Half Maine Coon?

Recently we had some friends staying with us from Louisiana. They came after the hurricane hit and brought their beautiful Maine Coone with them. We were jokingly talking about how we would like it to mate with our siemese mix who is beautiful also. Our cat, Kiki (named by our 5 year old) has had a few litters already (I know, spayed, but we are always strapped for money as it is, so we have just not got around to it). Well, after a few weeks we noticed she was getting bigger and knew she was pregnant. She had her litter last night and right away we noticed a few of them were very odd in color. One has a black head and starts fading to grey for the rest of her body, same with two orange tabi ones.. those two have the orange tabi face, but the body is faded with no stripes. Could these be half maine coones? We figured out its been 52 days since our friends cat was here. The whole time she was pregnant I doubted it could be half maine coones because we didn't hear them mating and I thought I heard her outside (mating noises) one night like a week after they left. Any way to tell for sure?

It would have been cheaper to get her spayed in the first place then to care for her litter and have to have them desexed too. I hope the Maine Coon will be desexed now also if these are his kittens! If he is a purebred Maine Coon, hopefully his breeder will be getting on to the owners soon.

We are well aware of the responsibility that comes with owning cats and also the requirements many maine coon breaders place on those purchasing their cats. Things happen, and I can assure you that these cat's will not be sold as maine coons, but given away to responsible and good homes like our previous litters.

I suppose my question was worded improperly as I was trying to generate a helpful response.

It will probably be easier to tell when they get a little bigger. Many times kittens just look like kittens at first. I bet they will be stunning little ones if they are half Maine Coon with Siamese blood in them. I hope you will be in a position to get your kitty spayed after this litter. If you do not mind saying where you are, I bet someone here will know if there are low cost spay/neuter programs in your area, and be glad to post that information. Can you post some pics of the new little family?

52 days is too short a gestation period for the Maine Coon to have sired these kittens.

I understand you feel you are aware of the responsibilities which come with caring for cats, but your post disturbs me.

1) You have an unspayed female who goes outside. Big No No.

2) You allowed her to run freely in your home with an intact male. Another big No No.

I strongly encourage you to visit http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html to find a low- or no-cost spay/neuter clinic in your area and take care of your little girl ASAP once this litter is weaned. You commented that you are aware of the responsibilities of cat care - spaying your girl is the responsible thing to do in this case.

~gf~

Originally Posted by krazy kat2

It will probably be easier to tell when they get a little bigger. Many times kittens just look like kittens at first. I bet they will be stunning little ones if they are half Maine Coon with Siamese blood in them. I hope you will be in a position to get your kitty spayed after this litter. If you do not mind saying where you are, I bet someone here will know if there are low cost spay/neuter programs in your area, and be glad to post that information. Can you post some pics of the new little family?

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Thank you for the response. We will most definately be getting her spayed when she stops nursing. I am fearful for her health now considering the number of litters she has had so far. We live in Brandon, MS.

By the way, to give you some history on her. My wife was taking our pomeranian to the vet and they asked her if she would like a kitten. One of the vet's employees found her at the car wash soaken wet. My wife has a serious weakness for animals so she accepted the offer. Two weeks later, my wife and I, and our three children were literally covered from head to toe with rashes... two doctors visits later, they finally figured out it was ring worm!!!! Regardless, she has been a wonderful pet considering our introduction to her!!

I would be happy to post some pictures tomorrow when the light is better. I don't have a digital camera, so I'll have to use my cell phone or computer cam to get some pics posted.

Originally Posted by gayef

52 days is too short a gestation period for the Maine Coon to have sired these kittens.

I understand you feel you are aware of the responsibilities which come with caring for cats, but your post disturbs me.

1) You have an unspayed female who goes outside. Big No No.

2) You allowed her to run freely in your home with an intact male. Another big No No.

I strongly encourage you to visit http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html to find a low- or no-cost spay/neuter clinic in your area and take care of your little girl ASAP once this litter is weaned. You commented that you are aware of the responsibilities of cat care - spaying your girl is the responsible thing to do in this case.

~gf~

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The male was maine coon, the female is a mixed siamese who has had a few litters already. I'm not sure, but does the male make any difference in gestation period?

