do people intentionally have/let their cats get pregnant? or are these "surprise"?

I'm new around here and learning so much!

I read on this board about many pregnant cats, the births, the tiny kittens, etc.

So - I'm wondering: For most of you in this situation, was it a "planned" pregnancy, or a "suprise?" Was it something that happened before your got your cat fixed? Or something you wanted to have happen?

I've never had a pet that wasn't fixed, but it's not something I really thought much about.

Originally Posted by OnTheBrink

I'm new around here and learning so much!

I read on this board about many pregnant cats, the births, the tiny kittens, etc.

So - I'm wondering: For most of you in this situation, was it a "planned" pregnancy, or a "suprise?" Was it something that happened before your got your cat fixed? Or something you wanted to have happen?

I've never had a pet that wasn't fixed, but it's not something I really thought much about.

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Welcome Brink....I think you will find a little bit of both here since we have both breeders (intentional pregnancy) and non-breeders. Remember that no matter the source of the pregnancy..we are here to help people through the pregnancy.

Katie

Oh, and I just realized that (I think) some people who are sharing their birth stories are fostering mama cats. Is that right? That sounds like a very cool thing to do!

Originally Posted by OnTheBrink

Oh, and I just realized that (I think) some people who are sharing their birth stories are fostering mama cats. Is that right? That sounds like a very cool thing to do!

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Yes....there are lots of fosters who post here...and people who have found strays that they are caring for and ensuring that the mom is fixed once the kittens are weaned (also very cool of them to do that).

Katie

Yes, we have many Foster Meowmmys and we love to hear all about the kitten-crazies and of course, we LOVE seeing the pictures of the babies!!

However, we are very strongly pro-spay/neuter here at TCS, but the fact is that many people do, for whatever reason, find themselves taking care of a pregnant cat. It is just the reality of it. So, here we are and this was how this Forum was born. Welcome. I sincerely hope you enjoy your visits here.

GayeF, Forums Moderator (and Breeder/Preservationist of Old-Style Siamese Cats)

for me, it wasent " intentional" icis ripped my screen out to get out. when i caught her it was 48 hours later. i now dont open my windows, i have two air conditioners running. She wont get a second chance tho, cause she is going to be spayed ASAP. Prue was already done.

LIza - I hope this doesn't sound rude:
Why do some people delay getting their cats spayed? I seem to read that a lot - that the cat got pregnant before her human got her spayed.

At what age can cats get pregnant?

Originally Posted by OnTheBrink

At what age can cats get pregnant?

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Cats can get pregnant as early as 4 months of age...yet, many vets will not fix a female cat until 6 months of age. More and more vets and low cost clinics however are embracing pediatric spay/neuter where kittens are fixed as early as 6 weeks as long as they are 2 lbs. I actually recommend waiting until the kittens are 8-10 weeks before spaying/neutering...you are still under 4 months of age.

Katie

Originally Posted by OnTheBrink

LIza - I hope this doesn't sound rude:
Why do some people delay getting their cats spayed? I seem to read that a lot - that the cat got pregnant before her human got her spayed.

At what age can cats get pregnant?

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cats can get pregnant at age 4 months, or over 5 lbs. i hadent yet due to $$ issues, and that she was a indoor cat, so i thought i had time.

My cat got pregnant like a week or two after I got her. She escaped from the house. I really had no idea she was even in heat. It was pretty quick. Anyway the second she got pregnant she was just finishing up with her litter and I thought that she was still nursing. Anyway she went into heat again and tore the screen out and had a second litter. Anyway shortly after her second litter she was spayed right away.

Originally Posted by Krazycatlover

My cat got pregnant like a week or two after I got her. She escaped from the house. I really had no idea she was even in heat. It was pretty quick. Anyway the second she got pregnant she was just finishing up with her litter and I thought that she was still nursing. Anyway she went into heat again and tore the screen out and had a second litter. Anyway shortly after her second litter she was spayed right away.

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A lot of people don't know that cats are induced ovulators and don't have to be in heat to get pregnant. They can get pregnant again as soon as a few days after having their litter. Glad you had her fixed.

Katie

Originally Posted by TNR1

A lot of people don't know that cats are induced ovulators and don't have to be in heat to get pregnant. They can get pregnant again as soon as a few days after having their litter.

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Hey - a lot of people don't know that about humans either!

Is there any research to show if a nursing mother cat has a reduced likelihood of fertility?

Only time I have had pregnant cats was the about to pop momma tortie I found and another time when my cat Bowie got out and got pregnant. But we immediatley spayed her so she wouldn't have them. Don't need more kittens in the world just because we failed to spay her in time. Now ANY pregnant female cat I find I have spayed immediately unless they are too far along. I know how bad the overpopulation is from working in shelters for a few years and I will do everything I can to help that.

Originally Posted by KatKisses

Our cat's are altered, but we live my the interstate and many heartless people throw their cats out. The cat gets preggers, and has kittens, we see it and try trapping it. Sometimes we catch pregg cats or we catch momma cat's and if we arn't able to catch the kittens in a couple hours after them momma was caught then we release the mom so she can nurse her kittens. Anyways it leads to feral cats that we rehome when appropriate.

I have never intentionaly bred any animal, there are way too many animals without homes that need homes.

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Katkisses..do you have luck retrapping these moms?? At our clinic, we will spay lactating cats and rerelease her....that way we do not need to retrap the mom.

Katie

Katie, how will the kittens eat if the mom is away being spayed?
The litter that my cat came from all died, the mom just up and left them, and she would have too but for whatever reason, our big dog squeezed into those dense bushes and brought her out.

Originally Posted by mowsluver

Katie, how will the kittens eat if the mom is away being spayed?
The litter that my cat came from all died, the mom just up and left them, and she would have too but for whatever reason, our big dog squeezed into those dense bushes and brought her out.

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There is a risk of the kittens not surviving, but once you have trapped a cat...it is easier to simply go ahead with the spay then to release her and "hope" you catch her at a later date. What if she disappears?? Then she is still intact to have litter after litter after litter. Some cats become very "trap savvy"...so that complicates trapping them again. At the clinic, we mark whether a cat was lactating so the caretaker can search for the kittens...and a lactating cat once spayed can still produce milk.

Katie

I don't think, unless someone is breeding they are intentionally allowing their animals to get pregnant. There are so many, many, many animals euhtanised everyday that just to allow it is just wrong for the sake of both momma and babies. I however, have the fastest thing on four legs and she escaped me and as you know just a little while outside in heat is all it take. It is much more long and complicted but if I knew that it was safe to have had her spayed before she was 6 months old then I WOULD HAVE! And if anything we would have adopted and fostered, but things happen and no one should be persecuted for mistakes. But I think it is safe to say that you have foster parent's, parents who have taken in a stray or a stray took them in , those whos babies got out accidently, and those who breed. It can be an exciting time and I think for those like me who love their babies and it happens accidentally we still make the best of it and try to enjoy the happiness of bringing new life in the world in spite of the circumstances.

Originally Posted by OnTheBrink

I'm new around here and learning so much!

I read on this board about many pregnant cats, the births, the tiny kittens, etc.

So - I'm wondering: For most of you in this situation, was it a "planned" pregnancy, or a "suprise?" Was it something that happened before your got your cat fixed? Or something you wanted to have happen?

I've never had a pet that wasn't fixed, but it's not something I really thought much about.

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All of my cats are sterilized, but the pregnant abondoned cat I took in 6 weeks ago was not.

well far all of mine have been fixed.

But i wish i would had a kitten from one of my cats.