Pet of the Month! Smokey!

Smokey is a beautiful 5-month-old British Shorthair Cat. He recently came into us for a cryptorchid castrate.

A Cryptorchid patient is when the male cat (or dog) testes (testicles) haven’t completely descended out of the abdomen. This procedure is less common in cat’s than it is in dogs. In some cases, the testicle can be retained either in the abdomen or in the inguinal canal (by the abdominal wall). With Smokey’s procedure the testicle was found in the inguinal canal.

It is always important to have the testicles of a cryptorchid patient removed as they are more likely to turn cancerous than normal testicles. Smokey recovered really well and has had no change in who he is following the castration procedure!

1.      What is Smokey’s favourite thing to do?

Smokey loves to play with your hair and he absolutely loves to play with the hair bobbles. He will jump up to anyone who has their hair tied up in a hair bobble and then pull the bobble out of your hair. His other favourite person to attack is my sister. She sleeps on a bunk bed and he will climb up the stairs of the bunk to jump onto my sister’s hair and pull her hair bobble! His favourite ones are the velvet scrunchies, I am scared he might eat them, so I have to follow him everywhere.

Another thing, Smokey loves to do is physically climb up wardrobes, then he will does this loud meow as if to shout for someone to help him back down from the wardrobe.

My other 2 cats tend to get bullied from Smokey, and when he tries to play fight with them, they meow and then I have to save them. He is a very jealous cat, especially if I am showing attention to my other cats, Smokey will make a point and come over to me and sit right in front of me, so I have no choice but to fuss him.

2.      How did you feel about the procedure Smokey had?

At first it was a bit worrying as I have never experienced this [procedure] with either of my cats’ before. Despite my concern, Smokey has coped well with it and has healed well. The procedure hasn’t changed his personality at all he is still the same cat, still playful and happy.

Even after the procedure, Smokey still clings on to me. One day Junior, my other cat, was asleep on my chest and my arm was hanging off the bed. Smokey decided to hang onto my arm and wouldn’t let go of it, all because he didn’t want Junior to have all the attention. This is how I knew Smokey hasn’t be affected by the surgery. He was back to himself pretty much straight away.

3.      What do you enjoy about Smokey?

Smokey is such a loveable cat and a people’s cat. He loves attention from everyone and seeks attention all the time.  

He is a very big eater and loves turkey. As soon as we get the turkey out to prepare meals, he will start meowing and then will start jumping up your leg to get to the bowl of food in your hands.

He is quite a bully and he does this thing where he will eat his own bowl and then move to all the other cats bowls. It is as if it’s a race to finish all the turkey quickly. It’s like he competes to see who can eat their food the quickest, and of course he does, so he can steal the others food as well.

4.      Did the Wellness Subscription Plan help you?

Absoluetly, I am currently on the Bronze plan, which did help as it meant I get ad lib nurse consults. This help especially after Smokey’s’ surgery because I could see the nurses when I needed a check up, and didn’t need to worry about costs as it is within the plan. All my cats that I have registered at James Horner Vets are on the Wellness Subscriptions, which financially helps a lot because I have 5 of them.

5.      What advice would you give to others whose pet may have to have the same procedure as Smokey?

I would tell them not to worry and to see you guys, as we were so pleased and grateful how you looked after Junior and Smokey, we loved the care they were both given. You all continue to provide the best care, which is why we love bringing our pets to you.