My cat just gave birth.

[Rhiannon]

Nah, we give them away, usually to friends of friends.
We don't do it for money. You can't understand the joy of having six lively kittens around.
Rhia: This cat would most likely die if it was to be an indoors cat, or be spayed(sp?). It's still very wild, not exactly your average housecat. And plus, for thousands of years cats have been giving birth, why do we always want to change what happens naturally?

Of course I understand what kittens are about. I used to work at an animal shelter as part of my studies and as a requirement for college volunteer work. You have no idea the number of animals that are put down because no one adopts them. Plus, the number of abused animals I have seen are horrendous. Heh.....too bad eQuuskia isnt around, she could tell you real horror stories, dogs, horses, cows, you name it.

For every litter you have (say 5 or 6 kittens), and give away to people, that's less a chance that a cat at a shelter has. That animal is more likely to be put down. There are some shelters that dont put animals down, but their operation costs are astronomical (minus whatever grants and funding the govt can provide for them). Visit a humane society in your area. Google to find some. Once you see the plight of those animals, you'll understand why I am prosterilization.

As for the benefits of sterilization, you can visit this page.

As for your cat being "wild", unless you have a tiger in your backyard, your cat qualifies as a domesticated cat. As a result, she would probably lead a much healthier life inside the house (who told you she would die?) and she will certainly not die if she is spayed.

As for cats giving birth for thousands of years, so why change that now? We're not exactly in Egypt anymore. Pets are exposed to numerous diseases and carcinogens that didnt exist long ago. Pets live a longer and healthier life when spayed or neutered, plus if helps control the overpopulation that exists.

[na_th_an]

My cat has no guts and he is ten years old. Still plays like a kitty. It is of a big raze, he weights 8.5 Kg and is very, very strong (I mean, he is thicker in his chest than in his stomach). His doctor says that he is a very healthy cat 'cause he has a good diet, he makes lots of exercise and... well, he has no guts

And he sleeps his daily 16 hours, like every other cat... I wish I was a cat

Btw, this is my cat:



I picture him when he was under the table trying to get my attention to play.

[Zack]

Rhia: I am indeed aware of the number of kittens that need to be adopted. Well...what about cat breeders? Pet stores? Hm? Same thing as us, really. I don't see you complaining to them. And another thing. Have you ever seen a cat nurse 4 or 5 kittens? Try putting your hand in, she'll tear you apart. Try petting her, she'll try to bite you. She's purring. She looks really really happy. Why deprive her of that? Because humans, again, want to interfere?
Nath: hehe, that looks like my grandmother's cat (which we gave her). Cute.

[Rhiannon]

Rhia: I am indeed aware of the number of kittens that need to be adopted. Well...what about cat breeders? Pet stores? Hm? Same thing as us, really. I don't see you complaining to them. And another thing. Have you ever seen a cat nurse 4 or 5 kittens? Try putting your hand in, she'll tear you apart. Try petting her, she'll try to bite you. She's purring. She looks really really happy. Why deprive her of that? Because humans, again, want to interfere?
Nath: hehe, that looks like my grandmother's cat (which we gave her). Cute.

Many pet stores buy kittens and puppies from mills (mind you, there are many puppy mills in Canada) Breeders TEND to be more responsible in breeding purebreds. However, one out of every four dogs that arrivea at a shelter is a purebred. So technically, for every dog/cat bred or sold at a pet store, it is one less pet that can be adopted from a shelter.

Yes, I have seen many animals nurse. It's called maternal instinct. Humans are usually the only animals who harm their young. Most animals in nature care for their young. If you place your hand in her litter, she'll bite because she perceives YOU as a threat. I have petted many kittens with the mother present without a problem. Every animal is different and will react differently to certain stimuli. Animal Psychology 101. Look it up sometime. Did you even read the information about the health and psychological benefits about sterilization? Again, visit an animal shelter, and then tell me what you think about sterilization. Do you think youre the only one that does what you are doing? It is because of that that the world is overpopulated with unwanted animals. Go volunteer at a shelter for one weekend. Then tell me what you think.

[Zack]

Take a look for a moment at a neutered male or female. A know about 10 cats that I come frequently in contact with, that are neutered or spayed. They're all fat. I know a bunch of cats that are domestic, and aren't sterilized. Guess what? They're healthier. Not fat.
I'll take a look at that link.

[Rhiannon]

Animals only get fat if their owners feed them excessively and dont give them exercise. That is a myth that is widespread and only contributes more to the overpopulation problem. People tend to feel sorry for their operated pet, so they overfeed. Why dont you read the info I gave you, and visit an animal shelter and talk to the workers before you spread silly myths like that?

[Z!re]

Rhia:
How can you claim that a sterilized cat is happier?

Do you think Nek would be happier if he was sterilized?

Sure, calmer, and easier to controll (hehe, you want that with Nek, don't you... )... but not happier..

