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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cute battersea kitty seeking healthy boy cat for date!

58 replies

Batterseabluesky · 16/05/2011 11:02

Forgive the apparent absurdity of this message but ... We have a young female cat that we'd like to responsibly have 1 litter of kittens before being neutered* The vet has advised us to find a happy healthy male vs letting her choose herself (from the cue of Tom cats outside our window!!). Anybody local to the area with a suitable happy healthy chap up for the job? She is just a pretty moggy, so a pro breeder isn't really an answer as I dont think they mate ordinary cats (who said the class system was dead??). Blimey I knew finding a decent guy in London was tough- but not for kitties!!
*Before the lectures start, we have prospective adopters lined up and the cats I have had in the past who were allowed 1 litter then sayed were happier than those who were spayed straight away,so please don't bombard me about filling the world with unwanted cats. We will have her done straight after 1 litter. Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Batterseabluesky · 16/05/2011 13:14

I'm not going to listen to anyone rude enough to be as offensive as you Puffin.
I'm not sure what your day to day persuasion skills are like, but calling someone a 'complete moron' doesn't normally swing it.

OP posts:
CalamityKate · 16/05/2011 13:15

Let's hope the prospective owners of your cat's offspring aren't as irresponsible as you are, otherwise YOU will be responsible for literally HUNDREDS of cats being born.

What if they ALL decide to let their cat have "just one litter"? Hmm? Hmm

Oh, and vets can be wrong too.

Original poster
Batterseabluesky · 16/05/2011 13:28

Seeker, there we go again. Presumptuous, rude and judgemental. Crikey, do you really think the way to get someone to listen to your point of view is by being rude to them?
No, I did not ignore the vet. They said it was fine if we found a healthy male, only let her have one litter and had loving homes for them. They said there was a balance between people who didn't give it thought and just let a cat produce hoards of unwanted pets and allowing a cat to produce in a well thought through scenario.
Yes, I suppose vets can be wrong too, I'm not ignoring that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Batterseabluesky · 16/05/2011 13:36

By the way, the vet was a woman.

OP posts:
seeker · 16/05/2011 13:43

but the vet did not agree with you that in some way it's better for the cat to have a litter?

It sounds as if she saw that you were going to go ahead regardless so gave the best advice she could to minimize the damage.

Why are you so sure you are right and all the experts in the field are wrong?

thisisyesterday · 16/05/2011 13:49

rehoming adult cats wasn't viable???

what are you going to do with yours when they grow up then? kill them? Confused

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 16/05/2011 13:49

'They said there was a balance between people who didn't give it thought and just let a cat produce hoards of unwanted pets and allowing a cat to produce in a well thought through scenario.'

You're going to let your cat have one litter. Let's say the cat has a small litter of 4. And you find them homes. Two are female. And the owners think like you.

6 months later the 2 female kittens each have 2 female kittens before being spayed.

6 months later the 4 female kittens have 8 female kittens before being spayed.

6 months later the 8 female kittens have 16 female kittens before being spayed.

6 months later the 16 female kittens have 32 kittens before being spayed.

2 years from your cat's one and only litter you are responsible for 62 female cats being in the world. After three years, 254 female cats. If the owners get all those cats responsibly spayed after one litter. And that's ignoring the male offspring.

Original poster
Batterseabluesky · 16/05/2011 14:01

I stopped listening to the rude people when you were rude, I can't take what you are saying seriously as you are obviously far more interested in having a go than actually educating someone ( if that's what you were trying to do), which just seems counter productive and narrow minded.

What I am going to do, having listened to the concerns of the people who haven't typed bitchy or plain stupid remarks ( the fact that you are imagining killing healthy cats Yesterday seems a bit unhinged. Bad day?), is speak to the vet again and discuss what the none abusive people have said and then make a decision. Thank you for the link to battersea cats home earlier.

OP posts:
NerfHerder · 16/05/2011 14:07

From my limited ezxperience, it is not better for the cat to have a litter before being done.
Our rescued cat looked for her kittens until the day she died- at 22 Sad

DooinMeCleanin · 16/05/2011 14:11

I have a healthy boy cat, but he is neutered. I think you might find that most responsible owners with healthy boy cats have them neutered.

I wonder how many of your potential adopters would have considered saving a cat from rescue were it not for you? Still whats 6-8 more homeless cats, eh? It's not like your kittens might have more kittens who will need homes is it?

thisisyesterday · 16/05/2011 14:25

lol OP, you're funny.

but seriously, my question still stands... if rehoming adult cats was not "viable" then what will you do with your cats when they are adults?

