Conference misery::feline_v1

    Gee, it's too bad it couldn't have waited until he was neutered.
    My 10-year old Sasha had an umbilical hernia - I had that repaired
    during her spay surgery.  Maybe this one was serious enough that
    it couldn't have waited.  Sasha's could wait.  She did real well
    when she came home!  You will probably be surprised.  
    
    E.T.

    How do you know when your kitty has a hernia?

    It may be a blessing in disguise that you have to wait until tomorrow
    to get your puss back, as this will give the anesthesia time to fully
    wear off, and you won't have the difficulties of trying to keep the cat
    from falling, etc.  Sure is lonesome with a puss away, though.  Please
    keep us informed.
    

    
         I knew he had a hernia because right where his belly button
    should be, he had a lump that was real soft.  It stuck out about
    a half an inch.  I could push it back in, but it would come out
    again.  It didn't bother him, but it felt pretty weird.
         He is also having his tail cut off because he was born with
    only part of a tail.  (His mommie didn't have a tail).  The tail
    he did have was deformed, he couldn't lift it up when he was going
    doo doo, so it would get "messy".  I got tired of cleaning it! 
    It curled around at 90 degrees in two places, and seemed like it
    was fossilized.  It was also hard as a rock.  It was cute, but it
    wasn't very functional and I think he will be happier without it.
    It was only about an inch long anyway.
    
    Willa, who_can't_wait_to_get_her_kitten_back!
    

    That poor little kitten!  What a way to start life!  Hopefully this
    will be the worst thing he will have to endure.  I had a kitty with
    a hernia once, it was no big deal to repair it. He just needed to be
    kept from playing,jumping too much so he wouldn't bust his stitches,
    but he healed with remarkable speed, you wouldn't even know he had
    a problem except he has no belly button!  And I love kitty belly
    buttons!
    
                                Denise

    Bumpy-tail developed one when she was 10 yrs old and neither the
    vet nor I have any idea of how!  The vet told me that in cats a
    hernia is typically either congenital or the result of a spay
    incision not healing properly.  He had no theories as to how
    Bumpy managed to develop one at the ripe old age of 10!  Guess
    she got into my weights  :-)
      She wasn't in any pain either, but I figured best to have it
    repaired ASAP as she becomes less able to tolerate surgery as
    she gets older.  She spent the first few days after her operation
    sleeping under a livingroom chair.  She's fine now!  
      I know what you mean about hating it when your kitties have
    to have surgery - I was a total wreck when Dundee was neutered.
    Silly human!
      I'm sure all will be fine.
       Nancy DC
    

    
         Hobbes is back, and after only one day he is nearly back to
    his old self.  His tail is sore, but he still runs and plays like
    everything is normal.  
         I'm so glad to have him back!!
    
     Willa

    Glad to hear it!  Kittens are amazingly resilient.
      Nancy DC

    re .8
    
    Boy, Nancy, truer words were never spoken.  When Black Thunder had
    surgery on both her tummy and her mouth at the same time, she came
    home as feisty as ever.  I had to keep checking to see if she really
    had the surgery performed.
    
    Sandi (mom to Lightning, DejaVu & Thunder)
    
    

    Off the subject of surgeries for a second... Willa, are you Brenna's
    sister??? Bill's daughter?????  Say Hi for me, if you are.
    
    My mother's 14 yr old cat just recently had to have a radical
    mastectomy done.  She developed cancer in one "breast", and had
    that removed, about a year ago.  Then all of a sudden she had 3-4
    more lumps, so in she went.  For the first few days, she did nothing
    but sleep under the covers of my mom's bed, with the electric blanket
    turned on low.  She didn't even want my mother to sleep with her.
    Now, Kitty is like a totally different cat.  She is peppier, more
    alert, her hanging under belly no longer sags (she had a tummy tuck),
    but she is still a bitch  ;^} (she never liked me).
    
    Aren't animals wonderful, they just bounce right back.... not like
    us HUMANS!

    That's because us silly humans have big enough brains to be able
    to wear ourselves down with stupid worries and stresses!  Cats
    just worry about something that's actually happening to them.
    
    Smart little beings  :-)

    Re: 10
    
         Yes, this is Brenna's sister, alias  Bill's daughter.  Does
    she know your name?  I'm not sure who you are...  I'll tell her/them
    hello for you.
    
    Willa