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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

Spay my kitten or let her breed in future?

117 replies

LimeLemonOrange · 07/09/2020 12:00

I have two adorable kittens, one male and one female. The male is definitely getting 'done' so he doesn't spray and fight.

I'm in a dilemma with the girl. I like the idea of letting her have at least one litter of kittens but I have no experience of this and have a few worries about it.

When I was a child we had a kitten who got pregnant immediately and then rejected her kittens as she was too young. If cats are outdoor cats and my kitten comes on heat, I assume there's no way to prevent this? Unless I notice when she's on heat and keep her indoors at that time? How easy is that, do they give visible signs when they're on heat?

And what are the challenges of having a litter of kittens? I think my biggest challenge would be rehoming the new kittens when I've called in love with them all! But I'm sure there are other challenges too.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

OP posts:
Gingernaut · 07/09/2020 12:55

Spay.

There was an horrific story from a cat rescue about a cat suffering and dying after prolapsing her intestines giving birth.

Pregnancy and birth take their toll on a cat, just as it would on a human.

No responsible cat rescue would let kittens go without a home check, neutering, vaccinations and weaning.

That could take up to 12 weeks.

Tell your friends to follow local cat rescues on social media.

They will always post with cats and kittens ready for homing.

ivfbeenbusy · 07/09/2020 12:58

Spay - it's irresponsible. She could get pregnant at a few weeks old once you let her out and it's incredibly dangerous for her and the kittens.
I'm sure it's tempting financially with kittens on gumtree selling for £80-£250 for a basic moggy but it's a terrible idea

Not to mention if you HAD waited and for one from a rescue you have to sign a contract saying you'll spay the kittens and not breed

Irresponsible buyers buying from gumtree equal irresponsible breeders

New2thismumthing · 07/09/2020 12:58

@LimeLemonOrange

ps when I was buying my kittens it was impossible to get any! I had to stalk the Gumtree ads and phone the second they'd been posted, and even then I missed out on so many before securing some.

Lots of friends have been posting on facebook looking for kittens with no success.

So where are all these unwanted kittens? I will still spay, I'm just curious to learn more about kitten supply and demand.

Seriously? I help a rescue and this weekend alone we've rescued 60 cats from a scrap yard, feral pregnant cats and kittens that have just been abandoned - you won't find unwanted kittens on gumtree as obviously they are wanted to sell - try speaking to a rescue, you'll find them quick enough there.
PeaceAndHarmoneeee · 07/09/2020 13:04

I'm glad you're getting her spayed.

Our local RSPCA has over 100 unwanted cats and kittens needing homes. If you breed kittens these RSPCA animals will never find homes cos everyone wants cute fluffy kittens - many of which get given up for adoption over time.

ChickenwingChickenwing · 07/09/2020 13:07

When I was buying my kittens people were selling me kittens, so they'd obviously let their cats breed

But.....

ps when I was buying my kittens it was impossible to get any! I had to stalk the Gumtree ads and phone the second they'd been posted, and even then I missed out on so many before securing some.

So it was either one or the other. People were selling them or it was impossible to find them?

So where are all these unwanted kittens? I will still spay, I'm just curious to learn more about kitten supply and demand.

Abandoned usually, when people realise they will cost them money in beets bills rather then make them a quick buck.

ChickenwingChickenwing · 07/09/2020 13:08

Vets bills Blush

RustyBear · 07/09/2020 13:11

If you want to be able to see a cat giving birth and caring for her kittens, there are lots of cat cams on YouTube following fostered pregnant cats.
Tinykittens is one of the most active - there are lots of videos on www.youtube.com/c/TinyKittens

The video of the latest cat giving birth will be posted on Wednesday.

Original poster
LimeLemonOrange · 07/09/2020 13:27

Thanks MNers for the education, I had no idea.

I actually booked her spay this morning along with her brother's neuter - they'll go in three weeks. I just had second thoughts about her having seen my friends' facebook posts over the years with her cat's litters.

My experience has been different to others here - around six years I got a rescue cat and at the time there were no kittens in any of the local cat rescue centres, and hardly any cats either! It was a struggle to get her.

Unfortunately the rescue cat I got is very very difficult and grumpy and is a bad pet for kids - I really wanted my kids to grow up as cat lovers so got some kittens that were more socialised.

I got the kittens in lockdown so perhaps demand was up at that time with lots of people suddenly at home. Certainly there were no kittens at any local charities (I tried them all) and the ones being advertised via friends or Gumtree were very hard to get!

I live in the South East.

