Aborting kittens - your views?

Question

I am a member of a small rescue group, and took in a cat on Saturday who had been in a horrible situation - basically used as a breeding machine for 3 years then dumped. She is quite poorly at the moment - she has mastitis (teats the size of golf balls from kittens being removed - and sold - at 4 weeks, this is very painful). She is also very underweight (her last litter was 8 kittens) and is very small (probably had her first litter far too young). And she has 3 legs, so shouldn't have ever had a litter (she has trouble enough walking wothout al the extra weight).

Basically, there is a likelihood that she is pregnant. The vet can't tell yet as she is so swollen. But the scumbags who had her let her out from when she last gave birth, so she may well be.

The vet has said that we have the option of spaying her while pregnant - I was horrified at this idea - it would mean killing her unborn kittens. The operation itself is risky, but no more risky than letting her carry the pregnancy to term with her health problems.

I really don't like the idea, but I know of 53 rescue kittens in my area seeking homes (not including all the ones for sale by breeders), and it's a nightmare finding them all homes - there just aren't enough people who can offer a good home, plus 45 pounds each to vaccinate and then paying for them to be neutered when they reach 6mths. (i will happily pay this, but there are just so many animals - another animal would benefit greatly from this money). Plus the issue of then keeping all these kittens in the house for 8 weeks where they will be costing a fortune in food, preventing me from fostering another litter and being very demanding time-wise. But I don't feel right in killing them, as am sure they deserve a life.

I just don't know what to do for the best. I hate the thought of killing these kittens, but am all to aware that there are just so many kittens who desperately need homes. It's so hard to be impartial when living in this situation.

What would you do? What do you think about it?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated (apart from those who really don't care either way and just want to tell me not to bother- not an option, trust me!!!!!)

Answer 1

I think you should do what is best for the life of the momma cat. It sounds like she has had a rough life so far. Why bring more agony to her poor little heart

Answer 2

aww thats so sad. I would totally sue the owners if you know who they are. Poor kittens, that seems like an impossible decision to make. I would take care of the kittens for you because I think that they do deserve a life as well as the mother cat, but i dont even know what state your in so that doesnt seem like a reasonable option. do you have any family members that are willing to help you take care of them? aw i just wish i could save them all. i think that you know the mother cat much better then anyone on yahoo answers and that you will make the right decisoion for her. maybe she would like her kittens to live? or maybe she rather take all the pain away. if only cats could talk. well i hope you make a good decision! much luck to you sweety!  

Answer 3

If I were in your position I would get them aborted. There are enough already and and to bring more is unfair. Also to put the cat through that is really unfair considering it's obviously been through enough. Poor thing :(

Answer 4

Its horrible to think about, yet at the same time, how many of these kittens will end up in pounds and then euthanized because there are not enough homes? Or, the actuall kittens she is carrying may not end up euthanized, but because of them taking up homes, other cats in shelters looking for homes will lose their chance and be euthanized. I would have her spayed. Death will come from spaying her, but death will also come from her not being spayed and having yet another litter of kittens. She has suffered through enough and had enough. Let her live her life now, kitten free.

EDIT: Wow, Mrs J is kinda an animal hater. Hmm...

Answer 5

.Dear Sweet Friend,I commend you for your care and concern for this precious cat.I also work at a rescue center for cats so I know what you see.It sounds like this little girl has been through way to much in her short life.I too am torn when it comes to what decision to make in a case like this.I faced the same thing last year.I told my vet that I did not want to know if she was pregnant or not.I told him to do what was best for the already living cat and to do what he would do for a cat that he cared about.The surgery was done and the sweet cat became healthy and happy.She still is shy and has trust issues but she is a wonderful pet.I have no regrets about the decision I made.Do what you need to do and be kind to yourself for all the good that you do.

Answer 6

God bless you for your passionate love of animals!

I think the best thing for the mother would be to abort the kittens.  But I do wonder, will the mother's quality of life be any better?  It sounds like the poor girl is in horrible condition.  Will you keep her?  Poor baby.  I hope she recovers from all this abuse and lives a happy, sheltered life.

Answer 7

no! please don't abort the kittens. they have a right to be here. sorry but i dont agree with it.

x

Answer 8

My opinion is something has to die. The mother cat that seems to be in poor condition or the kittens. It can be 50/50. Very sad but that's life.

I would probraly have the kittens die :/ The mother is in poor condition and the kittens might suffer as much as she did. Health issues too. Then have the mother cat and get her into good health.

Answer 9

I would firstly think about the cats health if she is pregnant is she strong enough at the moment to carry another lot of kittens ,if she isn't i would let the kittens be aborted (as cruel as that sounds) but it could be crueler to let her have them & it sounds to me she needs a rest from it all.

If the vet says she is heathly enough and  does have them im sure you could find good homes for them ,there are alot of animal lovers out there & if she is only just pregnant it meens she will give birth in the winter when kittens are harder to come across ,I advertised my kittens(before she was neutered) last year in october and my phone did not stop ringing for weeks,the best thing on my opinion though is to go off the pregnant cats health and whether or not she can healthy carry,mother & feed another lot of kittens and as sad as it sounds sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind unfortunatly

Answer 10

If this was a person I'd say save the babies, but it's not, it's a cat. I love cats. I LOVE cats. But what kind of world will these kittens be born into? Will they ever be adopted? Will they even be healthy with their mother in the state she's in? I think if they can go to a shelter that will take them in and try to find homes for them, then they should have the same chance all the other irresponsibly born kittens should. If their outlook is very poor, I think ending their lives before they start may be your most viable option.

