Why do people let their cats/dogs have babies?

FatVonD

Much as I'd love my cats to have kittens I've always had my cats neutered because I'd never be able to give them away because I wouldn't think anyone was worthy of having them and I'd end up a mad old cat lady. For the same reason I could never work in a pet shop :rotfl:

FatVonD

QuackQuackOops wrote: »

They dont always want some unqualified person coming into their home and deciding whether or not they are fit to take a dog from them.

I do kind of agree with this though, when you see the hoops you are expected to jump through to adopt a cat I sometimes feel the charities are shooting themselves in the foot (they are clearly staffed by people like me:D) I know it's important that they go to the right homes but I've read so many particulars where they insist the cat is the only pet when most animal lovers are most likely already going to have pets.

DVardysShadow

HappyMJ wrote: »

And people buy them....while there is a market for cheap kittens and puppies from backyard cross bred litters this will continue. It is cruel but never ever pay for a backyard bred kitten or puppy no matter what they say they'll do.

That is another whole big debate. I take your point about paying.

But who is to say which breeders are backyard and which are not? If the criterion in Kennel Club registration or the cat equivalent, by breeding so selectively, I believe that they are contributing to a lack of diversity in the gene pool for the animals and inadvertently bringing some faults to the fore. I know they are aware of the issues and strive to address them, but I believe that nature does this sort of thing better. There is definitely a place for non pedigree mutts and moggies

FatVonD

Good point, DVS, plus huge numbers of pedigree dogs on rehoming sites are knackered from years of knocking out litters on puppy farms.

Not that I'm allowed to have a dog but it doesn't stop me window shopping

Idiophreak

KateLiana27 wrote: »

I just feel angry that two cats in a shelter somewhere have essentially been done out of good homes, because the friend decided to bring more unwanted cats into the world.

Technically, though, the "new" cats *are* wanted...hence your sister getting a couple of the things...It's the ones in the homes that are unwanted. I'm sure if the kittens your sister's friend's cat were *actually* unwanted - and they really couldn't shift the things - the hassle of trying to get rid of them would make them think twice about having another set in the future.

And I can understand why people would choose to get kittens from friends/family instead of shelters. I'm in no way a pet person, but honestly I'd be much more likely to get a kitten from a friend, where I knew what the parent cat had been like, where I knew the kitten would have been looked after from birth and where I knew would support me in looking after the thing going forward.

Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for all the little cats in shelters, but it's just the way of the world. People prefer new stuff. I also feel a little guilty that I go out and buy new clothes when there are millions of the things in charity shops...and I feel guilty that I'll buy some new food if my current food's a day past it's use-by.

BitterAndTwisted

Why? Because they are either misguided, foolish or stupid. The only way some pet-owners will get round to realising their animals should be neutered is when they run out of people to palm off all the babies onto.

Person_one

QuackQuackOops wrote: »

Why do some humans have babies?
The world is overcrowded. There are millions of children in orphanges so why do a couple decide to have their own baby rather than adopt one of the unwanted 2,3,4,5,6 etc year olds who are in care?

Many peope who buy a dog want to buy one as a puppy so that they are responsible for the training from day one. A rescue dog is not always suitable nor are they cheaper!
On top of all that, people like to go chose a puppy and come home. They dont always want some unqualified person coming into their home and deciding whether or not they are fit to take a dog from them.

People like to raise children and pets from babies. Its a natural feeling.
As for getting them neutered, yes they should have them neutered.

Nobody has a problem with responsible professional breeders who do every thing properly.

Buying a kitten or a pup from someone letting their pet have 'just one litter' or someone who just can't be bothered to neuter them is almost the worst way to acquire an animal, second only to a puppy farm.

gingin_2

FatVonD wrote: »

Not that I'm allowed to have a dog but it doesn't stop me window shopping

I'm not alone then :cool:

geri1965_2

I got my first kitten from a friend whose cat had kittens. I wasn't planning to get one, but once asked I kind of liked the idea! The second one I got from a newspaper ad, as company for the first. Then about a year after my first cat died, we got Jimmy from a rescue. I don't think I would get kittens again, when there are so many older cats in rescues.

geoffky

Why do the poorest in our society have pets when it looks like the kids get less care than the pets..The amount of them with dead hard dogs you see is mad..