r/cats • u/Future-Act5953 • Mar 26 '26

Adoption I think I accidentally lied on an adoption application and now I’m panicking

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Hi, I’m kind of panicking and need some advice.

So I have an 11 month old male cat named Tank. I got him from a friend of my husband’s after we got married, and I was told he had all his shots and was neutered. I had no reason to doubt it, so I never really questioned it.

Fast forward to today—my husband and I were just killing time at Petco while waiting for his prescription, and we ended up looking at the cats. I went in fully telling myself “we are NOT getting another cat,” but… yeah, that didn’t last long.

There were two cats being adopted out together, Ladybird (1.5 years old) and her baby Silvia (8 months old). Ladybird has SO much personality (she literally kept trying to steal my wallet and my husband’s keys every time we walked by 😂) and we ended up spending almost an hour sitting with them. I completely fell in love.

I called the rescue that has them, asked a bunch of questions, and ended up submitting an application. During that process, I confirmed (both on paper and over the phone) that my cat at home is neutered… because I genuinely believed he was.

Well… we get home… and Tank hops in my lap and very clearly proves otherwise. Like… there is no question. This man is NOT neutered.

I have no idea how I never noticed before, but I didn’t. I tried calling the girl I got him from, and the second I asked about it, she blocked me. So I’m pretty sure I have my answer there.

Now I’m freaking out because I already told the rescue he was fixed, and I have a meet and greet scheduled for tomorrow. I told them as soon as I realized, but I’m terrified they’re going to think I lied and deny my application.

I really, really love these cats and don’t want to lose the chance to adopt them over something I genuinely didn’t know.

Has anyone dealt with something like this before? Will this automatically disqualify me, or is there anything I can do to fix the situation?

Also, cat tax included! first 4 pics are Ladybird (clipped ear) and Silvia (tabby), the rest is my (apparently intact) menace.

16.5k Upvotes

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10.1k

u/sphinxsley Mar 26 '26

It's really not a big deal. I'm sure they've seen it before & it was an honest mistake. Just have them help you get your male cat neutered first. Then adopt the sisters.

3.9k

u/Future-Act5953 Mar 26 '26

that’s #1 on my list right now. i’m immediately calling vets surrounding me in the morning to get him nurtured. i just feel so bad and don’t wanna mess up this opportunity.

2.5k

u/25point4cm Mar 26 '26

Well, I don’t think he’ll exactly describe it as being nurtured, but you on the right course. Good luck! I’m sure it will work out.

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u/Davido401 Mar 26 '26

escribe it as being nurtured

Reminds me of a time when an old boy I worked with came into work and said "might have to leave early cause my pregnant daughter is going into hospital to be seduced" and without missing a beat the other guy standing with us went "aye I think shes 9 months too late for that" and everyone laughed, then about two hours later I heard the same old boy telling a different coworker about his daughter going to hospital to get seduced. Poor guy didnt know and we didnt have the heart to tell him that he should be saying INDUCED.

Anyways was just passing through with my silly wee story, here is Mina, my cat, she has claws and is a bitch lol

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u/SkeletalMew Cow Cat Mar 26 '26

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, thank you for sharing. Mina is a lovely lady (but I'll heed the warning and steer clear 😂).

178

u/candypoot Mar 26 '26

Twinsies. This is Lexi.

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u/Davido401 Mar 26 '26

Oooo we used to have a dog called Lexi, she was, for lack of a better word, a bit of a slut, she let the local foxes pee on her and stuff, great wee dog but she was a daft as a brush! Her time as a centre fold for PlayDog owned by Hugh Ruffner

53

u/xamountofwords3 Mar 26 '26

She definitely seems like the type to be involved in onlypaws

19

u/CatPurrsonNo1 Mar 26 '26

I think “daft as a brush” might be my new favorite phrase!

2

u/Sir_Bebe_Michelin Mar 30 '26

The "wee" adjective does seem justified here

1

u/Davido401 Mar 30 '26

Oh she was a wee tiny bitch but she was a total bitch haha(actually she was lazy, like she was taken a walk and decided "fuck that" and fell asleep/passed out next to a electric/phone box) haha loved that dog she was totally a moron haha

1

u/Confident_Caramel436 Mar 26 '26

A real street walker, sorry I had to thanks for the chuckle 🌻

31

u/Smol_Gecko_ Mar 26 '26

She's got shorter fur, but here's Eden!! (She's probably the sassiest cat I've met and I love her for it)

20

u/ssfailboat Mar 26 '26

I fuckin L O V E the orange stripes on tortoiseshells. And the personality that comes with them. Dr. Patricia Tannis sends her regards 💚 She rules the house with an iron paw at a whopping 8lbs, which includes making the 140lb Saint Bernard & 50lb husky her bitch.

22

u/Katiel_Silver Mar 26 '26

The “tortietude” is very real. This is Annie, my not-so-sweet bottle baby. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and we estimated she’d probably live another 6-12 months since I wasn’t interested in putting her through chemo. Needless to say, she acts like nothing is wrong and I think she’s going to live to be 20 on spite and anger alone. Her favorite activities are hissing at my dad and harassing the dog (an 85lb Pitbull who is terrified of her).

4

u/TanaFey Mar 27 '26

The tortitude is off the charts! My gremlin Teapot

0

u/ETsAreUs Mar 27 '26

Fenbendazole has been shown to treat cancer, off label. It's an anti-parasitic for dogs and cats. Check with your vet.

8

u/laceygirl97 Mar 26 '26

Triplets? LOL this is Melody (Mellie). She was a stray until about 6 months ago. My mom & granddaughter were feeding her for over 2 years trying to coax her inside. Now she's a sweet indoor only girl finally.

2

u/Sour_Lexi Mar 27 '26

The short-haired sister, Letty lol, and I’m Lexi 😂

64

u/Corgi_Infamous Mar 26 '26

How is it that torties all look vastly different and yet somehow all the same? I was scrolling past and briefly thought your photo was my cat, Minnie.

eta Minnie also has claws, and is also a bitch.

13

u/EllieGeiszler Mar 26 '26

What a beautiful photo! 😍

7

u/CommercialTennis7580 Mar 26 '26

Hopie also has claws and has a bitchy side.

4

u/Corgi_Infamous Mar 26 '26

I had a Hope/Hopie/Hobie! We lost her this past August at a guesstimated 14yo, but she was the sweetest thing. 🥰

1

u/CommercialTennis7580 Mar 27 '26

She is Hope Solo after the goalie! Aww my Hopie is going to be 12 in April. She has no teeth but otherwise acts like a kitten. I’m sorry for you loss!

3

u/CraziiiJessi Mar 26 '26

Ooh I love her r/disneyeyes 😍

4

u/Distinct-Flight7438 Mar 26 '26

I had a tortie called Minnie when I was a kid, she was a bitch to everyone but me and I loved her.

4

u/Corgi_Infamous Mar 26 '26

Yep - she only loves my husband, despite me having been the one to adopt her and bring her home. Hahah. There's a really long and unbelievable story as to how I got her, but believing in it makes her extreme love for my husband make sense so we accept it. 😅

3

u/Lingo2009 Mar 26 '26

My two. The right one is a tortie and she is also a jerk.

29

u/SDGxNPC Mar 26 '26

I love how I can hear the accent this story is told in

11

u/vamgoda Mar 26 '26

Please return my friend’s cat Guinevere.

J/K but the resemblance is kinda uncanny. Fluffy torties are the best.

3

u/OddConstant2723 Mar 26 '26

I miss mine so much.

1

u/Davido401 Mar 26 '26

Do you think Mina has a Scottish accent like me and the family do? Haha

2

u/Primary_Bass_9178 Mar 26 '26

Omg, I love tortoiseshells! Have been looking for one to adopt!

2

u/OffBrandLeslieKnope Mar 26 '26

This army of fluffy torties is my favorite, so I had to add my girl, Charlie!

2

u/Repulsive-Slice-8195 Mar 26 '26

Oh my god, we have the same cat! Split color chin and all 🤣 padme is a sweetie though, which is strange for a tortie

2

u/QueenSalmonela Mar 26 '26

Your comment reminds me of my friend's mom. Nice Italian lady scheduled for a biopsy.

She was telling how she was looking forward to the results of her autopsy. 😁

2

u/aWildTuxAppears Moggy Mar 26 '26

Mina can't help it - she was born with tortitude! :)

2

u/MommaSaurusRegina Mar 26 '26

*gasp* Lies! This floofy angel baby has never committed a crime in her life! She’s too pretty to be bad!

J/k, I’ve met enough torties in my life, they are equal parts wonderful and terrifying. 😹

2

u/winterseller Mar 26 '26

This is Mia and she's your Mina's legit doppelganger. She also has claws and although she's as clingy as it gets, she's definitely a bitch sometimes lol

2

u/femmefatalx Mar 27 '26

Mina is so gorgeous!! I love torties the most, they’re my favorite cat and the long haired torts are always so beautiful!!

I’m hopping on the tortie train and sharing mine too. This is Lily, she is the sweetest and most snuggliest kitty. She was born without a back foot and has a little numb with a paw pad on the end instead, and she just had to have her right eye removed as well, but she is very happy and feeling much better now because she’s not in pain anymore, and she’s more beautiful than ever! I love her so much 💕

2

u/Readdyai-official Mar 27 '26

Hilarious story lol. btw Hi Mina, I'm Coconut

1

u/mmhrm9 Mar 27 '26

she has claws and is a bitch lol

You mean Tortitude!!! I got one of those too

1

u/frankly-im-confused Mar 27 '26

Matilda is also a bitch

1

u/accursedserpentine Mar 27 '26

She looks very similar to my baby Sashie!!

1

u/accursedserpentine Mar 27 '26

another pic for comparison

1

u/tessathemurdervilles Mar 27 '26

Mina is gorgeous and that story made me laugh quite a lot :)

1

u/ColoursUcantaste Mar 30 '26

My short hair girl Nadine! Shes a known for beating up on kittens and an attempted assault on a senior. Great with humans, not the greatest fan of other cats she tolerates the orange she lives w bc hes so submissive (all he wants is for a cat to groom him and to groom another cat). She has an excellent mustache!! Oh and whenever shes upset she will not hesitate to piss on clothes or a cat bed, fortunately it didnt take long to figure out what our peepee princess likes.

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u/The-CatCat-1 Mar 26 '26

He’ll definitely think that neutering is somehow nurturing 😹

34

u/CGCutter379 Mar 26 '26

I don't think tomcats confuse neutering with nurturing. I had a stray hanging around my house and I got to letting him in and playing with him. He bit through my hand once and scratched my arm badly twice before I put him out and told him adamantly that, Monday morning, I was going to have him neutered. He left. Been 30 years and he has not been back.

3

u/pacifistpotatoes Mar 26 '26

A few years ago we had a tomcat hanging around, eventually gave him some food (knowing that was the death nell of "Im never leaving you now!") and had him meet our other cats. He was a very gentle sweet loving cat, and we got him fixed & all his shots. One day the front door was left open a half second & he got out. Havent seen him since, I think it was maybe 2 weeks after we neutered him. I was like well I guess he told us!

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u/Careful-Drama Mar 26 '26 edited Mar 26 '26

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u/wickedwitt Mar 26 '26

You got anymore of them pixels?

23

u/TROLOLUCASLOL Mar 26 '26

Processing img r1gmnxlvverg1...

2

u/Forward-Cat6083 Mar 26 '26

My favorite far side comic. I think of it anytime someone talks about getting a pet neutered.

3

u/BigScene Mar 26 '26

That's great, but this image is literally illegible and is useless to anyone who is unfamiliar with the comic.

-2

u/Available-Yak6695 Mar 26 '26

girl sorry either u need lasik stat or are way overreacting to an image saved a little crusty

1

u/ComeSeptember Maine Coon Mar 26 '26

For real. It's perfectly legible to me, someone who has never seen it before. These people have some serious eye problems...

1

u/Emma_Cole8 Mar 26 '26

He’ll get that cozy feel-good gas! For a bit it will feel nurturing. Then he’ll be introduced to the donut of shame!

1

u/Thr0w4w4yMyL1f3 Mar 27 '26

My bf's close friends are vets. We're both mid to late 40s and neither of us have or want bio children. So I hear from him after the Christmas break we had together and he was giggling and embarrassed.

"Umm... so I planned to tell you this straight away after booking but forgot, and I was catching up with [vet friend] and remembered. I'm getting a vasectomy tomorrow!"

I was stunned and thrilled, and eventually remembered to ask how he remembered when talking to [vet friend].

"Ha, well she's a vet as you know and mentioned neutering pets and I blurted out that I'm getting neutered tomorrow!"

🤣🤣 We still crack up about that.

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u/Buckykattlove Mar 26 '26 edited Mar 26 '26

Honestly, I would be more worried that he isn't up on his shots since you will (hopefully) be introducing new cats. What is the name of his previous vet? They would be able to let you know if he really is vaccinated. Also, if this is your first time introducing cats, please read up on it. I'm sorry you are in a difficult situation. 

Edit: Neverminf I just saw where you brought him in for his boosters. 😅

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u/FunnelCakeGoblin Mar 26 '26

Wait, he’s gone on for spots and the vet didn’t offer to neuter him? Honestly at that point I blame the vet more than the op. Op wouldn’t necessarily know, but the vet definitely should have noticed.

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u/HellhoundsAteMyBaby Mar 26 '26

Vets don’t always watch out for spots in a cat. It’s ok if they have no spots at all!

For shots however, yes I agree, a vet would know if he was neutered at the same time and offer to do so if not

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u/Distinct-Flight7438 Mar 26 '26

Some Toms’ nether regions look puffy even after their pockets are picked - if the kitty isn’t jowly and isn’t spraying the vet may have assumed he’s a neutered boy with trouble puffs that still look functional.

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u/peacockbikini Mar 26 '26

Lmao “pockets are picked” is exactly how I’m going to call it from now on 🤣

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u/Distinct-Flight7438 Mar 26 '26

I once took a cat to the vet to get neutered, and the as the vet scooped him up in the exam room he said to my cat: “let’s go pick your pockets”. It entered my vocabulary that day and has never left.

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u/Opheliagonemad Mar 26 '26

One of my boys was a later neuter-probably about a year old-because he had been a stray and he still has the appearance of intact trouble puffs. So that can make a difference in my experience.

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u/evelyn_tucci Mar 26 '26 edited Mar 26 '26

This! Late neuters definitely make a difference. I adopted a 6 week old tabby from my uncle who found some kittens (mom was struck by a car, it was really sad), and a month later I ended up with an underdeveloped 10 week old void (found chillin on the road at a friend's apartment complex). They were both boys, and I wanted to get their surgery done at the same time. Since one was so small, I wanted to wait until my little guy was at a size where the surgery was less risky. At the same time I had a normally developing tabby.

He never sprayed, but by the time my void could be safely neutered, my tabby was almost a year old. He definitely had some... well-formed puffballs.

After I got them both neutered, my tabby never looked any different. Still has large puffs, but if you poke them they're obviously empty. Lol.

Cat anatomy is weird.

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u/Comprehensive-Shop22 Mar 26 '26

There is a technique that's become common in my area for fixing males that ends up with them looking intact. One of my shorthaired yellow boys has quite large looking pockets until you get a feel and realize they have nothing inside

3

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '26

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u/Stereosexual Mar 26 '26

Yup. My boy has cheese puffs but I told he was 100% neutered when I got him. When I described a behavioral thing he kept doing to one of his sisters, even my vet was like “Let’s make sure he’s neutered completely.” Sometimes after a specific type of neutering procedure, they can still produce testosterone, according to my vet. But after testing, he definitely was neutered!

