Just one Litter - oh no!

[clarenmax]

I saw my neighbours little girl again, and she looks like she's pregnant again 

Looks like they ignored my advice about getting her done after the last litter, and all the dangers that go with it <sigh> 

[Gillian Harvey]

Thanks  Theres some good ideas there, I'll definitely be paying another visit to the farm shop, if only to see the little kitkat again - I just loved the way she came to greet me and then escorted me through the door (well, I know she actually just wanted to make sure she got back inside, but it was nice  )

[Millys Mum]

Karen jets Jasmines story is a good one for making a point about the difficulty and expense that can happen

[Ela]

  Emergency trip to the vets for a C section on a Saturday night, cat nearly died and 2 of the kittens didnt' make it....     .

You must be psychic that is exactly what happened recently, not to a foster cat but an owned cat.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Perhaps you could invent a friend who allowed her cat to have kittens - and what a time she had of it!  Emergency trip to the vets for a C section on a Saturday night, cat nearly died and 2 of the kittens didnt' make it....     Just pointing out the potential problems rather than directly criticising her.

[Puffball (Louise)]

If you turn the conversation round to the topic maybe you can gently steer her into finding out more about it and making the right choice. Even if it weren't true I would probably say something like.. "I thought the same when I got my first cat, but I did some research and asked the vet who advised against it, I could bring you some information if you like". This would hopefully lead into a conversation of why it's unadvisable and even here I would tread gently and give her very basic facts focusing more on the health issues to her cat and offering to bring her more detailed information. If she says no thanks she has probably already made up her mind and a more heavy handed approach would have no better results. 

[Ela]

Ela i didnt mean go in guns blazing and swearing  when i said "gone for it" i meant i would have said something

Oh I see, with you saying

Sorry i would have just gone for it i'm afriad !! (gobby cow me lol)

I dont care who i upset, i would have said something!

  I thought perhaps you may not have been as diplomatic as you might have been. 

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

and anyway, how could you "end up with the opposite of what you want" when the women had already made her mind up to allow the cat to have litter ?

What I mean is the right approach and the owner may  listen to reason and change he mind, I know over the years so many people have changed their minds when the full implications have been put them in a 'sweet' way.  (which is very difficult in these suiituations). Yet had I as you put it ‘gone for it’ I could well put the hackles of peoples back up and then they may let the cat have litter after litter.

Ela i didnt mean go in guns blazing and swearing 
when i said "gone for it" i meant i would have said something

[Mark]

Maybe she should see a printout of Desley's tribute to Blackie 

[Ela]

and anyway, how could you "end up with the opposite of what you want" when the women had already made her mind up to allow the cat to have litter ?

What I mean is the right approach and the owner may  listen to reason and change he mind, I know over the years so many people have changed their minds when the full implications have been put them in a 'sweet' way.  (which is very difficult in these suiituations). Yet had I as you put it ‘gone for it’ I could well put the hackles of peoples back up and then they may let the cat have litter after litter.

a C Section at my vets would cost £250, £500

Only this weekend someone phone me to ask if we would pay as a vet had quoted about £400.

[Desley (booktigger)]

you could tell her some of the risks and costs - a C Section at my vets would cost £250, £500 if done as an emergency, and if you take Blossom for example, she lost 3 out of the 5 kittens she was carrying (although we think that was due to her being a stray for part of her pregnancy).

[MBll]

Yeah cc but coudnt carry if far     got knackered half way down the road   Sorry this is  off track ...slaps cc

[ccmacey]

I suppose, how do you know that Mags, have you shop lifted before? 

[MBll]

Its heavy lifting a shop why not  just lift the cat insteadlol


You could also tell her that its a risk that she might lose the cat & kittens 

[ccmacey]

Your not thinking of shop lifting are you? 

[Gillian Harvey]

Just a thought....I wonder if she want's her cat to have kitten's because she believe's the cat will be nicer afterwards? You could maybe explain that it would bring more problem's than its worth as the cat may fret for her kittens etc! 

Actually the whole situation worries me now I've thought about it some more and about what she said. I mentioned the lovely marked coat and that was one of the reasons for having kittens from her  . Also this farm shop is alongside a fast road and one of her other cats has already been hit by a car, and while I was there the cat was happily following me round the shop, but the women kept picking her up and putting her outside (well that didnt really deter her, because everytime someone came in through the door she followed them back in LOL!  )

She was a lovely friendly little thing and sat in my arms quite happily....if only I could have just...... noooo, don't need anymore 

[ccmacey]

If the cat is nearly 1 wouldn't it of had a litter by now?

If the lady has already said she is going to get her spayed Im sure a little "push" from you may make her get it done sooner?

You could tell her of all the health risks and also would she be comfortable with where the kittens will be homed.

Or maybe she would keep the kittens and they would just have one litter, and another and another etc, etc 

Gillian your already on speaking terms with the lady so you must be able to sneak it in somewhere 

[Bazsmum]

Just a thought....I wonder if she want's her cat to have kitten's because she believe's the cat will be nicer afterwards? You could maybe explain that it would bring more problem's than its worth as the cat may fret for her kittens etc! 

[Gillian Harvey]

Sorry i feel its a case of nothing ventured nothing gained !

I might wanna go back to that farm shop though LOL!! 

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

Sorry i would have just gone for it i'm afriad !! (gobby cow me lol)

I dont care who i upset, i would have said something!

