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Pets

Nearly 2y and 2nd litter. Am I doing things right?

45 replies

LeopardLips · 17/02/2016 14:12

My cat is nearly 2 and she's had her 2nd litter of kittens. She had her first when she was 1 and she lay on 3 in a small bedding space I thought was safe for them and 3 of them died. We still have the other little kitten that survived. The 2nd litter came last night and she ended up having them in my livingroom.. There was nothing I could do our kids were in bed and it was too late to be emptying boxes from my daughters bedroom where she slept. I sorted it this morning and they're all happy and settled in a little box with covers and a small sheet that can go over the top to cut out the bright light. I've had a message from someone who is COMPLETELY obsessed with cats who said she is infuriated with me at the fact I've allowed her to become pregnant again so young and that I should be allowed to have cats at all. She jumped out the window when we were trying to keep her in before we could get her dressed and she managed to get caught that one time she went out.. Which has caused the kittens to obviously arrive now. I don't know how to feel.. I already feel like I do a shit job at being a mother and a wife, now it makes me feel like it's true if I'm being told by someone who knows cats, that I shouldn't even be allowed to have them! I don't know how I'm supposed to feel and it's making me anxious.. Aren't I doing things right?

Nearly 2y and 2nd litter. Am I doing things right?

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QforCucumber · 17/02/2016 14:19

right in my personal opinion would be To have had her spayed before any litters but that's obviously irrelevant now.
Has the kitten you kept been neutered/spayed?
Is she feeding them? Is she cleaning them? Really they shouldn't be handled yet as it can make her reject them.

georgedawes · 17/02/2016 14:21

Why isn't your cat spayed? Can't imagine having a cat not neutered tbh.

LeopardLips · 17/02/2016 14:23

The other kitten hasn't and is a house cat. She's not been out. The mother cat is doing everything fine, her last little were premature and born with little/no hair. This litter looks very healthy and she's wanting my partner and I to come and see them and sit with her. She was calling on us last night to tell us she was going into labour. The mother cat HAS had her injections from a young age.

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LeopardLips · 17/02/2016 14:24

We don't have a car and live in a small town. I suffer from depression and anxiety which makes it difficult.

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georgedawes · 17/02/2016 14:26

I would get your cats spayed as otherwise it'll likely keep happening. It's a simple operation and will stop future litters. Even for house cats I really think all should be neutered.

QforCucumber · 17/02/2016 14:28

House cat or not it should be done, to prevent mishaps if she does get out but also for the health benefits, And it'll stop her going into heat.
If mother cat is getting all her injections then she is visiting a vets - the op is morning drop off collect afternoon type thing.
Keep mother fed and watered, make sure fresh down at All times and that she's not in a busy room especially with you having kids around.

LeopardLips · 17/02/2016 14:30

I thought it was cruel to have taken away her chances completely and not have allowed her to at least have A litter. She fired out the window and ended up pregnant a 2nd time and this all happened while we were moving house.

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YouSaffBridge · 17/02/2016 14:31

As far as I understand it, having them spayed makes them healthier?

LeopardLips · 17/02/2016 14:33

I've put her in a room where her and the kittens will not be disturbed.

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georgedawes · 17/02/2016 14:34

Having a pregnancy is much riskier for cats than being spayed. And there are thousands and thousands in rescue unwanted, can't see a any need to breed a moggy.

MirandaWest · 17/02/2016 14:35

I think it's a misconception that cats should have a litter. Given the amount of cats there are, they should be neutered. And I think that includes house cats as they could get out. I hope this litter are all healthy and that you get all cats neutered as soon as possible.

LeopardLips · 17/02/2016 14:38

We let her fall pregnant 1 time because of the fact we wanted to have family cats for whenever she passed away. I agree is there is too many cats and that's what I've been told.

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SoupDragon · 17/02/2016 14:38

Cats are not human. They don't give a shit about having a litter or not. Get both adult cats neutered as soon as possible.

