Tom cats

Iain_L

Frith wrote: »

We have a large and very good natured unneutered ginger tom cat (Barry )

I took him to the vets today to be booked in, weighed and have some heavy duty flea killer.

The vet was impressed how gentle he is and was really surprised that he did not smell! The nurse said the same. This confused me because Barry has never smelled of anything but apparently tom cats do??

Does anyone else know about this?

I'm surprised no-one else has actually asked this, but why do you have an un-neutered tom? Do you let him out at all?

Frith

He is outside about half the time. I live in the middle of nowhere and my 2 lady cats have been neutered (as has my neighbour's) so I've never thought of having him neutered as well.

Still no smell that I can detect (have tried sniffing Barry!) and I have enough children and siblings that I am sure one of them would have pointed out a bit of a pong.

He is about 18 months old - is that not mature yet? He is massive, I can't imagine him getting bigger still.

Oh yes, and he is not a hermaphrodite, it's easy to see he is a male!

Barry sitting comfortably while I play Lego with my sons......

Iain_L

Hi Frith,

I would consider having him neutered if you can, for reasons other than simply him impregnating local females. An un-neutered male is more likely to roam in the search for females, and is also more likely to get involved in fights with other males. This can lead to injury and/or diseases such as FIV.

Living in the 'middle of nowhere' does mean that there may be feral cat colonies around, which may harbour carriers of disease, and/or males who are used to fighting for their territory.

Got to say he looks a beautiful cat, and he appears to have you well trained..:rotfl: