Expert: Norman Auspitz - 8/15/2011

Question
Mr Auspitz

Today the breeder contacted us by e-mail and sent pictures of the kittens. They all look very healthy and happy. She wanted to have a telephone conversation with us.  Later in the day a three way conversation happened between the breeder, my husband and myself.  
I must say that I feel for this woman.  She was an absolute nervous wreck she no longer sounds like the person I had spoken with many months ago (before her queen was bred).  She has had some very hard times with her very first litter. It would take many paragraphs to explain what she has went through.
She hasn't been communicating with me very much for a reason.  There are 3 males kittens (3 months old).  One kitten has a problem- one of his testicles hasn't descended yet (cryptorchid).  She has been hoping that with age the testicle would come in. But it hasn't.  She is suppose to take the kittens to be neutered soon but the for the cryptorchid kitten it won't be a simple procedure.  Her vet told her exploratory surgery (abdominal surgery) to find the undescended testicle and remove it. This surgery can be very expensive. I am sure you know that this has to be done.

She did not say that this was the kitten she was offering us.  She does not know which one she is keeping (to show in premiership) and what two will be going to the two parties who have put deposits down on a kitten.

If the cryptorchid kitten has a successful surgery (ie the undescended testicle is removed and the other is removed also) are there other issues that could happen due to being born this way?  I have plenty of medical experiences with my cats over the years but I have not ever dealt with anything like this before.
What about the other two siblings who are not showing any abnormalities (they are both to be neutered). Should I have concerns about taking one of them?

Thank You
Diana

Answer
Diana,

Just a minor correction, one undescended testicle is called "monorchid", two undescended testicles is called "cryporchid".

Once the undescnded testicle(s) is(are) removed, the kitten should grow normally and live a long healthy life.  Usually, there are no other anomalies that accompany monorchid or cryptorchid kittens.

I am glad this lady finally contacted you and cleared up the "mystery" as to why she was not sending you pictures, etc. Had she not, it would have been a major cause for concern.

We had one monorchid kitten many, many years ago.  The vet never did locate the undescnded tesicle, but we showed him in Premiership to a national win and he lived to a ripe age, with no ill effects.

Best regards... Norm.