ETA: I forgot to type my chuckle at the surgery buddies and ice packs, Steph.

Suzi, I'm glad your vet counsels waiting. Although the benefits of neutering are many and important, there've been studies done on the effects of neutering very early, which leads to problems as the animals mature--bone length and lack of density, primarily, which there's some indication it can lead to bone cancers. There's some evidence of failure to mature of some organs, as well. The studies are ongoing.

Good pet-keeping requires neutering, but I can't agree with doing it at six weeks, as some shelters do--a requirement before adoption. Six months seems like a much more reasonable goal--or five, in the case of girl cats, since many of them have their first heat around then.

Steph, that is delightful.

The bad - She is not housebroken at all

Ugh. We are struggling with my dad's new dog. Who they told us (the night before adoption day) will occasionally have an accident when she gets excited.

She's a Jack Russell.

If she's conscious, she's excited.

I'm thinking about putting my dad in touch with Bonnie, actually. We're just not sure how to get through to her. She's in a weird in between situation - if she has access to the outside, she'll go outside. But she doesn't have any inclination to ask or to wait if she's worked up and you're not totally focused on her. It's a little exhausting.

Bev, that is what I'm being told is a good six months. We think Jack was neutered too young but have no real way of knowing.

The rescue I work with has an adoption fee and then a refundable deposit you have to put down if the animal hasn't been neutered yet. Once he/she has surgery, at the rescue's vet, the deposit is returned. Thanks to my relationship with the rescue, I didn't have to put down the deposit, which was nice. It is interesting that the rescue's vet was all good about scheduling him at 5 months when my vet AND the rescue advocate 6 months.

One human sized ice pack, one kitten sized ice pack.

Right? They can recuperate together and watch cat-based shows on Hulu.

Good pet-keeping requires neutering, but I can't agree with doing it at six weeks, as some shelters do--a requirement before adoption. Six months seems like a much more reasonable goal--or five, in the case of girl cats, since many of them have their first heat around then.

Most of our adoptions have involved adult cats. However, when we adopt kittens, spaying or neutering has generally occurred at four to six months.

They can recuperate together and watch cat-based shows on Hulu.

Some of our cats have enjoyed sports on TV (fascinated by the moving ball, I think). Which is not to say that either Tim or the kitten would.

They can recuperate together and watch cat-based shows on Hulu.

Some of our cats have enjoyed sports on TV (fascinated by the moving ball, I think). Which is not to say that either Tim or the kitten would.

When we watch TV, Murderbiscuit either curls up in the heated bed or squishes between us on the couch. He generally falls asleep, but sometimes he actually watches the TV *really* intently. He seems to be a Brooklyn Nine-Nine fan.

But she doesn't have any inclination to ask or to wait if she's worked up and you're not totally focused on her. It's a little exhausting.

I have this issue with Crowley. I've been trying to bell train him. We did it with Jack and it works great for him. Every time I let him out in the back yard, he has to touch some hanging bells with his nose. Then it is out, do your business. If you are just wandering around, we go back in. There is a period of time where you have to respond to every bell ring, until they connect bells = business. Crowley will ring the bells when I ask him to, but he doesn't do it on his own.

I've suggested that, might have to push harder. I have no doubt she could learn it.

She's such a hoot, otherwise. Always on a mission.

Blah. I think I'm getting a cold. I was supposed to go visit my friend and her new baby tomorrow, but if I'm still feeling like this then, then I won't. (I'm just coughing a bit, and a little stuffed up. Perfectly fine for going to work, but not fine for visiting a baby who's less than a week old.)

I have no idea what I'm going to do about the job thing . But I had another message for an interview so that feels good.

Therapy went well. I was telling my therapist about various things and how I got this recliner and got it into the house myself even though I didn't think o could . It was such a silly little thing to be happy about but I did feel this big sense of accomplishment and felt a bit childish for feeling that happy. He said that when we are kids we learn a sense of feeling/capableness when they are 6-13 and I didn't develop that for a variety of reasons. But hey I can learn that now.

And then I had a really amazing afternoon/evening with M.

Hil I hope you feel better