The risks of spaying your female cat

I am the proud owner of three wonderful felines. They entertain me, keep me company and love me unconditionally. Two of them are spayed. The third is not, because, after being through this a few times, I have changed my mind about spaying my cats, and have decided it is not the right choice for me. Before making a big decision like surgery for your pet, here are a few things you might want to consider or discuss with your vet:

1) If you have a household with multiple cats, there could be serious repercussions after a surgery. Felines are very sensitive to scents. Upon returning home from the hospital, pets can smell differently. This can trigger a defense response in the other pets. Even though it didn’t work for me, using a pheremone spray such as Feliway to ensure a smooth return home is recommended. (And for the record, I actually had to give up a pet because of this. Fortunately, though, she now lives with my mother, is very happy, and is no longer being picked on by the other cats.)

2) Surgery for a pet is a lot like surgery for a human. With age, the risks rise dramatically. If you have an older cat, consider all the risks before sending it under the knife. Make sure to dicuss this with your vet and understand that some felines die while in surgery, especially the older ones.

3) Allergies are a concern. The only cat of mine that is not spayed has a plastic and metal allergy. Her food bowl, water bowl and litter box had to be converted from plastic/metal to glass or paper in order to prevent serious lesions from forming on her skin. For this reason, I will not spay her, as most of the tools used by my vet are plastic or metal. Not to mention, with her allergy problems, she is more likely to be allergic to the anesthesia, which can result in an anaphalactic reaction that could kill her. So, if your vet offers it, spend the extra bucks to have an allergy test performed on your pet before sending it to the hospital. It will ensure the pet is not allergic to the medication and possibly save you from a heartbreaking experience.

4) You may have to put your cat on a diet after being spayed. Both of my cats that have been spayed are overweight despite eating the same amount of food as my cat that is not spayed. Just like in humans, when the uterus is removed, the hormone levels change and metabolism slows down. And no matter how cute they are, fat cats are just as unhealthy as fat humans and can suffer from kidney problems, heart problems, lung problems, etc.

5) Personalities can change. Though I have not experienced this phenomenon myself, a close friend of mine had an indoor cat of hers spayed and subsequently had to make her an outdoor cat after her surgery, as she began “hunting” my friend. Apparently, the cat was a bit traumatized after the experience and my friend has yet to forgive herself.

6) Cost. As I dearly love my cats, I paid the extra money (up to $200 each) to have my cats spayed by a vet I trust. I have been to those free clinics, low cost clinics and the SPCA. All I can say is, with surgery, you get what you pay for. Make sure your pet is treated respectfully and pay the extra money for a good vet to treat your animal.

I know all vets recommend spaying your pet, and for good reason. There are too many cats out there without a home. But, weigh the pros and cons and make your own, educated decision beforehand. I do not intend to let my “natural” cat reproduce and, given the situation and my valid concerns, I have chosen not to spay my pet as her happiness is more important to me than fitting into the social norm.

What You Should Know About Crate Training – One Of The Most Effective Ways Of House Training Any Puppy Or Dog

Crate training is one of the most effective ways of house training any puppy or dog. Crate training is very efficient, and very effective, since it uses the natural instinct of the dog to achieve the desired result of a clean house and a well trained dog.

The concept behind crate training is that a dog naturally strives to avoid soiling the area where it eats and sleeps. By placing the dog in the crate, this instinct is enhanced. The dog will come to see the crate as its den, and it will try to avoid soiling its den.

The key to successful crate training for a puppy or an older dog, as with other forms of dog training, is to establish a good routine. This routine will enhance the ability of the dog to do its business in the right place, and avoid eliminating in the wrong place. It is important to shower the dog with praise each and every time it eliminates in the established toilet area, and not to express frustration or anger when the dog makes a mistake.

It is important to confine the dog or puppy to a small part of the house, generally one puppy proofed room, when you are not at home. The room should contain a soft bed, fresh water and some favorite toys to prevent the dog from becoming bored and frustrated.

Crate training is different from confining the dog to one room, however. With crate training, the puppy or dog is confined to a crate when unsupervised. The idea is that the dog will think of this crate as its home, and not want to soil is home.

When crate training, it is important to remove the dog from the crate as soon as possible after returning home, and to take the dog promptly to the previously established toilet area. When the dog does its business in this toilet area, be sure to provide lots of praise and treats. It is important that the dog learn to associate proper toilet procedures with good things like treats and toys.

It is important to never leave the dog in its crate for long periods of time, as this will confuse the dog and force it to soil its sleeping area. The crate is simply a tool, and it should not be abused by leaving the dog in it for extended periods of time. If the dog is left in the crate for too long, it could set back the training program by weeks if not months.

The dog should only be confined to the crate when you are at home. Except for nighttime, the dog should be given the opportunity to relieve itself every 45 minutes or so. Each time the dog is taken out, it should be put on a leash and immediately taken outside. Once outside the house, the dog should be given three to five minutes to do its business. If the dog does not eliminate in this time period, it should be immediately returned to the create.

If the dog does its business during the set time period, it should be rewarded with praise, food, play, affection and either an extended walk or a period of play inside or outside the home.

During the crate training period, it is important to keep a daily diary of when the dog does its business each day. If the dog is on a regular feeding schedule, the toilet schedule should be consistent as well. Having a good idea of when the dog needs to eliminate each day will be a big help during the house training process. After the dog has used his established toilet area, you will be able to give the dog free run of the house to play and enjoy himself.

Dealing with accidents during crate training

It is very important to not punish the puppy or dog when it makes a mistake or has an accident during the crate training process. If there has been an accident, simply clean it up. Accidents during house training mean that you have provided the dog with unsupervised access to the house too quickly.

The dog should not be allowed unsupervised access to the home until you can trust her bowel and bladder habits. If mistakes do occur, it is best to go back to crate training. Taking a couple of steps back will help move the house training process along, while moving too quickly could set things back.