Having my Rag Doll Kitten neutered/spayed

[minniemoo]

Hi all, I have just made an appointment for my female Rag Doll kitten to be neutered/spayed next week. The vet said that as she is a pedigree her fur might not grow back the same. Has anyone heard of this or got a cat where this has happened? Thanks.

[lankeela]

Certainly in some female dogs that are neutered the coat can sometimes grow more soft and fluffy, but not all are affected.
It would only matter if you were going to show her, as I imagine there is a specific texture required for the coat in a show cat.
Far better to have her neutered and maybe have a soft coat than not have her done and risk the problem of unwanted kittens.

[minniemoo]

Thanks lankeela I agree with you.

[Lil'Lucy]

I don't think the vet means the coat texture will grow back the same. I think he probably means colour.

With certain "colour point" types of cats (particularly siamese etc) the reason the fur is darker on the extremities is due to the slightly lower temperature. Therfore if a cat is shaved for an operation then the skin is a bit cooler and when the fur grows back it will be darker initially until it grows out.

I know this because a newlyl qualified vet spayed my siamese cat and sure enough for about 8months she had a perfect square of dark fur where the shaved bit was! He was absolutely mortified but i didn't mind as I don't show my cats and he said he had learnt something they never taught him at vet school!

Apparantly if you are worried about this - ask you vet to spey you cat through the tummy rather than the side and then this doens't happen as much.

Hope the lil op goes ok.

xxx Lucy

[minniemoo]

Thanks Lil'Lucy - I don't show my cat either so I don't mind.

[showcatbenga]

My friend had a female ragdoll called Dido, when she was spayed the shaved fur grew back & at first it looked quite different from her un-clipped coat, paler & fluffier, but this only lasted until the coat grew out comletely. The time taken can depend on the time of year & whether the cat is an 'indoor' or 'outdoor' cat. In long haired breeds the coat is made up of different types of hair. The most noticeable by it's absence is the 'top coat' which consists of the longest hairs & forms a kind of layer of harder, smoother coat. This is not present in a kitten coat & takes a long time to grow. The 'under coat' is of shorter, softer, fluffier hair which is sometimes paler & gives the coat its bulk & it's these that mat if not groomed regularly. Hopes this helps - x.

[minniemoo]

Showcatbenga thank you so much for your response.