Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let my cat have kittens

280 replies

Mittens1969 · 12/09/2017 22:35

This is a more lighthearted thread than my two previous ones, but I'm fully expecting to be flamed by some posters on here, especially those who work in cat rescue centres.

I've had cats all through my life, I have 4 furry friends atm. I've finally given into temptation to let one of my cats, a 1 year old black and white female, to have one litter of kittens before having her spayed.

We used to let our cats have a couple of litters of kittens when I was growing up, and we never had any problems finding homes for them. I've never done this with cats since I've grown up, I've had a number of cats and I've always had them spayed/neutered.

But this time I couldn't resist. And I already know it won't be hard to find homes for the kittens and I intend to look after them for as long as necessary. I'll have 2 DDs who want to keep them of course.

So that's my AIBU basically. I would also be interested in suggestions from people who have done this.

OP posts:
Lottey90 · 15/09/2017 19:27

Not sure how I feel about op letting her cat have kittens - I have a female cat (who still lives with my parents, we got her when I was a teen) who we had 'done' at six months. Only because we didn't want the responsibility of kittens.

But I had to comment after seeing a post saying something along the lines of 'if they are not willing to rescue a cat from a shelter, they won't actually want a cat, just a cute kitten'. I have a pedigree male cat.

This is not true. I didn't rescue my cat from a shelter. I payed a couple of hundred pounds from a good breeder, researched a lot into his breed, and travelled four hours to get him. Just because we didn't go to a rescue shelter, doesn't mean we are not responsible cat owners.

Oh and he IS neutered.

BertrandRussell · 15/09/2017 19:29

"here is a difference in animals who have been mothers. They are usually more settled and nurturing"

Bollocks.

HungerOfThePine · 15/09/2017 19:38

here is a difference in animals who have been mothers. They are usually more settled and nurturing

If my cat had kittens I would have become demented then if thats the case as she is already all these things and more so than most cats I've met.

Joshpaws · 15/09/2017 19:39

Don't do it.

BertrandRussell · 15/09/2017 19:42

"So glad you've decided to spay. It really is the kindest thing. Just think how upset she would have been when you took her babies away to give to your friends."

Oh, more bollocks.

Original poster
Mittens1969 · 15/09/2017 19:44

Just to repeat, I'm not letting my cat have kittens now, I've booked her in to be spayed.

OP posts:
Polarbearpaddle · 15/09/2017 19:50

My mum let our female cat have a couple of litters before being spayed. We always found homes for them among our friends and we still see them now and know they have been looked after.

It was a beautiful and wonderful experience to see our cat carry a litter and help look after the kittens as a child, and I am grateful for it. If those two litters hadn't existed there would still be a cat crisis.

People should look after their cats so that they don't end up in rescue shelters. No need to judge responsible cat owners who want to experience something wonderful.

Life is short and then we die so bloody well have kittens

DumbledoresApprentice · 15/09/2017 20:05

Polarbear- the OP's cat is being spayed.

kali110 · 15/09/2017 20:49

No, there are enough bloody cats that are already in rescues and on the street that need homes.
A cat does not need to have a litter.
The op is doing the responsible thing.

Nanny0gg · 15/09/2017 23:10

It was a beautiful and wonderful experience to see our cat carry a litter and help look after the kittens as a child, and I am grateful for it. If those two litters hadn't existed there would still be a cat crisis.

Because of all the irresponsible owners who let their cats have unnecessary litters!

You shouldn't breed animals just to give children a 'beautiful and wonderful experience'

Wolfiefan · 15/09/2017 23:26

I'm sure being mated by a random male and pushing multiple kittens out (no pain relief for cats) wasn't a fucking beautiful or wonderful experience for your cat.

Quiettiger · 16/09/2017 00:14

There is a difference in animals who have been mothers. They are usually more settled and nurturing. (Farmer. I know animals) Your children will never forget the time that you spend with them and it is a beautiful learning experience.

Abbylee - All due respect, you're talking shit. I'm also a farmer, I also "know animals". Our farm cats are far more settled for being neutered and not raising kittens, as are our farm dogs for being neutered and not having puppies.