Regardless, what's done it done with respect to this litter (who are an amazing array of colours from a white cat!). There's no point berating you about it.

I think, in general, you just let the mother get on with it. Keep her well fed and watered and with a safe warm place to sleep.

LeopardLips · 17/02/2016 14:39

Thank you SoupDragon. I understand, thanks to everyone for their help. Just the way the other person made me feel about it was as if I was the worlds worst being.

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SoupDragon · 17/02/2016 14:40

You can't change what has happened, you can only change the future - which means getting the mother spayed as soon as is advisable after having kittens and getting the other cat done now.

QforCucumber · 17/02/2016 14:40

It's cruel to allow her to be raped by every Tom in the area, have a litter, have them taken away from her and the possibility of infections and health problems from doing so. It's cruel to allow her to go into season every 6 weeks or so when unnecessary. It's cruel to see the number of cats and kittens in rescues and on the streets and not consider this when thinking about your own. A friend of mine runs a rescue and get exasperated at how many people think ifs cruel to spay but if you saw the things she does you'd soon disagree. Your cat has 3 kittens, if each of those has 3 a year from being 1 to 15 that's over 100 cats!
If you're not getting her spayed then windows/doors can't be left open. It'll keep happening.

PetronellaOsgood · 17/02/2016 14:40

You need to get both of these cats spayed as soon as possible. Cats do not need to have kittens, there lives are not enriched by the experience in any way. Spaying also prevents many infections and diseases. If cost is the issue contact cats protection league, they run a scheme together with many vets where you can have the op done for £10. Please spay your cats, there are so many unwanted and homeless cats around, not spaying adds to the problem.

wannaBe · 17/02/2016 14:41

Is this for real? You let a one year old cat get pregnant so you would have cats for when she died in what, sixteen or seventeen years time? By which time the kittens she would have given birth to would also be on the verge.... And you thought it was cruel to not let her have a litter? Riiiiight. .

Well, now that she has the kittens what's done is done, But you need to get all of them neutered ASAP. And having a car isn't an excuse. If you can't see to the needs of your animals then you shouldn't have them. So either get them neutered or find a decent rescue who can get them done and rehomed to decent homes.

QforCucumber · 17/02/2016 14:43

If she's feeding them and showing them to you it would seem she's doing well, warm quiet and fed and they should be OK. A vet checked at 7/8 weeks is usually recommended.
Oh - and you know they can live up to 20 right? So breeding her at 2 years old to keep 1 for when she passes may be a tad premature.

LeopardLips · 17/02/2016 14:44

Having a car isn't an excuse but having depression and anxiety is a mental illness in which I suffer to even leave the house without company! Even THEN I have panic attacks.

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ClaraLane · 17/02/2016 14:46

I have depression but both of my cats have been neutered

However that aside... If you have problems leaving the house do you think your cat-obsessed friend would be able to pick the cats up and take them to the vets for their spaying if you asked her nicely? What are your plans for the kittens - do you have homes lined up for them?

LeopardLips · 17/02/2016 14:47

I don't speak to her after the way she spoke to me and YES I've been on it since this morning and already have homes for 4 of them.

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PetronellaOsgood · 17/02/2016 14:47

Do you have friends or relatives that can take them to the vets then? Or go with you?
If you have pets it is your responsibility to care for them properly and spaying these cats is a priority.

Archfarchnad · 17/02/2016 14:48

Sweetie, what's cruel is keeping an unneutered adult cat at home with you. When they're on heat they're miserable and desperate to get out, they attract the entire neighbourhood of toms to your door, and are more likely to spray the place full of pee. Please get her spayed as soon as the vet says it's possible, as well as any other cats in the household older than 4 months. If you ever find yourself in a situation without family cats, there are (sadly) plenty more loving and lovable cats in shelters you can adopt.

LeopardLips · 17/02/2016 14:49

Whenever they are free.. I only have my Gran and she works through the week until 4pm and then has college at night.

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