Is it ok to not spay my cat?

Question

We would like to let our childrfen experience the birthing process and would keep all of the kittens with us. I am just wondering if it would hurt her.

Actually crazy person who is obviously not married and has no kids, they would all be spayed after that, and my children would have lifetime friends.

Many of you had anger - my financial situation is that that I could afford, fix and take care of many more cats, so kittens would be all right. My children would enjoy it. My little lady is not an outside cat, and wouold be bred with another healthy medically fine cat. You people are just rude. I did not ask for you moral opinion, I just asked if she would be ok. Just so all of you know - I plan to let Pearl have a litter.

Answer 1

hmmm I am glad i took the time to glance over what others have written and also read your added edits....

I grew up in the country .. in a time where it wasn't considered a big deal NOT to spay or neuter your pets...everbody's pets were always have babies .. and That by today's standards IS irresponsible .. BUT you have said.. that you want her to have one litter to show your children AND you have said that you will be responsible for that litter .. SO that isn't a concern UNLESS you allow each of those kittens to re-produce BUT i don't think you are going to ......

anyway .. I witnessed one of out cats giving birth and it was a remarkable experience to see, I also saw a lamb being born on a friend's farm.. and chicken's hatching from their eggs... It is an education and people can get up on their high horses and berate you for what they consider to be irresponsible behaviour BUT ( perhaps after many replied) have explained that you will care for the animals .. It isn't as if you intend to drown them after the kids see it ....

HOWEVER what i may do ( as one person suggested) is to take your kids to the pound and show them the abandoned animals and then explain to them that WHILE you are being responsible by caring for the animals .. MANY people aren't and as a result of some people NOT spaying their pets .. MANY animals suffer...

make it a broad education,,,,

but as for your question would it hurt her? I don't think so .. at one point in time it was considered that allowing an animal to have one litter would contribute to it being calmer later on ... how true it is , I honestly can't say , BUT i would suggest that perhaps you speak to your vet :)

Answer 2

It certainly could.

Pregnancy is always a risk. You'd need several vet checks, and if something goes wrong, even an emergency c-section might be needed. (Many people say "But animals have been giving birth in nature for thousands of years without vets!" This is true, but the sad fact is that many of them die in childbirth.) Not something you'd want your kids to watch.

Further, spaying almost complete eliminates the risk of mammary gland cancer and several other diseases. Not spaying your cat leaves her at a much higher risk of getting cancer.

If your cat is does not have a pedigree and if the relevant DNA tests haven't been done both on her and potential father, there's also no guarantee that the kittens won't be deformed physically or mentally.
Also, millions of healthy pets are being put down every year for lack of good homes. I know you said you'd keep all of the kittens, but what if there are six, or even eight? If you really are able and willing to keep that many cats (consider the cost of food & litter alone, not to mention vet costs - getting 6 cats spayed/neutered alone is very expensive, not to mention shots and possible other health problems.)

Spay your cat. If you want your kids to experience the miracle of birth, you could adopt or foster a pregnant queen from a shelter. That way you kids will be able to watch the birth and you won't be bringing any more kittens in an already overpopulated world. :)

Answer 3

That's is nice that you want your children to experience a birthing process...but using your cat is not the best way to do that. Would it hurt her? Probably not....but saying you would keep all the kittens....??? What if you change your mind later, can't tolerate all the little babies running around? Then you will have kittens either given away, sold, or sent to a shelter. Even if you did keep them you would have the same question about "spay/neuter"? And if they aren't spayed/neutered...the cycle starts over. There are too many unwanted cats/kittens already, and it is just so sad. Get your cat spayed and find another way to let your children experience birthing.

Answer 4

Letting you children experience the "birthing process" by allowing your cat to become pregnant is irresponsible. Not only are you using you pet for your own selfish purposes, but you need to consider the reality of an animal birth. First, they have multiple kittens, not just one or two, often they have five or six, which most people are not willing to keep. The cat could have complications during the birth that could also teach your children a gruesome lesson in the death of the babies or your mother cat including still births, kittens stuck in the birth canal and dying, turning the mother septic, along with labors lasting in many hours often requiring a middle of the night trip to an emergency vet. Being that involved in the process and allowing you children to be so close during the process can also cause the mother to eat the babies which is another great lesson for your children to learn.

On top of all this, there are millions of kittens put to sleep each year because of over breeding. Maybe teaching you children to spay and neuter there pets instead of contributing to irresponsible breeding is a better lessen for them to learn,

Answer 5

If you can afford a lot more cats, then please adopt some from the animal shelter and save them from death row. I used to volunteer, there are plenty of tiny kittens brought in on almost a daily basis. There is no reason you need to breed your cat for your children to experience "the birthing process". They might be at school when it happens or the cat might get a hidey-hole away from you when ready to birth. A greater lesson would be volunteering at a shelter with your kids and allowing them to pick out an animal each to bring home. Tell them they are not only getting a pet, they are saving a life and creating more cage space for another cat who might otherwise be euthanized.

Please go visit the shelters. In my county alone, over 4,000 perfectly healthy cats, kittens and beloved pets are euthanized each year due to lack of good homes. Please don't add to the animal overpopulation. Just do the right thing and spay your cat and if you want more, you can get very young ones at the shelter or Alley Cat Rescue or one of any number of rescue groups.

Answer 6

Just in my opinion, I think it'd be better for you to spay her. I actually think it's healthier - even despite the surgery. I saw that you would make sure the male cat is healthy, etc. but I don't think that having your cat have kittens so that your children could experience the birthing process is a good reason.

Answer 7

By not spaying your cat, you will increase the chances of cancer and pregnancy is hard on them too. I see you want to keep all the kittens, but are you prepared for the vet expenses of several cats???? Average litter size is 5, that is a lot of nuetering/spaying costs not counting vaccines and health checks. Plus, are you willing to risk your cat's life if she were to have problems or contract a disease from a tom cat? Are you ready to have your childern have the death experience should something like this occur?

My suggestion to you is this.....Spay your female cat. Then contact a rescue/shelter in your area and offer to become a foster family for animals that come in pregnant of with young babies. This way your children still get the experience and also gain the knowledge of our pet overpopulation problem the responsible way.

I work in shelter and would love to see you guys take this route instead. Best of luck.

Answer 8

Why don't you take the children to the animal shelter to look at all the cats who will be euthanized because of irresponsible pet owners who do not spay their pets. I think that pet responsibility is a far more important lesson for your children to learn than watching the birth of kittens. Besides, you can rent videos to show that.

Answer 9

Well, we have had many cats, none of which were spayed, except the one i have now, Athena. I would suggest taking her to the vet. If you look where they did the surgery, try to see if it is showing any reason for pain. She could also be sick. Hope she is ok <3

Answer 10

yes let your cat have kittens but for everycat you adopt out, a cat it killed in a shelter that was in desperate need of a loving home. \
4 million cats a year are killed because there are no homes for them, its also healtheir to spay them. if you want to experience a cat have birth go to the shelter and foster a pregnate cat,
I'm certain they have one there