What are my rights?

krystyne

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Today I stopped by the SPCA and left with a kitty. He was advertised as neutered, his medical history showed the SPCA neutered him during his first stay in May (he was a return), and the paperwork I signed said "previously altered". When I got him home and settled in, I found that he was not altered.

I don't want a tom spraying all over the place. But one of my other cats has a mammary mass and arthritis, so neuter surgery would have to wait a couple of months (he's indoors only, so kittens aren't a concern) if I have to cover it all on my own. Since the SPCA sold me an animal advertised as "altered", can I get them to alter him without extra charge?
 

carolina

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Originally Posted by Krystyne

Today I stopped by the SPCA and left with a kitty. He was advertised as neutered, his medical history showed the SPCA neutered him during his first stay in May (he was a return), and the paperwork I signed said "previously altered". When I got him home and settled in, I found that he was not altered.

I don't want a tom spraying all over the place. But one of my other cats has a mammary mass and arthritis, so neuter surgery would have to wait a couple of months (he's indoors only, so kittens aren't a concern) if I have to cover it all on my own. Since the SPCA sold me an animal advertised as "altered", can I get them to alter him without extra charge?
Just a minor terminology correction: They didn't sell you one, they adopted him to you... And I would guess yes - they should spay the kitty to you... You should call them, provided you have all the documentation, I believe you should be fine...
 
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krystyne

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Thank you for your reply


I understand what you mean as far as terminology, but I'm trying to think of a legal basis for insisting on the surgery, and the best I can come up with is advertising/contract law, which would involve a financial transaction. Hence "sell". But practically speaking, the cat adopted me.

My husband's worried about it. The kitty spent a month at the SPCA, was adopted, returned 6 weeks later, and spent 3 months there this time. (Thank goodness for empty cages.) My husband is afraid that the cat will be upset/scared and feeling abandoned over going back yet again for the overnight surgery stay.
 

carolina

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He doesn't need to stay overnight for the surgery... Specially a male - this is a very simple and quick surgery. Call them... They can either do it, or give you a coupon to go to a vet to get it done.
 

seulf

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Originally Posted by Carolina

He doesn't need to stay overnight for the surgery... Specially a male - this is a very simple and quick surgery. Call them... They can either do it, or give you a coupon to go to a vet to get it done.
Yes, thankfully neuters are much simpler than spays.
Your boy should only be there for a few hours. Good luck to you!
 

Willowy

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They should definitely do the surgery or pay for it to be done elsewhere. If you get a spayed rabbit from PetCo and she gets pregnant, they'll pay for the spay and the baby expenses. So the SPCA will do the same, for sure.

So it's really obvious that he's intact? I can't imagine how they missed that, especially since he was at the shelter twice. Are you sure? Because I do have a neutered male, neutered late in life, who could be mistaken for intact. I guess the scrotal sac was stretched out and never shrunk fully.

FYI re: terminology---technically it is a sale. Any time you exchange money for services or goods (technically a cat is goods), it's a sale. We don't like to use that terminolgy for adoptions, but technically it's the correct term.
 

missymotus

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Originally Posted by Willowy

So it's really obvious that he's intact? I can't imagine how they missed that, especially since he was at the shelter twice. Are you sure? Because I do have a neutered male, neutered late in life, who could be mistaken for intact. I guess the scrotal sac was stretched out and never shrunk fully.
I'm wondering if that's the case too. Depending on how the surgery is done, many vets just take the jewels and leave the pouch so if a cat is done when older it can appear they are not altered.
 

jcat

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Originally Posted by Willowy

So it's really obvious that he's intact? I can't imagine how they missed that, especially since he was at the shelter twice. Are you sure? Because I do have a neutered male, neutered late in life, who could be mistaken for intact. I guess the scrotal sac was stretched out and never shrunk fully.
Originally Posted by missymotus

I'm wondering if that's the case too. Depending on how the surgery is done, many vets just take the jewels and leave the pouch so if a cat is done when older it can appear they are not altered.
I've seen this even with males who were neutered at six months.

If he is still intact, the shelter will probably arrange for him to be neutered for you. It's a simple procedure for males - usually you can drop them off in the morning, and pick them up in the afternoon or early evening.
 

mai_kitties

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Best thing to do in this situation is to take him to your vet and have the vet determine if he is indeed intact. If he is, have the vet give you the paperwork stating he is intact and take that to the SPCA along with your original paperwork stating that the cat was altered. If they are a good shelter, they should do the surgery for you or pay to have it done.

When we took in our stray we got him to the vet pretty fast because we were positive he was not neutered. The vet gave him a look and started explaining his fees, while he was doing that he gave him a good feel. He got a puzzled look and said "oh... he is neutered... wow". I about died laughing. He is just a "big" boy to say the least.
 
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krystyne

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I did set up a vet appointment for later this week, and the receptionist did mention that scar tissue could make him look intact. Boy I hope so. The SPCA said that if he is intact the procedure is that I would surrender him to them, they would neuter him, then they would re-adopt him to me at no charge.

I'm hoping it's just scar tissue. That would make life so much more simpler.
 

StefanZ

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Originally Posted by Krystyne

I'm hoping it's just scar tissue. That would make life so much more simpler.
Scar tissues or the pouch left, like the others said. My boys (both ex studs) both did have their outer pouches left after neutering, protruding with this sack - and for somebody not really knowing real toms - they can be mistaken to still be intact. Especielly our older: he still several years after does looks very male, chins and so on...

But. IF yours is by some coincidence intact, he is surely a very docile male, and a non sprayer. Otherwise they would notice something. Although SPCA will do their duty, so you dont have ANY need to worry!


Anyway, good you are going to this vet appointment. A health check up is always wise to take.
If you want him assured, and I think you will - the assurance company want prob the vet giving him clear papers.


Good luck!
 

Willowy

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Of course the vet will have to take a look so that the SPCA has concrete proof....but if you want to, and the cat is willing, you can usually cop a feel yourself and get a good idea of his neuter status. When you feel the area, if he's intact it feels like a couple of grapes in there. If he's neutered, all you feel is skin....although most people don't want to feel up their cats!
 
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krystyne

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I got him to the vet and he has been fixed, yay!! The vet guesses that he appears large because he was fully adult when it was done. He also passed the rest of the health exam with flying colors, with the exception of his hip. The vet guesses an old injury has made him sore there.

Now I've just got to convince the other male in the house that everything's going to be just fine, that the younger one just wants a playmate.
 

ldg

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That's great news!

Make the intro slow, and give your existing kitty heaps of extra play, love and attention, and always give him attention first, and I'm sure it'll all work out just fine.
 
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