to let my cat have a litter of kittens?

[StartRight]

I am hoping for lots of YABU.

We have a 6 month old cat we bought from the local rescue centre. My children (and dh bizarrely) all want to let her have one litter of kittens before we get her neutered.
Even my mum when I ran it past her said it would be a 'wonderful experience' for the children.
We would give the kittens away to friends or the local pet shop.

I don't think it is a good idea. Aside from the obvious problem of too many unwanted cats in the world, I don't want the house overrun with cats and cat litter etc.

I feel like I am being mean, so am wavering hence this thread.

[Abigail9580]

Don't do it! Too many unwanted kittens about already. And if you have friends that want a cat, direct them to the rescue centre.

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

OP

Don't lie to your children. Teaching them they can't have evrything they want is important an experiebce as having kittens would be. Imo

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

And being mean with good reason is part of being a parent

[Trazzletoes]

Hahaha just imagining chasing Trazzle-cat #1 round the house for enforced tablet-taking every day

Yes, I'm sure that (and the calling and the painful mating and dangers of giving birth) is much more pleasant for her than a short operation.

She also clearly didn't get the memo about stopping hunting after the op... Dammit!

[NotADragonOfSoup]

my catsalways stop hunting once they have been spayed

Mine haven't!

[NotADragonOfSoup]

PMSL at giving contraception to cats. Yes, I can see that working well for mine. I had to give Ginger Kitty Antibiotics for about a month when she first came to me - it wasutter hell. Stressful for her and stressful for me.

Putting it in food is no also use (tried it).

My dog, OTOH, shove it in cheese, job done.

[NotADragonOfSoup]

I don't doubt contraception is available for cats but I imagine it is more for breeders who do not want their cat to have litter after litter and only have planned matings.

There are other health benefits of spaying to a female cat though which IMO makes spaying the best option for a non-breeding moggy.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Contraception for cats is very risky it carries significant high risk side effects and should never be entered into lightly.

[poachedeggs]

These loons people with several cats in their home are also causing welfare problems. Cats are not naturally content to share territory in close confines and as a vet I repeatedly see cats with toileting problems, urinary tract disease and behavioural troubles as a direct result of their inappropriate living conditions. So no Amber, you aren't doing it for the cats.

Neutering cats prevent transmission of disease ( feline leukaemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, cat flu... ), reduces road deaths, and reduces fighting and related injuries. So it directly benefits the individual as wellas the population as whole.

[AmberSocks]

my cats get on really well,have none of theproblems you mentioned.and i have 5.so does my sil and mil.

but then if you are a vet its not an opinion im interested in,as its just a business like everything else.

[RandallPinkFloyd]

[NotADragonOfSoup]

5 neutered cats, Amber?

[Mymblesdaughter]

Why not foster a Mum cat and kittens for your local rescue? I did a couple of years ago and it was great fun. It was a lot of work though, they are mucky little critters.
The only down side was letting them go. The rescue I fostered them for makes sure they stay in twos. So Mum went with one of her kittens and I ended up keeping the other two as no home could be found for them. It was all very upsetting for me though. They have a great family bond and I felt cruel splitting them up. I had a good cry on the day they were split. Mine were lucky as well they got to stay with their Mum for about 5 months.

[Baffledandbewildered]

No don't do it. We breed pedigree cats and its no always plane sailing. It might be a nice experience for your children it might also be upsetting kitten have a high mortality rate mother cats get ill and die sometimes. Your family are being very irresponsible. Also I'm guessing your cat will be let out to be mated !!! Again she could be killed the stud cat in this situation would not have been health checked and no responsible stud cat owner would allow the use of their boy. Stick to your gun ignor your husband :)

[Baffledandbewildered]

Oh and don't forget you really should keep them until they are at least 12 weeks as they do need their mother for this length of time

[StuntGirl]

You're talking to a brick wall guys. She's right and she's gonna do what she likes anyway dammit

[dobby2001]

I am a firm beleiver in neutering of both male and female domestic animals, for all the reasons that are listed here already. Celia Hammond trust have some excellent info on facebook right now as to why you should do this, will see if I can find a link

[seeker]

Oh, god- there are some weirdo animal people. I know someone who thinks that animals shouldn't be guide dogs because it's degrading to enslave them. I can well believe that there are people who think that domestic animals should be allowed to explore their sexuality. Sadly.

[GetOrf]

lol at cats exploring their sexuality.

It is not true that spayed cats stop hunting. Please tell that to the collection of mice, bats and songbirds hunted down by my (spayed) cats.

[NotADragonOfSoup]

My dog enjoys exploring his sexuality. Usually with my leg

[ComposHat]

It is not true that spayed cats stop hunting.

I can confirm this, we used to come downstairs to a regular bird/mouse autopsy as performed by our neutered female cat.

[gordyslovesheep]

My boy cat brings home voles and rats - and leave them in bit on the patio - he is lovely! He doesn't spray though thank god since he was done

Amber doesn;t even answer questions so no way is anyone going to change her mind - sadly the world if full or awful negligent animal owner who know best

I have 2 cats - they both has their own hidey places and don't have to mix - they do curl up together when I am not looking though

[ComposHat]

several cats in their home are also causing welfare problems. Cats are not naturally content to share territory in close confines

That makes me feel better, our cat is a house cat (not through choice, we got her from a rescue centre and she had never been outside aged 8) and I was worried she might have been lonely and was missing out from not having feline company.

She does seem a happy, if demanding (typical tortoiseshell) little thing.

[JenaiMorris]

Ours was kept in a carrier for most of her life. One of her brothers had deformed legs as a result of being kept in those conditions. They rescued 12 cats from the one owner.

When she came to us first, she was ever so timid and hid in her basket for weeks. We introduced her to the garden though and it was such a joy to watch. We were told she was 'about three' but she reverted to kittenhood (in a good way) :)

She likes to watch birds, but hadn't caught any thankfully.

[JenaiMorris]

God that sounds like a 9yo's 'My Pet' homework