How do I stop them from breeding??

[CognativeDissonance]

A few weeks before lockdown, I adopted two kittens from CPL. They were only 10 weeks at the time so CPL issued vouchers for them to be neutered once big enough. Obviously, this now cannot happen as it's a routine procedure. How on earth do I stop them from breeding in the mean time? They're fast approaching 16 weeks now so Girl kitten could potentially go in to heat fairly soon. From what I understand, male kittens start to respond to female kittens in heat from about 6 months. Is there any chance that this could happen sooner? Do I need to keep them separate if Girl kitten comes into heat before they both hit 6 months? The only way I could do this would be to put one in another room for the duration of her being in heat but I assume this could be quite distressing for them given the fact that they're a bonded pair and they're already so used to our home?
Sorry for all of the questions but I'd really appreciate any advice that anyone could give.

I had to do this once with my cats brother and sister pair. She came on heat just before she was due to get neutered. I had to basically lock the girl away for 4 days while she screamed and clawed to get out. It was awful, fi ngers crossed she will last until this is all over

Apologies for making that massive distinction between desperately and really...

I assume he's a staffie? Yes best to get him neutered if getting male-male aggression but certainly not an emergency which is why the vets won't do it at present.

It's unusual that he was rehomed from the rescue without being neutered

I called the vets, they were very clear, not going to happen.
It's fine, I understand, just really hoping that she doesn't come into heat before restrictions are eased. I would obviously lock her away but I can't stand the thought of her being distressed. We're so attached to them both already!

Oh dear! Perhaps it might be an idea to start limiting her movements now, so it will come as less of a shock if she does come into season before she can be spayed.

If you think your Mum would definitely take one of the kittens that would be a far kinder option. Restrictions are very likely to continue for some time yet.

We are in the same situation OP, except our kittens are 6 months old 😬

They were booked in to be neutered last week but it was cancelled. I tried ringing round a few other vets to explain the situation but nobody doing any neutering at all. I obviously fully understand the reason why, but also worried we’ll end up with kittens!

It’s difficult when we don’t know how long this will go on for and I agree with others that it could lead to longer term issues like people dumping male cats who have started spraying and rescues being overwhelmed with an influx of kittens.

Our kittens are British shorthairs and the breeder said they don’t usually come into heat/start spraying until 9 months so I’m keeping everything crossed that this will be the case!! I would imagine it is pretty unlikely that your girl will go into heat at 16 weeks, I think 6 months is around average?

I would imagine it is pretty unlikely that your girl will go into heat at 16 weeks, I think 6 months is around average?

Nope around 4.5-5 months is usual sometimes a bit earlier. Sometimes later. Regardless you should keep them apart

@gwhizz75 Sending solidarity!
It definitely can happen as early as 4 months. I'll be separating them as soon as I see any signs.
Is it the case that boy kitten would be unlikely to respond to girl kitten until he hits about 6 months or have I misread some information?

We picked our cat up at 17 weeks, he was practising on his sister. Breeder separated them.

He seemed to have a fair idea of what to do. Sister wasn’t obviously in heat.

Yeah I would imagine they would both need to hit sexual maturity to end up with kittens. Our vet said 6 months for neutering, which I know is a bit later than many recommend now. Although they did say the boy could be done at 5 months... wish we’d done that now but we thought it would be better for them to go together. Doh!!

I contacted a local vet via Facebook last night and they said they are still offering neutering in some circumstances and told me to ring on Monday. So I’m keeping everything crossed! If we could just get the boy done, at least we could relax until whenever we can get his sister done too.

So far our girl hasn’t shown any signs of coming into heat and there has been no humping going on! I’m keeping a very close eye on them though.

@CognativeDissonance

Not sure if you’ve seen it but the guidance for vets has changed and they are now offering neutering in mixed sex families where there is high risk of pregnancy. Ours are in right now getting done! I would give your practice a call if you haven’t already and they should be able to book them in. Good luck!

