Why, whenever anyone's cat has kittens....?

People should have their cats fixed because, there isn't exactly a shortage of cats. As far as I know, cats aren't extinct, and I don't think they will be anytime soon. I have been to the shelters, and it is sad. The shelters are so overpopulated, that a common cat virus becomes almost deadly in there. It is ridiculous. Also, millions of cats are euthanized each and everyday because of overpopulation. There are too many cats, and not enough homes, we don't need anymore cats breeding. Less breeding, more adopting.

Sorry BB but, when there are absolutely NO kittens and cats residing in shelters across the country ONLY then should anyone breed a cat. Sure the Mom cat could be gorgeous and everyone might want a kitten but, there are plenty of kittens in shelters. If they are not adopted they might die. Every time someone has a litter of kittens that is 4 to 8 other kittens that may be put to death just because there aren't homes for them.

The very fact that SOME opinionated twat even thinks it would be okay to breed their cat is shameful. You have not seen the sheer magnitude of the agony that an unwanted kitten/cat is subjected to.

Please re-think your stand on this.....lives depend on you and others like you changing the way you think about this subject.

Why do we say it? Because, just perhaps - we're tired of seeing all the beautiful cats and kittens that are euthanized - killed! - in the shelters daily because people are too lazy, cheap, or irresponsible to spay/neuter their cats. The fact that your cat is pretty isn't a good enough reason to breed - do you think the cats/kittens being killed by the thousands daily in the shelters are no less pretty?

You clearly have never been to a shelter on a weekend, when beautiful mom cats and their litters of dear little kittens are brought in, and never even make it out to the adoption floor because there is NO ROOM. They are stacked, in their carriers in the back hallway until closing time. Then the shelter workers get to inject them and they die.

And people who breed their "purebred" cats? They are back yard breeders, no less. Purebred should be bred only after they've proven themselves in the show ring to be a fit example of their breed. They are generally money making machines for their owners until they are too worn out to breed any more. Their offspring end up adopted to people who are clueless about the breed characteristics, and they too are eventually dumped in the shelter to await the same fate as the moggies unless they're lucky enough to be pulled by a breed-specific rescue.

So perhaps we are opinionated twats, but hey - I think you should take a trip to the shelter on euthanization day, and see what you think when you leave.

when there are no more animal shelters then we can talk. it is VERY irresponsible to "breed" your cat "just because you want kittens"

I challenge ANYONE to go and spend just 1 hour at an animal shelter, look into the eyes of the kittens that are going to be euthanized because there are not enough homes for the kittens that we already have in this world.

If you go into a no kill shelter look at how packed the place is look into the eyes of a cat that has been there almost 2 years waiting for someone to bring him home.

Unfortunately there are people out there who allow their cats to breed time after time with no effort on their part to prevent it. That adds to the unwanted population of cats that either run wild and feral and kill birds, peoples chickens, etc. and are nothing but flea bitten creatures that probably will die a nasty death from disease, other animals attacking them, getting run over by a car, etc. Or the poor things end up in shelters and no one wants them and they end up being put to death. I have had both purebreds and shelter cats....I currently have a Maine **** that I paid a breeder for and a cat that wandered into our yard one day and adopted us. As long as people are going to breed their cats and be responsible breeders, no matter what the cats are purebred or moggys, then there is no problem. Its the ones that have cats that they allow to run free, do not alter them to prevent pregnancy and they have litter after litter with no intention of finding homes for the kittens, those are the people that should be ashamed for their actions.

LOL...you make a good point, but let me put it this way.

It seems like there's a litter an hour on yahoo lately. What percentage of these turn out like you described above - where it's one litter and the person will be very careful to give the kittens only to people she knows and trusts?

At best, one percent. If you wonder why I'm thinking that....check your local craigslist!

The vast majority of people are careless about both the pregnancy and then, even worse, careless about who gets the cute kittens. So yah, it rubs me the wrong way. I've worked at a kill shelter and I've seen what happens to all these cute kittens.

I think the problem is, there are thousands of unwanted cats and kittens in animal shelters already. There is no shortage of cats, so there is no "need" for anyone to allow their cats to have kittens.

It seems somewhat selfish, to some people at least, to bring more kittens into the world when there are plenty of cats that need homes. Especially if that person doesn't seem like they can care for a lot of kittens, or is going to have to go find homes for them, which is a hassle in itself.

It makes more sense, again to some people, to go to a shelter and give an "unwanted" cat a good home, rather than bring more cats into the world, which might end up in shelters also, if not properly cared for.

There were 2 stray kittens born in our backyard, after a couple months we took the kittens in and found them a home. Then we had the mother spayed so it wouldn't happen again. If we see future strays, we'll have them neutered too. In my view, that seems more responsible.

There is a bigger picture here. Please, visit your local shelter, or just call and ask how many cats they place per year. Or how many don't get placed.

I have worked too hard and dealt with too many irrisponsible people to care about what they WANT when it is not for the best of the cats themselves. One cat, if bred three times, can have almost 400 grand-kittens. One cat. One male cat, lets say he breeds one female a week. that is 1,300 grand-kittens a year. There are just NOT ENOUGH homes. The people who preach are the people who understand how many cats die because they just don't have anyone to care for them. It is estimated that it would take 5 pets for every person in the US (children and all) to give homes to every cat and dog in the US.

So yes, I will insist that people spay and neuter their pets because I do not want to be the one who has to euthanize their accidental kittens & puppies just because they wanted 8 weeks of cuteness.

Now, do you REALLY think that a worthy breeder would be posting on yahoo! answers?

Who they go to is my main concern. People around here with large snakes look for 'free' bunnies, kittens, puppies, hamsters, etc. as free snake food for their pythons and boas. We also have a large dogfighting ring in the city and people's pets and 'free' dogs and cats disappear as training fodder for the pit bulls.

The addition of more kittens to the population when the shelters and rescues are full doesn't usually help, not everyone who wanted a kitten ends up taking it, and the kittens end up in the system or out of it, in worse shape than what you may have intended.

If you want to know why, go volunteer at an animal shelter that euthanizes. Get to know those cats and spend time with them, knowing many of them will likely die despite being healthy and lovable. Look at their faces and tell them their lives are less important than someone "actually wanting kittens" or someone "breeding their cat once."

Until no homeless cat is killed, there's no reason for anyone to breed their cat.

If someone's friends and family all want cats, there are plenty out there already.

If this doesn't touch you at all, I think you're pretty heartless.