Sometimes though you just cannot do that as if you did  you could well end up with the opposite to what you want. You often have to treat these types with kid gloves, although in reality it is not want to do.

Sorry dont agree Ela 
and anyway, how could you "end up with the opposite of what you want" when the women had already made her mind up to allow the cat to have litter ?

Sorry i feel its a case of nothing ventured nothing gained !

[Ela]

Sorry i would have just gone for it i'm afriad !! (gobby cow me lol)

I dont care who i upset, i would have said something!

Sometimes though you just cannot do that as if you did  you could well end up with the opposite to what you want. You often have to treat these types with kid gloves, although in reality it is not want to do.

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

Sorry i would have just gone for it i'm afriad !! (gobby cow me lol)

I dont care who i upset, i would have said something!
At end of the day if I save just one cat from having a litter its worth it xxxx

[Ela]

I am afraid had that been me, within a couple of days or so that person would have received a letter saying lying:-

Cats Protection are targeting your area once again  and for a limited period and offering to pay the full cost of cat neuters and spays. Please see over for our reasons for this offer.

If you feel you can take up our offer please give me a ring XXXX XXXXXX, we can lend you a trap if that is necessary.

If transport is a problem we will be happy to take your cat/s for you.

If you have no cats, please pass this onto someone who has.

Best wishes

ELAINE

                                                                                              P T O
On the back is:-

WHY NEUTER?
Cats protection encourages all cat owners to have their cat's neutered/spayed. quite simply there are far too many cats and just not enough caring homes. It's all very well saying oh! I always get good homes for my cats kittens, if that is the case why are rescues  always so full and have a huge list of cats waiting to come in and where are all the tens of thousands of cats/kittens that cats protection take in each year coming from? and why are tens of thousands more put to sleep each year? Sadly most of them come from those so-called good homes. If there were not so many kittens available the thousands of kittens/cats that are put to sleep each year may stand a chance of adoption and that good home you managed to find might have adopted one that has now been put to sleep. it is appreciated  that some go into care because of the owners ill health or a death in the family but the majority are simply not now wanted. Please don't be led into thinking that if everyone had their cat neutered/spayed they would die out, that is just not going to happen there are far too many irresponsible people for that. If there were a few less cats/kittens available would it be such a bad thing? Maybe just maybe they would be more valued and as a result of this perhaps we would not keep reading of the abuse and neglect so many suffer. occasionally rescues are told ‘I don’t want my cat ‘done’ I want it to have some fun’, another word for fun is amusing, it is not very amusing when your cat gets a life threatening disease just because you wanted your cat to have some fun, is it?

RISKS

FIV & FelV is rife; it is passed on from cat to cat by contact, usually sexual or fighting. 

It is not necessary for a cat to have a litter of kittens before it's spayed, indeed all vets would agree that it is of no benefit to a cat at all. 

It is just as important for indoor cats to be neutered/spayed as it helps to eradicate many forms of cancer, e.g. breast, ovarian, uterine prostrate & testicular also enlargement of the prostrate and related infections.
Females will not acquire pyometra a life threatening infection.
Every time a cat comes into season her chances of mammary tumours (breast cancer) increases. therefore indoor cats are at risk just as much as indoor/outdoor cats, this also affects dogs.
Testicular cancer is common in toms as is FIV & FeLV

Please note: FIV & FeLV cannot be transmitted to humans.

Cats lives have been saved many times when a vet noticed something wrong with a cat that would have remained unnoticed until it was too late had the cat not gone for a neuter/spay.

Neutering helps cats live 3 – 5 years longer & have healthier lives.

Fortunately this results in a high take up rate.

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

I'm not a good one to ask really, I tend to drop hints like bullets, if that doesn't work go in for the kill    I guess with age, I'm losing what little patience I have with people when it comes to spaying and neutering as most will still do it their way    I've been pretty good in persuading a certain breeder to get hers done but that has taken alot of tongue biting, a few arguments with Sean and a good few months    I think you just need to explain about all the unwanted cats/kittens in the world that haven't got homes and how many are put to sleep on a daily basis.  It's not something that you can just blurt out into a conversation and needs to be done carefully so it doesn't look like you are preaching.  You can also mention about potential problems a young cat could have giving birth and if they had a choice, they probably wouldn't go through the pregnancy.  Also, having a litter increases the chances of having mammary tumours, there's all sorts of against really.  Good luck anyway, I hope you manage to get through to her   

[Gillian Harvey]

I've just spelt 'litter' the right way now!  - not liteer or whatever I'd put LOL!

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I dont know but am sure some of our rescues would.

[Gillian Harvey]

Stopped at a farm shop on my way home, and was greeted by a goregous young tortie-tabby cat who escorted me in through the door. I hadnt been to this farm shop before, but to be honest was more interested in the cat LOL! Beautifully marked coat, so friendly, rubbed all round my legs.

Anyway, I was chatting to the owner (of the cat and the shop) and asked how old the cat was etc. Apparently she was nearly a year old and the lady said that they would need to think about getting her spayed soon.... oh good I thought...and then came those words, 'but we want her to have one litter first'.....oh dear. 

I didnt say anything, because we'd been chatting away and I didnt want to sound like some busybody!....so, how do you broach it and get the point across, without sounding like that? - (for next time I go there maybe!)