My Kitten is Pregnant!!!

Status
Not open for further replies.

gayef

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 7, 2001
Messages
7,814
Purraise
29
Location
Still Hittin' 'Em Right Between The Eyes
Originally Posted by kittymeow

I also want to tell you that if you cat is pregnant by its brother, that is not a good thing....your kittens may have genetic problems because of this. I know that my humane society wont even adopt out kittens born of incest because of its liabilities!!
While I do not in any way advocate close line breeding (brother to sister, father to daughter, mother to son etc. and by the way, in cats, it is not accurately referred to as incest, it is called Close Line-Breeding) what it DOES do is enhance the possibility of any less-than-desirable genetic traits that both the male and female may be carrying and pass them right along to the offspring. But on the other hand, it also enhances the possibility of desirable traits to be passed as well.

In a first time breeding of littermates, the genetic probability of deformity or other physical defect is really quite small. It is when you continue to breed that line back to that line closely that you begin to see abnormalities in the offspring.

I don't think there is a need to alarm jelani by saying her cat's kittens may have genetic problems when the chances of that happening from a one-time "oops" breeding are relatively low.
 

gayef

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 7, 2001
Messages
7,814
Purraise
29
Location
Still Hittin' 'Em Right Between The Eyes
Originally Posted by CJandBilly

I can understand your position, and I won't blast you with complaints about why you didn't spay or neuter ...
Probably a good decision on your part, Cassie.

Originally Posted by CJandBilly

... I don't want to sound harsh, I just wanna tell you the truth. I hope that after these kittens are raised, weaned, and out, that you will get momma spayed. In the mean time, I would get your male(s) neutered, because a female cat can go into heat a week after she has kittens, and become pregnant, and the cycle continues.
And it is my hope, Cassie, that you will follow your own advice to others.
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
It was a pretty exaggerated statement to say that brother and sister mating for the first time will cause birth defects, deformities et al...in breeding happens a lot in backyard cats or cats left intact and living together in one home. But it takes a great deal of time for the cats to breed to produce deformities and other problems.

I would hope that you could convince your mom to get the cat spayed. If you want kittens then foster a pregnant mom from a local animal shelter. Heaven knows there are enough right now that need homes.
 

kittymeow

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
May 14, 2005
Messages
13
Purraise
0
I just want to clarify that I never said that the kittens "will" have problems, but that they may. After reading up more on the subject, I am wondering why my humane society is so quick to put down kittens born from close line breeding. hmmmm
I am a Biologist....I think my education in genetics was speaking too quickly. (SORRY)
I am also concerned that humans feel the need to alter cats for specific traits, kind of a twist of eugenics, but then again it happens for all types of animals....very interesting to think about.
Thanks for the info!
 

cjandbilly

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
3,335
Purraise
1
Location
Floridian
Originally Posted by gayef

And it is my hope, Cassie, that you will follow your own advice to others.
Gayef, I'm afraid my situation is a little different. When I fear that my cat will DIE if I get her spayed, I am NOT going to spay her! CJ had such horrible reactions to simple vaccinations. SIMPLE vaccinations! How is she going to respond to anesthesia? That is why CJ isn't getting spayed. BUT, Billy is neutered, and that's all I can do. Trust me, she won't be getting out, and I will keep a close eye on her, as I ALWAYS do. So please, don't make it look as if I'm not doing what I advise to others. My situation is more complicated. I think that if I get CJ spayed, there's a chance I may loose her, and I'm not willing to take that risk. None of this is meant rudely, I'm just trying to defend myself, here, and explain why I CAN'T get CJ spayed.

Just think about this. If someone wanted you to do something that you felt endangered your cat's life, would you do it?
 

loveysmummy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 5, 2005
Messages
2,413
Purraise
3
Location
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Jelani,
Please heed the words you read here.
There are already enough kittens/cats overcrowding the shelters already...
If there isn't a way to convince your mom that spaying your pregnant cat right now is the BEST idea, then you have alot of preparation to do...
Please, please, please, get your mama cat fixed as soon as these kittens are weaned and get the male fixed IMMEDIATELY.

Otherwise, this will continue to happen over and over.

You will also need to separate your male and female when she delivers and quite possibly until the kittens leave your home at 12 weeks old.

