Abortion

Hi my 7 month old female kitten has become pregnant on her first heat before i got the chance to neuter her. I am worried about her coping with the birth and getting throughit, I am also worried for her litter as she may be unable to care for them, we have no room for other cats as we already have three. I need to know if she would be able to have an abortion and how far along does she need to be before it is too late. I am not sure how far along in the pregnancy she is already but her nipples are very pointy and she is starting to get a round abdomen. Is it safer for her to get the pregnancy terminted or to just go through with the birth? Also how much is it likely to cost to go through with an abortion?

I am very worried for her either way!!

I would be grateful for any advice

Sarah

I don't have all the answers for you (I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will come along any minute now), but I think seven months is pretty young for a cat to go through having kittens.

You might want to call your vet and ask how much it would be to have her spayed (because that's really what you want, not just for the pregnancy to be terminated) while she's pregnant and if they will do it at her stage.

Sarah...

That would be a question for the vet. The vet will determine whether they believe it is safe to spay her. They will also tell you how much more it will cost to spay her if she is pregnant. Are you concerned about costs? I can look up low cost spay options for you. Make sure however that before you go to a low cost vet, you contact them to find out if they will spay a pregnant cat. Just let me know which state you are in and I'll do some research.

Also...my question to you would be more...are you willing to care for her through a pregnancy and her nursing the kittens? Are you ready (both financially and emotionally) should something go wrong? (not saying it will...but I just lost a foster kitten to pneumonia and it cost me $300 of my own funds...so things can happen). Plus, with it being the middle of kitten season...you will have to find the kittens homes. Most people say they won't have a problem....but what if they don't find homes for weeks, months? It can happen.

Katie

BTW...it's great that you are considering what this pregnancy will mean to your cat..that is very brave of you.

Originally Posted by GameOver

Hi my 7 month old female kitten has become pregnant on her first heat before i got the chance to neuter her. I am worried about her coping with the birth and getting throughit, I am also worried for her litter as she may be unable to care for them, we have no room for other cats as we already have three. I need to know if she would be able to have an abortion and how far along does she need to be before it is too late. I am not sure how far along in the pregnancy she is already but her nipples are very pointy and she is starting to get a round abdomen. Is it safer for her to get the pregnancy terminted or to just go through with the birth? Also how much is it likely to cost to go through with an abortion?

I am very worried for her either way!!

I would be grateful for any advice

Sarah

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Call a vet. They will tell you exactly how much it will cost and if it's too late. The vet can do an abortion and a spay at the same time.

Thanks for you reply's i will go down to the vets tomorrow morning and see what they say.

TNR1 thank you for offering to research for me but I live in the UK. Thnaks anyway, very thoughtful.

Thanks again everyone

Hi!

I, of course, think its always the best idea to call the vet, BUT I just went through the same thing you are going through... At 6.5 months or so, my kitty got pregnant... I cant give you info. on the abortion (vet stuff) but I can tell you abit of my experience...

On May 1st she gave birth to 5 kitties... It went beautifully and I am shocked at how wonderfull a mama she is... very attentive and meticulous and protective!

The vet told me that if she was a feral cat, she wouldve gotten pregnant that young... Its natures course... BUT, I agree with all, if you are having doubts, CALL!

By the way, we thought our kitty could only carry 3 at the most, but she had 5! (we cant keep any either, although Im workin on my partner for at least 1 itsy bitsy cutesy kitty) hehe

