Help: Kitten in heat

solaritybengals

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 31, 2005
Messages
2,359
Purraise
5
Location
Raleigh, NC
Also if you let a wandering tom have her you don't know what he might be carrying. He could have FIV, FelV, FIP or many other things (then pass it on to your girl). Those are the only things that will test easily for...then teh cat could have HCM (may not show up until later in age) pass it on genetically to the kittens and they could lead a short life after someone has come to love them. This is why breeding can be difficult as you have to pay attention to the genetics in the lines to eliminate deadly genes.

I agree with everyone else - if you really want to care for some kittens ask your local rescue (even if its far away) if they have any pregnant moms or kittens that might have lost their moms that need care befoer they are adopted out. I'm sure they would appreciate the help you could offer by fostering.
 

dr. doolittle

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
May 31, 2004
Messages
508
Purraise
1
Location
British Columbia, Canada
I worked in a shelter in a very rural area. Many people thought the same as you- that overpopulation was not a problem. Those people obviously had not been to any of the three shelters in their area. We did not have any deadline for animals- we stacked up dog kennels and put kittens in rabbit cages until we ran out of room to put them. Only then did we euthanized, and despite our efforts we still euthanized eight healthy cats and kittens a day, sometimes more.


Please visit the shelters in your area before you assume that you don't have a problem. I think you will be surprised.
 

jen

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 27, 2001
Messages
8,501
Purraise
3,009
Location
Hudson, OH
I will second, third, forth (whatever) that. Please spay her. It can prevent cancer and other bad diseases just to have the simple surgery done. If you tell us your city we can find a shelter nearest to you that would probably be grateful if you said you are looking to rescue some cats that are unfit for indoor life and to provide them with a great barn to hunt in.

Plus like someone else mentioned, what if the tom your female mates with is carrying a disease, there are so so many to worry about your baby getting why take the risk?

If you came to, well many other places, but I live in Kent, Ohio which is a small college town and the town next door has a rescue shelter, a Humane Society and their limit of animals is 150 and they are now at 400. Shelters are flowing over with cats and kittens who are unwanted bcause people just keep letting them breed. You could start up a thing in your town and convince neighbors to spay and neuter their barn cats and when they need another one for their barn, rescue them from the shelter. Man if you went in to one and said call me anytime a feral or outdoor cat comes in, they would kiss your feet they would be so happy. These animals are usually killed. You would be saving lives!
 

madpiano

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Oct 21, 2005
Messages
165
Purraise
1
Location
London, UK
Even though I do agree with spaying/snipping non-pedigree cats, I am also glad some people don't as otherwise I wouldn't have been able to have my adorable kitten.

I went to the local animal shelter to adopt a cat from there ( I initially wanted an older cat, at least 10 years old and preferably female), but they made it so hard for me to adopt any cat from them, that I gave up. I tried the local cats protection league. Same story there. Both places said that I can't have a cat, because I am at work all day and cannot fit a cat-flap. Doh. The reason why I wanted an older cat is exactly that. They tend to be quieter, and don't mind having limited access to the outside (in my case a medium sized garden with a 6ft fence all the way around it). I asked the animal shelter about an indoor cat only ( I live in a 3-bed house, not a small flat), and they said I could adopt a FIV cat, but would HAVE to keep it indoors all the time. But I wouldn't be able to guarantee that (kids running in and out during the summer and stuff...), so I didn't want to take the risk.

I mean, I wasn't inflexible. I said I don't mind breed or colour. The cat can go out in the morning and every evening, all day weekends. I have a big house which is free to the cat to roam, I wasn't against adopting 2 at the same time, and even though I said I prefer an older cat, I also said I wouldn't mind any other age.... How much more flexible can I be ? Why do they make it so hard ? I mean, are only unemployed people with cat-flaps allowed to adopt cats ?

Another friend of mine had the same problem. The moment she told them that she was in full time employment, they refused her a cat. We both ended up getting kittens from someone we heard of through the friend of a friend who needed to get rid of unwanted (?) kittens. Neither of us wanted a kitten, as it isn't nice for them to be at home alone all day, but there was no way we were able to get a full grown cat.

Listening around at work.... same story all over. I mean that way, it's no wonder the shelters a full of unwanted cats, and people go out and get their cats from backyard breeders or a pet-shop.


And the whole thing about pedigree cats are the only ones supposedly allowed to breed. Thats fine by me. Nothing against that, if they wouldn't cost so much ? When I was refused by the animal shelter, I started looking around for pedigree cats. I was shocked at how expensive they are.

