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.

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

Do you realise how fucking offensive that comparison is?

However I will freely admit. I tend to talk and think with my heart rather than my head
No, you clearly think with your arse, your head must be empty. FFS.

Ok, I've located the nearest cats protection that does neuterings, and I've left a message on their answering machine, explaining everything. I'll do whatever they suggest.

*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*

Don't be so ridiculous.
Do you have any idea how full rescues actually are?
Do you even know how many stray cats there are on the streets right now wanting a home?
Cats could mate and mate it wouldn't make a bloody difference to them!
Would you like to take in 6 little kittens and give them a home then, seing as it would be cruel to deny her the chance of motherhood?

Mittens1969
Good on you.

Well done OP! It takes a lot to actually listen to arguments put against something you really want to do and to decide not to do it. You are doing the best thing for your cat and cats in general. Fostering a pregnant cat is a great idea- let us know how you get on if you decide to pursue it.

Nice one, OP. That gives me far more of the warm fuzzies than all the threads about yet another litter of unnecessary kittens.

I'm so glad OP. You really are doing the best for your cat. You REALLY are.
If you want to foster pregnant mum cats you would need them to have their own quiet room.

9 million cats in the UK, probably a million in shelters around the country. No.

Well done Mittens

Well, I've done it. I've booked her in to be spayed at another vet, a week on Friday. So it's done.

Thank you for the advice. I will look into fostering pregnant cats.

Fantastic. We had our two kittens spayed. They recovered very quickly.

It's been fine when I've done it with my other cats, they just kept getting that funnel off! Very resourceful lol.

@OfficerVanHalen, lol, I know!!

I have a kitten and whilst she's loads of fun and super cute but I can't imagine why anyone would want a whole litter of them!

She can be annoying as anything, noisy and she smells. The amount of poo she produces is staggering, and there's only one of her!!
Plus I have the advantage of being her main companion so she's all over me like a rash, kittens in a litter generally are more interested in one another than the owner which I imagine is less rewarding.

I don't see the appeal of the expense, responsibility, mess, smell, danger, pain for the animal and emotional turmoil for all that would come with breeding a pet.

So I think you're making the right choice

Great news mittens

If there are a few Toms knocking about might be worth asking Cats Protection if they can catch and neuter them at the same time?

They did it near my mums house after she got in touch when someone abandoned a load of cats and kittens by just moving house and leaving them there. Made a huge difference in the reduction of stray kittens appearing in the streets months and years after.

So sad there are stray Tom cats in this day and age.
OP if you do want to foster pregnant queens you will need space away from other pets and the kids. They may find having children around them quite stressful.

There was a 'live kitten birth' thread on here last week and everyone was happy and excited.

This place confuses the fuck out of me at times

I've never seen younger kittens available in the rescue centres I've looked at and I wouldn't want to adopt an older cat. I ended up getting my cat as a kitten from friends with a litter. There may be lots of cats in rescue but not everyone wants to get an older cat from them, lots of people want kittens raised in a loving home environment. Right or wrong there will always be people seeking kittens not older cats. It's actually hard to find smaller kittens (12wks) except from those who have home raised some.

Most rescues don't advertise their kittens, you have to rig up and ask.

We got our kittens at about 9 weeks from a rescue. Often kittens aren't advertised. You need to register interest.
Our last cats were a 2 year old mum and 18 month old son. Yes really. She had a litter at 6 months. Young enough to be fun and playful but old enough to be homed with people who worked.
The live birth thread may well have been a cat someone took on not knowing it was pg.

I got my kittens from a rescue already neutered at 10 wks - they do them as soon as they weigh 1kg.

Absolute bargain for £80 - kitten + neutered + vaccinated + wormed + flea-treated + 4 weeks free insurance.

The rescue was awash with kittens as it was the middle of kitten season although each kitten was being reserved pretty quickly.

I don't think they were strays tbh, I know where at least a couple of them live, and have chatted with their owners. In the past, they used to hang around our garden but I hadn't seen them for a while, thanks to my big 3 year old tom cat guarding our garden.

I know what you mean, I don't know why anyone wouldn't neuter a young tom.