My cat...

Yes, you are humanizing a cat. But who doesn't apply human emotions to their pets? Personally, the benefits of neutering a male cat are profound and immediate. We don't let our cat out of the house because of predators in the area. However we had him neutered because of the male cat's tendency toward spraying (marking) the furniture. I love the cat and regret nothing about having him fixed. He is an amazingly arrogant and spirited animal. He makes me laugh every single day. He holds his own with Basil and trust me, that requires some balls, even if he hasn't any. Go for the procedure. The pros outweigh the cons.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If you don't have him fixed soon marking territory will become ingrained and you will always have that as a problem. All of the normal dominant male cat behavior that makes it tough for the owner and the neighbors will disappear and you will have a better pet than you have now. Go for it, don't wait.

---

It's done... I had him neutered this morning. He is now in that stoned post-operation state. I hope he snaps back soon.

Thanks for the input, everybody! I feel much better now...

Give him a few days to get over the procedure and you'll find he is better than before. It may take a little time before the hormones that are still operating dissipate but once the testosterone or whatever lightens up the marking and caterwauling will go away.

If you care about him that much you really should consider keeping him in the house full time. A cat outside can get hurt or killed by many things. Cats like to crawl up next to a warm engine block in a car and then get hit by the fan when it is started. They can get sick or killed by feral cats or dogs. He could get hit by a car. He could get caught in a varmit trap. He could eat a poisoned mouse. There are many things that could make him never come home from a day outside.

Neutering a male cat is definitely priority 1 and he will snap back real quick. He will never know what happened or that he is missing anything.

+1 on not letting the cat out. Dustin is on the money as to the risks. He might also be exposed to diseases like feline leukemia from a stray cat. My cat was an alley cat and I thought that he would yearn to get out. He adapted to being an indoor cat perfectly and never has meowed or tried to get out. I guess he had enough of the wild side when he was out there.

Yes thats true. My little Siamese just came back all dirty from a fight.
I'm always happy when I see her coming back in good health and I do worry a lot when she's outside but she wants out under any circumstances.
She's vaccinated sufficiently but that doesn't save her from children throwing stones at her, dogs, other cats or basement doors that suddenly get locked when she's in there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DustinW

If you care about him that much you really should consider keeping him in the house full time. A cat outside can get hurt or killed by many things. Cats like to crawl up next to a warm engine block in a car and then get hit by the fan when it is started. They can get sick or killed by feral cats or dogs. He could get hit by a car. He could get caught in a varmit trap. He could eat a poisoned mouse. There are many things that could make him never come home from a day outside.

Neutering a male cat is definitely priority 1 and he will snap back real quick. He will never know what happened or that he is missing anything.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

+1 on not letting the cat out. Dustin is on the money as to the risks. He might also be exposed to diseases like feline leukemia from a stray cat. My cat was an alley cat and I thought that he would yearn to get out. He adapted to being an indoor cat perfectly and never has meowed or tried to get out. I guess he had enough of the wild side when he was out there.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 0livia

Yes thats true. My little Siamese just came back all dirty from a fight.
I'm always happy when I see her coming back in good health and I do worry a lot when she's outside but she wants out under any circumstances.
She's vaccinated sufficiently but that doesn't save her from children throwing stones at her, dogs, other cats or basement doors that suddenly get locked when she's in there.

---

I do care a lot about him... but he needs to go out. He still - even in the rough days last week - hasn't stayed too far off, however. I do know the risks but I have to let him have his exercise. I'll have to gamble that one, I know... He does spend most of his time in the house. Before he went berserk some weeks ago he always followed me around and came when I called him. I trust that he'll keep doing it. Plus, Baltazar knows he has to keep away from cars and engines... he was found after he had travelled 20 km under the bonnet of a lorry.

He's snapping back into his old self... and we "made up"! He went outside for a bit, came back when I called him (he still is a bit sluggish, though...), ate some of his food. And then allowed me to pick him up and pet him on my lap... Except for last night, it was the first time in weeks that he allowed me to do so. Then he looked at me and said: "meow!" I interpret this has being something along the lines of "I forgive you for having my balls cut out" or something like "Are you still reading Heidegger?" My cat is very smart... He wrote a monograph on paralell interpretations of Theodor Adorno's Aesthetic Theory. It's quite a read! I'm feeling better now. And so is he! He's sleeping in my office chair now... I'm seating on the piano stool... :)

I'll accept your advice, though, and keep him in the house a bit more... It's safer that way, indeed. But I have to keep myself from over-protecting urges. He does have the right - to some extent - to BE a cat.

Many thanks for all the input and the support on a moment of failure of deportment and the "keep a stiff upper lip" stuff. You really eased my mind.

no comment

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gratewhitehuntr

no comment

---

Please allow people some space to comment on whatever they like and feel. Everybody has been civil and sympathetic with this issue. I know it's lame. Sure... but life cannot be reduced to shooting stuff.
If you think this discussion is stupid or bordering on exageration concerning the humanization of pets, keep the comments to yourself. If a thing doesn't interest you, please refrain from commenting.

I am terribly sorry but I cannot help but consider your comment to be rude.

Adorno and Heidegger is just the right stuff for male cats.
How do you read Heidegger? In Portugese?
This man causes havoc in German already and with the simplest words! :rant:

My ladies prefer music, hehehe