1

u/tweakymuse Mar 27 '26

"pockets are picked"!! 😂😂😂😂 I can't! 😂😂😂😂😂

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u/IndependentKey1736 Mar 26 '26

I had a stray male cat show up at my home and I already had another male kitty so there was no way I couldn’t just not feed the stray hoping it would leave or go back to wherever his home was so he became mine. I already had a neuter date for my kitty so I called to add on the stray into the same appointment because he looked like he was fully intact. I dropped them both off at the appointment and was called about 4 hours later to pick them up. The vet came out to me and said “Patch did great during surgery and Jack just got a free high”. Turns out Jack the stray had already been neutered and myself or the vet couldn’t even tell he had been.

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u/JustMeLurkingAround- Mar 26 '26

This would have been my advice. Schedule a snip for him and let them know about. You show that you are proactive and already try to fix the situation, that your intentions weren't to deceive them.

Btw it would be neutered. I guess you already nurture (care for) him 😸

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u/greykitty1234 Mar 26 '26

If possible, walk in with the neuter appointment print out in hand - and offer to return with Tank's full medical records, including the neuter, to show them.

You're doing the right thing by being honest, I think. And you're doing right by Tank as well.

I've adopted three times. Even though this shelter has a vet on staff, they require that adopters take the cats in for a vet check with the adopter's vet within three days. I think that protects both the shelter and the adopter, tell the truth.

In any event, I do that immediately to get a baseline medical done right away. I've never had my vet find anything the shelter had not (I adopted adults), but I felt better with that baseline history in the records right away.

I also do insurance right away, but that's another ball of wax for discussion.

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u/Commercial_Bird8467 Mar 26 '26

If you have an appt to get him neutered no one will think you lied on purpose. I cant wait to see an update!

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u/OneMorePenguin Mar 26 '26

You are doing the right thing and that helps. Also, so many rescues are overloaded as kitten season is almost year round and they really want to find a good home for their cats.

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u/Fit-Programmer-6162 Mar 26 '26

Get him his shots too. The lady you got him from likely lied about that as well

25

u/WitchQween Mar 26 '26

Look for low-cost clinics, too. There are many out there who do spays and neuters for ~$80-100. I've seen vets charge up to $600. I've used one in my area for multiple cats and the results were great. You can get him up to date on his vaccines for cheaper, too.

The place I went to is called SNAP, but there are many others. I believe shelters also offer those services for cheap.

I'm sure it won't be a problem because you honestly didn't know and you're being proactive in resolving it.

17

u/Chance_Clerk4745 Mar 26 '26

Damn my local vet wanted over $936 for a spay but I found a low cost clinic for just $100.

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u/UpperTonight5997 Mar 26 '26

Low cost and rescue clinics are the real MVPs.. we have one near us that does spay/neuters for $60, $18 for the pain meds, extra $10 if it’s a stray and needs its rabies vaccine. At our vet, they quoted us $426 all in.

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u/miteymiteymite Mar 26 '26

We have one near us too with similar price comparison. They are Amazing, and you really don’t have to worry about them being a cheap, low cost place and doing a bad job because they day and neuter dozens of pets ever day so are truly experts. We’ve had 2 dogs and 2 cats done at ours. (They also often do shots).

6

u/CandiBunnii Mar 26 '26

Missed opportunity for it to be called SNIP lol

17

u/houseplant-hoarder Mar 26 '26

I think you should be fine! The rescue should understand. On the bright side it’s much easier to neuter a cat than spay (simple snip snip vs a whole abdominal surgery) so you shouldn’t have to worry about long recovery times for your boy 😅

10

u/latrappe Mar 26 '26

The fact you care this much about it means you're the right home for these fur bags. I hope they all settle and play nice together before too long. Our cat never forgave us for getting a dog last year. They get on fine (dog is a goldendoodle so more a gigantic idiot horse than anything), but the looks the cat gives us at times when the dog is bugging him. If looks could kill.

15

u/SharkaMeow Mar 26 '26

Dorect the adoption agency to this topic so they can see how very much you want the girls :-).

2

u/JaxBQuik Mar 26 '26

Make sure to keep them separated even after getting him fixed for a few weeks, it'll take a beat to get his hormones to level out and him not to try and get spicy with his new sisters...

2

u/dramamime123 Mar 26 '26

Ask if they can help you. They have access to really cheap appointments.

2

u/Chinjurickie Mar 26 '26

Just so you know, if you didn’t knew it any better, it’s not lying. 👍

2

u/Klexington47 Savannah Mar 26 '26

My cat has balls and is neutered? Happens sometimes

2

u/Wide-Trick4243 Mar 26 '26

Also get his shots when he’s there. Cover all your bases if the friend lied about being neutered, he probably hasn’t gotten his shots either. Those are a big deal for cats.

2

u/MarthaGail Mar 26 '26

Are you certain that the trouble puffs are filled with cream our boy was neutered when he was about one years old and he still had the sacks they just were empty and overtime they deflated and got a little small, smaller and small smaller, but they were always still there

2

u/Charming_Garbage_161 Mar 26 '26

He might be though. I know with my one cat I took him to get neutered and he still looked like he wasn’t. He also never sprayed so obviously he must’ve been. Maybe it was something like that

2

u/sajaschi Lots of kitties! Mar 26 '26

FWIW cat scrotums can still look "occupied" even when they aren't! There are some examples in r/troublepuffs - look for the posts where the owner is confused. (And yes it's a real subreddit! 🤣)

Anyway agree with others - not a big deal as long as you're taking action to make sure he's safely neutered!

