I have Max and Missy. And I think that she may be pregnant. If she is, when (if) she has kittens, is it safe for him to be around them? I mean , like as she is having them,,and right after? And when she isnt around? We always had outside cats, so we brought them in to have their kittens. So I wasnt sure if it was ok. Thanks for much for you time!
Best Regards,
Melissa
Veteran Advisor Helen Fines says:
December 16th, 2007 at 08:38 PM
They usually make their own arrangements but it's preferable if Max is separated around kittening and afterwards. Also because she could get pregnant again quickly, it's better if one or both of them are neutered if you don't want to breed them.
melissa says:
December 16th, 2007 at 11:06 PM
I am going to get Max fixed right after Christmas. If he is fixed..is it ok if he is around? Or should I take him to a friends ( she doesnt have cats, but is known by Max)? And if so, how long should he stay there after she gives birth?
Veteran Advisor Helen Fines says:
December 16th, 2007 at 11:27 PM
There's no need for him to go to a friend's house, but try to keep him out of the room where she has the kittens for a few days, and don't leave them unsupervised for a while. Missy will probably make sure Max doesn't bother her kittens of her own accord. Don't forget to get her neutered also if she is going outside- even if she's an indoor cat it's advisable.
melissa says:
December 16th, 2007 at 11:34 PM
I was planning on it! lol..but we had to move last notice and things happen..lol. But we LOVE our kids and want the best for them. So we are going to give these kittens to some friends..and people we know will care for them. I would love to care for them myself, but we live in a small apartment..lol. Also, any tips on if they spray? Or will they spray after I get him fixed? And do females spray? Also, am I asking too many questions? lol..I do not want to bother you.
Veteran Advisor Helen Fines says:
December 16th, 2007 at 11:42 PM
Have they started spraying? Likely if they are neutered soon they won't start. Max shouldn't start after neutering if he hasn't already, and if he has, it stops them in the majority of cases anyway. Females can scent mark but less so than males. If either do there are many tactics you can employ, such as pheromone-based sprays. Ask as many questions as you need to by the way!
melissa says:
December 16th, 2007 at 11:55 PM
k..and what is your opinion on declawing? My bestfriends mother is a vet..and they HATE doing it. They think it is mean. I know that they refuse to do it after a certain age. They are both under a year..or just close too it. And I know they have laser removal..is that better? Does it do something to the emotionally? Some people say that is how they relive tension?
Veteran Advisor Helen Fines says:
December 17th, 2007 at 12:49 AM
I am in the UK and it just isn't done at all here (to my knowledge) except for medical reasons. So i don't have any experience of it, but my personal opinion is that any surgical procedure which is done solely for the benefit of the human and not the animal is unethical.
melissa says:
December 17th, 2007 at 01:33 AM
Well, I kinda looked at it as..if it didnt hurt them, and they didnt know either way..then I would do it. Kinda like removing dogs dew claws..or trimming their ears. I do not want to do anything unethical by ANY means. I just thought if they wouldnt notice either way..then I would. I would leave their back claws on thou.
Veteran Advisor Helen Fines says:
December 17th, 2007 at 02:00 AM
What's ethical is often only a matter of opinion, we just have to gather as many facts as we can and make our minds up i suppose. It's really difficult to say if they notice or not- but scratching is a normal and important part of feline behaviour.
melissa says:
December 17th, 2007 at 02:34 PM
Well, Max doesnt really scratch, but Missy does. We just moved in to a new apartment. Brand new carpet..and she is ALREADY pulling up fibers from scratching. It is driving me nuts. She does it at night when we are sleeping. And she has never really been trained..or repremanded. So when I say NO, she just looks at me. ANY tips on getting her to stop scratching..and to listen to me when I say NO ..lol
Veteran Advisor Helen Fines says:
December 17th, 2007 at 04:13 PM
Cats are really difficult to train in that way anyway,and as you've discovered they just do it when you're not there/asleep instead! The answer lies in 'flooding the market' with lots of legitimate scratching posts and places, and making the places you don't want scratched as unappealing as possible- sometimes the pheromone type sprays help this, other times it's as simple as restricting access, covers for bits of furniture you want to save and that kind of thing.
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