My Cats Gone Mad

sharonlarkin

My cat had a litter of 7 three weeks ago. Today for some strange reason she is moving them one by one into a different corner, and then putting them back again. This is her second litter so they are in the basket that was used for the first ones.

Does anyone have any idea why she is doing this. And what I can do to stop her....
Thanks

FranknFurter

Sounds like she dosent feel completely secure with them being in that basket or place and is fretting a bit. put some more baskets or large cardboard boxes turned on their sides around the room in corners, make them comfy and she will eventually settle wherever she decides is "right"

its normal behaviour instinct tells her to put her babies where they are safest, shes just not sure where that is. Probably try puttin another basket in the corner she keeps trying to move them to most.
Dont move her current basket from where it is tho or you will *really* freak her out.

b

mjffey

What Franknfurther says is true. She doesn't feel save where she is now.
Another question: Are you a breeder that your cat is having her second litter? If no, why isn't she spayed then. There are more then enough cats looking for homes. There is absolutely no need for more.

CookieCat

Good advice from the above and just to make you aware (I replied on another thread about spaying this cat) She could also be back in season or worse if she is an outdoor cat, she could be carrying another litter already which could explain this behaviour.
Claire

CookieCat

***Just in case you missed it***:D

Hi Sharron since this is her second litter will you spay her now? Here is some info taken from www.kittenadoption.ie that may help.
Also remember the importance of worming the kittens and have them healthcheck by a vet. Ideally you should get the their first vaccination before they are re homed too. Maybe better test mom for FIV and FeLV since she has been caught twice. I don't suppose it was a planned breeding, can't be too careful as you don't know what a tom may be carrying and may well have passed on to your own cat and the kittens.


Overpopulation
Kitten Adoption, along with many other rescue groups, deal with hundreds of unwanted kittens that are born and abandoned every each year. These unwanted cats are a direct product of ignorance and misinformation, by the general public, regarding cat welfare issues. Apart from taking in these kittens, tending to their various health needs, and re-homing healthy happy kittens, part of rescue work involves the education of the public in the area of Spay and Neuter. It is the only way we can begin to tackle the thousands of unwanted kittens born every year and the unnecessary suffering of un-spayed and un-neutered cats. An estimated 300,000 unwanted kittens are born every year in Ireland.

Each kitten that is born is capable of going on to produce litter after litter of kittens of their own. One cat and it's partner can produce thousands of kittens in their life time. Multiply that by only 5 or 6 couples and rescue work is back to square one every year, mopping up the unwanted kittens. Our job in rescue is an uphill battle, never enough volunteers, never enough money, never enough hours in the day. It is made easier when people Spay and Neuter.

"It's only one litter" or "I will have the cat spayed as soon as she has had her litter" are frequent responses to spay requests. A matter of days could mean she is already pregnant, and if the owner does get her spayed in the recommended 6 weeks, she may be pregnant and a termination will have to be undertaken.

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Advantages for females
Spaying will prolong your cats life. A spayed cat on average will live 4-6 years longer than an un-spayed cat. Spaying minimizes the various health problems associated with allowing your cat to breed.

The risk of mammary cancer is reduced if a cat is spayed before its first heat.
Spayed pets cannot develop pyometra, a serious uterine infection.
Difficult pregnancy and delivery in older, younger cats or ill cats is prevented. We have had kittens as young as 17 weeks come into season. Pregnancy can occur as early as 20 weeks of age.
A spayed cat no longer goes through heat cycles. Female cats normally come into heat several times a year. Spaying ends several problems associated with the heat cycle, including spraying urine and the necessity of confining females to prevent the approaches of persistent males. Spaying also prevents such irritations as a howling cat in heat. She will be a happier cat within herself as she will not have the urge to get out and seek a mate which itself brings unnecessary behavioral issues. She will not try to get out and roam, which could result in her being killed by a car Or fall foul to other man made dangers.
The mating process it's self is a traumatic experience, there are no hearts and flowers only rough and vicious copulation. The female will be grabbed by the scruff of her neck with a deep penetration bite. This will render her semi-motionless. The male mounts her. His "anatomy" has barbs, so the tom can fix himself to the female. Many females have been torn internally through the mating process. The deep bite wound to her neck may also be a transition site for many viruses and illnesses as is the Tom cats semen.
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Spread of disease
A vaccinated Tom does not stop it transmitting FIV, FLeV, FIP and many other feline illness which are not always obvious.
There is also genetics to consider. I.e The deaf gene associated with white cats, which may have skipped a generation but may present in in any subsequent kitten.
Birth defects, such as cleft palate means a kitten will automatically be put to sleep, as they are unable to feed. Heart defects and other congenital conditions may present themselves.
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Benefit of breeding? What benefit?
I can see no benefit what so ever in allowing a cat to breed. A cats psychological make up and drive is different to ours. How do you know she wishes to breed? As the drive has no premeditation, it is a bodily function triggered of by hormones. It is a case however of humans not understanding cats and projecting their human emotion onto the situation. A cat will not suffer emotionally or psychologically because she has not had a litter. She will be better off. Birth it's self is a trauma for any animal, and things can go wrong, add to that her readiness to be a mother? Instinct does not always kick in, what happens in these cases? Do the kittens survive or do they come into rescue?

