Who wants to wait whilst my kittens are born!

[Kittenwatch]

My girl is having her kittens! First one is here squeaking and healthy!

Second is imminent.

I think she’ll have 4 🤞🏽🤞🏽

But really, how are you going to ensure they don't fall into the wrong hands. And you didn't answer my question. Why did your vet recommend a pregnancy? That's almost unheard of in the veterinary world, or anywhere for that matter.

This is literally the epitome of a Mumsnet thread, where something on a topic as utterly wholesome and heartwarming as newborn kittens, can still be selfishly derailed by mean toxicity.

🙄🙄🙄

@Kittenwatch - I loved waking up to your thread this morning and it sounds like your clever Mama cat and her kittens are all being thoroughly well and responsibly cared for 🥰

If you read my posts you would see that I have close friends and family who expressed an interest if I allowed her to get pregnant. I had homes for 6 kittens before we even allowed her to get pregnant. That’s 6 in addition to the one I’m planning to keep.

And I don’t have to answer any of your questions - you aren’t my boss or an authority figure to me; I don’t know why you feel entitled to demand that I do.

If you must know my vet didn’t ’recommend’ that she have kittens and I don’t say she did. But she told me if I wanted to it’s a nice thing to do and very rewarding if you can look after them. She advised on how to find a mate and getting her spayed as soon after her litter as possible.

If you don’t believe me the first time what what will mean you do the second time I answer? It’s a pointless exercise.

I've already posted here about considerations when kittens are born from a Cat Rescue perspective but I cant walk away from this thread without adding another post.

Whilst I appreciate these kittens already have homes I would ask the OP the following:

1. Will the new owners still want them if they cant get the sex they want?
2. Will the new owners still want them if they are found to have life long issues or an expensive special diet?
3. Will the new owners want them when they realise they are black and white, the most overlooked and unwanted colour in rescues?
4. Will you invest in the money and time if any of those kittens need hand rearing?

And my last and most important point:

Will these new owners vaccinate @ £75 for a kitten course, microchip @ £30.00 and neuter @ £100 when they take their kitten home. And if so, why didn't they adopt a kitten from a rescue centre where the full health check has been completed and all of the above has been done for just £100? Or will they just hope for the best and "let the females have just one litter" and let the Toms wander the streets for miles un-neutered adding to the population and risking getting knocked down.

"Yes - it was ‘arranged’ as suggested by the vet - it felt very bizarre"

Your very own words OP.

Yes - how to find a mate was suggested - I honestly despair at the comprehension skills or lack thereof on here.

If you read my posts you would see that I have close friends and family who expressed an interest if I allowed her to get pregnant. I had homes for 6 kittens before we even allowed her to get pregnant.

They should've taken on 6 kittens who are already looking for homes then.

You allowing your cat to have a litter has potentially taken away those 6 homes from cats already in care.

Surely you can see you're adding to an already massive problem?

That's utterly mad. Sorry...

Oh OP, they are gorgeous.

But I'm sat here looking at my 4 x 1 week old kittens from our current foster cat. She came into care pregnant and gave birth 2 days later. This is at least her 2nd litter. She will obviously be spayed as soon as the kittens are weaned and the struggle of finding up to 5 homes begins.

I know you've already lined up homes but as someone who has worked in cat rescue for 10 years it's a never ending cycle. As you already know who will be rehoming the kittens please encourage them to neuter early and keep in doors until they are. Cats are driven to mate.

For info - Most vets will also perform late pregnancy spays.
Any one with a NE postcode, CP are offering £10 chip and neuter (in some cases free) and will also cover the cost of a pregnant spay. (Google CP Northumbria)

Enjoy the kittens OP, they are lovely and in 6 weeks time it's going to be chaos 🤣🤣

1. No One has specified a preferred sex
2. I assume so - they are all people who have had and loved cats previously
3. Given the mum is black and white I doubt it’s a surprise to anyone. No one has said anything about a colour preference at all.
4. I already have all hand rearing equipment and resources ready if needed so ‘yes’
5. They are all experienced cat owners and plan to do all of those things.

Will you bugger off now? You will not be satisfied will you so why post?

They probably got rejected from the shelters as 99% of the population (a personal rough estimate, having looked into adopting and knowing their criteria) will.

Oh come on, even I understand what OP meant with this and I’m the lady who thought that OP discussed the pregnancy with her cat beforehand

Given how difficult it is to get allocated a kitten I respectfully disagree.

Can we leave it here? You won’t be pleased by anything I say so why disappoint yourself repeatedly?

🤣

Can we leave it here? You won’t be pleased by anything I say so why disappoint yourself repeatedly?

Eh?

That was my very first post on this thread 😳

But errrrm ok 👀

OK, I was trying to be non judgmental and point out tactfully to anyone on this thread thinking how cute a kitten litter is, that there is a lot more to think about, but given your response I reserve the right to withdraw it.

I have one last sentence, you are part of the problem that we continue to have in rescues, your ignorance and lack of awareness is astounding.

The truth hurts sometimes.

So, I'll bugger off and leave you to it. ✌

Well I loved this thread and followed from very early on.
I loved all the pictures and hope to see more on the litter tray
Growing up we had 4 cats.
i would loved to have experienced what you have @Kittenwatch
How magical and for your ds.
It was all very responsibly done …
It has not made me want to breed kittens , dogs or adopt a baby.

It's always amusing when people respond to the truth with aggression.

I don't know why people being refused, but friend who rehomes for CP, the ones in her care are rehomed ok. The only real stipulation is not near a fast or main road. She's happy to give to families with children (some adult cats are already used to children) happy if the garden is enclosed, in fact, those people with that set up are rare and a godsend to her as she occasionally has cats where that would be very much a plus. She currently has a blind and half blind kittens, that would be perfect for example. She does like it if someone can be home for a few days when they arrive as helps them settle. Makes sense?

She does try to rehome cats in bonded pairs, esp kittens and that can help the cats if people are at work all day. Not a lot of people want 2 and I think that may be behind a lot of refusals to people. She gets pushy people though, ones that only want a ginger one for example and only a kitten. She offers ginger with another kitten in the litter and they refuse the non-ginger ones which makes her wary of rehoming with them at all. People either want and love a cat or they don't, does it really matter what they look like? The rehoming process can be difficult, both ways imo.

Oh why oh why did you do this? I am a volunteer for several rescues. The world does not need any more kittens there are too many cats and kittens needing homes

The Litter Tray is a great place for all things cat, but, please be aware that many of the contributers are very experienced in cat rescue, working with rescues or fostering kittens and so on, so you may very well get a pile-on if you post there with this particular story (a planned litter). Please join it, or read it, for advice or for fun, but given the strong feelings and connections with shelters that many posters have on there, maybe don't put your kitten pictures there. But do have a look, and I hope you find it useful.

Our cat when I was a child was allowed to have one litter. I’m in my 40s now and still have fond memories of them. My sister and I adored them. Each went to a family member. Got neutered, no more kittens in that line. And the male cat of that litter became my tough grandfather’s shadow and a huge comfort to him in his senior years. Lived to be 20! The kittens are here now, they have brought joy, and they have homes to go to when they’re big enough. Congrats OP.

I have several vet friends. None will ever recommend that cats "need" to have kittens. Utterly false sorry.

So sad you "allowed her to get pregnant".Why?