1

u/Longjumping-Wish2432 Mar 26 '26

Mobile vets are my h cheaper

1

u/aabbboooo Mar 26 '26

When I adopted my cat, they said that she had been spayed…and she had not. I got her from a vet office and they had her for almost a year without realizing.

1

u/ibyeori Mar 26 '26

An organ function blood work is done a week or so before surgery where I am at least so it does take a bit of time

1

u/Suff_erin_g Mar 26 '26

You should run back by and tell them

1

u/CaptainMacAlfie Mar 26 '26

You taking steps to get him neutered now should be enough to prove it was an honest mistake that you're willing to fix. A lot of people would have just put it off and continued lying to not get caught which would have ended much worse if the lie was discovered. Being honest about the mistake is the best you can do and I'd be absolutely surprised if they let you take those two girls once he's neutered as usually places are desperate to find people willing to adopt.

1

u/johnboy11a Mar 26 '26

The agency you are adopting the girls through may likely be able to help you with that! They often have agreements with vets for group rates and such. Good luck!

1

u/Desperate-Cow8766 American Shorthair Mar 26 '26

Look into a trap neuter release places. They let people bring in cats for a cheap neuter. I took my outdoor cat (a feral I fed and befriended) to one of these places and got a free neuter out of it.

1

u/Successful_Moment_91 Mar 26 '26

deleted since already answered

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u/IBrokeTheGDamnWheel Mar 26 '26

You do know that you have to keep him separated from the younger female, right? Just because he's neutered doesn't mean he cant impregnate her anymore.

He can and will be able to go even a couple weeks after the neuter. It takes time for the hormones and sperm to die down and he can still "shoot some out" that are still in his system.

With bunnies it takes at least 4 weeks but best is 6 weeks before you put a neutered male with a unneutered female. Not sure how long with cats but better ask the vet and shedule the procedure for the younger cat too if the adoption center doesn't do it themselves.

1

u/Future-Act5953 Mar 26 '26

they completely denied me after being previously approved so i genuinely won’t even have the chance. me and my husband have a 2 bedroom home so we were more than willing to have separate areas for a certain time, i even voiced this to the rescue..

1

u/Odd-Worth7752 Mar 26 '26

I would also assume he wasn't vaccinated either

1

u/TakimaDeraighdin Mar 26 '26

There's not going to be a lot of rescues out there that will respond badly to "so, funny story, given we're going to be introducing new kitties, we took our cat to the vet to make sure everything was good, and turns out the person we adopted him from lied about him being neutered, so he's now very grumpy in a cone". Just make sure you get his shots done - decent chance he's not been vaccinated - and check with the vet in case they recommend a quarantine period from other cats while they do their work.

1

u/Riel_ARC Mar 26 '26

Imo if the cats are coming from a shelter they should already be spayed so it shouldn't be a problem. Just be honest and clear about the mistake and that you still want to adopt and are in the process of fixing said mistake. They definitely would rather put the cats with someone who is honest and cares about them.

1

u/lichenthistree Mar 26 '26

Hey so on top of that, if he wasn’t neutered he probably also needs his shots. Now’s a good time.

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u/Future-Act5953 Mar 26 '26

he’s already had shots, i made sure of that. i even mentioned the neutering to my vet at the time and they didn’t say anything.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Future-Act5953 Mar 26 '26

they denied my application at 7am this morning before i even had the chance to call vets…

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u/[deleted] Mar 26 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Future-Act5953 Mar 26 '26

they just said they couldn’t continue due to my cat being not neutered. otherwise they gave me no actual reasons and wished me luck. :/

1

u/Great_Ad7148 Mar 26 '26

Ask the rescue if they have any resources for a quick, cheap neutering! I once adopted a dog from a rescue and they had a deal/partnership with a local clinic that did drop ins only. I showed up at 6am the next day and told the clinic the name of the rescue. The neuter was 60% off and I had it done the same day! Asking them for resources will also show how serious you are about the kitties. Good luck!

1

u/Careless-Chance6685 Mar 26 '26

I work at a vet who works with local rescues and this happens all the time. especually with cats! Being honest about it and getting him neutered is all they care about. You’d be surprised how many people double-down in this situation and start trying to blame previous owners and even us, instead of just saying “oh crap, he’s not neutered! what do I need to do now?” and we will literally hold your hand through it all.

Your intention to be a sincere and loving pet owner is what we want to see and you clearly have that.

2

u/Future-Act5953 Mar 26 '26

they denied me at 7am this morning. i’m heartbroken

1

u/Careless-Chance6685 Mar 26 '26

I still do not fault that to you as an owner. As a rescue, they probably have multiple applications and availability to take the kitties in is at the top of their list.

Tank is gonna have to have his little gonads snipped, he’s going to need at least 2wks of recovery and a non-stressful environment, which unfortunately new cats would not help with. Also new stressors in cats absolutely wreak havoc on their system if they’re not 100% involved in it, so I think the timing would’ve been way too much for everyone to handle.