Sterilized cat's tend to become lazy, as they don't have the urge to stay strong (for competing against other males)... Thus, a sterilized cat who spends all day lying on a bed/sofa/chair is happy? And an un-sterilized cat who lives outside, roaming around as hit like, is unhappy?


I agree with Zack, sure, there might be an overpopulation of unwanted animals, and I understand your (Rhia's) point of going to a shelter instead of breeding...

But you can't say Zack is doing somethng wrong by letting his cat have kittens...


My mum owns 3 siberian huskeys (It's a dog, as close to wolf as you get :wink: ) she breeds, do you think the poeple who buys her dogs would go to a shelter?

Theese dogs are sought for because of their fine fur, and the fact that they are extremely friendly, they can't even bark (No use in having them as guard dogs other than they look scary)

A "mixed" half tax half pitbull dog in a shelter, or a siberian huskey.. what would you pick?


Ohh, btw, I wish I had a kitten/cat...

[Rhiannon]

Rhia:
How can you claim that a sterilized cat is happier?

Do you think Nek would be happier if he was sterilized?

Sure, calmer, and easier to controll (hehe, you want that with Nek, don't you... )... but not happier..

Humans dont function the same way sexually as cats do. Remember, the only two mammals that have sex for pleasure are the dolphin and the human.

Sterilized cat's tend to become lazy, as they don't have the urge to stay strong (for competing against other males)... Thus, a sterilized cat who spends all day lying on a bed/sofa/chair is happy? And an un-sterilized cat who lives outside, roaming around as hit like, is unhappy?

Again, it is a myth. Cats can stay just as active with owner playtime and less feeding. Cats who live outside are more exposed to diseases and other animals, as well as human malice. Having your cat safely at home, or in an enclosed safe area is the best option.

I agree with Zack, sure, there might be an overpopulation of unwanted animals, and I understand your (Rhia's) point of going to a shelter instead of breeding...

But you can't say Zack is doing somethng wrong by letting his cat have kittens...

There is no "might be" when it comes to overpopulation. When in the US alone there are 6-8 million abandoned dogs and cats, i dont call that "might be a problem" Again, everytime people breed their animals, those are less homes that other animals have to be adopted into.

My mum owns 3 siberian huskeys (It's a dog, as close to wolf as you get :wink: ) she breeds, do you think the poeple who buys her dogs would go to a shelter?

Theese dogs are sought for because of their fine fur, and the fact that they are extremely friendly, they can't even bark (No use in having them as guard dogs other than they look scary)

A "mixed" half tax half pitbull dog in a shelter, or a siberian huskey.. what would you pick?

25% of all dogs in shelters in the US are purebred. There are many breed rescue organizations where you can obtain a healthy purebred dog, sterilized of course. Not all dogs in a shelter are mixed. When a person wants to get rid of their dog, breed doesnt matter.

BTW Z!re, most of this i already discussed with you on MSN. THe replies are to provide more info and disipate myths.

Ohh, btw, I wish I had a kitten/cat...

Adopt

[na_th_an]

To me it was easy. I had this gray ball of hair. I took him in my hand and realized: hmmm, male.

I live in a flat. When a male cat (or any other animal) has "fervour" (how is it said??) his testicles get full of sperma. If the cat doesn't find a female (and I there are not many lady cats in my flat), he suffers during the whole period. Pain. They really suffer. So I just put end to his suffering. Now he's just a happy cat.

You can tell when an animal is happy. That's something very clear.

And Rhiannon is right: that an sterilized animal gets fat is a myth. As I say, my cat is extremely muscular and strong. It weights 8.5 Kg (almost 19 pounds, for the anglo-saxon audience ) but that's 'cause this cat is BIG. His mother was a pure-raze persian cat and his father was a pure-raze cartujo cat (a spanish raze: note the round ears). Every other cat (specially male) can get really fat if you don't feed him or her right. That's meal and exercise what defines the shape of your cat, not his or her sexuality. My cat spends 16 hours sleeping and 8 hours playing. Playing: running, chasing, jumping, being a bummer and doing all sorts of malices.

[Silent-Death]

Well... sience nath posted his cat pic i want to show mine...

Here's my cat Chestnut



When she was a kitten some ass hole put her in a bucket with a board over it and left her to die... but some people found her and brought her to a animal shelter. After a little while we got her. Since her experenice when she was a kitten she really doesn't like being in enclosed places, and being picked up. But she loves getting attition .

Here's my cat Tommy



This cat's pretty much like a dog... he's extremly friendly. He'd let you toss him up and down and he would come back for more. He also loves going into a laudrey basket and taking all the clothes out of it and making a trail around the house. He's also a very very strong cat, picks on his brother Champ.

Here's Champ



He gets scared very easily... but I still like him. Gets picked on alot for his brother every now and then. He can jump really really high.

Here's the two brothers togather, and they look like aliens...



So that's 3 out of 4 of my cats. My last cat, Jacky, is around 16 years old (older then me!). I don't have a pic on the computer of her.