3 orphaned strays(photos) - time to say goodbye? Seeking advice

Hooray! I am glad you went through with it. I know you had a hard time with this decision, but you did the right thing.

As for the boys, since the testicles are gone, the sack may hang lower than they did before. Also there may be some swelling from surgery. As long as there is no infection, they should be fine soon.

As for Cynthia, she will take longer to recover than the boys so it would probably be better to confine her separately so that the boys aren't too rough with her.

Thank you so much for caring for these kitties It is normal for the boys to be a bit swollen at first, but watch closely to make sure the swelling starts to go down and there is no redness or other signs of infection around the incisions. They will still look unneutered for a while. My Sammy was neutered over a month ago, and at a glance, he doesn't look it. They just take out the testes and leave the skin or sack in place, which kind of shrinks some after a few months.
I would think as long as everyone is getting along, there is no reason to separate them. It sounds like they are quite the little trio and splitting them up right now may be stressful for them. Just keep a close eye on them. Cynthia should take it easy more so than the boys- no climbing or stairs or rough playing for about a week. Spaying is a more complicated surgery than neutering and she has a lot more stitches.


I love the photo you posted They are adorable!

Edit: wow! I had no idea I took so long to type! If vball61 thinks it's better to separate them, I'd go with that because she has more experience than me

Big thanks for the advice.
Cynthia is looking for her brothers to sleep in between them so I will leave her with them ow. I am laying down next to them now so I am watching over. They are still sleepy anyway. But cynthia is very uncomfortable. She wakes up crying and and moves her legs as if she trying to kick away, and she seems she can't find a good way to sleep.

I see her trying to lick the wound... I can't find a stitch. It is just a small red dot...I don't know its a bit dim in this room...maybe I can't see well... is it ok that she licks? The vet said no need for bandage. ..

Thank you for watching over with me

Most of the stitches are internal and will dissolve by themselves. Try to keep her from licking a lot. The drier the incision stays, the faster it heals.

As long as they are less energetic than usual and don't rough house too much with Cynthia, it's ok to leave them together especially since you're supervising. Just be cautious as the boys will start to feel better sooner than Cynthia. Did the vet give you any pain meds like buprenex/buprenorphine for Cynthia?

The vet did not five any pain meds...I was actually coming here to check with you on that. I think Cynthia is in pain. Here eyes are tired. She cant lay down and when I leave she meows very deeply....
Maybe she is hungry and in pain, and confused

I would call your vet and ask for a prescription for buprenex/buprenorphine or tramadol (not Metacam). It does sound like whatever pain med the vet gave her is wearing off.

It is too late now. I will have to wait until tomorrow. I have Panadol syrup for kids (I think it is paracetamol) does that work?

No. Paracetamol is not safe for cats at all. In fact, there are no safe over the counter pain meds for cats. Please ask your vet for a prescription in the morning.

Uff. I didn't know it was going to be that bad for cynthia. I should have just fixed the boys for now...

I also don't know how to prevent her from going up and down this week... should I keep her in her carrier?

The boys are fine...Cynthia still the same but trying to go to elevated placed, probably to retreat. But as per your advice I rearranged the balcony to minimise her chances and I made 4 options for her to retreat without climbing, and a box-bed (I got the idea knowing that cats like to sit in boxes)...
I am worrying too much, yea?
It is the first time I deal with this...

djoe said:

The boys are fine...Cynthia still the same but trying to go to elevated placed, probably to retreat. But as per your advice I rearranged the balcony to minimise her chances and I made 4 options for her to retreat without climbing, and a box-bed (I got the idea knowing that cats like to sit in boxes)...
I am worrying too much, yea?
It is the first time I deal with this...

Click to expand...

You're doing just fine. Giving her places to retreat without climbing is a great idea. You are such a good caretaker of these babies. They are so lucky to have found you.

I just saw this-SO happy you did it! I know it's hard to watch them hurt at all--but it truly is better for them in so many ways. Amazing how fast little boys heal isn't it?!? I'm hoping Cynthia's feeling a little better now...girls do take a little longer. I'm glad vball was able to advise you on the pain meds (did you end up needing/getting?). Giving her a place to retreat to is smart-and it sounds like you're taking amazing care of her during this short rough patch!!!

I am glad I pulled it together and did it... I am not emotionally fit to ddeal with kitties in pain. Ayayayay. Now it's passed lol.

The boys are doing fine. They are not playing together as much, I think they are being soft because of Cynthia. I think they understand she is not doing so well.

She is much better than yesterday. And today I took her in and she slept in my bed for 4 hours!!

I am sure she will be back to normal in no time....in the end, a day in human time is 3 days in cat time right?

Thank you all so much!!! You know if you were not here I would not have had the courage to do this.

Great news!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy to have found this site too--it's been so much help for me informationally & emotionally!!! SOOOO glad you ALL feel better (& don't beat yourself up about not dealing well with animals in pain -I just spent 3 days straight with less than an hour of sleep a night worrying about one of my 3-week old foster kittens who was constipated for almost 4 days--but finally went last night!!! -I keep telling myself I need to stop caring so much but I think the world needs people who care!).

And how's Lucy?

Indeed it is a great site.
Lucy is spending all of her time sleeping; the wound is fine though and we are still on antibiotics.

Sometimes I wish she could make friends with the kittens then I would let them inside and they would keep her company. But that's just wishful thinking.

So great to hear!!! Once she feels better-miracles happen Ok, probably not likely, but we can all dream

Hi, djoe
I was wondering how your kitties are recovering. Hope all is well

Hi happybird.
The boys are back to normal, but Cynthia is not. I don't see any visible problem, but she wants to cuddle in my arms or sleep more often than she wnats to play. She plays and eats but not as much. The surgery stitches are so hard as if there is a plastic knot inside her belly. It doesn't bother her but it is there.

She is not growing as fast as her brothers are. I am thinking to give her some nutrigel for a week to catch up.

She is such a polite calm and gentle lil lady.

It is getting cold here and the balcony will soon be a bad place for them to stay, and still, nobody showed interest in them...

djoe said:

Hi happybird.
The boys are back to normal, but Cynthia is not. I don't see any visible problem, but she wants to cuddle in my arms or sleep more often than she wnats to play. She plays and eats but not as much. The surgery stitches are so hard as if there is a plastic knot inside her belly. It doesn't bother her but it is there.

She is not growing as fast as her brothers are. I am thinking to give her some nutrigel for a week to catch up.

She is such a polite calm and gentle lil lady.

It is getting cold here and the balcony will soon be a bad place for them to stay, and still, nobody showed interest in them...

Click to expand...

Girls can take up to two weeks to recover from a spay.  Does anything look infected? Is the place where the stitches are really red or inflamed?

It is normal for kittens to be more cuddly after a spay or neuter they were.    It is ok if she is not growing as fast as the brothers if she is still gaining weight.

I'm sorry no one has showed interest in the cats.  It is very rough.