You should also get the kittens spayed as well before they leave. Its the right thing to do. If your vet won't do early spay/neuter, then have your adopters sign a contract stating they will have the kitten fixed at 6 months.
 

cjandbilly

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
3,335
Purraise
1
Location
Floridian
Originally Posted by gayef

Probably a good decision on your part, Cassie.
Yes, I know, I would be in no position to talk. That's why I said that. I don't think someone should be blasted anyway. I've been there. It's not pretty.
Right now, I'm litterbox training my cat's two kittens. I had Billy scheduled for his neuter, and apparently I was a couple of DAYS too late! Don't you hate timing?
 

gayef

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 7, 2001
Messages
7,814
Purraise
29
Location
Still Hittin' 'Em Right Between The Eyes
Originally Posted by CJandBilly

Gayef, I'm afraid my situation is a little different. When I fear that my cat will DIE if I get her spayed, I am NOT going to spay her! CJ had such horrible reactions to simple vaccinations. SIMPLE vaccinations! How is she going to respond to anesthesia? That is why CJ isn't getting spayed.
Cassie, I'm sorry but with the advances in anesthesia induction and administration as well as better anesthetic agents being available I just cannot believe your vet wouldn't spay CJ - nor can I believe that ANY vet would tell you that the risks of surgery were greater than the risks of NOT having her spayed.

Since others, MANY others here have counseled you as to the other health risks to CJ if you don't spay her, I won't go into another listing here. But until you can speak candidly with your vet about this and until you can convince me that he told you it isn't safe to spay her, I will continue to believe you are making a mistake that may also cause you to lose her.

Originally Posted by CJandBilly

So please, don't make it look as if I'm not doing what I advise to others. My situation is more complicated. I think that if I get CJ spayed, there's a chance I may loose her, and I'm not willing to take that risk. None of this is meant rudely, I'm just trying to defend myself, here, and explain why I CAN'T get CJ spayed.
How can I NOT make it appear as though you aren't doing what you are advising others to do? You refuse to spay your cat based on the fact she had a reaction to her vaccines! If the truth be told here, I think that reaction was probably more due to the fact they all came at the same time instead of spacing them out - but that is just my opinion and I have nothing other than what you have told us here in your posts about her to go on. Your vet doesn't have to use injectable anesthesia - there are gas agents such as isoflurane or sevoflurane that can be used VERY safely in cats who are at high risk when undergoing surgery. There is also a chance that you will lose her to other illnesses if you DON'T spay her so I am not entirely certain your reasoning is sound.

Originally Posted by CJandBilly

Just think about this. If someone wanted you to do something that you felt endangered your cat's life, would you do it?
Of course not, Cassie, but the one thing I ~would~ do is look very closely at the risks and then weigh them against the risks to her health if I didn't do what was suggested ... and then make my decision once I knew ALL of the facts and options. You haven't explored all of those options and in my opinion, you haven't looked intelligently at the risks to CJ if you do not spay her. Sounds to me like you have a "six of one, half-dozen of the other" situation on your hands ... you feel you cannot spay her due to the possible risks to her health, but if you don't spay her, there are other risks that could harm her or even kill her just as quickly. It just doesn't make sense to me.

I am not trying to be rude to you either but again, if CJ were my cat, I would explore this more deeply in the hopes of finding another solution. Continuing to allow her to come into estrus over and over again without being bred and risking the possibility that she could develop a pyometra or mammary cancer are all things you have to look at. You have said repeatedly that "she won't be getting out and she won't be getting pregnant again" but until you have her spayed - you simply cannot say that. She got pregnant THIS time, didn't she? Even despite your best efforts to prevent it!! How can you say she won't get pregnant again?
 

yosemite

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2001
Messages
23,313
Purraise
81
Location
Ingersoll, ON
Just want to add 2 cents worth here. Our daughter's little blue point is very tiny, was the runt of the litter and has a voicebox defect, i.e., she has no voice. During her spay we almost lost her according to our vet and we're not sure if it was because of her defect or not. She came out of the anaesthetic IMMEDIATELY and couldn't breathe. Our vet saved her life but told us that if she ever has to go under anaesthetic again to make sure we let the doctor know. She said it would be not big deal as long as they are pre-warned.
 

gailail

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 12, 2005
Messages
181
Purraise
1
Location
england
my dog die getting groomed at the vets becuase they had to give him anaesthetic to do it because he didn't like beening bath he use to bite us
 

loveysmummy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 5, 2005
Messages
2,413
Purraise
3
Location
Vancouver, BC, Canada
I would think that groomers are much less knowledgable about anaesthetic than vets are.
Sorry to hear you lost your dog...

But as to the question: Vaccines and anaesthesia are completely different ballparks.
CJandBilly: I would get a second opinion on getting the cat spayed.
 

gailail

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 12, 2005
Messages
181
Purraise
1
Location
england
Originally Posted by Loveysmummy

I would think that groomers are much less knowledgable about anaesthetic than vets are.
Sorry to hear you lost your dog...

