Some advice for care of my new little guy!?

emma79

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Mar 8, 2006
Messages
191
Purraise
1
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Hey guys, I was just needing some advice if I could. It's been a long time since I have had kittens.

1. How old does have have to be before I can safely get him spayed? How old are male cats when they start to spray? I wan't to avoid this happening.

2. I am planning on buying a very high quality kitten food for him, how long does he need to be eating it for? Rascal (my adult male) suffers from bladder crystals, so is on Hills prescription CD to control it. Can the kitten eat this once he is off the baby food?

3. The vet has done a full check, given him his first 2 kitten needles (he needs another in about a month), wormed and flead him. Is there any other things you would suggest before introducing him to my adults? *Both my adults are fully vaccinated.

Thanks heaps in advance for your help!

Emma
 

sar

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
9,787
Purraise
1
Location
The future 'Green' House! (NW England)
In regards to when to get him neutered, it is generally recommended at about six months old, but this does depend on his development! Your vet will be able to advise, as he will be able to not health status, size and development.

He will spray once he has reached sexual maturity, so neutering at around six months should be sufficient to prevent this!

I don't know about the food question! Again, I would probably speak to your vet and see what s/he recommends


I think, as you've been given the all clear on your kitten's health and he has had his first vaccination, I would say that you're ready for the introuctions stage!


You can find lots of information about how to go about this around the site! I can grab you a couple of links if you like!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

emma79

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Mar 8, 2006
Messages
191
Purraise
1
Location
Melbourne, Australia
I would appreciate any info you can help with. I wanna make sure this little guy gets the best care I can give him, as he has had a rough start to life! Being dumped off at the vet and being a bit too shy to grab the main attention of people coming in to view and pick a kitten......can't be much fun!
 

familytimerags

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Sep 10, 2005
Messages
976
Purraise
4
Location
Yukon, OK
I don't know if it is common practice in Austrailia to do pediatric spaying and neutering, but here, some vets will do spay and neuter as early as 8-12 weeks. My vet does our spay and neuters at 12 weeks, and we have never had a problem to date. We have a 4 year old male who was neutered at 11 weeks old, and he has never had any health problems, and he is a big boy at 18 lbs. He doesn't have an ounce of fat on him.

I would say the sooner the better to have him neutered. Here is a website that I often refer others to, regarding early altering.
http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/repo...ly-neuter.html
There are other sites as well, that refer to early altering cats.
I would speak to your vet regarding the prescription diet food.
It sounds like you have done everything, and are ready to sit back and enjoy your new fur baby!!
Congratulations, on your new family member!!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

emma79

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Mar 8, 2006
Messages
191
Purraise
1
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Thanks for the reply. I remember when I got Miss Corty, she was 9 weeks and had already been de-sexed as I got her from a shelter, and they have to do it before they can re-home the kittens. I know I got Rascal done quite young, I think it might have been around the 3 month mark, but I can't remember. When I asked the vet nurse today, she told me I needed to wait till he was 12 months, and I thought that was a bit long......
 

huggles

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 3, 2003
Messages
9,620
Purraise
4
Location
Melbourne, Australia
many people will tell you different things in regards to the age the "can" get neutered. Here in Australia, the shelters will neuter kittens at a young age (8 weeks or so) but my vet wont neuter until 6 months.
No, 12 months is too long to wait... I wouldnt do it any later than 6 months. Are you letting him outside? If so, then I wouldnt let him outside until he has been neutered.
My Tipsy was neutered at 8 weeks (shelter kitty) and he still sprays... never inside and only first thing in the mornings when I let him outside - marking his territory for the day I guess


I agree - sounds like you can begin the introduction process

here is a good place to start
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67321

I also cant help much with the food question, but there are alot of our members that should be able to help
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

emma79

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Mar 8, 2006
Messages
191
Purraise
1
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Hmmm......ok. So I need to start sussing out where to get him done. Coz he is already 12 weeks.
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
You can neuter/spay from about 4 months on. Its what your vet is comfortable with - some don't like to neuter under 6 months (I think they go somewhat on weight of the cat). I like neutering my males at 6-8 months.

Its hard to tell when they might spray. If they are around older cats who are not neutered and do spray, they could learn this earlier. But if your cats are neutered now, then he shouldn't start young. So I'd get him done at about 6 months to be safe.

You'll have to talk to the vet about letting him eat the CD. Personally, I don't like Science Diet. I prefer Iams or Nutro Max for my cats. Kitten food does NOT have to be fed for a year. It depends on the size/type of kitten. For example, a small cat like a rex or oriental would be very fat if feed kitten food for the first year. My rex kittens ate kitten foods at about 4 months - after that they ate the same food as the adults because they would have picked up too much weight. If the kitten is a larger breed (like a maine coon) then you might feed kitten food for 8 months. You have to judge how the kitten is growing.

For introductions, you should be ok to introduce now - he's had 2 sets of shots. Introduce the kitten slowly - one cat at a time. Expect some hissing or growling and let them alone unless they really get into a physical fight. Most kittens will respect older cats and the older ones will put the younger one in his place. You might want to sprinkle some cornstarch baby powder on all the cats to make them smell the same
 

laureen227

Darksome Duo!
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 3, 2003
Messages
19,260
Purraise
387
Location
Denton TX
Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Kitten food does NOT have to be fed for a year. It depends on the size/type of kitten. For example, a small cat like a rex or oriental would be very fat if feed kitten food for the first year. My rex kittens ate kitten foods at about 4 months - after that they ate the same food as the adults because they would have picked up too much weight. If the kitten is a larger breed (like a maine coon) then you might feed kitten food for 8 months. You have to judge how the kitten is growing.
when i got Cable, i fed her extra food to supplement what the adults were eating. i had to feed her separately or my hefty girl [Mouse] would eat it - Mouse pretty much ate anything [my mom always said she took after me!
]. i fed a high quality dry kibble, & supplemented for Cable w/canned adult food, & she did just fine.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

emma79

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Mar 8, 2006
Messages
191
Purraise
1
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Thanks heaps for the advice guys. When it comes to the Prescription diet, I feed it coz I basically have to. There is only 2 brands here that make food specifically for the crystals, and Rascal didn't like the other one. So he really has no choice. He seems to like the food. I did try Iams at one point for Corty, but she turned her nose up at it, but again loves the Hills.

The kittens are being fed on Eukanuba at the moment I think (although I always thought Eukanuba was dog food), but I could be wrong. So I'll buy a bag of whatever they're giving him and gradually change it over if I don't think it's right for him.

Emma
 
Top