I've been afraid to post....

Well first of all, for those of you who remember me posting about a stray cat I found that the vet believed to be pregnant.... she wasn't pregnant after all. The vet screwed up on his diagnosis, and there were no babies. She is now spayed and happy in her new home.

Now for the rest of it... I've been afraid to post because I feel like an awful person for this happening. My former feral, Sasha, is pregnant. She was one of three Siamese cats dropped off here last year... I successfully trapped her in November and she became a permanent member of the family. I took her to my usual vet for testing, spay, and vaccinations... and I was told that she was already spayed. I didn't question it because one of the other cats, Louie, was already neutered when he was dropped off here. Sasha became an indoor cat. Well, sometime around the end of February, my boyfriend left a door open and all the cats got out... Sasha followed the rest of them out. All the rest were easy to catch, but Sasha was scared and wouldn't let us catch her. So I set the trap. I felt awful and spent all my time outside trying to convince her to come to me. She was hanging around with the other Siamese (not Louie) that she showed up with, and I figured she was just reuniting with an old buddy. Her being spayed, I wasn't concerned that she was with an intact male (I haven't trapped Marley yet). Well, two days after she escaped, she was trapped and came back inside. Extra precautions have been made and she can no longer get outside ever. But over the past couple weeks I've noticed her belly getting bigger. I thought she was just gaining weight. Her personality changed too, which I posted about in the behavior forum... she became overly loving with my boyfriend and I but was hissing at the other cats whenever they came near. It was suggested to me that I take her to the vet, to make sure she was alright. After the vet messed up the diagnosis on the other cat being pregnant I decided to take Sasha to a new vet, just to be safe. Pregnancy was confirmed.... she was never spayed at all.
She's due approximately the end of April. I feel like an awful mommy for letting this happen, but I know I had no way of knowing that the first vet wasn't telling the truth. My boyfriend and I don't believe in spay/abort for personal reasons, so Sasha is going to be allowed to have the kittens and then she will be spayed at the new vet. I already have homes lined up for 6 kittens (including the one that I know will inevitably end up staying here!)... no idea how many she's having yet. The new homes have been screened (people have already filled out applications), and the kittens of course will be spayed/neutered and vaccinated, wormed, etc. before they leave here.
I hope you all will understand my decision to allow her to continue with the pregnancy, and hope you'll all be able to answer any questions that may arise.

Poor Sasha, I am sure that she was scared to death during that time..I think it is great that you have already found wonderful homes for the kittens...

it's great that you got yourself a new vet. I'm sorry to hear that this old vet of yours wasn't reliable and screwed up two assessments though. I'm sure this new one will be better
Here's wishing Sasha a happy ending to her pregnancy. You're doing all you can given the situation and your beliefs, don't be scared.

god this is becoming a regular thing isnt it ? 2 of us so far have brought the cats in to be spayed which turned out not to be true . and now your baby. i hope everything turns out ok , im normally against spay aborts , but i really dont want my fluffy going through a pregnancy expecially at such a young age and plus i already have a mum and her 2 kittens here as it is.
lol plus i dont think i could find homes for them , would end up keeping them here as i have a hard time trusting people i dont know with my babys.

Poor little Sasha - you certainly can't be blamed for what has happened and I wouldn't judge you for you decision to let her have the kittens - I think it is brilliant that you are handling this in such a great way, and that positive plans have been made to home the babies when they come - all the very best to you for a safe delivery!!

Accidents happen. Its those that do it on purpose we get on their case

Unless you would open up the female, there is no way to tell on a stray cat if she's spayed or not. I don't know how the vet would have diagnosed her being spayed.

I guess the rule of thumb is to keep a stray female indoors totally for at least 6 months to see if she calls or not.

You could have gotten the kits aborted earlier, but as long as you are responsible for the litter and see that everyone is spayed/neutered before finding homes, that's the important thing. We know you will be spaying mom as soon as possible.

never feel bad for posting to us here at all. What is done is done and now it is time to get educated because you are going to be a grandpa

I think she is prego from the sound of it all. I am also glad you have a different vet I also had a mistake by a vet... I think there is so much to do they lose track and stuff gets mixed up. Especially if they are doing more then a few spayes a day like my mobile vet was full of at least 150 other cats 9 of them where mine...

