I took in a tomcat. . .um, probably in February, I forget exactly but it was pretty cold. And he's been living in my spare bathroom since then. Anyway, I'm the world's worst procrastinator, plus he's very polite and doesn't spray or get upset about living in the bathroom, so I only just now made an appointment to have him neutered (on Tuesday). While holding him for the vet to give him his shots and FeLV/FIV test (negative, thankfully), I realized how very muscular and jowly he is. Built like a bull. I thought he was fairly young, but then I read another thread here where someone said that toms don't usually get full jowls until they're 3 or so. I guess I've never really seen a well-cared-for indoor fully mature tomcat before---strays/ferals and farmcat toms always look pretty beat-up and scrawny. And I've always had new strays neutered quickly so they never got the chance to fatten up as toms.
So, for those who know show toms, or otherwise have experience with well-cared-for tomcats, anyone know exactly when males get those big jowls? He first showed up the summer of 2013 and I thought he looked to be about 6 months old at the time. So that would make him about 1 1/2 or 2 now. But he may have just been skinny and undernourished and looked younger.
Also, any guesses how long it'll take before he loses those big cheeks? Or do late-neuter toms keep big jowls? I'll take pictures once a week to see how his head/body changes without testosterone.
So, for those who know show toms, or otherwise have experience with well-cared-for tomcats, anyone know exactly when males get those big jowls? He first showed up the summer of 2013 and I thought he looked to be about 6 months old at the time. So that would make him about 1 1/2 or 2 now. But he may have just been skinny and undernourished and looked younger.
Also, any guesses how long it'll take before he loses those big cheeks? Or do late-neuter toms keep big jowls? I'll take pictures once a week to see how his head/body changes without testosterone.