I hope I don't come across as a total jerk when I answer your question, but I work at a Veterinary Clinic and I deal with situations like yours every day. I would never be permitted to tell a Client how everyone at our clinic feels when something like this happens. Since you aren't a Client at our clinic though, I can tell you first hand how "we" (people who deal with things like this as part of our job everyday) feel about Clients with "problems" such as yours. First of all if you cannot afford to get a pet spayed/neutered then you should not get a pet, period. There is more to owning a pet than being able to afford it's food and feeding it every day. Annual exams, vaccinations and spaying/neutering it (unless you are a responsible breeder) are factors that many people don't take into consideration when they decide to adopt a pet. Secondly say for the sake of arguement that when you adopted the kitten you really felt that you could financially afford to see to it's healthcare needs (spaying/neutering it) but then unforseen circumstances came up (like you lost your job or something), you then should have been responsible enough to keep your female (unspayed) kitten inside away from un-neutered males until you could afford to have her spayed. You apparently did not. As far as kitty "abortions" we do them at our clinic as long as the cat is no more than 30 days along in her pregnancy (which is really kind of hard to tell). Cats/dogs are only pregnant for around 63 days to begin with (so the rule of 30 days is because the Dr. doesn't want to do it if they're more than half way through their pregnancy). It's sort of like human abortions. You wouldn't do an abortion on a woman who was more than half way through her pregnancy. The reason is that after 30 days of pregnancy the risk to the mother's life is much higher. Also, something that you probably never thought of when you decided to let her get pregnant is that sometimes cats (and dogs) ,especially very young ones that are still kittens/puppies themselves, require a cesearan section because they physically cannot give birth on their own. Just to prepare you if she is too far along to be spayed and has to complete the pregnancy and has difficuly giving birth, a cesearan section at our clinic runs about $500-$600 (versus $115 for a spay). At our clinic we only charge $20 more if the cat/dog is pregnant. The extra charge is simply because it takes the Dr. longer to do the surgery because all of the blood vessels are larger and bleed more (this is the reason why it is more dangerous to spay a pregnant animal). I apologize if I came across as an arrogant know it all, but like I said at least daily I get a call from a client that has the attitude that "it's not my fault she's pregnant, she "accidentally" got out, I tried to keep her in. A cat or dog in heat will try to escape any way it can to find a mate, it happens all the time.

all i asked was for some advice on what to do now, not for someone to come on the attack! Also you didnt really answer the question I asked you just went off on one about your clinic etc and your cost means nothing to me as I am in England so why you chose to answer my post is beyond me!

I suspect she used you as a catalyst because in her day to day job she in unable to let loose like that on the clients of the clinic she works in. I suspect that if she did, she would not have a job for very long. I also understand in part her rant because I too rescue and am currently bottle feeding orphaned kittens. But the bottom line is spay and neuter is the only solid answer to the cat overpopulation problem. Many people do not spay and neuter and why they do not is as varied as their reasons for owning pets.

Personally, when a pregnant cat arrives on my land, I take her in and get her spayed unless the vet tells me the kittens are going to drop in 24 hours. It is a hard decision to make, and one that costs me tears and heartache, but looking into the future and seeing how there are not enough homes for cats/kittens and understanding my financial needs as well, this is a decision I now make. I have been torn apart in the past for aborting kittens, but I have seen enough sick strays, abused kitties, and abandoned cats in my life to make up for the arrows that sometimes sling in my direction.

It is an individual choice to do this. One made with careful consideration of all the factors and also by talking to a vet or two about their thoughts. Personally, if my vet had told me the first time I asked him to do the abortion- "Sure bring her in." I would have hesitated to do so. But he talked to me for quite awhile to find out how come I was at this crossroads, for he knows how much i love these animals.

But right now, after two weeks of bottle feeding every two hours, I do so wish that whoever owned these kittens mom had also decided to spay while the cat was still pregnant. The problem is, the mom wasn't owned, she was either tossed out of a home, or a stray since she was a kitten-

Sometimes the younger cats breeze through delivery, other times there can be problems. The momcat can be overwhelmed by the number of the litter and refuse to nurse, the kittens might be ill...the ...the...the...no one can say what will happen. Each cat is different and unique and doesn't just fit a certain mold all the time.

GameOver..I know that with the advice you have received you will make a choice that is right for you and for your cat. Let us know what happens and definately feel free to PM me anytime.

Katie

Originally Posted by luvmy4cats

I hope I don't come across as a total jerk when I answer your question, but I work at a Veterinary Clinic and I deal with situations like yours every day.

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Without meaning to further incite riot and with all due respect, you most certainly ~did~ come across as a total jerk here. Just because you work at a Vet Clinic doesn't mean you are an authority. Tell me more about your veterinary educational credentials ... which State are you licensed with? Do you carry liability insurance? From what university did you receive your Vet or Vet Tech degree? Just because you deal with similar circumstances doesn't make you an expert on what is best for individuals OR their cats.

Originally Posted by luvmy4cats

I would never be permitted to tell a Client how everyone at our clinic feels when something like this happens.

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Then why do you feel the need to do it here? It is a good thing you aren't permitted to discuss your feelings with clients of your clinic - my guess is your clinic wouldn't have very many clients if you were.

