My 5 month old kitten (breeding queen) is in heat! Help!

I didn't ask for veterinary advice. I asked for advice on care. Completely different. Vets don't necessarily have the knowledge of keeping catteries. Precisely the reason I did my own reasearch. (I can't tell you how many vets I spoke to when I adopted my rabbits in relation to neutering. Some told me not to, some told me to go ahead. Even vets have opinions.)

The advice I asked for was also on my first queen, which I've said already. It's a learning curve, what I know now I'll know for next time. Advice has to come from somewhere! This isn't the only place I asked for it. One of many.

You don't necessarily need to trust those you don't know, but to insult them is something else. An estimated 12% of the population of felines in Britain aren't cared for properly. This number is scarily high, but you have to remember that the majority of cats (7 in 8) are loved and looked after. So you honestly don't trust anyone who homes a cat? Where's the logic in that?

I've done my fair share of rehoming. I still do it now and I'll continue to. But there is nothing wrong with breeding responsibly. To say there's no such thing is bitter and dry. I get so much joy from my animals. They're perfectly bonny and healthy too. If I choose to pass on little bundles of love to other homes then there's nothing wrong with that at all.

The idea that people shouldn't keep or have domesticated felines is just silly. There's no harm in it.

Yes, you did ruin my thread. I asked a question and got an investigation by The Spanish Inquisition which hasn't done any good. So thanks for your opinion, Wica. But it's gone in one ear and out the other!

 

Hey Dolly-you and I and everybody else knows you are doing the right things for the right reason. If not they should!

Without going back to the op, but if I recolect, most of the post was about how you feel for your poor kitty and her current and future heat issues.
You asked for a little advice from someone who may have dealt with this issue before.

If this is your 1st little queen, it must be very exciting, and like you said there is a learning curve, and my guess is you have done a lot of research on the subject.

Like I said earlier is I just want to see pics even if that's nest year.

 

Thank you again Keenman your post came at a refreshing time! The op was about exactly that. I just felt bad for her, that's all. I'll definitely get some pictures to you when I finally have a litter.

 

Dolly, I just have to disagree.

Having a litter if you want them and have friends who want them, might be fine.

More than that, not so much.

Right now humane societies are flooded with purebread, loved, well cared for pets. People get them, and then just can't afford to keep them in a recession. My family volunteers at a humane society, and my sisters are always bringing home purebread/expensive animals. We just adopted a chihuahua (our second) that's pretty textbook perfect for the breed.... Those little shits are expensive, and this one is a few months less than a year and doesn't EVEN have the general chihuahua problems. Abandoned. Someone paid for it, from a breeder who was probably perfectly responsible and just passing on a little bundle of love to someone who seemed responsible as well, and times got tough and it ended up by the road.

There's just no excuse, IMO, for making more cats. Preserving a breed, sure, spreading more around or breeding because breeding cats brings you joy.... No, really not okay. You say you see the abandoned cats, so how are you justifying this? There's a lot of responsible breeders, and a lot of cats from them that end up dead for no reason.

I don't know how it is in london, but at least in the US, it's like fucking kitty auschwitz weekly in any large city. And I think it's horrible that people are breeding MORE cats instead of taking what we've got. You've got nice strays, if you want more cats get MORE nice strays.

I mean no disrespect, but I wish you'd think more about the whole situation before making more cats. In principle, there's nothing wrong with it, but in action, I think it's wrong to breed cats, even for good homes, when you can go and get cats that are just as nice at the humane society, that will, without fail, die without your intervention and shelter. Every kitten born while there are adoptable cats is one more cat sentenced to death. If you have a friend who wants an animal, say great, let's go pick you out a nice one, and save it's life.


Wu, I don't know what your outdoor colony is living in, but you might consider scrounging some cheap/used insulation, even just from a dumpster, and some plywood, and adding another layer inside or outside of whatever it is. Or even stuff like styrofoam would help. I would say I'd help, but I think we live like a thousand miles apart....

 

OK, not to beat this dead horse; but I have ALWAYS heard - and according to the New World Dictionary, a feral anything (cat or whatever!) is "wild, untamed and savage". If a cat is feral, it is simply NOT adoptable. If a cat (or whatever) has been tamed, then it is NOT feral. Usually an animal born in the wild that grew up in the wild, is untameable (feral); however, there are always exceptions. The exceptions would include the previously wild (feral) cat who was tamed, and is NO LONGER feral.

 

No, you don't have to disagree at all. Can I remind you that your original post suggested I either spay her or let her breed? You've changed your tune. You then suggested that I stimulate her myself and lo and behold, your post was deleted. So are you disagreeing just for fun or am I meant to take your posts seriously?

Oh, so it's okay to preserve a breed but not to breed them for enjoyment. Right. So, breeding for the sake of existence is okay, but because you actually want to isn't. Logic seems to have gone right out the window on that one!

When did I say I see abandoned cats? You're completely wrong if you think I'd just ignore strays. I would never see abandoned cats and do nothing about it. I've found wandering cats before and returned them to their owners and I've taken in strays that turned up on my doorstep. My favourite boy turned up in my garden and sat outside in the pouring rain before I let him in.

