelings about having your cat neutured.  Any
    of us who take our animals to the vet know it can be unpleasant,
    however, you are doing the right thing.
    
    I remember the toms we had when I was a child.  Often times they
    dragged themselves home from some really bad fights with other cats. 
    One of our cats died from such a fight.  Now that I am an adult and
    have cats of my own - I have chosen to neuter them.  I've seen both
    sides of the fence and I believe my animals are happier and healthier.
    
    Enjoy little Benny!
    
    Cheers,
    Marilyn

    
    re .0
    
    Yup, all my cats are fixed. I feel bad about the booboos, but
    I know the long term results are worth the initial guilt ;-(
    
    
    Eva

    One thing that helps me feel better about it is that the little
    furfaces are SO GLAD to see me when I come to take them home!  Good
    thing they don't remember it was *my idea* to take them in the
    first place :-}
    
    Leslie

    Just an update...Benny lived through it. He was pretty dazed when I
    went to pick him up, and when we got home, he staggered around like he
    was 3 sheets to the wind. But within 4 or 5 hours, he was purring and
    being his old self. He doesn't seem to hold any grudges, thank god! I
    think it bothered me more than it did him. Thanks for your support.
    

    Think of it in FarSide terms:
    
    (something to the effect of) 'after we go to the store for food, we're
    going to the vet to get "tutored".
    

    As I first heard of my friend letting his cat "fixed" I was upset and
    angry.
    
    Later on I learned that not to fix is worse.
    
    It is a dilemma. I am strict for "fixing" both male and female pets,
    although it is not good, it is better than not to.
    
    I feel with you. It is a hard decision that has to be made. The same
    like euthanasia... 
    
    Smokey, Kiscica and Alphonse are all "fixed" and happy. I am not
    "fixed" and sometimes it would be better to be :)
    
    Anyway, you did it right and your hesitation prides you. The cat shall
    be happier, believe me. And, be his 'partner' not in sex of course, but
    in love which is much more important than just mating.
    
    Nat