Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The litter tray

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

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

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:

tabulahrasa · 07/09/2020 20:44

It’s not that horrible for them though, they recover very quickly ... mostly there’s about a day of, hmm, I don’t feel so great and then a week of the cat running about doing cat things and you going... FFS, you’re supposed to be quiet and resting!!!!

Original poster

LimeLemonOrange · 07/09/2020 20:47

BovaryX why are you repeatedly reading my messages as meaning that I don't think cats should be neutered?

I agree with everything that you have said! I keep agreeing with you! Why do you think I don't agree with you? Am I living in a parallel universe where I'm writing one thing but people are reading another?!

For total clarity I am not saying that we shouldn't neuter cats because it is horrible for them.

I am very clearly saying WE MUST NEUTER CATS AND IT IS HORRIBLE FOR THEM.

Why are you calling me delusional for saying that operations are horrible? If you think operations are not horrible then it is clearly YOU who is delusional.

OP posts:

Vinorosso74 · 07/09/2020 20:48

Cats don't have memories like humans. It is short term feeling off for a much longer term better quality of life.

Original poster

LimeLemonOrange · 07/09/2020 20:49

BovaryX you said Not neutering a pet is selfish, irresponsible. Pretending that it is motivated by empathy? That's delusional.

When have I said that I am not neutering my pet? I booked my spay and neuter this morning and have said that I will go ahead with that through most of this thread. I have thanked you and other posters for your advice. Not sure why you are having a go at me for not neutering when I am?

OP posts:

ChesterDrawsDoesntExist · 07/09/2020 20:52

Spay. As much as I would have loved just one litter from my now 6yo cat, there is no birth control for cats. It's either a too early litter, loads of litters or nothing. It's highly irresponsible to own an un-neutered cat unless you're a proper breeder.

SBTLove · 07/09/2020 20:53

@LimeLemonOrange
I hope you’re a vegan too, my feelings towards animals extend to not eating them
either, very empathetic.

Fluffycloudland77 · 07/09/2020 20:56

Are any of these people selling kittens paying tax on the income I wonder?. It’s a nice little earner if your cat breeds for free isn’t it.

I glad your neutering because pushing 4-6 kittens out with no pain relief or post birth pain killers must be awful.

BovaryX · 07/09/2020 20:56

But as cat lovers why on earth can none of you see that it is STILL AWFUL that you take your sweet little cats and have them operated on and their balls removed? Let's remove your balls or ovaries without you having any say in it and see how you like it! Ah hang on, to make it even, we'll need to give you a partial lobotomy as well, so you can't grasp exactly what has been done to you

Er I regard your post quoted above as bizarre. That's my opinion. I am done with engaging with you.

viccat · 07/09/2020 20:57

In regards to the "painful operation" argument... castration is a super quick op (literally 15 minutes or so!) and the wound is absolutely tiny, male cats don't even have any stitches.

Spaying is a bit more invasive of course, but modern techniques are also very good and the painkillers they get are very effective. I have seen both my female cats as well as a number of foster cats act absolutely normal the day after their spay. If anything, you end up trying hard to keep them calm to recover as they are up and about like nothing has happened, climbing and jumping.

If you want to think along these lines and compare choice, bodily autonomy or anything along those lines to cat behaviour, there is also of course the other side to the argument - yes you are removing their ability to procreate but it's not as if they have a choice if they are not neutered. As others have said, a female cat in season is pretty much gang raped by tom cats. Getting pregnant in this way is hardly comparable to a person deciding to TCC and have a baby. And female cats can get pregnant as early as 4 months of age - if you've ever had a four month old kitten, you'll know they are just babies themselves.

On top of that, an unspayed female cat is at a greater risk of some cancers, and also a condition called pyometra. They also risk getting FIV. Being in season over and over again is also mentally distressing for them. It's really not at all comparable to humans. If I was a female cat and had the choice, I'm 100% sure I'd opt for the spay.

BovaryX · 07/09/2020 20:58

@LimeLemonOrange

BovaryX you said Not neutering a pet is selfish, irresponsible. Pretending that it is motivated by empathy? That's delusional.

Er, I said good decision for neutering your cat. Calm down.

BovaryX · 07/09/2020 21:05

In regards to the "painful operation" argument... castration is a super quick op (literally 15 minutes or so!) and the wound is absolutely tiny, male cats don't even have any stitches

Well said. Anyone who has any experience of neutering cats knows this.

easythatsfragile · 07/09/2020 21:13

@LimeLemonOrange

ChickenwingChickenwing

It doesn't cancel it out. Both things are true. At the same time. We do the horrible thing to the cat because it is better for the cat in the long run. But the thing we do to the cat is still horrible as they have to have a painful and intrusive operation. But we have made a balanced and rational argument and can see that the benefits are many, so we go ahead and do the horrible thing to reap those benefits / prevent the downsides.

But the horrible thing is STILL HORRIBLE FOR THE CAT. Because the cat can't understand the benefits or the human decision making.

The cat won't understand any of it. They are neutered before they reach sexual maturity, and what they've never had in the way of hormones means that they won't miss it, and they won't develop adult sexual behaviour at all. The urge will be absent, and because they aren't sentient in the way we are, they won't know they haven't got it. Ignorance is bliss, as they say.

When it comes to the operation, again, all they will know is that they feel sore for a while and then it will go away again. That's all. They will not be aware of what has caused their discomfort or why.

If anything, it is easier for an animal to have an operation than it is for a human, because they don't know why it is being done, they can't worry about it and there's no what-ifs or decisions.

You are doing the right thing. When you take on an animal you take on the responsibility too.

WhoWants2Know · 07/09/2020 21:13

Having an operation under general anaesthetic with good aftercare is a whole lot more gentle than any of the alternatives that will happen as a result of not getting them neutered.

So although I do my best to make any pet comfortable after a spay/neuter op, I don't sit around and grieve for what is a very temporary sensation that they have no capacity to remember, and which will improve their lives immeasurably.

How is it different than immunising, worming or any of the other unpleasant but necessary things we do to keep our pets healthy?

tabulahrasa · 07/09/2020 21:14

To be fair though - I’m very pro neutering, I know it’s not a particularly big operation... I still get a bit weird putting one of mine in knowing they’re going under a GA and being cut open...

AnnaMagnani · 07/09/2020 21:21

I think you are overestimating how horrible it is for the cat.

I've had 4 girl cats now, all spayed as kittens. Not one has been in the least bothered by having stitches in, all have bounced around like nutters the day after the op and proceeded to live full happy cat lives.

This was not comparable to, for example me whimpering on return from day surgery to have my gallbladder out which truly was a horrible thing.

One of the original pair of girls is still alive age 16 and currently being spoilt with cat milk. At no point has she been distressed by her lack of kittens, lack of cuddles may be.

ilovesooty · 07/09/2020 21:31

@LimeLemonOrange

Read the full thread people - I'm spaying her!

I read the full thread before I posted my comment. My opinion hasn't altered.

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 07/09/2020 23:48

www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/neutering-and-vaccinations/neutering-your-cat

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Swipe left for the next trending thread