Having posted the following question:
...I need to get my cats neutered - how long does it take for them to recover? And my son, who is devastated that I'm having the cats balls chopped off, wants to know if we can keep them in a jar. Will the vet let us take them home?
...I have been told I am a bad parent for even contemplating letting my son keep the cats balls in a jar? Am I a bad parent?
2006-11-16 03:15:47 · 45 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
While your at it why not ask the vet to make the cats scrotum into a miniture bumbag. Keep your kids front door key handy.
2006-11-16 03:22:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
You know. To be quite honest, it is a perfectly normal request for a child to make. I think that the cats testicles in a jar could be harmful (accidentally of course), only because he might break the jar and god knows what he'll do with the actual testicles when he gets a hold of them (glue them back on the cat?LOL) or if there is formaldehyde in the jar, than that could be harmful if injested (not sure how old your little guy is). What I would suggest, is that you ask the vet to keep them in a jar and when you pick up the cat, bring your little guy with you. The vet can show your son the cat testicles and he can hold the jar and examine them while you are paying your bill and whatever else you may have to do at the vets. Then your little guy can give back the jar to the vet and the vet can dispose of the testicles safely. I think your son will be satisfied with that. Good luck!
2006-11-16 03:52:49 · answer #2 · answered by sammytoes 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't know how long it takes the cats to recover. Make sure your son doesn't doctor the cats, they'll be tender.
Your son is not weird for wanting to keep the balls. Though now I'm curious how old is your son.
I don't think you're a bad parent for wanting to appease your son's biology education. Though I feel it's more appropriate to work on his degree in other ways.
Don't make a big deal of it, I'm sure the vet won't let you keep them. Explain they're medical waste that gets thrown away.
2006-11-17 14:01:57 · answer #3 · answered by manywarhoops 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are not a bad parent. It is really hard to neuter or spay a family member. I've done it to all my cats before; I soon got over it. I have two female kittens now who need to be spayed really soon, and it keeps me awake at night. They are so affectionate now! I hate the thought of having them become less affectionate! But I really can't let them have kittens, so it must be done!
Males need to be neutered too, to reduce the risk of them straying in search of a mate and getting killed. And of course, to stop them impregnating homeless female cats who have no human to help with bringing up the babies!When I had to neuter my male cat, my niece wanted to make earrings out of the you-know-whats, so PLEASE don't think your son is abnormal in any way. Like someone already said; just curious!
The vet will not allow it for sure, even for scientific reasons. I doubt it would upset your cats, and if preserved in fomaldehyde it should be fine, but that's just my opinion. I wouldn't want to keep that, but I have a collection of other bits that some people think strange. I have 2 cat skulls which I found, both were perfectly clean and white; I have a crow's skull; and I had some sparrow skulls but they got lost, being so small. I have the ashes and a few bones of my favourite cat in an urn.
How old is your son? Maybe he'll grow up to be a doctor or pathologist.
As long as he isn't going around and snipping bits off himself to satisfy his curiosity, he is just showing a keen interest in anatomy and empathy for the cat!
I hope your cat doesn't even notice - he probably won't as male neutered cats still have balls, but they're just smaller and deflated ...
Look, I am sure I'll get a lot of thumbs-down for this, but I want you to know you're fine! Don't let them tell you otherwise!
2006-11-16 03:38:44 · answer #4 · answered by kiteeze 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am not certain you even get the cats balls to keep - and if you do I am sure they will only be the size of largish peanuts!! I don't think your a bad parent - but I think the vet may think you are a little "different" for asking for them!!! and if you do manage to get them then I am certain your son will only be taken by the novelty of cats balls in a jar for a week then you can bin them!!
2006-11-16 03:26:46 · answer #5 · answered by Grace - baby No.2 due in October 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No you are not a bad parent at all and neither are you weird! You are trying to consider your son's feelings!
I've heard of people keeping things like gall stones but doubt the vet would even agree to give the balls to you as keeping them would involve formaldahyde!. No harm in asking though!
Explain to your son that the cats will be happier and healthier and if not done will spend most time outside and will fight with other cats.
As for recovery time, males recover as soon as the anaesthetic wears off, females are usually active again then but you have to keep them from pulling at stitches!
2006-11-16 03:52:02 · answer #6 · answered by willowGSD 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, I think you're doing the right thing by your cats. For a male it takes about a day to recover once they're over the anaesthetic, for females it can take about a fortnight.
I think you're a good parent by at least considering your sons feelings - but I doubt the vet would let you bring them home anyway!!!
2006-11-16 03:27:40 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No your not a bad parent. But I would advise not to bring them home at all. Best the child is not reminded on a daily basis and yuk what do you want to have those hanging round the house for. Also what if your not around and your child decides he wants to get them out of the jar and play with them or taste them even. Children do the strangest things you know.
Yuk!
No, leave them at the vets!
2006-11-16 03:22:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
For safety reasons they will not allow you to bring the cats "balls" home in a jar, it is considered a biohazard and therefore must be disposed of properly after they are done with the sugery. And why is your child so interested in the ball of a cat??
2006-11-17 05:10:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't let him keep the cats balls in a jar. Its not bad parenting at all but it is a bit gross - just say no to him because the cat will see them and be upset or something.
2006-11-16 03:18:36 · answer #10 · answered by Katie G 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
no but it's creepy because the cats may see them and get upset that their balls are in a jar! and it should take like 6 weeks for them to recover. and don't think your a bad parent for wanting your son to be happy but that's really creepy and i wouldn't do it.
~shadow lover
2006-11-16 03:29:23 · answer #11 · answered by shadow lover 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