HI

Question
QUESTION: this jan i adopted a cat.....i was told she was sprayed but she still goes into heat i took her to the vet and he told me that she prob still have some ovaries left in her.and the operation would cost me 400 to 600 US Dollars.......so ..without this sounding weird....i like when she goes into heat cause that the only time she let me hug, cuddle and play with her.....as soon as her heat finish ...she just doensnt let me hold her for more than a minute...because she moews ...as if im killing her....(she is very spoiled ....i use all my allowance money to get her lots of food, treats and toys...every week )....my question is how can i show her that i am the dominate one.......cause she thinks she is the boss of me and i cant play with her when i want to ....only when she is " in the mood for pet" then she comes to me.....
23 minutes ago - 3 days left to answer.
Additional Details
22 minutes ago

how can i show her that i am dominant....for example i heard that stoping her food for a few days...untill she begs for it....will show her whos the dominant one.....so please give me some tips that i can try ..
12 minutes ago

i like this cat alot but now im kinda regreting geting a big cat ...im thinking about getting a kitten.....but im already attached to this cat alot....but her behavior is kinda getting anoying......i havent stoped her food yet....and i dont want to ...but if it will help ...then i guess maybe i could try it...


ANSWER: Annushka,

NO! DO NOT STOP HER FOOD! Do not EVER hold out food as punishment or training! That will NOT help anything and can even make things worse! She will look for anything to eat and may end up eating some poison that can kill her. Not being fed will only make her upset and confused, and can cause health problems.

It is possible, though rare, that she has an ovary left. What country are you in? In the United States you can get a cat spayed for free or for very low cost. No where near $400-$600! If a cat is allowed to go into heat too many times she can end up with an infection in her insides that could be fatal. I think (but I'm not positive) that you can find out for sure if she has anything still in her by x-rays or an ultrasound. Ask the vet about it.

How thorough did the vet examine her? It is possible that she is in pain somewhere and that could be why, when you hold her or pick her up, that she "meows like you are killing her". Did you tell the vet how she reacts to being held so he could check it out?

You CAN'T show a cat that you are the dominant one! People are owned by cats....cats aren't owned by people! They are independant creatures. You are just a caregiver and a companion. A cat has a basic personality all of her own that she is born with and you can't change that. If she doesn't like to be held then don't force her or try to make her like it. There are a lot of cats that do NOT like to be held or restrained. It can be inherited and not her fault. That is just the way she is. Just pet her, let her lay next to you, play with her (with toys, not with your hands) and show her a lot of love.

You CAN try ignoring her completely (except for feeding her and giving her care). Cats do not like to be ignored and she will come to you for attention and play. But do NOT withhold her food. If you do, she will be coming to you just for food, not for love and attention, and that is NOT what you want.

Tabbi






---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: yea i do live in the US... when i took her to the vet ...i ask him to give her a physical since i had adopted her only a few months and i wanted to make sure she was healthy ....she is 8 monthns now....the vet just felt her belly and look into her ears....and i asked him to do like mayb a blood work to test for disease but he said she was too young and they only do that when they are like 5 years or so.... i think the only reason she meows is because she wants to go do her own thing ...i dont think she is in any pain....she is just playful.....they reason i had taken her to the vet was because she scratch off alot of hair from her ears ....and i thought she had like ear mites or something....but the vet said no when he examined her...and he said that hair loss is common with black and white cats... i want to get her fixed but thats alot of money....i live in queens ny.....so if you know anywhere i could go to get it done at a low cost would be very helpful...

Thank YOU

Answer
Annushka,

FREE SPAY/NEUTERS
Location: QUEENS, NY
April & May, 2008

Link for for more information, or for listings for other Boroughs:
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_nyc_calendarspay

Our mobile clinic offers free spay/neuter and rabies vaccinations to pet owners on public assistance, including those living in public housing in New York City's five boroughs. We take up to 25 animals on a first come, first served basis and you must be there early to wait in line for intake. We suggest you arrive at the location before 7:00 A.M. The ASPCA mobile clinic program encourages New York City residents to spay or neuter ALL the cats and dogs in your household. You are welcome to bring all your pets to the mobile clinic location of your choice, but due to the high demand for our services, a policy of two pets maximum per household per clinic day may be applied. An ASPCA representative will arrive before 8:00 A.M. to help you sign up to have your pet taken care of. Be prepared to wait approximately two hours for intake.