OP posts:
Iwantacookie · 07/09/2020 13:27

Please dont let your cat have a litter. It was advice many many years ago to let the cat have one litter but this has changed. Get them neutered and microchipped asap.

thecatneuterer · 07/09/2020 13:29

@Iwantacookie

Please dont let your cat have a litter. It was advice many many years ago to let the cat have one litter but this has changed. Get them neutered and microchipped asap.
It has never been actual vet/cat organisation advice - just an old wives' tale. And sadly I still hear it repeated.
Iwantacookie · 07/09/2020 13:32

@catneuterer I never knew that. Tbh I have no idea where I heard it I just always heard that the advise was changed. Thanks for the update.

BovaryX · 07/09/2020 13:34

Unfortunately the rescue cat I got is very very difficult and grumpy and is a bad pet for kids

It sounds like your existing cat is very unhappy. How long have you had her?

Original poster
LimeLemonOrange · 07/09/2020 13:37

Now I know the implications I'll spread the word!

I just felt very guilty sending two kittens that I love to have them operated on. I felt sad that I'm taking something away from them (fertility etc) and it's sad that they have no say in the matter. If humans were castrated or neutered by bigger animals we'd be furious wouldn't we?!

But you've helped me reframe this in my mind as it sounds like fertility is not so much of a blessing for female cats. I still feel mean taking away the boy's balls though! Poor boy!

OP posts:
nettytree · 07/09/2020 13:37

Always neuter your cats. If you are on benefits the cats protection do a £5 voucher to use at certain vets. Or it's free if you adopt thru them

Original poster
LimeLemonOrange · 07/09/2020 13:38

BovaryX I've had her six years. She mostly lives in the garden. I've posted about her here before, she is very fluffy and has super long hair but won't be picked up or groomed so she gets very matted. I love her but she's a source of worry with her fur - I have to get her shaved once a year.

OP posts:
DrDetriment · 07/09/2020 13:38

Please never buy kittens off gumtree again. Totally irresponsible. At least you now know to get them spayed.

Original poster
LimeLemonOrange · 07/09/2020 13:39

When she comes inside she does things like sit in doorways then swipes and growls at any humans coming past.

OP posts:
Original poster
LimeLemonOrange · 07/09/2020 13:40

Why is it irresponsible to buy kittens from Gumtree if the charities / shelters don't have any?

Wouldn't the Gumtree kittens then be unwanted kittens with no home?

OP posts:
JorisBonson · 07/09/2020 13:40

@LimeLemonOrange

Now I know the implications I'll spread the word!

I just felt very guilty sending two kittens that I love to have them operated on. I felt sad that I'm taking something away from them (fertility etc) and it's sad that they have no say in the matter. If humans were castrated or neutered by bigger animals we'd be furious wouldn't we?!

But you've helped me reframe this in my mind as it sounds like fertility is not so much of a blessing for female cats. I still feel mean taking away the boy's balls though! Poor boy!

Cats aren't humans. Female cats don't have a tiny biological clock and get upset if they've missed the kitten boat.

Maybe you should offer to volunteer at your local animal shelter to see the impact of un neutered cats.

QuestionableMouse · 07/09/2020 13:40

Cats simply do not have the mental capacity to be sad that they can't breed any more. They're not losing anything that they'd care about and in the case of your female kitten, saving her body the trauma and pain of conceiving, delivering and raising a litter is the kindest thing you can do for her.

VettiyaIruken · 07/09/2020 13:40

Spay.
Cats arent people. They don't have a longing for babies or make a conscious decision to have children.

And there are far too many cats in shelters already. It's irresponsible to bring more cats into a world where existing cats are being killed because nobody wants them.

SBTLove · 07/09/2020 13:40

Letting unneutered cats outside is very irresponsible and also miserable for the cats being joined and attacked by other cats.
I hope you do spay.

JorisBonson · 07/09/2020 13:40

@LimeLemonOrange

When she comes inside she does things like sit in doorways then swipes and growls at any humans coming past.
She's a cat. Nothing to do with being a rescue. Some cats are just arseholes.
BovaryX · 07/09/2020 13:41

@LimeLemonOrange

BovaryX I've had her six years. She mostly lives in the garden. I've posted about her here before, she is very fluffy and has super long hair but won't be picked up or groomed so she gets very matted. I love her but she's a source of worry with her fur - I have to get her shaved once a year.
That sounds awful. Don't long haired cats need to be groomed frequently? Do you handle her at all? Have you had her since she was a kitten? I don't sense you love her much. Sorry to be judgemental, but getting more cats when you have one very unhappy cat doesn't seem very responsible.
SBTLove · 07/09/2020 13:42

just felt very guilty sending two kittens that I love to have them operated on. I felt sad that I'm taking something away from them (fertility etc) and it's sad that they have no say in the matter
Is this is a joke? Do people actually think in this way? Christ on a bike 🙄

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