My kitten was one of those "free to a good home" and the woman wouldn't accept any money, so I bought her some cat-food, but I would have much preferred to take one from the shelter......

sorry, just a long rant, but maybe shelters should make it easier for people to adopt cats, then there would be more room ?
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
That's an interesting problem. Here in my area, the shelters are hardly ever opened. Most people who have full-time jobs are forced to only go to the shelters on Saturday- it is closed on Sunday. If I ever go non-profit, my place will be open 24/7- that is the hope anyway-

Also other shelters charge a lot for cats to be adopted out. One place I was at, wanted $150.00 apiece for cats that were sick!
 

beckiboo

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 7, 2005
Messages
7,382
Purraise
4
Location
Illinois, USA
Originally Posted by madpiano

Even though I do agree with spaying/snipping non-pedigree cats, I am also glad some people don't as otherwise I wouldn't have been able to have my adorable kitten.


sorry, just a long rant, but maybe shelters should make it easier for people to adopt cats, then there would be more room ?
I foster, and know how many unwanted unplanned kittens there are. If we ever get to where kitties aren't euthanized due to overpopulation, I'll be the first to allow a litter here and there.

I agree that sometimes the shelters are just too darn picky...cats do just fine in a home where the owner is at work all day...or kept inside only... On the other hand, they are just trying to be sure the kitties find a good home.
 

jen

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 27, 2001
Messages
8,501
Purraise
3,009
Location
Hudson, OH
Originally Posted by madpiano

Even though I do agree with spaying/snipping non-pedigree cats, I am also glad some people don't as otherwise I wouldn't have been able to have my adorable kitten.

I went to the local animal shelter to adopt a cat from there ( I initially wanted an older cat, at least 10 years old and preferably female), but they made it so hard for me to adopt any cat from them, that I gave up. I tried the local cats protection league. Same story there. Both places said that I can't have a cat, because I am at work all day and cannot fit a cat-flap. Doh. The reason why I wanted an older cat is exactly that. They tend to be quieter, and don't mind having limited access to the outside (in my case a medium sized garden with a 6ft fence all the way around it). I asked the animal shelter about an indoor cat only ( I live in a 3-bed house, not a small flat), and they said I could adopt a FIV cat, but would HAVE to keep it indoors all the time. But I wouldn't be able to guarantee that (kids running in and out during the summer and stuff...), so I didn't want to take the risk.

I mean, I wasn't inflexible. I said I don't mind breed or colour. The cat can go out in the morning and every evening, all day weekends. I have a big house which is free to the cat to roam, I wasn't against adopting 2 at the same time, and even though I said I prefer an older cat, I also said I wouldn't mind any other age.... How much more flexible can I be ? Why do they make it so hard ? I mean, are only unemployed people with cat-flaps allowed to adopt cats ?

Another friend of mine had the same problem. The moment she told them that she was in full time employment, they refused her a cat. We both ended up getting kittens from someone we heard of through the friend of a friend who needed to get rid of unwanted (?) kittens. Neither of us wanted a kitten, as it isn't nice for them to be at home alone all day, but there was no way we were able to get a full grown cat.

Listening around at work.... same story all over. I mean that way, it's no wonder the shelters a full of unwanted cats, and people go out and get their cats from backyard breeders or a pet-shop.


And the whole thing about pedigree cats are the only ones supposedly allowed to breed. Thats fine by me. Nothing against that, if they wouldn't cost so much ? When I was refused by the animal shelter, I started looking around for pedigree cats. I was shocked at how expensive they are.

My kitten was one of those "free to a good home" and the woman wouldn't accept any money, so I bought her some cat-food, but I would have much preferred to take one from the shelter......

sorry, just a long rant, but maybe shelters should make it easier for people to adopt cats, then there would be more room ?
That is so odd that it works that way in other countries. Here, at least in my local shelters (all of them) you have to sign a contract that says you will never let the cat be an outdoor cat, that you will always keep it indoors. There are too many dangers and disease and horrible people out there. I wouldn't take the risk either way.
 

semiferal

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Messages
1,890
Purraise
9
Location
in my apartment
Originally Posted by Jen

That is so odd that it works that way in other countries. Here, at least in my local shelters (all of them) you have to sign a contract that says you will never let the cat be an outdoor cat, that you will always keep it indoors. There are too many dangers and disease and horrible people out there. I wouldn't take the risk either way.
Keeping a cat indoors only is an American-Canadian cultural thing. In the UK, Australia, NZ, and probably many other places, it's not only unheard of but also considered cruel to keep a cat locked up indoors all the time.

I'm not saying I think it's fine to indiscriminately allow a cat out 24/7, nor do I really think a cat is really better off never being allowed outdoors. But it does go to show that what we assume is universal truth is really just a cultural quirk - whether you are from an indoor-only culture or an outdoor-access-always culture.
 
Top