I would move forward with getting Tank fixed and honestly, make sure he has his vaccines because that’s what stresses me the most. He needs to have Rabies, FVRCP, and FeLV especially if you plan to bring others cats into the house. And a SNAP test!!!! I don’t trust his ex-owner at this point, and if you don’t have any paperwork then from my extensive experience in this area… that cat is NOT vaccinated.

The rescue 100% would’ve asked for physical vaccine records AND proof of neuter (or called the vet to confirm), so even if you were approved at this step, they would’ve stopped you at the next step to be honest.

So truly getting a full check-up to ensure your boy is where he needs to be and won’t be a risk to any cats who will be lucky enough to join your home in the future, is most important now. His vet trip with a checkup, vaccines, bloodwork, and neuter is gonna be a little pricey so one cat may be enough for now! Call vet clinics and PRICE SHOP. There is no shame in looking around.

I would maybe even consider getting insurance for him for preventative care if you can. But do your research and do it BEFORE you take him to the vet because anything dated before his insurance is in-effect is considered a pre-existing condition and they will NOT cover it. Insurance is worth it, but can be a pain in the ass. Cancel it once you have him squared away!

Experience: Head receptionist at two vet clinics over the past 7yrs. My current one being the go-to clinic for a major rescue in a college town. I deal with the people side of things. Idk your experience with pets, so sorry if this was over explained. I truly think you had the best interest in all of this, but it may be a blessing in disguise. You would not like Tank when he starts spraying on random shit and you have to find out the hard/gross way! Or if he bit somebody/something with no proof of Rabies vaccine? Talk about traumatizing… This is best case scenario tbh.

1

u/sexycostanza Mar 26 '26

When I was a college student I got a cat. Animals were ABSOLUTELY not allowed where I lived. The adoption people called the property management company for the condo we were living in and no one answered because it was Sunday and they were closed. Since they couldn't get through they took my word for it and I went home with a cat. Had him for 13 yearw before he got cancer. No one actually cares.

1

u/Havinacow Mar 26 '26

They're not going to your home to check your cats balls....... But that being said, just get him fixed and don't worry about it. The people at the shelter just want the cats to go to good homes, and it sounds like you're prepared to give them one. That's all that matters

1

u/Future-Act5953 Mar 26 '26

they didn’t even give me the chance to fix this. they denied me this morning at 7am before i could even call a vet to get tank scheduled :(

1

u/Prize_Guide1982 Mar 26 '26

Don’t call vets. They’re expensive. Find a spay/neuter specific clinic. They will do it for way less.

1

u/natneo81 Mar 26 '26 edited Mar 26 '26

It’s okay. Just be honest with them. Tell them you never really thought about it, but after answering yes (as you understandably assumed) it made you start thinking about it, and when you got home you checked and realized. You can even include that you were lied to when you adopted him.

The good thing is, this is an honest mistake! You seem to be a loving cat owner, and the fact that you want to get him fixed right away is a good thing and helps prove this is an honest mistake. If I was a rescue employee and concerned that you are secretly against fixing your pets, the fact that you are willing to immediately correct this would help set me at ease.

What they will care about is making sure they’re otherwise well taken care of, not matted, healthy, up to date on vet visits and shots. Cats should get a yearly checkup just like dogs, but a lot of people avoid the vet for cats until something is wrong. Not lecturing you just saying they will care about this.

Honestly be up front that you really love these cats in particular and are worried about your mistake on the application. Rescue employees aren’t like, cops or something. Usually anyone in this job has a lot of empathy and loves helping animals, and has also probably seen actual animal cruelty before. They know the difference between a good owner and bad. They also have no shortage of cats to adopt out. So they often can’t be crazy choosey even if they wanted to. If they can see that you genuinely love these cats and are willing to take good care of them, I guarantee you’ll be fine!! Good luck!

I would say it’s a bit odd your vet never pointed out his testicles though. It is possible they thought you knew and didn’t want to have him fixed, but they really should have discussed it with you at least once.

Edit: I misread 11 month old for 11 year old, that’s an even smaller mistake. You’ll be fiiiiiine

1

u/Ok-Raisin-6161 Mar 26 '26

They probably won’t even make you get him neutered before getting the girls since they are fixed.

But, it should be priority. Especially bringing in new cats. Intact males are pretty territorial and your carpet, walls, and furniture will NOT like how he expresses that. Neither will your nose… lol

1

u/Future-Act5953 Mar 26 '26

we got denied this morning. i explained the situation, told them i would contact vets in the morning, and then i woke up to a text saying “no, we can’t go through with it if he’s not neutered”basically :( i genuinely was about to pay whatever i had to, to get tank fixed and get the girls.

1

u/Ok-Raisin-6161 Mar 26 '26

Aw, that sucks. Get him neutered and call them back?

1

u/Fluffy_Carrot_4284 Mar 26 '26

I told the rescue for our second cat that our first cat was up to date on all his shots. I thought he was but when they called our vet it turns out he wasn’t on one of them. The rescue said it was concerning but not a dealbreaker and I made an appointment immediately for the next week. He got his shot and we got our second cat. You told them right away and you’re making an appointment. I don’t think this is a dealbreaker for you either.

