Junko, calico kitten

Could be she sneezes when whatever is causing it is high enough in the air. I don't always sneeze with pollen unless it's really up there. Could be dust tickles her nose.

Junko went to the vet yesterday and she tested negative for feline HIV and feline leukemia.  She 15 ounces. Junko even climbed on the shoulders of the vet tech and the vet. 

They've been marked! Now, they are hers!  

What's even better is that Junko let the vet carry her to the front desk when the appointment was over.  

Good news all around!  

  

Her next vet appointment is Sept 13. That should be when my parents can discuss with the vet when Junko can be spayed.

Most vets will consider doing that as soon as she weighs 3# or more.

The vet won't do until she weighs at least 4 pounds. At the last visit, she weighed 3.7 pounds.

I suspect weight might be more important than age, because of handling the anesthetic, but I did find this:

"Within the last 25 years, there have been major advances in the field of pediatric spay surgery. Though early spay and neuter surgeries are relatively new to North America, the benefits have been noted and the practice is growing. Kittens are now being spayed as early as eight weeks. Contrary to popular fears, spaying eight-week-old kittens does not cause any ill effects either in the short term or the long term. In fact, according to Susan Little, an Ottawa, Ontario veterinarian certified in feline practice, there are no long-term health differences between kittens spayed at eight week and eight months."

Thank you for posting that LK. A&M has been a forerunner in pediertirci
s/n. The are they gold standard for maintained colonies on collage campuses,

Suzzzz wrote:I suspect weight might be more important than age, because of handling the anesthetic, but I did find this:

"Within the last 25 years, there have been major advances in the field of pediatric spay surgery. Though early spay and neuter surgeries are relatively new to North America, the benefits have been noted and the practice is growing. Kittens are now being spayed as early as eight weeks. Contrary to popular fears, spaying eight-week-old kittens does not cause any ill effects either in the short term or the long term. In fact, according to Susan Little, an Ottawa, Ontario veterinarian certified in feline practice, there are no long-term health differences between kittens spayed at eight week and eight months."

This is very interesting. Arwen was put up for adoption when she was two months old and she was spayed by then. Junko is small for being three months. I rather have her be heavy enough to tolerate anesthetic than be too young for the operation.

She'll get there. Nutrition plays a big role in how big kittens get. If she lost her mom early, she probably is a little behind. Now that she's got good care, she should catch up quickly. The good thing about the stuff Suzzzz posted is that the time for spay surgery isn't a requirement. It's proof that early spay doesn't hurt a kitty. Late spay doesn't either.

Junko's mom still alive. Her mom didn't do a good job of nursing her. One time, Junko's mom did leave her in the ivy that's growing like crazy in the back of the house and then go to the side of the house to take care of her other kittens. Junko did try to nurse from her mom, only for the mom to walk away. Junko's aunt did try to nurse her at times. Junko was always being dumped at one spot by her mom while she goes off to take care of her other kittens. I don't know if that has anything to do with her being a bit small. Junko is growing and gaining weight. She is able to make short jumps.

This sometimes happens with cats and dogs. For some reason the mother won't nurture
the smallest ones.

Thank heavens then for those of us who do nurture them. My past Noelle was the runt, and kept getting pushed out of the way by the others. Only 4 weeks when we got her: had to feed her crushed puppy chow mixed with PMR every 4 hours until she had enough teeth to eat solids.

Junko went to the vet this morning and everything is fine. She got her rabies shot and gained one pound. Now she weighs 4.7 pounds. Now my parents have to decide when to get Junko spayed.

What's to decide. ESH!!!

They could get her spayed at any time now, she's big enough. And the younger they are the faster they bounce back and heal from it.

There is a local low cost spay/neuter place that Junko might go to get spayed. The vet's office charge at least $70 for spay/neuter.

We have one of those that is run by ARF. It's an excellent place, and the vets really do care about every animal there.

We took Tippy there, and they found his cancer. They did everything for him and asked only for a donation.

By all means, get Miss J spayed on the cheap if you can/if you are so blessed with the opportunity -- AS LONG AS you can keep her confined during any season(s) she may have until then.  

If I read the local low cost spay/neuter clinic right, we live in one of five area codes that they will waive the spay/neuter fee for an indoor pet. That is better than paying $70 for the same procedure.

That would be stellar! Don't let this opportunity pass.

Jump on it. Like a duck on a June bug.