DooinMeCleanin · 16/05/2011 14:30

I presume she meant it wasn't viable because they were spayed, so she wouldn't have been able to make a quick £ out of them.

ShoutyHamster · 16/05/2011 14:33

Oh please don't

There are so many cats needing homes!! Really, if you are a cat lover then you can surely see the logic. Encourage the folk you have lined up to give homes to the hundreds of young cats currently in shelters. They're already there, not cutesy kittens any more, they could really do with a bunch of people like yourself saying NO to bringing yet more kittens into the world and doing the decent thing and giving homes to those that already need them.

Best of luck OP

thisisyesterday · 16/05/2011 14:38

omg i presumed she was going to give the kittens away, not sell them. but you're right that's probably it.

Original poster
Batterseabluesky · 16/05/2011 14:41

Hilarious. We weren't going to charge the friends who had asked to take them.
Our cats will stay with us for life.

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thisisyesterday · 16/05/2011 14:42

well that's something.

DooinMeCleanin · 16/05/2011 14:45

So you're gonna pay for all their wormers, flea stuff and vax out of your own money then op and the health check for the male cat too? You are going to worm, flea and vaccinate them all aren't you?

Must be nice to have lots of money. I could never afford to responsibly breed cats or dogs. I spend far too much on the ones I have as it is.

Original poster
Batterseabluesky · 16/05/2011 14:57

We did think about it (older cat) but a friend had a lot of behavioural problems with an older rescue cat - i realise that isn't always the case - but we were worried about getting one and what it might be like with a very small baby, as the cat shelter said that sometimes they were more insecure and might feel left out and they had a lot of people that gave them back, which seemed very unfair on the cat.
We got two siblings, who apparently more likely to not feel left out as they had each other (we didn't see any sibling rescue cats). We will probably get a rescue cat in years to come, I know they can give an awful lot of love.

OP posts:
Original poster
Batterseabluesky · 16/05/2011 14:59

Yes we were going to pay for all that. It would our responsibility.

OP posts:
coccyx · 16/05/2011 15:07

Ahh yes the 'R' word....RESPONSIBILITY.
Lets be reponsible for bringing more cats into the world when 100's ,no, thousands already waiting for a home

jellybrain · 24/05/2011 14:12

We have had four cats over the years 3 female, all neutered. None of them have ever weed in the corner. Even the 19 year old which I recently had pts.
Are you sure you want your cat to have kittens for her sake or are you trying to justify your desire and that of those who have said they will give homes to them to have some cute kittens? What will you do If any of the potential homers change their minds? I think there is a very human issue of thinking that animals have the same feelings as us with regard to having 'children' whereas I don't think they do - its more primal than that. Could be totally wrong though I'm not a pet psychologist.
My dh was a bit like this with the dog but I convinced him otherwise besides she was from rescue so it was part of the contract and quite right too.

jellybrain · 24/05/2011 14:22

Whoops sorry didn't see this is already a week old. I will go away now! I take it no one on here offered to introduce their cat to yours, in which case have you had a change of heart. I think Puffin's last post was excellent showing exactly how one litter can potentialy be responsible for many, many cats in a very short time.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 24/05/2011 14:34

Just saw this and couldn't resist commenting.

As a vet, I have heard the "it's good for them to have a litter" many times, but I've yet to understand the logic behind it. Physiologically, pregnancy puts a strain on any animal. I certainly never felt that getting pregnant and then giving away the resulting offspring would be good for MY health, so can't understand why people would think this Hmm

cats wee in corners if they are stressed, most commonly seen in multi-cat households, and NOT because they are pining for the litter they never had!

The ONLY reason for getting involved in breeding any animal is because you have a keen interest in the breed and improving that breed. I ask all would-be breeders to accept that, by breeding their pet, they are potentially putting the pet's life at risk, for their own ends. It is never for the animal's "benefit". Not ever. At least be honest about who you are doing this for!

underthestarrysky · 26/09/2017 19:29

Please change your mind OP. Your decision will mean more kittens and cats are waiting in shelters for homes :( It is selfish.

Branleuse · 26/09/2017 19:43

Your friends who want kittens should go rescue kittens from a cat rescue. You shouldnt be creating more

I cant believe you actually got a rescue cat on purpose and are now going to breed from it ffs