But as to the question: Vaccines and anaesthesia are completely different ballparks.
CJandBilly: I would get a second opinion on getting the cat spayed.
at are vets there a grooming system in it to she its the same ppl doing it
 

cjandbilly

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
3,335
Purraise
1
Location
Floridian
All I have left to say is that if you saw your cat the way I saw CJ, you would understand. To see your cat... day 1, won't eat, drink, and if you touch her, she screams in pain. Day 2, won't eat, drink, and if you touch her, she screams in pain. Day 3, sips a tiny bit of water once, nibbles a bit, and if you touch her, she screams in pain. Day 4, drinks more, eats a little more, and if you touch her she flinches away. Day 5, finally back to what would be considered a little less than normal, but finally I know she won't die.

I thought CJ was going to die. My parents did, too. I was scared for her life. She only got 1 series of her vaccinations, when she required two, because I am afraid to do it again. I know that anesthesia is not the same as vaccinations, but the reaction can be worse. I am frightened, and that's that. I'm not going to do something when I'm frightened, thinking death will be the outcome. That's that, I'm unsubscribing from this thread, because I don't want this to get heated. All I ask is that you don't judge me, because you just don't know all the facts. Good-bye, and good luck Jelani, with your cat and her kittens.

Cassie
 

dr. doolittle

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
May 31, 2004
Messages
508
Purraise
1
Location
British Columbia, Canada
I understand that this post is way off-topic but I feel it necessary to respond to Cassie's statement that her cat will die under anaesthetic. This reasoning is absolutely false and not based in any kind of logic.

Vaccines are given to stimulate a response of the immune system. Pain at the injection site, fever, lethargy, and anorexia are all considered NORMAL reactions to a vaccine. Presence of these symptoms indicates an immune system response, thus, THE VACCINE WORKED! An animal that has had a NORMAL reaction to a vaccine has no higher a risk than any other animal.

Occasionally, animals (and People) have abnormal reactions such as anaphylaxis (hypotension, vomiting, extreme lethargy, facial swelling, or hives) to a vaccine. These occurances are rare and usually occur within the first 15-45 minutes post vaccination. With prompt veterinary care these animals recover. Future vaccines should be given with caution and spaced further apart. These animals are also no more at risk for anaesthesia.

If you are at all concerned about the risk your animal faces under anaesthesia you should discuss these concerns with your vet. Pre-anaesthetic bloodwork will increase safety as will having an IV catheter placed prior to the procedure.
 

gailail

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 12, 2005
Messages
181
Purraise
1
Location
england
Dr. Doolittle said:
I understand that this post is way off-topic but I feel it necessary to respond to Cassie's statement that her cat will die under anaesthetic. This reasoning is absolutely false and not based in any kind of logic.

if cassie has been told this by her vet who she sees ,then why should she have reason not to belive him/her as she trust him/her
 

cjandbilly

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
3,335
Purraise
1
Location
Floridian
Originally Posted by Dr. Doolittle

If you are at all concerned about the risk your animal faces under anaesthesia you should discuss these concerns with your vet. Pre-anaesthetic bloodwork will increase safety as will having an IV catheter placed prior to the procedure.
Okay, CJ did have what I would consider extreme lethargy. When she sits in a corner for 3 days, and screams if you touch her, yeah... that's my definition of bad.
Also, I did talk to my vet, and she completely understands about it, and said that it's fine if I don't spay her, and that she understands. Someone here told me that they'd give her antihisemine to counter-act it (the vaccines)... well, they were wrong. I talked to her about that too. My vet doesn't seem concerned about the fact that CJ is not, and WILL NOT be spayed.

Like I said above, don't judge me when you don't know all the facts.

Now, can we please get back to the question initially asked by Jelani?
 

tnr1

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Oct 5, 2003
Messages
7,980
Purraise
13
Location
Northern Virginia
Cassie....electing not to have your cat spayed is your choice...I'm glad that Dr. Dolittle was able to clarify the difference between vaccines and anaesthesia. You will have to be incredibly vigilent from this point forward. Having the male cat neutered is only part of the issue...you will need to make sure your female has absolutely no way of getting out...ever.

Katie
 

cjandbilly

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
3,335
Purraise
1
Location
Floridian
Originally Posted by jelani

Ok..My cat Princess was always skinnier than my other cat Scotty and never ever ate as much as Scotty...Slowly I've notices shes been getting bigger and bigger....Yesterday when I was rubbing her stomach I felt her nipples which I havent felt before. I've come to conclusion she is pregnant... The Cats are mine..im 17 and mom doenst like cats but i've convinced her to let me have them...I've created a small corner where the sleep and eat.. When she delivers...Is it wrong to give away her kittens? or is there a period of time they stay with her momma? Also her and Scotty are brother and sister..Is there any chance she reproduced together?
That's her question.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top