I'm sorry that my post "disturbed" you. I'm not sure why, but I have a feeling it is something to do with my cat not being a pure breed, which is more disturbing to me. Because someone is able to charge money for animal doesn't mean they can find a better home for it than we do for our kittens ( and we have for all of them).

I understand your point, but again, please read the original post.. I'm not asking for a lecture on something we already know. If you feel the need to hijack the thread and turn it into a lecture, then I ask the moderator to lock the thread and I can move this question to a more unbiased forum.

Originally Posted by tduplantis

The male was maine coon, the female is a mixed siamese who has had a few litters already. I'm not sure, but does the male make any difference in gestation period?

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Felines have a gestation period of anywhere from 60 - 70 days, so 52 is a little short.

Originally Posted by tduplantis

I'm sorry that my post "disturbed" you. I'm not sure why, but I have a feeling it is something to do with my cat not being a pure breed, which is more disturbing to me. Because someone is able to charge money for animal doesn't mean they can find a better home for it than we do for our kittens ( and we have for all of them).

I understand your point, but again, please read the original post.. I'm not asking for a lecture on something we already know. If you feel the need to hijack the thread and turn it into a lecture, then I ask the moderator to lock the thread and I can move this question to a more unbiased forum.

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I DID read your original post and what disturbs me has nothing to do with the fact that your cat isn't pedigreed, rather, I am disturbed that you consider yourself to be responsible when in fact and in deed, you have demonstrated that you are not. I never said you weren't capable of finding good homes for the resulting kittens, I merely suggested that allowing your cat to become pregnant time and time again isn't the TCS idea of responsible cat care.

Please be aware that The Cat Site is primarily concerned with cat welfare - and with that in mind, allow me to introduce you to Rule Number Two:

"Please make sure to spay and neuter your cat. Unless you are a professional breeder and your cat is part of a professional breeding program, please educate yourself to the importance of spaying and neutering by the time your cat is 4-6 months old. By spaying and neutering you enhance your cat's quality of life and improve his or her health. You are also proving your love for cats because in acting as a responsible pet owner you are minimizing the problem of cat overpopulation. Spay and Neuter: The Best Thing You Can Do For Cats! Please read this article and don't hesitate to ask for more information in the forums."

Oh and by the way, since I happen to BE a Moderator of this Forum, if you want me to lock this thread, no problem, just say so.

They came after the hurricane hit and brought their beautiful Maine Coone with them. We were jokingly talking about how we would like it to mate with our siemese mix who is beautiful also.

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I don't think anyone should "joke" about intentionally breeding two mixed breed cats.

I am glad you plan to have your cat spayed..here is a list of low cost clinics:

http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html#ms

Also...she should not have ANY access to the intact male until she is spayed or she will become pregnant again.

I'm sorry that my post "disturbed" you. I'm not sure why, but I have a feeling it is something to do with my cat not being a pure breed, which is more disturbing to me. Because someone is able to charge money for animal doesn't mean they can find a better home for it than we do for our kittens ( and we have for all of them).

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If you had bred two purebred cats that were not registered...you would have received the same response from Gaye.

Originally Posted by TNR1

If you had bred two purebred cats that were not registered...you would have received the same response from Gaye.

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*grin* You know me too well, Katie.

Doesn't matter if your cat is a purebred or not. What we are concerned about is your "excuses" as to why the cat continues to have litters. I can understand a first accidental litter, but to allow your female to become pregnant more then just one accident is not being a resposible person.

If you don't have the money to spay now, then KEEP HER INSIDE THE HOUSE UNTIL YOU CAN GET HER SPAYED. There is no excuse for more then one litter for a cat - if you are a purebred breeder that is a different matter.

I would start putting $10 or $20 a week on the side and in a few weeks you could have her spayed. There are low cost spay/neuter places - call your local shelter and ask where they are.

Cats take 60-67 days for the litter - average 65, so the maine coon that was at your house is NOT the father.

Maine Coons come in all colors BUT pointed. So unless the father of the kittens happens to be pointed, you'll have normal color kittens. And if you have any "white" kittens, they will probably turn pointed.