Spay/Neuter Clinic Calendar:
         
Saturday, 4/26 - NYCHA Ravenswood, 36th Avenue, between 13th & 21st Streets

Monday, 4/28 - Pathmark Parking Lot, Corner of 92nd Street and 95th Avenue, Ozone Park

Monday, 5/5 - Far Rockaway #1, 100th Precinct Parking Lot, Rockaway Beach Blvd & Beach 94th Street, Far Rockaway

Tuesday, 5/6 - Junction Blvd & 57th Avenue, Southeast Corner, Corona

Saturday, 5/10 - NYCHA Astoria Community Center, 4-05 Astoria Blvd, Corner of 8th Street

Monday, 5/12 - NYCHA Queensbridge, Vernon Blvd, between 40th & 41st Avenue

Tuesday, 5/13 - Outside Animal Haven, 35-22 Prince Street, between 35th Avenue & Northern Blvd, Flushing

Saturday, 5/17 - Outside Petland Discounts, 171-33 Hillside Avenue, between 171st & 172nd Streets, Jamaica

Monday, 5/19 - NYCHA Woodside, Corner of Broadway & Newtown Rd

Tuesday, 5/20 - NYCHA Pomonok, Jewel Avenue, between Kissena Blvd & Parsons Blvd, Pomonok

Saturday, 5/24 - Pathmark Parking Lot, corner of 92nd Street and 95th Avenue, Ozone Park

Saturday, 5/31 - NYCHA Ravenswood, 36th Avenue between 13th & 21st Streets, Long Island City


Follow these instructions to prepare your pet for surgery:

- Do not give the animal(s) any food or water after midnight on the night before the surgery. If you have a pet younger than six months old, please give it some food and water four hours before coming to the clinic.

- Bring all cats in carriers, with one cat per carrier. Bring dogs on leashes.

- Bring money to purchase an e-collar to put on your pet after surgery. An e-collar is a plastic cone that fits around your pet's neck to prevent your pet from licking its stitches and causing an infection. Bring $3 per cat and small dog and $5 per medium and large dog.
         * * * * *  

Personal opinion: I would NOT get an e-collar for your cat. They upset the cat when it is already upset and has pain from the surgery. They fight the collar and that is not good for their stitches. It is normal for a cat to lick their wounds to help heal them and that includes the incision. You just need to make sure that the cat is not trying to rip the stitches out. That rarely happens though. I had only one cat that did that and the incision still healed fine. Their 'guts' aren't going to fall out because there is another set of stitches inside the outer incision.

The ASPCA states that this is for people on public assistance or living in public housing. If you aren't, I would ask someone you know who is to go with you and give their name as the owner of the cat.

Here is another link in NYC/Queens for a low cost spay ($51): (copy and paste, or type the whole link into your address bar)
http://www.muffins.org/spay.htm

I would also find myself another vet!! I'm not saying anything against your choice of vets but that is incorrect information he gave you!  A cat can be tested for diseases at any age! If you have to wait 5 years to test a cat, the cat could be dead by then if it did have a disease! They are tested and vaccinated as kittens! AND it's common for black and white cats to scratch their fur off??? ANY cat of ANY color OR ANY breed will scratch it's fur off if it has a skin problem, fleas, earmites, ear infections, allergies, etc. Color does NOT have anything to do with it! I suppose he is also the person who told you it would cost $400-$600 to spay her!!

Before your cat gets spayed, tell them that she was SUPPOSED to have already been spayed but that you think she goes into heat and that she either was not spayed, or had an ovary left in her.

Good luck with her. I hoped this information helps.

Tabbi