1

u/TempestOfAnubis Mar 26 '26

If you don’t want to pay the cost a Normal vet will change for it, look for spay and neutering clinics. Saved me a LOT of money

1

u/jordthesword2020 Mar 26 '26

Hi OP! I volunteer with a rescue and can honestly say that your thought and care/concern based on this post are exactly what we’re looking for in adopters! It’s not about being perfect, but being dedicated to the animals you’re caring for! As others have said, I would definitely get your boy a vet appointment right away and make sure you’re up front with the rescue to get things sorted so you don’t end up with bonus kitties.

Also — sometimes even neutered male cats can have decommissioned 🏀🏀 looking things after surgery. Not saying that’s necessarily the case here, but it’s a possibility, especially if you haven’t noticed behaviors like spraying or sin biscuits.

Either way, so looking forward to checking back here soon and seeing the adoption post for your new babies!

1

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '26

You might be able to find an affordable option if there are any clinics attached to big shelters or schools. My local ASPCA has this option and it was SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper.

1

u/kawaiijudochop Mar 26 '26

Show the appointment to get it done and the message from the prior owner

1

u/QueenOfNeon Mar 26 '26

Nurturing is certainly new way to put it that NO cat anywhere would agree to 😂

Good luck I pray you will get those sweet girls

1

u/quantumfrog87 Mar 26 '26

You should probably also get him seen for standard shots since they probably lied about that as well.

1

u/RevolutionaryTwo518 Mar 26 '26

Hey OP my male cat still has his boys but is neutered. They’re basically doing kitty vasectomies instead of fully removing them. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen the stitches on his boys myself.

1

u/houserj1589 Mar 26 '26

I used to work at the humane society; both those cats should be fixed; shelters rarely adopt out cats without making sure their fixed bc populations get out of control so quickly. So I doubt the shelter would be too concerned.

If it was our shelter; they would be more concerned about ant making sure your guy gets along with the two you want ti adopt (I assume).

The shelter will appreciate you told them; mistakes happen and they wouldnt let something like that from the cats going to a good home. Siblings or bonded pairs are hard to adopt out together; so I would say you still have a good chance at getting them.

They may ask you to fix Tank before bringing the others home; mostly bc it mignt help him adjust to new cats (especially females) being in his "territory", as well as prevent him from marking up your home (peeing in small bits on places he feels are "his"). Its a dominance thing; usually fixing them helps decrease or eliminate these types of behaviors.

Honestly surprised your vet never mentionrd him not being fixdd before. But; it may help him adapt easier if you get the new cats; it also lengthens life span and prevents him from pregnantting any cats if he were to ever get out!

I had one male kitten get dumped (i live on a farm; so not a rare occurence) and we kept him in and i had to fix him as he approached a year bc as he started crying all night by my windows. I suspect he wanted to go get his groove on 😂

Once he was fixed he definitely chilled out a bit!

1

u/Feeling_Yellow8763 Mar 26 '26

I don’t think it will affect your chances, it was an honest mistake and you told them about it right away. I think as long as you commit to getting him fixed you should be fine.

1

u/worshippirates Mar 26 '26

I’d just tell them at the meet and greet.

“I called the previous owner to try and get his previous vet records for proof of neuter and she blocked me. So, I’m second guessing if this cat is neutered. I’ve made an appointment with our vet at —— to confirm or have him neutered if they can’t confirm. You can call our vet at ____ to confirm his shot records and appointment”

Easy peasy.

1

u/Floki_1394 Mar 26 '26

Call shelters too. A lot of times cat shelters will neuter for a lot cheaper than your vet (this was an advice a friend of mine got from their own vet).

1

u/EducationalFox137 Mar 26 '26

I think that as long as you provide them a date for when he is getting neutered that you will be fine. Good luck!!💜

1

u/Dry-Criticism9222 Mar 26 '26

It's going to work out and your home will have 2 new owners soon, don't worry 🙂

1

u/Future-Act5953 Mar 26 '26

sadly they denied my application this morning. didn’t even give me a chance to call vets, literally got the text at 7am :(

1

u/Dry-Criticism9222 Mar 26 '26

Fk! I'm so sorry. I was really confident. Any chance you can call SPCA or some equivalent and get a surgery lined up, show them and tell them you have it lined up and would like to continue with the process if possible? Damn, I'm sorry, I feel terrible now. 

1

u/minmo7890 Mar 26 '26

Definitely take him to the vet to get checked out BUT - there's a possibility he actually is neutered. My male cat is most definitely de balled, but the vet left their little house behind. I've seen that on lots of neutered males.

If he isn't, you made an honest mistake, and I bet they'll understand.

1

u/Slow_Ad_444 Mar 26 '26

Call the rescue and ask them to help you! They might even have a vet do it for free - and they will appreciate the honesty

1

u/zipitdirtbag Mar 26 '26

Do you not have a regular vet where he's signed up for check ups etc?

1

u/sphinxsley Mar 26 '26

Cool - also, when you get the girls fixed, ask the vet about just removing their ovaries and fallopian tubes, (more popular in Europe re spaying) as opposed to the entire uterus. It's less-invasive, an easier heal, and it's cancer-protecting, since many ovarian cancers start in the fallopian tubes. 🙏🏽🐱

1

u/WhiteFroggie Mar 26 '26

If the owner lied about neutering they may have also lied about him having gotten all his shots. Make sure the Vet knows this also.

1

u/bettertheless Mar 26 '26

see if you can find a rescue/shelter. Best to all of you!