@CognativeDissonance was about to post what @gwhizz75 has already posted. We had my girl spayed on Wednesday after the guidance changed on the Monday so definitely worth ringing around- good luck.

Thank you! Yes I had seen the guidance and contacted the vet. They still won't do it until lockdown is over so I'm going to call CPL and see if they are able to issue a voucher for a vet that will. Having massive issues with boy kitten peeing in the house at the moment so I'm hoping that neutering will make a difference

Has he got a urine infection? Ours would wee in the house but never showed any other sign of infection like being lethargic or off food.

@Fluffycloudland77 I'm not sure, I guess it's a possibility? Not sure how I'd be able to tell since I can't take him to the vet. Here's what I've just posted on the thread I made when it first started:

Hello, bumping just in case anybody has any further advice, I'm reaching the end of my tether here, still having issues with boy kitten weeing in places he shouldn't. I really don't know what to do.

I've changed litter, reconfigured the space to accommodate an extra litter tray, the trays are kept cleaned out and changed regularly.

He seems happy, we don't have a stressful house in the sense that it's just me and DD. DD is 8 so she knows how to look after them and play with them appropriately, gives them space rather than smothering them etc I can't imagine what could be stressing him? He does meow a fair amount but I can't figure out if he's just vocal or something is troubling him. It doesn't seem to be a stressed meow like when I take too long to open the bloody food pouches . I don't think it's a continence issue because he seeks out places rather than not making it to the tray. As soon as I discover a spot that he's used, I go at it with an enzyme spray and scrub it clean, but he just finds somewhere else.
I'm trying to get him neutered sooner rather than later, current restrictions permitting will that make a difference? It's weeing rather than spraying as I've caught him in the act a number of times. Never seems to be girl kitten, only boy kitten. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Your doing everything right, I’d ring the vet if it was me.

Try a different vets
I’m a vet nurse and we are doing neutering in cases like this

I have 3 kittens that are siblings. 1 male and 2 female. They will be 6 months old in 10 days. Our vet was closed but message said in emergency use a different branch quite close. I rang 2 weeks ago and asked if kittens could come in for speying/neutering but they said it was not an emergency. I have 6 cats and other 3 are all sorted/neutered. I am having to keep female kittens in now as warmer weather will bring them into heat and make boy kitten go out more. At night I have to shut 2 girls in lounge and other cats and boy kitten in kitchen. The girl kittens are used to going in and out of cat flap as they please and 1 female is constantly tapping her paw on cat flap trying to go out. I don't know what to do. I am really worried both could get pregnant to their brother kitten.

I am West Midlands if anyone knows of a vet that will spay and neuter for me I don't mind driving them a reasonable distance.

I can finally breathe a sigh of relief! Spoke to the vet today about an unrelated issue and they've agreed to neuter boy kitten in the first instance, presumably because it's less invasive than spying girl kitten. Just waiting for them to call be back with an appointment, thank goodness!

Oh thank heavens for that!.

Oh good grief! What a day! Boy kitten screamed bloody murder all the way there and because of social distancing, I couldn't cuddle him and reassure him before I left him, it was literally drop and dash!
Procedure went well, he screamed all the way home and tried to claw his way out of the cat carrier but was full of purrs and cuddles when we got home, now happily tucking into some food.
Girl kitten is another story, she's completely switched! The moment I got him home she started growling and hissing at him. Not too sure what's gotten in to her? The vet says it's because Boy Cat smells of vet but now she's hissing at me too.
I'll just have to keep them separate but I'm not sure how long that's feasible for, we don't live in a mansion and neither of them can go outside at the moment (even without the crappy weather) as I've not been able to get their second set of vaccinations done. What a day!

Honestly, give them 24 hours and they will be fine. he will wahs the smell off, and they will settle again.
Glad you were able to get him done.

You probably smell of vet too, my boy would hiss at us when we took the other one to the vet until we changed clothes and had a wash. The carrier and any blankets will also stink.