Originally Posted by luvmy4cats

Since you aren't a Client at our clinic though, I can tell you first hand how "we" (people who deal with things like this as part of our job everyday) feel about Clients with "problems" such as yours. First of all if you cannot afford to get a pet spayed/neutered then you should not get a pet, period. There is more to owning a pet than being able to afford it's food and feeding it every day. Annual exams, vaccinations and spaying/neutering it (unless you are a responsible breeder) are factors that many people don't take into consideration when they decide to adopt a pet. Secondly say for the sake of arguement that when you adopted the kitten you really felt that you could financially afford to see to it's healthcare needs (spaying/neutering it) but then unforseen circumstances came up (like you lost your job or something), you then should have been responsible enough to keep your female (unspayed) kitten inside away from un-neutered males until you could afford to have her spayed. You apparently did not.

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Excuse me, but exactly WHERE did Gameover say he/she couldn't afford to take the appropriate care of her cat???? I think you are presuming way too much here!! There is nothing in his/her posts to indicate he/she isn't financially capable and in fact, states clearly that this pregnancy occured as an unforeseen accident! These things DO happen, for heaven's sake! The purpose of this forum is to assist those who do not intend to allow a breeding but for whatever accidental reason, one occurred. It is most certainly NOT to slam people for something that may have very well been quite unavoidable or in some other way out of their control. We try to EDUCATE here, not ATTACK!

Originally Posted by luvmy4cats

As far as kitty "abortions" we do them at our clinic as long as the cat is no more than 30 days along in her pregnancy (which is really kind of hard to tell). Cats/dogs are only pregnant for around 63 days to begin with (so the rule of 30 days is because the Dr. doesn't want to do it if they're more than half way through their pregnancy). It's sort of like human abortions. You wouldn't do an abortion on a woman who was more than half way through her pregnancy. The reason is that after 30 days of pregnancy the risk to the mother's life is much higher. Also, something that you probably never thought of when you decided to let her get pregnant is that sometimes cats (and dogs) ,especially very young ones that are still kittens/puppies themselves, require a cesearan section because they physically cannot give birth on their own. Just to prepare you if she is too far along to be spayed and has to complete the pregnancy and has difficuly giving birth, a cesearan section at our clinic runs about $500-$600 (versus $115 for a spay). At our clinic we only charge $20 more if the cat/dog is pregnant. The extra charge is simply because it takes the Dr. longer to do the surgery because all of the blood vessels are larger and bleed more (this is the reason why it is more dangerous to spay a pregnant animal).

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While I know what you have stated is here probably correct, it is up to Gameover's individual vet as to whether or not he/she wants to perform the surgery. A call into the clinic with a simple request for a VET call back would answer that question sufficiently.

Originally Posted by luvmy4cats

I apologize if I came across as an arrogant know it all, but like I said at least daily I get a call from a client that has the attitude that "it's not my fault she's pregnant, she "accidentally" got out, I tried to keep her in. A cat or dog in heat will try to escape any way it can to find a mate, it happens all the time.

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Apology accepted, but please ... understand that in ~real~ life accidents can and DO happen. Instead of taking out the frustration you feel on the person - why not channel it into a much more productive area, like EDUCATION????? As my momma is so very fond of saying, "You can get more bees with honey than you can with vinegar". Take that lesson to heart and please - try to be more understanding of these thing in the future. If you cannot be more understanding, then please - do not post in my Forum.

Originally Posted by GameOver

all i asked was for some advice on what to do now, not for someone to come on the attack! Also you didnt really answer the question I asked you just went off on one about your clinic etc and your cost means nothing to me as I am in England so why you chose to answer my post is beyond me!

Click to expand...

I, for one, think she gave you very good information. For instance, that the cat shouldn't be more than 30 days along to be spayed and kittens aborted-at least in her clinic. Or that young cats might need a cesarian because they are sometimes too young to deliver normally. In fact, seems like she provided you with more information than almost anyone else was able to. As for the price, even in England prices will vary depending on the vet, at least they do in US-every vet charges differently. So, really, the only way to find out it's to call around and see what a particular vet will charge.

Originally Posted by GameOver

Hi my 7 month old female kitten has become pregnant on her first heat before i got the chance to neuter her. I am worried about her coping with the birth and getting throughit, I am also worried for her litter as she may be unable to care for them, we have no room for other cats as we already have three. I need to know if she would be able to have an abortion and how far along does she need to be before it is too late. I am not sure how far along in the pregnancy she is already but her nipples are very pointy and she is starting to get a round abdomen. Is it safer for her to get the pregnancy terminted or to just go through with the birth? Also how much is it likely to cost to go through with an abortion?

I am very worried for her either way!!

I would be grateful for any advice

Sarah

Click to expand...

Sarah, the others here (well, most of them anyway!) have given you excellent advice. Call your vet, ask for either a call back from the vet or an appointment with no animal present. Discuss candidly the options with your vet and let him suggest what he thinks is best for you and for your cat.