Cats never end up dead for no reason. Here, feral cats are classed as vermin. Fact is they do no harm to society at all. The problem is when people don't neuter their cats, they wander off looking for mates and become feral. Since feral cats are vermin, they belong the owner of whatever land they occupy and that owner has every right to kill them off if they choose to. There are laws to protect animals and to ensure they are humanely killed but it doesn't always happen. There are horrible people who set illegal steel traps and lay down food laced with rat poison. That's the problem with ferals that we have here. Not to mention that 90% of kittens born to feral cats die in the early stages of life. If they were neutered then this wouldn't happen.

Yes, stray cats are destroyed here. Humanely but unnecessarily. I've heard stories of cats getting lost and being so petrified when they were caught by officials that they bit or scratched and so were then put to sleep. I've heard of people abandoning beautiful Persian kittens. It's down to stupidity. Anyone with a brain (and who wanted some money) would neuter the kittens and sell them on. If you didn't care about the money, you'd give them away.

I like in a nice quiet neighbourhood away from main roads. My cats and my neighbours cats have a lovely life jumping fences from garden to garden sunning themselves before coming home at night for dinner. Cats are independant animals. They return home to their owners because they want to.

The breed I plan on raising is a very rare breed. The chance is more than likely that you've never met one in your life and the chance of ever finding one in the street is practically zero. I will also be helping to perfect the line. That's not my reason for doing this, but it's a fact. If I end up with a bad quality kitten then he or she will definitely be neutered and petted out. I know the breed better than you can imagine. The one alter boy I have is known in this part of the world because he's so perfect. The people I get these cats from are part of a very close-knit community. We know exactly what we're doing and we do it well and professionally.

You are disrespectful. Cats from 'humane societies' don't just die. At least they don't here. There are lots of wonderful charities nationally working hard to raise awareness regarding the neutering of cats and who neuter and rehome strays. They don't just kill them.

You mentioned dogs too. Completely different kettle of fish. The problem with dogs in this country is that anyone can own one and they do just that. People with lives too busy to walk them enough keep them in high-rise flats and without enough money to care for their kids properly, let alone a dog. Bring back the dog licence, make people prove that they can properly care for a dog. Hopefully we'll do just that.

His 'outdoor colony' live indoors. Sounds to me like he has strays, not ferals.

 

they live in a junkyard, in abandoned cars

the ones that have it the worst are naturally the young and old - young ones don't know about winter yet, old ones, well . . .

there's a photo album in my profile, for whatever reason very few cats showed up that day so you don't get to see them, but . . .

 

don't don't know about cats, but in dogs that's the pool where genetic defects thrive

no, i bring in as many cats as i can - if they play nice with the other cats and use the litter boxes they can stay

most of them are outdoors, in a junkyard a mile from my house

a few live in my general neighborhood, i feed them on my front porch, and these are easier to work with as keith woos them through the door

there used to be a third colony, about two miles from the house, but it's too far for me too walk in the winter so we got everyone out [we hope] and shut it down

 

Dolly, you gotcha head in the clouds.

I DO have to disagree, I'm personally involved in dealing with the problem you're creating/ignoring.

Yes, humane societies DO just kill them.

Yes, you DO see strays, I didn't mean you see them everywhere, I meant that you're aware of them (as I expect you knew) because you SAID that you're aware of them. I have been unable to find numbers for your area (indeed, numbers are hard to find at all), but I did happen to find this wikipedia photo, with a helpful caption, directly relating to your area. It's very old, I'm not sure if the numbers are current or from the pictures time. If they're from that time, think what they are now.

My first post was obviously not meant to be serious, unless you'd prefer take it that way. There IS a thread devoted to masturbating cats, I was using hyperbole to point out that it's pretty silly to be asking how to stop her being in heat, if you're NOT willing to let her breed, to fix her, or to masturbate her. Seems like the choices you've got, to me.

I'm not changing my tune, I think it's wrong that you're breeding this cat, period, but that's more off topic, and in my first post I stayed on topic and pointed out what your options actually where.

I think this statement speaks for itself about your qualification to be involved in breeding anything.

Also, abandoned pet animals are all quite similar, with the dog I was making the point that even if you fix the cats you distribute, bad things can and do happen to them when their owners get tired of them, not everyone gives two shits about animals, just because their kid wanted it for a week or whatever won't save it in the long run. The dog in question was of an expensive type, and was fixed. Still almost died in the desert.

 

These cats are pedigree registered. There's no funny business, for me if they don't have a proper pedigree and I can't see the history of the line then it just won't be happening. The queen in question was brought over from Russia in her mothers stomach and she'll be bred to an English stud. My next arrival is from an English queen, bred to an American stud. Thankfully people have brains when doing this. Otherwise you'd never make a successful breeder and you'd have a shit cattery which just wouldn't be worth it. In that case you really would have a problem and I wouldn't suggest anyone to breed if they don't know what they're doing.

Oh I see! My bad. That's pretty cool. The ones who live in your neighbourhood though, how can you be so sure they're not someone's pet? Or do the poor things appear ratty and malnourished?

