To let my cat have kittens

[Mittens1969]

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.

Unless you plan on keeping them, of course you are being unreasonable, how could you ever think you weren't!

There are literally thousands of cats stuck in rescue centres, lonely, bored, and suffering in little kennels. Of course people will pick a shiny new kitten that will know them from being a baby as they're easier to bond with and gain their trust as they haven't been through abuse or abandoned.

It is even more disgusting if you plan on trying to sell them rather than give them away. And how will you pick homes? Will you ban anyone who private rents, since their landlord might not allow pets and they're sneaking one? What if they don't have secure tenancy and have to move in 2 years and kind fin another rental property that will allow a pet? The fact is, there's a very good chance some of those kittens will end up in the rescue centres themselves in a few years, adding even further to the number of mouths they have to try to feed, space to live, time to play with and socialise. Rescues are miserable for animals. And it has absolutely no health benefits for your cat, who will have to go through the pregnancy and birth and risk complications. My friends cat died the day after giving birth and all 4 kittens died as a result, how do you think your daughters would deal with it if any of the kittens or the mother cat dies? Whether it is for money or just because you think kittens are "cute" and will be fun to watch or play with for a few weeks til you find them somewhere (probably temporary) to go, it is for completely selfish reasons that you want to do this. From the sound of it, cat is already pregnant, poor bugger.

No I'm not planning on selling them. And yes I'll vet the people who take them.

And I also said I'd keep them for as long as necessary.

I'd even keep a couple if I couldn't find homes. I'm not planning on letting them be abandoned.

What are you wanting people to say? You've been told endlessly why its a bad idea.

My cat has totally changed personality, us skinny despite vet visits and me cramming expensive food into her (£20 for 2kg. It lasts about two weeks per bag. Then there's £11/week for wet food. I'm spending more on cat food than I am to feed myself.)

Your cat does not need to have kittens. She could die. If that happens, you'll be up feeding the babies every two hours for at least four weeks. You also have to stimulate them to pee and poo. Kitten formula is expensive too.

But I don't know why I'm typing this... You go ahead and do as your conscience dictates.

OP

I completely understand where you are coming from. I would love to breed from either my 2 cats or my dog (not together) However we live in the real world, one of my cats was rescued from what they are fairly sure is a kitten farm, which I discovered is not illegal.

I am sure either one of my cats, when not planning to kill me, would happily take a girlfriend out for dinner, maybe some flowers, flatter her somehow, maybe with a rat. I am positive my dog would do a wine tasting session.

Do you not think I am living in the real world? Nor are you if you want your cat to have kittens

all my animals are netured

Questionsble is right.

YABVU, fucking selfish and ignorant too.
You know why you shouldn't but your attitude is " but I want to" I wouldn't be surprised if you stamp your foot too.

People like YOU are the reasons people like ME and others work endlessly in rescue. Fucking ridiculous!

Mr Tibbles was not ready to be a father. Thank god that he was mature enough to get the chop.

I love cats but they have to be neutered.

I work in a veterinary ER.
Within the last month we have seen 2 cats who were thought have passed all their kittens but had retained one (one died as she was left so long, the other was very poorly and lost all her milk), several litters of kittens which required hand rearing, many of which faded and died. A cat with a womb infection, and 2 Caesarian.
I have also seen several post course rafe injurues (the tom cats or is is barbed and lacerates your cats vagina upon withdrawal stimulating ovulation, which is painful.
When I worked in day practice, we were regularly brought in bags of kittens which people had found dumped or drowned.
Why would you do this to your cat, yourself or society?
YABU

This is totally irresponsible. There are far too many abandoned cats as it is. I can't even fathom why you think this is a reasonable thing to do.

The RSPCA published a Cat Crisis Report in 2014 which I would recommend reading Mittens. There's a download link towards the bottom of this page.

Here's a few excerpts which I think are especially relevant:

"The cat population in the UK has reached crisis point. The numbers of cats entering the RSPCA increased by eight percent in the period 2010–2012, from 29,269 to 31,556... Conversely, in the same period, the number of new homes that took in cats declined by 10 percent, but not as a result of reduced rehoming activity."

"Acquiring a cat spontaneously (i.e. those who acquire a kitten from a
friend or family member whose cat has had a litter of kittens) correlates strongly with not neutering (50 percent less likely to neuter). Those who do not neuter are also likely to have friends and family who do not neuter."

"The ‘one litter’ myth is further reinforced by owners applying human emotions to their cats, e.g. “she’ll make a great mum/I don’t think it’s fair to deny her the right to motherhood”."