I don't blame you one bit for Sasha getting pregnant. You thought she was spayed, if she wasn't, you would've gotten her spayed. You're being responsible, getting momma & kits fixed & finding them excellent homes. It's hard to be mad at someone who's doing the right thing!

I'm hoping all goes well until after everyone gets fixed!

Please don't blame yourself. This was a true accident, on your part. Thank you for finding good homes, and thank you for fixing the babies prior to placing them. Instead of blame, feel good. You took in ferals, made them part of your family, an accident happened, and you are doing the right thing for Momma and babies. I bet you will make a lot of adoptive families very happy. (Hugs)

Wow, I feel terrible now. For a long time, I didn't believe in spaying my cats because I thought it hurt them and it wasn't natural; plus, I also wanted the female cats to experience "motherhood". Now I feel bad because I realize that there are so many cats out in the world...but it still feels strange to not allow cats to live naturally and procreate. I don't know. Most of my cats are spayed, but sometimes I wish I hadn't done it. This is mostly because they changed the way they behaved. Three of the females became SUPER aggressive. One female left home, and only stops by once a week; she is REALLY jumpy and afraid of all cats. Why does spaying your cat change them so much??

Originally Posted by Helga06

Wow, I feel terrible now. For a long time, I didn't believe in spaying my cats because I thought it hurt them and it wasn't natural; plus, I also wanted the female cats to experience "motherhood". Now I feel bad because I realize that there are so many cats out in the world...but it still feels strange to not allow cats to live naturally and procreate. I don't know. Most of my cats are spayed, but sometimes I wish I hadn't done it. This is mostly because they changed the way they behaved. Three of the females became SUPER aggressive. One female left home, and only stops by once a week; she is REALLY jumpy and afraid of all cats. Why does spaying your cat change them so much??

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Don't feel bad, but please take the time on this wonderful forum to learn why it is so important to spay and neuter. I have had kittens altered at 11 weeks for almost 5 years now, I can know now that they won't have the urges to go outdoors, as they won't have yet reached sexual maturity, which can happen at different ages, but it can happen as early as 4 months for males or females. Spaying and neutering also greatly reduces the risk for mammary cancer or infection and uterine cancer. It can be dangerous to keep a female intact because of uterine infections, that will be eliminated if the female is spayed.
While I look at my pets as my family, I also have to step back and realize that they are not human with human feelings, it won't be emotional if one doesn't allow their pet to have babies. A male or even female (Momma cat), isn't going to have the same feelings for thier offspring, as what we as parents have for our children.
IMO, and please know I am being respectful, but I would assume it isn't the spaying changing their behavior, but the fact that they are outdoors, and I would assume at least a little feral. You also didn't mention, or if you did I missed it, what the past is of the cats you have spayed, the ages, and if they were rescues, or feral from the beginning.
It is my feelings for many safety/health reasons, that a cat should be indoors only, and I do believe that there is a behavioral difference in a strictly indoor cat, than a indoor/outdoor cat. We, as humans have domesticated cats, and just as a dog should be confined, for safety reasons, so should a cat, because of predators, diseases, cars, and some ill willed people.
I have never had any problems with spaying or neutering kittens or older adults. I am not saying there isn't a risk with any surgery, but I can say the risk is far less in spaying than in not.
Sincerely,
Stormi

Family I have to comment your signature ROCKS

Sounds like you have the exception in behavior changes. All my females became much NICER after being spayed. I had a Russian Blue female that while a breeding cat did not want to socialize with anyone other then me - hated judges, company, etc.

After she was spayed she actually started liking people more and coming to sit in their laps. I tried her back in the show ring, and got her Grand Champion as a spayed cat

One female left home, and only stops by once a week; she is REALLY jumpy and afraid of all cats. Why does spaying your cat change them so much??

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If your female was in the house, she couldn't leave. No animal I have ever had has ever had a personality change after being altered. Now, I have had kittens who were sweet and loving turn into skittish, hissing cats. Didn't have anything to do with the spay, cats can change. Please don't make comments like this, the last thing we need is people not fixing their animals because they think its going to change their personality.

To the OP, this was an accident, and you are stepping up and doing the right thing by having all kittens fixed before placement. Everyone should be so responsible. I understand you have a problem with aborting, and even though personally I would abort, I see why you won't, but it is great you are taking every precaution with finding them homes. And remember to take lots of kitten pictures.