 

Not to answer for him or anything, but my opinion would be that they'd go HOME, instead of living in a junkyard in 30 below weather.

I sort of expected someone who knows so much about catteries and whatever to know how many people take care of feral colonies.

 

Not here they don't (though this is different for ferals). Local government do not take responsibilty for stray cats so the work is done by independant charities and I think you'll find charities here vet all their animals and wouldn't be successful charities if they destroyed healthy cats. I'm not saying they don't, but the large thorough charities are well supported by the public. Local government tend to take some responsibility with dogs and the way in which they work seems to vary. Some councils suggest that if you find a lost dog, you should take it to your local police station. Others have a phone number for you to ring for a local charity which I imagine would have received some sort of government pay.

Doesn't relate to my area by the way. London is a huge place and I'm actually out in the 'sticks' in a small city by the orbital. I also live on a brand new development which was a building site until 3 years ago so sadly our wildlife has been very little. It's a private development and there are a good few cats around here but they're all collared and well fed. Because it's private there are no through roads so it's a very safe place to keep cats and let them wander. Wildlife is slowly coming back though. Foxes are very common in Britain and I see them loads but I've only just heard about one being seen on the development and I have a feeling my cats may bring back more 'presents' this summer.

That picture was taken in 1903 and is a lethal chamber at Battersea Dogs Home. Battersea Dogs Home is Britain's most famous rehoming charity for cats and dogs. They are nationally known as the only animal rescue to take in any cat or dog in any state. Therefore, sometimes they take in sick animals which are vetted and if they are too poorly then the decision may be taken to euthanise them. They never put a healthy animal down. When they do, it's done by injection. Like I said; 1903.

Yes, there IS a thread devoted to masturbating cats. I would think it easy to understand why I don't want to be associated with it.

Yes, you're also very off topic and this conversation is completely unappreciated. No, your first post did not cover my options. You left a very valid one out actually. Feline contraception. It exists and if she starts calling again, we'll be taking a trip to the vet. So there you go, we've both learnt something.

WTF?! I said cats don't end up dead for no reason. There's always a reason. If you have issues with that, then maybe you meant to say that cats end up dead for no valid reason.

We'll be here forever. I can see this is just going to be a silly debate that goes on and on. I'm pissed off that it's gone so far off topic. That said, I helped by actually replying to your posts. You're wasting your time because I'm happy with my choices and someone on the internet isn't going to influence the decisions I make.

 

They don't LIVE in a junk yard if he feeds them from his doorstep! Or are you implying that Wica lives in a junk yard?

 

^^^ i feed them in two places - i've said this more than once

one is the porch, i'm sure a few pets take advantage, but we pay attention to the cats, learn their habits, etc. - it's not rocket science - and we know who is who

i know my last 5 porch cats are two litters of a little gray cat, very wily, that we eventually trapped and spayed - i have guesses as to the father but those toms are even tougher

though my neighborhood does slightly resemble a large junkyard [not kidding] the junkyard i am referring to is in a non-residential part of town, apart from a trailer park

while there are some dumpers out there [you can usually tell if you can catch them with your bare hands], most are either descendants of descendants, or were dumped so long ago they've largely forgotten human kindness [if they ever really knew it]

actually the since-closed third feeder got most of the abandoned cats - hungry little sweetpea, picked her up and put her in a cloth grocery bag and took her home - bobby, crying mostly for water [liquid water scarce in winter], skittish, had to trap her, but she was talking to me in a way that ferals/wild cats will not

 

I'm with RoorShack on this one 100%

Just because you WANT to breed cats doesn't make it right, even if you have no ill intentions, it is wrong. There is an absurd over-abundance of cats and making more because it makes YOU HAPPY is not right at all.

If you know people that want cats, direct them to the local animal shelter, because, as Roorshack stated, they will be euthanized if they are not adopted.

 

Wica, I'm sorry I keep misspelling PARTS of your name, I know what it is, but that blUska jumps out at me after the W. Lysdexia?

Dolly, I did not say he lives in a junkyard, and if he did, what's it to you? Sounds like a pretty good premade place for strays, to me....

If they're in cars, you could probably insulate over the windows and throw a few blankets around the floors and make it a lot warmer, with just stuff out of the dumpsters behind the hardware store and dollar store, if I'm understanding right. Unless it's crushed cars or something. Not to second guess you, you obviously understand their plight a lot better than myself.

 

My God you're a miserable and bitter old bunch!

RooR, what the hell are you on about?! It's absolutely nothing to me if Wica lives in a junk yard. When you get shit wrong, admit it. Don't start blaming someone for something completely different.

 

Just thanking u guys for a great read, , ) ur a pashanet lot,

 

your posts would make more sense if you learned how to read

 

least of my worries, christ i apparently have been pronouncing my real last name wrong for the last 22 years, so how could i complain?

[very long, ugly story, don't ask]

the jackass who owns the junkyard barely lets me feed there - when i wanted to rig up an electric water bowl to extend the liquid period he whined about how it would cause a fire and burn his precious

never mind that i have one on my front porch, which is made of wood . . .