Tigger-why it is important to talk to an animal about an upcoming vet appointment

My mother is currently fostering a kitty whom she has named 'Tigger', for the SPCA.

It was time for Tigger to have his neutering appointment today. Last evening, I did a check-in with Tigger. My mother had told Tigger that he was going to the vet. My mother is OK with my mentioning here that she is still learning to acknowledge the information that an animal is giving back to her, so I offered to see if Tigger had understood what was coming and to ask him if he had any further questions. When I asked Tigger if he understood where he was going the following day, he had a pretty good sense that it was somewhere that was safe. So my mother had conveyed this quite clearly to him.

However, I heard Tigger loud and clear asking "is it going to hurt"? Not surprisingly, Tigger was clearly sending a feeling of anxiety about this. Never having had the experience of being neutered, I could only tell Tigger what I knew. I explained to Tigger that he would not be feeling the procedure because of something the vet would give him to put him to 'sleep'. Tigger sent me back a confirmation that he had received my message to him. However, he had many more questions.

Tigger:where is (the vet's office)? He feels anxious here, again.

Me:I went through the whole process of Tigger being taken to the vet. I accomplished this by showing him the steps involved as one would imagine being in the format of a movie. This included starting the night before when Tigger would not be able to have food and water and therefore would be spending the night in a room seperate from the other cats.

Tigger:provides me with a feeling that this is understood and OK with him. He then asks why he is having this procedure done?

Me:I show him images of many, many cats being born in the world. I explain that when cats are neutered, it reduces the number of cats being born. I do this by showing this colossal number of cats shrinking in size. I show him that there are cats who are homeless and starving because of cats not being neutered (and spayed-show him images of a female cat having something 'like' what he is having done)

Tigger:Sends me back that he understands that I (Anne) thinks this is important, so he'll accept that it is.

Tigger:Will I be coming back to (my mother's home)? He asks this question which I receive in images by Tigger showing me a picture of my mother and the space around him. There is also an accompanying feeling of contentment in this environment (Tigger and I and my mother will be talking about next steps..if he's going to be staying or going but for now we need to address the matter at hand)

Me: I again go through sending him another movie step by step about his return home following the procedure and show him coming home either that day or the next day. I do this by showing the dun going down and him waking up when there is sunlight. And my mother coming that day if not the day of the neutering.

Tigger-He sends a feeling of acknowledgment about the time frame and return home events. He asks if it will it hurt afterwards?

Me:I send an image of the area on his body that will be affected and send a feeling of some soreness. I also show him medication being given to him and send him a feeling of relief following the administration of the medication. I then ask if he has any more questions?

Tigger: Nothing comes back from him

Me: I send him thanks and close out our conversation