My cat Miezi, who is 2 years old, has just had 3 kittens: they are now 7 days old and are absolutely adooorable! BUT we live in a house and Miezi was used to going outdoors. She's meowing and clearly trying to get out again; she even managed to take a kitten outside two days ago. I caught her just as she was climbing a tree with it and I brought them back to their "nest". What should I do? Should I let her out? How can I be sure she'll come back to look after the little ones?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Translated from French
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Mother cats will keep looking after their kittens as long as we don’t poke our noses in too much! If owners start fussing over the litter the moment the mum steps away, she’ll just see that someone else is taking over and she'll go off and find something else to do!
I don't need any lectures about breeding my cat; that decision is entirely up to me. And I’m certainly not contributing to the "cat crisis" like you're claiming—every kitten I have, I give away for free. I’ve always given them to loving owners who really care about their pets. I’m not some cruel, heartless person! I don’t see why I shouldn’t be allowed to let her have kittens, or what’s so wrong with having them regularly.
Besides, the people I give them to are chuffed that they don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to adopt a cat—especially one that might otherwise have been kept in a pen or a cage in a rescue centre...
From what you’re all saying, it sounds like my girls are unusually maternal, as they’ve always raised their kittens perfectly well while still going out for their regular roam!
priscou: I have to ask, are you completely oblivious? Do you actually realise how outrageous what you've just written is?! Are there not enough stray cats out there already without you refusing to get yours neutered?? You’ve been doing this for 15 years? Well, if it were up to me, I’d have you done for animal neglect! You’re a liability, frankly. Stop thinking the world is perfect and living in cloud cuckoo land. There are cats out on the streets, while others are dying of FIV or starving to death.
It makes no difference whether she goes out or not. You lot keep saying we should treat cats like living creatures and not soft toys, so let them live! She can go out regardless of whether the kittens are weaned or not. I don't understand why you're all freaking out or getting so worked up. And don't you dare tell me I'm wrong, considering I've been doing this with my cats for over 15 years and I've never had a single problem whatsoever.
Besides, what if she doesn't want to get her spayed? Even before being neutered, a cat can keep going outside, especially if she’s used to it; it won't make a bit of difference to her being spayed! Would you like being cooped up in a house for three months without being allowed out? I thought not!
Priscou, you’re saying: "It’s not a problem at all for your cat to go out when she has kittens. If she’s used to being outdoors, she’ll come back shortly after to look after the kittens. You definitely shouldn't stop her from going out. My cat has kittens every two years and we let her out as soon as she asks; we’ve never had any issues, she’s always come back to look after her kittens."
Wrong! Most of the time, cats that go out when they have kittens end up abandoning them very quickly, assuming that humans will just take over.
And by the way, I’m certainly not going to congratulate you for letting your cat breed and therefore contributing to feline misery........
It’s no problem at all letting your cat go out when she has kittens. If she’s used to being outdoors, she’ll come back after a short while to look after them. You definitely shouldn’t try and keep her in. My cat has a litter every two years and we let her out whenever she asks; we’ve never had any trouble, she’s always come back to mind her kittens.
Look @Sevv, it's been 9 hours since Clairomas posted her thread. It would be great if she could come back and give us an update. Did she manage to get the mum to stay with her babies? If not, did she act quickly and dash out to get some kitten milk? If the mother doesn't stay with the little ones, they'll quickly be at risk of hypothermia, as kittens at that age can't regulate their own body temperature yet.