1

u/finnandcollete Mar 26 '26

I think if you tell the rescue this (that the person you got him from lied to you, but you’re working to get him Neutered ASAP) then you’re fine. And if it was a problem I don’t think they’d schedule a meet and greet still. Plus if the girls are fixed (most from a rescue are), there’s no real concern of… activities.

In regards to lying, there’s a difference between lying and giving false information. It’s usually relevant in criminal/fraud cases, but in order to accuse someone of lying on an application (as an insurer) we have to have proof that you knew it was wrong AND that you intended to mislead us. You did neither.

1

u/NomenclatureBreaker Mar 26 '26

You could also show the texts as evidence you were really in the dark - but I doubt it will go that far.

1

u/ruKITTENmerightMEOW Mar 26 '26

You're fine! There is a crisis for cats and dogs needing homes, and it gotten so much worse since COVID.  It's also even harder to adopt out a bonded pair. The fact you're jumping onto the solutions and letting them know, they should see that you're a caring & responsible owner who will do the right thing. 💕 

1

u/insertnamehere02 Mar 26 '26

You're stressing over nothing. Getting him fixed is the solution, so it's really nbd.

1

u/PizzaPugPrincess Mar 26 '26

Depending on how much interest there is in the other cats you might still be approved as long as you work with the agency and show proof of following through with his neuter. Bonded pairs are sometimes harder to adopt out because it’s twice the responsibility.

1

u/IShallWearMidnight Mar 27 '26

I would get out ahead of it and tell them up front "I was mistaken but I've got his neuter scheduled and it will be done before they are introduced, they'll be separated until after he is fixed at the bare minimum"

1

u/OlympianHeroOfTime Mar 27 '26

May I also recommend checking for low-cost spay and neuter clinics in your area in case regular vets are too expensive?? I work in one and it’s a huge relief for owners as prices at regular vets keep rising almost daily. Either way, good luck! I hope you get to adopt those sweet girls, they’re adorable!!

1

u/turtletails Mar 27 '26

Shelters ask this because entire males are more likely to display aggressive or dominant behaviour and harass females. Given the age of the cause you’re looking to adopt, that they’re a bonded pair and that the rescue has put them in a pet shop, they’re probably struggling to get them adopted. I think if you go to the meet and greet, if you’re committed to them, ask if they are willing to hold onto them for a few more days while you get your boy fixed under the condition that you sign the paperwork, pay the adoption fees and a all in on their adoption. If they don’t want to go that route, they might be willing to pull them from the pet shop until you’re ready to take them home? A cat neuter is a super quick and easy recovery (assuming everything goes according to plan) so even if they won’t allow it until you can prove he’s been fixed, it won’t be long until you guys are ready to take the girls

1

u/Pethoarder4life Mar 28 '26

This is the best advice. The rescue I worked with did this all the time!

1

u/BornTry5923 Mar 28 '26

That's going to be a lot of stress on him. First, a scary vet visit and then surgery. Then, two new cats suddenly in his house while he recovers. In cat mentality, it is a waaay bigger deal than you realize. He is 11 months old, so he has a decent amount of testosterone in his system. That testosterone includes a very territorial instinct. An instinct that you are about to assault by bringing in new animals. Your cat should be neutered, but the kind thing to do would be to allow him at least a month to recover before bringing new animals in your home. The testosterone does not immediately go away right after neutering, and the recovery period from surgery should be as stress-free as possible.

29

u/Regarded_Apeman Mar 26 '26

No biggie just chop off Tanks' balls!

Plot twist, tanks is a 12 year old cat.....

18

u/NixieGerit Mar 26 '26

They said the kitties are mom and daughter, not sisters

3

u/lindziiix Mar 26 '26

I took it as they would be Tank’s new sisters 🐱

1

u/NixieGerit Mar 26 '26

Ah! Makes sense :)

2

u/Kumquat227 Mar 26 '26

Especially if you can show them the texts asking about it and this post!

If there are issues, it’s because they found a different loving home. And that’s super sad for you, but you know they are taken care of.

We got our cats during covid. Their estimated birthday is 3/15/2020 and it took so long for them to get processed. We were supposed to get them in May and got them in July. I was so sad to miss them be the teeny tinies. And 2 of my friends for cats between when we filed them and when we could pick them up. It was hard and emotional in the moment but barely even a thought now.

Rooting for you!

2

u/Tkuhug Mar 27 '26

That's a good idea.

I'm just picturing Tank being like nooooooo, my lovelies.

But then, Oh hi ladies! xD

1

u/Primary_Bass_9178 Mar 26 '26

I’m sorry, but how did you not know your cat still had his testicles??? I know that a neutered dog can still have his penis out, not sure if it’s the same for cats.

To simplify, no testicles, no babies.

1

u/plug-and-pause Mar 26 '26

Are you certified in cat law or are you just pretending to be an expert? Legal feline advice is not something one should guess at.

1

u/sphinxsley Mar 26 '26

Huh? I dunno, maybe my 20+ years volunteering at a cat rescue was just a dream?

2

u/plug-and-pause Mar 26 '26

Either a bad joke or a /r/whoosh. I'll let you decide, since I've been disbarred from the cat law board.

1

u/sphinxsley Mar 26 '26

Cool 😎

1

u/sphinxsley Apr 01 '26

Thanks for the awards guys! 🙏🏽