Cats and mice

[JUDY S]

I need help! My parents just got two cats about 6 months ago, male and female. I have been after my Mom to fix them and my Dad informed me that no way was the female getting fixed until she had had a litter. Their purpose is to catch mice and apparently females do a better job of that once they have had kittens. We all know that's crap, but how do I persuade my father of this, he gets growly when I bring it up. Apparently he doesn't mess with my animals and I need to do the same with theirs. I worry about the dangers of them being outside and now I need to worry that they will have a litter of kittens that will go to a substandard home. Any ideas?

[Traci]

Send him to the feline health forum, tell him to read the posts and links we give for all of the reasons he's being ignorant.

[Cindy]

Perhaps you could take him to the local shelter and have things explained to him by an expert, or call the vet, put him on speaker phone and make sure your Dad is listening.

Find some info off the net or at the library and show him in written word.

Many people where I live feel the same way, it is the old farmer mentality, very hard to break through. A woman came in to our shelter the other day and said she didn't want her male fixed because he was very protective of the house and family as an intact male---A CAT! Not a dog, a cat! I was dumbfounded.

[JUDY S]

They fixed both kittens!! I am so happy, they are such little darlings.

[Traci]

So, how was he convinced?

[JUDY S]

I kept begging him and my Mom mentioned that she really didn't want kittens for the winter so he decided that between the two of us if he ever wanted peace he would just have to agree.

[Traci]

Good strategy...females ganging up on him, works every time