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.

Years ago the advice was to let them have a litter then get them neutered.
I've heard people say they don't get kittens from rescue centres coz they have to pay £100! At least kittens from rescue centres are neutered, microwaved and immunized.

Microchipped

We definitely don't microwave them, I promise

My post drew a clear distinction between foster carers and adoptive parents, Heebie

Not every child in a care home is waiting to be adopted. Absolutely, we need foster parents, but the answer to needing foster parents isn't for people to stop having their own children.

I'm very glad you seem to be taking everyone else's advice on board, OP, and looking at other ways of meeting your needs rather than through your cat. Because I guess thst is what you were proposing - meeting your own needs at the expense of your cat, the kittens, and the broader cat population - which I think is why so many people were upset.

Why not foster a pregnant cat via the cats protection?
We did this.

Hm.

This is Gypsy. She's actually four months old, despite her tiny size. She was found at approx 6 weeks old, stuffed into a hole in someone's garden wall. She's tiny because she was malnourished and very very poorly and is only now starting to put on weight and regain her health. She's had cat flu, been in several courses of antibiotics and is on eye drops for conjunctivitis due to her poor immune system. She has to be fed every 2-3 hours because her tummy is so little. I syringe probiotic fluid into her daily.

She's one of the lucky ones - she was found by people who care, and has had a lot of energy poured into keeping her alive and making her the happy, albeit runty little cat she is today.

Gypsy is what happens when irresponsible people don't neuter their cats, or hand over too-young kittens to other irresponsible people. Don't perpetrate this cruelty. Get your bloody cat neutered, abort any existing pregnancy, and stop letting yourself be led by dreams of a badger of cute kittens.

I agree that OP is listening and taking the advice on board and nice one, OP. You've taken a flaming with good grace

This was my worst nightmare when I got my cats. The vet receptionist told me they were already likely pregnant due to their age and previous loving accommodations when I phoned to make the appointment for them to be spayed (we took them from a friend at about 7 months who had just let them loose in the woods) Luckily neither of them were YABU

BASKET of kittens.

I don't propose bringing badgers into the equation, they're snarly.

I've heard people say they don't get kittens from rescue centres coz they have to pay £100

I've heard this too and it's a ridiculous argument because neutering, first vaccinations, microchipping and flea/worm treatment will cost more than £100 from most vets.

Of course, rescues can be fussy, sometimes overly so, about who they will let have an animal because they want them to go to homes where the animal will be looked after properly for the rest of its life and reduce the risk of it coming to harm or being returned/abandoned if circumstances change etc.

The rescue I foster for will not home cats or kittens in houses with children under about 8, to people who live near busy roads (understandable) or to people who rent.

This seems a bit unfair, but people who rent often have to move a lot and even if their current landlord allows them to have a pet, the next one might, so the adopter will either have to give up the animal, abandon it, or will face great difficulty finding a suitable rental property who will accept pets.

And I really hope your cat is not pregnant. Cross-posted with your most recent post and many replies.

next landlord might not

I guess I have been projecting. I'm infertile and in my late 40s, my 2 DDs are adopted. It was to do with a lingering broodiness.

I've found my local Cats Protection on google. I'll give them a call.

I do think some rescue centres can be a little draconian about such rules. It's also worth remembering that life can change very quickly and a professional home owning couple without kids can in twelve months end up renting on a busy road with a ten month old and another on the way

Obviously, that's an extreme example but most dogs and cats will live at least a decade and a half. I adopted a nine year old cat eight years ago who is showing no signs of stopping. In that time, things have changed a lot. What hasn't changed is the simple fact I love him and will do right by him. I think that is true of most circumstances but I think rescues can contribute to the problem if they are too strict. It's a difficult line to draw.

aw u cant resist it-its not like buying a fucking handbag

how ridiculous-just go away youve made up your min already

sorry miss a page op-thanks for changing your mind

After all ask yourselves. How would you feel if someone sterilized you and stopped you from having babies.

I let her have her first as i felt it was cruel to deny her a chance at motherhood.

Ridiculous, cats don't think like we do. It's a cat. They don't give a shit as long as they have food, water, exercise and a warm place to sleep.

We got our almost 6 month old (neutered male) kitten at 8 weeks old from 'a friend of a friend' who had let her female cat get pregnant for the second time. We were actually looking at rescue centres, but when I found out that the mum's first litter was killed by the owners pet dog, that the kittens were only being fed once a day with cheap low quality kitten food and kept in a cage all day for their own safety I felt I just had to take him to give him a better quality of life. I know he will be loved and given the best possible life for the next 15+ years but the owner couldn't possibly have known.

I can't believe the stupidity of some animal owners to be honest. You should have to pass some sort of test before being allowed to own a pet.

Of course YWBU, I'm glad you've been taking people's responses on board at least. Fostering cats could be an option, this is something I hope to do in the future, when my dc are older.

You've listened and taken advice onboard. That's good. You can fix this, it's just a case of finding the right vet.

Fostering kittens is awesome...you get all the joy and hard work of bringing up a bunch of kittens without the guilty conscience and knowing that all the people adopting them have been fully vetted and home checked.

We kept two of our foster kittens, they've just turned one and have had email updates from their families as to how the other four are getting on. It's lovely!

I now have foster cat number two...a lovely 13 year old girl who was abandoned in a cattery.

I don't agree with the people saying cats deserve a chance of motherhood... a chance of motherhood then take your babies away... it's not the chance of motherhood any mother would want really

Re: gravid spaying - when I was a child, we got two kittens, and when they went for spaying, both were already pregnant, but the vet went ahead and spayed them anyway. Neither cat suffered any ill effects.

I'm really glad you've listened OP. Hopefully you'll find be able to find a vet who'll spay, I'm sure CP will give good advice. Fostering sounds like it would be ideal for you.

Apparently she'll have to have the kittens if she is pregnant.

Your vet is talking rubbish. They may not be prepared to spay her if she's pregnant (and if you've just chucked her out to mate with god knows what potentially disease ridden tom it's highly likely she is) but there are vets who will do it because they're aware of just how bad the cat overpopulation crisis is and that it's rarely not the best thing for all parties concerned. If I were you I'd be ringing other vets and finding one who will spay her.