Marshmallow's not a girl!

Marshmallow has been sick for a couple of weeks and we've taken him to the vet twice. The first time, the vet kept referring to him as "she" when he was talking about him. I didn't want to be rude, but pointedly said "he" a couple of times during the conversation. When we took him back to the vet yesterday, the vet called him "she" again. Really, now! I can't figure out if it's because of his name or the way he looks. Marshmallow is a beautiful cat -his features resemble those of a Turkish Angora (though he's not one) - and he has lovely bi-colored eyes. Or maybe there's a mistake in the chart? I had a message on my answering machine today from the receptionist at the vet's office today. She was calling to check on Marshmallow and she asked "How (long pause) is it doing?"

You would think someone you were paying for services would at least glance at the chart before talking to you. If its, not on his chart, it should be.

I know someone who calls all cats she and all dogs he maybe he is like that.

That's so aggravating, isn't it?!? My mom constantly refers to Holland as "he", no matter how many times I correct her. Then one day she had the nerve to say, "well, she's spayed, right? So he, she, it, it doesn't matter!" That annoys me and my mom's not even Holland's medical provider.

Maybe it's the name....the vet might have known a female "Marshmallow" and is having trouble switching gears...

Originally Posted by Pami

I know someone who calls all cats she and all dogs he maybe he is like that.

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I tend to do this by default, but when someone clarifies the sex, then I adjust....

lol... my vet s tech got the chart stickers mixed up and called my dog by my cats name and thus the vet mixed the girls up for about 3 months... FYI the dog was roughly 8 years older and had been seen weekly for a while

We've only been to the vet when Neko was first adopted and they always referred to her as "he". Most likely the name. Everyone thinks its "nee-ko" but its japanese and pronounced "nay-ko". Either way, everyone thinks shes a he!! I put a PINK collar on when we go to the vet

My vet will often refer to cats as female. I think it just has to do with how some see certain types of animals as feminine or masculine and not actually the individual animal in front of them. If you stop and think about how other languages work, this may make more sense to you.

In any case, as long as the proper bits are removed (had a kitten in for a neutering that he was calling a she at first) there's little else that is important gender wise for cat care.

Originally Posted by Pami

I know someone who calls all cats she and all dogs he maybe he is like that.

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My mother-in-law will do this. It doesn't help that my BIL has a female dog named Jake.

The vet techs will refer to Much as he. Probably because it seems to be a more masculine name.

Hmmm, you'd think the vet could take a quick peek and get it right!

People think Rusty is a boy... Basically by her name, her color and her size. She is a BIG girl!

Originally Posted by pushylady

Hmmm, you'd think the vet could take a quick peek and get it right!

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I have a girl who looks like a boy, she's been judged as a boy at several shows, one judge even said he - checked under the tale and confirmed he My poor girlie

At my Vet's office, they are constantly calling Sven "Seven"! Our Vet knows his name very well, but it's the receptionists who can't seem to get it right. So I have to correct them and say "Sven, he's Svedish! (Swedish with an accent!! )

Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens

Sven, he's Svedish!

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That is TOO funny.

I guess some names are just ambiguous. I never thought Holland was, but it's a very unique name, so I probably shouldn't complain if people refer to her as a "he". I have friends who have a female dog named Spike.

Poor Marshmallow! Maybe he's just too sweet and beautiful to be a man! Or maybe I should have given him a more manly name, like Speck. Nobody ever calls Speck a girl!

Originally Posted by silva_unt

Most likely the name. Everyone thinks its "nee-ko" but its japanese and pronounced "nay-ko".

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Actually, it's "neh-ko". I lived in Japan so that I'm sure of. The vowels are "ah" (A), "ee" (I), "ooh" (U), "eh" (E), "oh" (O). Es are always said "eh". For it to have an "ay" pronunciation you have to have "ei". It's a very consistent language. No funny stuff like in English.

Haha! Our neighbors when I was a teenager had a Cocker/Poodle mix dog that was very cute, all white and fluffy, named "Snowball". He was a male. Poor little guy. They even put bows in his hair whenever he was groomed.

I haven't had any trouble with a vet using the wrong pronoun. That would be annoying.

When we applied to adopt Mojo, they had her as a Male Cat. She has really short fur, and likes to roll and wiggle around on her back. To be honest, though, she acts like a boy. I guess that's what they were going off of? She didn't do too well with burning off calories living in a cage, so she looked like she was ready to pop out kittens...or like she swallowed a cantaloupe. They had to take her to the Banfield vet in Petsmart to "check her sex", shave her tummy and make sure she had been spayed and wasn't pregnant. Of course, we said that we didn't care if she was a boy or a girl - we fell in love with Mojo and wanted Mojo to come home with us! (And obviously, she is a girl, she had been spayed, she was just a tublet.)

I announced to DH this morning that we're changing Marshmallow's name to Lewie (though I prefer to spell it "Louis" and he can be a French cat). I'm only kidding, though I think Marshmallow would adapt to it. He doesn't respond much to Marshmallow; I think he likes just plain "Kitty" better. Funny how we seldom call any of our cats "Kitty" but they all know and respond to it.

When we got Daisy, DH picked her up at the pound and took her straight for her spay. I had to name her sight unseen. DH said "name her something that she'll be able to remember." Of course, Daisy switches her tail and acts like I've commited a federal crime almost every time I call her name. I say "What's wrong Daisy, don't you like your name? I picked it out for you...." (It should be noted that she does not have a problem with her name when DH says it. She just looks up at him with adoring eyes like she's never heard a sweeter sound in her life. ) But I'm not jealous, .