It is just important to neuter male cats too!

CookieCat

Just to add if it's a financial worry. Please get in contact with kitten adoption or some off the other groups they may be in a position to help you.
Claire

RotalicaV

If the woman wants to have kittens, let her have kittens.

CookieCat

If this woman had kittens it would be a bloody miracle:D As for your comment how uneducated but perhaps you don't get enough attention any other way.:cool: Hence your attention seeking post:cool:
You obviously don't have a clue about animal welfare.
Claire X

luckat

Another vote for putting her somewhere safe; do you have an under-stairs cupboard?

It might also be an idea to ask the vet, on the off-chance she might have milk fever (puerperal (sp?) infection, very dangerous to the animal, which can cause anxiety).

I'd also go with spaying her; in theory letting the woman who wants kittens have them is fine, but the trouble is that you'll then end up populating the world with un-home-able kittens who starve to death, and it's kind of cruel.

But let's not get into a big political row about this. Everyone's entitled to their opinion.

CookieCat

http://www.kittenadoption.ie/21april06.htm

Get the cat to a vet let him make an informed call. That should be the first thing in any situation.

Political or not there are too many unwanted kittens born to die in Ireland sorry but that's IMO.
Claire X

Ruu_Old

When our cat had the litter she brought them (3) from the shed all the way to the window of the house, in the window and then into the Mams wardrobe. She was scared that the daddy was going to come along. Hope you got it sorted out anyway.:)

sharonlarkin

I've moved her to the corner she picked. Set her up nice and cozy, and she seems much better now, Thanks

skink

CookieCat wrote:

If this woman had kittens it would be a bloody miracle:D As for your comment how uneducated but perhaps you don't get enough attention any other way.:cool: Hence your attention seeking post:cool:
You obviously don't have a clue about animal welfare.
Claire X

well your numerous posts make you look like a nosy busy body with nothing better to do....

the first response explained a solution, its only natural behaviour

Arcadian

skink wrote:

well your numerous posts make you look like a nosy busy body with nothing better to do....

the first response explained a solution, its only natural behaviour

I think that's totally uncalled for and out of line. I think if you read through 'claires' previous posts you'll find that she has plenty to do, cleaning up after people who don't spay/neuter.

Oriel

Arcadian wrote:

I think that's totally uncalled for and out of line.

I think it's pefectly fine. CookieCat is completely ruining Sharon's thread with unwanted, unsolicited comments about her cat. One message with that advice would be fine, but she's crossing the line here.

Nala

Sinecurea, when you're doing the work that CookieCat does, and are putting up with the crap that she probably does from people not looking after their cats properly, then you can comment. There are 1.5 million stray cats in Dublin alone, "only one litter" doesn't sound like so little now does it.

CookieCat

It never fails to amaze me the reaction of some people when the subject of neutering and spaying animals comes up. The ones who have the negative "mind your own business reaction" But offer no explanation on why they think cats should breed.
FIY 23% of domestic cats in Ireland are not neutered so it is BIG concern and without education or an attempt to educate the situation and problem continues.

As for having nothing better to do! Perhaps those who think that should give up a little of their time to their local cat rescue group. This week for my sins I have been taking the calls for kitten adoption as the girl that runs it is not well. All I can say is I don't know how she manages it. So I am making no apologies for stating the facts.
A cat having one litter of kittens can be a mistake, a cat producing 2 litters is IMO irresponsible especially when organizations such as the DSPCA Cats Aid and kitten adoption are over stretched and under manned and funded.

I hope Sharon's kittens find good loving and responsible homes, with people who will have them altered, as well YOU DO THE MATHS.
And that mum is spayed to prevent a third litter of kittens.
Claire X

Gateway

CookieCat is right and it's not fair on the kittens either. I hope she does have homes for them all