Conference misery::feline_v1

    Poor Shelby!  Make an earlier appointment!
    

    This brings back memories!
    
    Male kittens are usually neutered at six monts in NZ. The vet
    recommended leaving Kimi a bit later, as he was a little delicate
    as a kitten (very hard to believe now - he is a BIG boy for an
    Abyssinian). So they were neutered when Kimi was seven months and
    Sura six months. There had been no sign of any "awakening" before
    this time.
    
    The day after they came home, Kimi suddenly realised his potential!
    He took to mounting Sura (who is also a boy, by the way), and going
    through the motions, including ejaculation. Sura, fortunately, was
    completely non-cooperative, and soon discovered that rolling onto
    his back and kicking Kimi in the stomach worked wonders.
    
    It only lasted a few days. I can only assume the operation triggered
    some sort of short-lived hormone release.
    
    It's a pity Shelby can't learn Sura's anti-rape technique.
    
    As a footnote, in a cat show a few years ago a rather aggressive
    woman bailed me up and asked enthusiastically if Kimi would be
    interested in mating her female abys (he is the size of most entire
    aby males). She had apparently had trouble getting males who could
    "deliver", so to speak. When I explained that Kimi had been neutered,
    she was rather annoyed. "I finally find a male who looks like he
    could do my females some good, and you've gone and had him neutered!"
    What could I say? I apologised...

    I'd get them neutered early if possible.  My guy used to attack
    our rabbit that way.  Unknown to me (I finally caught on), he was
    also spraying, but I never saw him do it.  His hormones were still
    active for about 10 days after the neutering.  So you have a good
    6 weeks more possibly to be dealing with his behaviour.  An earlier
    appointment will be best for all of you--especially the little guy
    that is getting attacked!
    

    I just checked with the vet and the soonest appt. they can give
    me is April 13th.  The 18th is only five days later so I might as
    well keep that appointment.  I was hoping to get him in sometime
    next week.  I am going to keep an eye on him over the weekend and
    if he continues to be unbearable, I will contact the vets on Monday
    and request they be done immediately.
    
    He was calmer this morning but who knows what goes on when I am
    at work.

    Re: .0  We've gone thru this many times over the years and as previous
    replys suggest, the raging hormones will subside not too long after
    the "operation".
    
    Re: .3  In a reply to a previous note, whose number I don't remember,
    I told about my daughter in Phoenix who added a Belgian Lop-Eared
    rabbit to the family.  Well, now it seems that Louie(the Lop) has
    reached that stage in life like .0 where he thinks he should be
    stud bunny.  Max, an 8 year old short haired tiger cat, doesn't
    think this is fun at all and has to spend 1/2 his time trying to
    avoid Louie.  Allison called one vet to see about getting Louie
    neutered and was told that this vet charged $70(because it's more
    difficult on a rabbit).  She's going to call around for some other
    opinions.  Like .0 it's really starting to drive her crazy.
    
    Chuck

    Roberta, do yourself and Shelby a favor and separate Shelby and
    Kelsey until the operation can be performed.
    
    Mounting is not only a hormonal thing, but also a domination technique.
    If Kelsey continues to have access to Shelby, then after neutering,
    there is a very good chance that he will still mount Shelby.  If
    you are not home to make sure he is not doing it, then by being
    able to do it, he is reinforcing the behavior.  Isn't Kelsy the
    more outgoing and domineering of the two?  Seems I remember you
    mentioning that Shelby was sweet and good natured and a bit on the
    shy side.  If so, Kelsey is taking complete advantage of him.  
    
    Repeated mountings could also damage their future relationship.
    Shelby may become so terrified of being dominated in that way by
    Kelsey, that he no longer wants to be around him, and could spend
    all his time trying to avoid Kelsey.
    
    Separate them until the neutering is done, and then keep them separated
    when you are not there to supervise, until you are sure that they
    behavior has ceased.
    
    Jo

    Actually, Shelby is the outgoing kitten while Kelsey is shier and
    a bit more standoffish.  They roughhouse a lot but Dana has noticed
    Shelby trying to hide from Kelsey when Kelsey tries to mount him.
    Dana usually ends up putting Shelby on the kitchen counter because
    Kelsey can't jump that high yet so he gets fed up and goes away.
    
    I'm surprised that Shelby, being more outgoing and domineering,
    doesn't try to push Kelsey away.  He just lies there with this pitiful
    look on his face and I feel so bad for him.
    
    If I can't get an appointment next week, perhaps I'll keep Kelsey
    in the master bedroom/bath area during the day and let Shelby stay
    with the other cats.  Thing is, I'm an old softie and don't want
    him to be alone all day.
    
    
    /Roberta
    

    Roberta,
    
    If you are up to trying a new vet.  I would suggest Dr. Fitzgerald
    at Fitzgerald animal clinic in Fitchburg.  I called him to make
    an appointment to get my two neutered and he asked if I could bring
    them in tomorrow.  This was a few months ago, but he is really terrific
    and it only cost $65.00 for both of them and he let me put that
    on account and pay him $10.00 a week.  Which was a big help at xmas
    time.
    
    If you need more info, please feel free to contact me.
    
    Kathy Morrell
    

    If you don't want him to be alone all day, put one of the bigger
    cats in there with him.  Just keep him away from Shelby.  Their
    relationship could suffer in the long run if he keeps mounting Shelby.
    
    If you can't get into the vet earlier, ask the vet for some Ovaban
    or Megace Acetate to help calm Kelsey down until the operation.
    Mounting is agressive behavior and both these medications will help
    lessen agressive behavior.  (actually, they are the same drug. 
    They are also used to help curb a tendency to spray)
    
    Poor Shelby must be humiliated.
    
    Jo

    
    
    Well, this note really hit home for me!! 
    
    I've got two kittens, Taco (10 mos old, male, looks just like
    Sylvester) and Jellybean (8 months old, female, grey striped)
    
    Well, Taco, within the past month or so, has also discovered
    himself, and has started chasing poor JellyBean, who is half
    his size, all over the house. He's always trying to mount her,
    and does all the neck biting and everything, but JellyBean is
    one tough little kitten!! She manages to break free from him
    all the time, which frustrates Taco to no end, so he ends up 
    wandering into the bedroom to howl in frustration. 
    
    I caught myself laughing at this note, because it all sounds
    so familiar...
    
    

    When will Taco be neutered?
    
    Donna

    
    
    I'm bringing him in tomorrow for a pre-surgical exam, and
    within a week she'll be able to fix him...
    
    Then JellyBean will be due to be fixed, too....
    
    

    Hope it is not too late, they are plenty old enough to be parents.
    
    Jo