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CHAPTER XXI. 



NEUTER CATS. 



MISS KIRKPATKICK S 



" CHILI." 

 (Photo: E. LanJor, Ealing.) 



T has been my experience 

 in the past year or two 

 that the demand for 

 neuter cats, or, in other 

 words, household 

 pet pussies, is on 

 the increase ; and 

 I am inclined to be- 

 lieve that if some 

 fanciers made a 

 speciality of these 

 cats they might do 

 a thriving trade. 

 As it is, owners of 

 male kittens do not 

 care to undertake 



the trouble and responsibility of having them 

 gelded, or doctored, as this process is some- 

 times called, and novices in purchasing are 

 always very anxious that the operation should 

 have taken place before they become possessed 

 of their pets. A selling class for neuters at 

 our large shows would not be at all a bad idea, 

 but the age should be limited to eight months, 

 or at most ten months, as it is only natural 

 that purchasers should desire pussies before 

 they reach the prime of life, so that they may 

 grow up as pets in the home. For reasons 

 that are easily understood, it is necessary, if 

 you wish to have a house pet of unimpeach- 

 able manners, to have your male cat doctored 

 when he arrives at years of discretion. 



For my own part I consider between five 

 and eight months the best time for a cat to 

 be gelded, but I have often known successful 

 operations taking place much later. It is. 

 however, most important that the torn should 

 not previously have shown any desire to 

 mate. In all cases a cat should be kept 

 on low plain diet for two or three days 

 before being neutered, and it is more humane 



to pay the extra fee for the use of an an- 

 aesthetic. 



I have been told on good authority that if 

 a female cat is to be made neuter she ought 

 to be allowed to have one litter before the 

 operation is performed. Neuter cats are 

 essentially for the " one cat " person. They 

 undoubtedly make a grand show when ex- 

 hibited, but those who are possessed of 

 these pet pussies are generally very dis- 

 inclined to let them run the risks and dis- 

 comforts of a show pen. I have advocated 

 having neuters shown only in the ring, on the 

 lead. If this course were adopted, I think 



" KING CY." 



SILVER NEUTER BELONGING TO Miss AVERY JONES. 

 (Photo : F. Bromhead, Ciijton.) 