:(    My thoughts go out to your kitty and all the others suffering out there because of idiots!

edit: While I technically agree with Mrs. J up there a-ways, she didn't have to put it like that... we know it isn't the same thing, but we still want to do the RIGHT thing. It's figuring out what's right that's the issue.

Answer 11

I don't approve of aborting kittens or puppies unless the mother will die.

I had a cat come to me too small to give birth. She had to have a c-secton and her whole litter died. She was very upset. She never stopped calling for her kittens, she didn't want any human contact. ALL she did was look for her babies.

IDK it's a hard decision but if the surgry would be just as risky for her to give birth, I'd allow her to give birth.

Answer 12

Take the cat to a bigger animal shelter who can look after without the need to abort her kittens. The rspca will take her and be able to give her full medical treatment until her kitten are born and re homed. Simple answer to a complicated question, you do your best and that is very commendable but sometime you get out of your league and this when you need to ask for help from bigger associations.

Answer 13

As a person that has been faced with this situation as a volunteer with rescue, I understand that you are considering this with a heavy heart and I appreciate that you are taking a thoughtful approach to your decision.  

The poor momma cat has been through enough at this point.  I would say if the vet will, go forward with her spay - especially since the pregnancy is not confirmed.  I wouldn't delay any longer than absolutely necessary.  

Thank you for rescuing her from the h**l she previously endured.  And, thank you for working so hard to help the rescues in your area.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Answer 14

Wow.. Tough one..

Me personally, I wouldnt kill the kittens, thats like killing a baby D,:

And maybe some friends or family want some kittys :)

Answer 15

I am an avid cat lover and proponent of spay and neuter programs.  I understand that it's kind of heartbreaking to think of aborting unborn kittens, but I personally feel it's the morally responsible thing to do.  So many die every year due to a lack of homes and your poor momma kitty has been through too many pregnancies and had little nutrition.  She needs to recover.  I think you should do it.  In the end, you'll save the lives of other kittens who weren't aborted and need homes - because the homes weren't taken by your rescued momma's kittens.  It's a little sacrifice, but for momma's sake... do it.

Answer 16

i think all living things should be allowed to live. they may not be out in the world but the kittens still have a beating heart inside the mother.

Answer 17

Geez, get a grip.  They are kittens.  It is in the best interest of the mother cat that she not have more kittens.  It's not like there is a shortage of kitties out there.  And get the poor thing spayed so she doesn't have to have anymore kittens.  

Answer 18

What a horrable situation.

I would go with whatever the vet says is best for the poor little thing.  

Answer 19

You really are a caring person, my opinion would be to spay the mum and abort the kittens.

If the mum was to go to term and have these kittens the chances are that she would not be able to feed if she has mastitis and that would mean you having to hand rear the kittens.

I work as a veterinary nurse and see a lot of cases where the mum will come in pregnant and we still go ahead and neuter the mum (with the owners permission of course), if the owners are not sensible enough to have the mum neutered sooner then they are not suitable to look after a litter of kittens.

Think about the mother cat on this one, even if you could afford to feed them all and had homes for them all would it really be fair on the mum to have to go through all that again.

The veterinary team at my practise would advise you to abort the kittens.

Answer 20

I don't think this is a decision you can make on your own - it may help to talk to someone who works for the Cats Protection League or the RSPCA, to see what they advise - you are in a very difficult situation and there is no right or wrong answer.....my gut feeling however is to give mum a break, as she has been through a lot and is suffering. But that is easy for me to say, as I do not have to make that decision. I know there are a lot of kittens needing homes, but I am sure you would eventually get then homed if she did go on to have them.

well done to you and the rescue group for taking her in x

Answer 21

that is so sad it would take a person with a heavy heart to do this but i find it necessary otherwise we would have too many kittens and not enough people

so it is ok to an extent

Answer 22

I say let the mother choose

Answer 23

its like keiiling another / a few lifes i couldnt do it personally but it depends if ur cats in pain or not  

Answer 24

its really up to you.

and you can give me a kitten if you want  

Answer 25

abort the kittens the poor mother already had enough

Stupid scumbags theres already enough freakin kittens in this world too much actually-don't get me wrong I love cats

Answer 26

Abort them, im not being hartless but it would be the kindest thing to do.  

Answer 27

It's more cats, but let her have the kittens and then get her and them fixed.

Answer 28

i think this poor cat has had enough pregnancys and yes let the vet be the juge i think aborting the pregnancy is a good idea

Answer 29

if your cat cant handle be pregnant then dont have her have the kittens. like you said kittens are overpopulated and 50% are homeless or abused i know it feels wrong aborting your cat but it is whats best

Answer 30

I know thought similar experiences myself,  of  how many cats & dogs are unwanted...but even thow it seems cruel i think to abort them would be  alot better as they are not fully formed whilst in the womb, and like you say a better life for all  the living involved .

Answer 31

"But I don't feel right in killing them"

I'm sorry you have come to this fork in the road.  Compassionate people with love in their hearts are unfortunately often reminded that extending their love everywhere causes it to get crushed sometimes.  You have to make the decision yourself of where the tipping point is - when putting yourself out there for the good of others is costing you too much.  

Your decision can be black, white or any shade of gray.  

You can say "I want to be callous", and then just walk away and never love another.

You can say "No one can cause me to stop loving", and spend all your money on 80 cats and cause yourself to be thrown out on the street.

or, you can choose a tipping point... is caring for 53 kittens the tipping point... is 100?  is it 25?

its your soul and your brain, directly opposing one another, and only you can decide which to listen to at your current junction.

however, that didnt answer your question.  You asked for user views.  

I think the situation is hard and sad, but I would destroy the kittens.  And yes, i would regret it, but its very practical.  I could rest assured that the cat passed it's genes on...