"Having a litter serves as a trigger for many to neuter – with the reality of having to look after, pay for the care of and part with the kittens, not living up to what cat owners had imagined. Despite this, 21 percent of cats that had a first litter will have a second litter and seven percent have a third litter or more. The more litters a cat has, the greater the chances of her – and the kittens – ending up in rescue."

As of June this year the RSPCA had over 800 kittens needing homes across their centres/branches. Also as of June this years, Cats Protection had taken in over 3,000 kittens nationally, with 1,600 of those being cared for in their centres at the time this article was published. In 2016 alone CP rehomed over 14,500 kittens.

That's just two of the big name charities. The same story (rescues full to capacity during kitten season) is repeated over and over across the country, in rescues large and small. However much you fancy breeding a moggie litter as a nice, fun experience for your children the fact is that doing so is not only putting your cat at risk or injury/death/disease but it categorically will be contributing the current overpopulation crisis, whether you want to accept it or not.

I just don't see why you would want to when there are already so many stray cats/ kittens out there

Well....you could say the same thing about people choosing to breed over and over again when there's millions of children out there who need fostering/adopting

Go for it OP. You sound like you're a responsible owner who knows what she's doing.

My cat had two litters before i had her dressed.
The kittens had homes sorted for them either before they were even born or within a couple of weeks of being born.
Momma cat made sure i was there for both labours -it was the most magical and awesome thing ever to watch them being born, cleaned, nursed and parented.

I let her have her first as i felt it was cruel to deny her a chance at motherhood.
She had an appointment to get dressed after she had weaned the kittens.....she must have known.
She buggered off and didn't come back for 2 days and nights!
There is no way i was going to force her into aborting her babies so i took responsibility for the 2nd lot as well.

I know exactly where all the members of my cat family live, they are loved and well looked after.

Breeding responsibly is not just limited to four legged mammals.....

Did you read the post before yours at all?

I have read some idiocy in my time, but the 'give her a chance at motherhood' brigade are as thick as shit, aren't they?

You'd get on well with Heebie op, you both think the same.
Vet the owners? How? References and a home visit? I've heard of dog fighting twats who send their partners and kids along to pick kittens.
But, hey you aren't listening to sensible folk, keep believing it's a "magical" experience for all, when you are comforting your DC after things go wrong.

The only ones who are thick as shit are the ones who think there's a difference between breeding humans and breeding animals.

At least i pay for my pets out of my own pocket - not from government benefits and handouts.....

Well the post before mine had not been posted before i typed my response - not that it makes a difference to what i think.
I could quote you statistics etc on the number of human children born to people who are not fit to be parents, the amount of children who end up in foster care/put up for adoption, or end up abused/killed, how that affects agencies and wider society etc......but i won't because it's blatantly obvious to us all.

Doesn't stop those thick as shit people from having kids though does it?

Perhaps we should make it a law that no human in this country be allowed to have biological kids until they've been thoroughly vetted and all other options ruled out first?.....

oh

OP doesn't do dog-fighting, neither do i.

Perhaps you shouldn't have kids because some irresponsible parents abuse their own kids or don't have a clue about decent and responsible parenting?

eccles

some us just have more compassion than others......

Google cat penis and you may change your mind. There is a reason the blood borne diseases feline aids (fiv) and feline leukaemia are spread so easily when they mate

Yea....cause genetic disease transference doesn't happen in humans......

Eccles - I couldn't agree more. I fucking despair, I really do at the shit for brains mentality of some pet owners. Having volunteered at Battersea in the past it is heart breaking to see the amount of cats and kittens just dumped.

OP, you are selfish fucking idiot for wanting to put your cat through this. But I strongly suspect you aren't going to listen to reason especially when you've got simpletons like HeebieJeebies backing you up with the thickos "ooh it's so cruel to deny them motherhood" argument.

Pathetic.

"I have read some idiocy in my time, but the 'give her a chance at motherhood' brigade are as thick as shit, aren't they?"
Yep.

it's the shit for brains mentality that you have that you should be worried about.

I've worked with children in care, i've worked with children who live with alcoholic and junkie parents, immature and irresponsible parents, who keep having kids because there's no law to stop them.
i've worked with agencies that deal with babies born with addictions...

I despair for people like you who can't see past the end of their own nose.....

"I have read some idiocy in my time, but the 'give her a chance at motherhood' brigade are as thick as shit, aren't they?"

This reminds me of the blokes who have a problem with neutering boy cats - similarly putting their own feelings on to the cat there was a thread about it the other day.

Heebie - in the nicest possible way - are you on glue?

no - but some of you seem to be.....