While there are some added complications to a pregnant spay, your vet will take these into account and be prepared for them. Most cats deliver without complications, but young or inexperienced queens do sometimes have issues they cannot resolve, forcing the owner to bottle the babies and care for them as Momcat would. I would hazard a guess that the liklihood of complications from the pregnant spay would be around the same as the liklihood of allowing the pregnancy to progress in it's own.

As you are in the UK, it would be nearly impossible for me to assist you with costs, but as I said, a call in to your vet and a frank discussion will reveal the answers to you.

Best of luck, and please - do not let one poster get to you. There are a wide variety of personalities here and the majority are helpful and friendly. Please let us know what you decide to do and how it goes for you? We all look forward to hearing more from you.

Gaye

Originally Posted by gayef

Without meaning to further incite riot and with all due respect, you most certainly ~did~ come across as a total jerk here. Just because you work at a Vet Clinic doesn't mean you are an authority. Tell me more about your veterinary educational credentials ... which State are you licensed with? Do you carry liability insurance? From what university did you receive your Vet or Vet Tech degree? Just because you deal with similar circumstances doesn't make you an expert on what is best for individuals OR their cats.




Then why do you feel the need to do it here? It is a good thing you aren't permitted to discuss your feelings with clients of your clinic - my guess is your clinic wouldn't have very many clients if you were.



Excuse me, but exactly WHERE did Gameover say he/she couldn't afford to take the appropriate care of her cat???? I think you are presuming way too much here!! There is nothing in his/her posts to indicate he/she isn't financially capable and in fact, states clearly that this pregnancy occured as an unforeseen accident! These things DO happen, for heaven's sake! The purpose of this forum is to assist those who do not intend to allow a breeding but for whatever accidental reason, one occurred. It is most certainly NOT to slam people for something that may have very well been quite unavoidable or in some other way out of their control. We try to EDUCATE here, not ATTACK!



While I know what you have stated is here probably correct, it is up to Gameover's individual vet as to whether or not he/she wants to perform the surgery. A call into the clinic with a simple request for a VET call back would answer that question sufficiently.




Apology accepted, but please ... understand that in ~real~ life accidents can and DO happen. Instead of taking out the frustration you feel on the person - why not channel it into a much more productive area, like EDUCATION????? As my momma is so very fond of saying, "You can get more bees with honey than you can with vinegar". Take that lesson to heart and please - try to be more understanding of these thing in the future. If you cannot be more understanding, then please - do not post in my Forum.

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It was very educational, at least to me. I didn't know a lot of information lovemy4cats provided prior to reading her post. And I understand why she might get upset seeing as how there are so many cats needing good homes and not enough people to provide these homes because of owners not spaying or neutering their cats.

Originally Posted by elizwithcat

I, for one, think she gave you very good information. For instance, that the cat shouldn't be more than 30 days along to be spayed and kittens aborted-at least in her clinic. Or that young cats might need a cesarian because they are sometimes too young to deliver normally. In fact, seems like she provided you with more information than almost anyone else was able to. As for the price, even in England prices will vary depending on the vet, at least they do in US-every vet charges differently. So, really, the only way to find out it's to call around and see what a particular vet will charge.

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I do agree that most of the things she said were "correct" however, this is not the appropriate avenue or Forum to preach soapbox issues. This Forum is to educate, not attack, and posts that do attack will be addressed in the manner in which they were received.

Originally Posted by elizwithcat

It was very educational, at least to me. I didn't know a lot of information lovemy4cats provided prior to reading her post. And I understand why she might get upset seeing as how there are so many cats needing good homes and not enough people to provide these homes because of owners not spaying or neutering their cats.

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As I have already stated, personal attacks will not be tolerated in this Forum. While I am glad YOU were able to read that post and gain knowledge from it, there are many others who weren't at all able to see through the acidity. I was one of them.

Originally Posted by gayef

As I have already stated, personal attacks will not be tolerated in this Forum. While I am glad YOU were able to read that post and gain knowledge from it, there are many others who weren't at all able to see through the acidity. I was one of them.

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I, for one, wish somebody had talked to my parents that way when we allowed our poor cat to get pregnant year after year.

Elizwithcat, it probably would have accomplished the exact thing that it accomplished here ... total alienation and hard feelings. Would the cat have been spayed? Probably not.

Since this thread is no longer about the original posters questions and reasonable answers to same, I am closing it. Should anyone have additional comments, please feel free to PM me.

~gf~