We have a large farm near us that lets their farm cats breed willy nilly. They are now in the situation where they are over run with cats in poor health, because they didn't believe they should neuter and a local rescue has had to step in to sort the problem out - blocking up spaces and stopping other cats coming into rescue from elsewhere.

OP - you're doing a great thing by getting your cat neutered and not letting her have kittens. If you want your children to witness "the miracle of birth" foster a pregnant mum cat for a rescue (you'll have the back up and support), you'll get to enjoy the kittens and babies and you'll know you're doing a good thing by helping resolve the over population problem.

Just don't do what I did and keep the entire litter!

Original poster
Mittens1969 · 16/09/2017 08:24

@Quiettiger, that is the plan, yes. The best thing would be that I won't have to worry about finding good homes for them.

And yes, it would be tempting to keep the whole litter, that's what my DDs will want. But my DH? He certainly won't want that lol!

OP posts:
Quiettiger · 16/09/2017 12:25

Mittens1969 - the only thing I will say is that it can be quite addictive to foster pregnant mum cats and kittens. Once you've done it once, it's like crack cocaine. Wink

I started doing it 20 odd years ago and have quite literally had hundreds of foster cats through my doors. I did quite well, only keeping 7 during that time...

DH has wised up now. I'm banned from fostering anymore pregnant mums after the last lot!

Original poster
Mittens1969 · 16/09/2017 13:26

@Quiettiger, yes I think my DDs will really love it. It could also really help with explaining about understanding about pregnancy and childbirth, hopefully!

How do you go about it? Do you just call your local Cats Protection place and offer your services?

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 16/09/2017 14:22

Remember a cat in labour probably won't want an audience. And tiny baby kittens and be handled or disturbed by young children. It's not about this being nice for the kids. It's about providing a safe and quiet place for the mother cat to give birth and nurse tiny kittens.

Francenfeet · 16/09/2017 14:30

When I was a child our cat had 2 litters and it was so fun for us kids! I definitely wouldn't do it now though: our pets are all neutered. I love the idea of fostering kittens, might look into that.

opheliacat · 16/09/2017 14:32

Ah, farmers. Famed for their compassion towards the male offspring of cows and chickens.

Fuckit2017 · 16/09/2017 14:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

opheliacat · 16/09/2017 14:36

And all the cats in rescue centres wouldn't be there, or the strays, or the feral cats.

Original poster
Mittens1969 · 16/09/2017 14:40

@Wolfiefan, I know, I'll need to be careful. It may mean that I have to wait until the DDs are a few years older. I was a teenager when our cats had kittens years ago, which is very different.

I also have 4 other cats, which could be problematic.

But I do have a room that I can devote to it at the front of the house.

OP posts:
kali110 · 16/09/2017 14:45

If cats did not have kittens then all the cat ownerso would not have their lovely cats now.
All our animals bar one have been strays.
Same for my mil.
All cute animals that people thought would be fun and then realised were too much work.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 16/09/2017 16:11

Would you force your 15 year old daughter to go outside, be gang raped by groups of men carrying infections that may kill her if she catches them. Make her go through with the pregnancy and give birth, again risking her life. Let her watch some of her children die as she's just too young to adequately nourish them. And then after she's gone through all that and by some miracle survived take the remaining children off her and give them to someone else?

This is a very good explanation as to why "aww we should let Tiddles have a chance to be a mummy" is not a good argument.

Quiettiger · 16/09/2017 16:36

I'm assuming that's a direct dig at me, Opheliacat. If it's not, apologies.

In response to your comment: Not all farmers kill dairy bull calves - we certainly don't and nor do many people we know, but yes, I agree - some farmers do seriously lack compassion towards the animals they profit from and their practices are not ethical.

The best way to try and change it is not by preaching and antagonising from outside, but by educating and trying to prove better economical welfare alternatives from within, because at the end of the day for most farmers it is about the economic bottom line and if they see something is more profitable, they'll consider it. If it's not, they won't.

Harsh, yes, but also realistic.

OP - regarding fostering. Quite literally, yes. Ring up your local Cats Protection and offer your services and after checking you out, they'll likely bite your hand off for the help!

opheliacat · 16/09/2017 16:48

Abbylee states she is a farmer and knows that animals who have given birth are more nurturing, so I haven't a clue why you think I was having a dig at you, easytiger.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.