I'm comforted by the overwhelming number of people who agree that it's moronic to have a litter "just to have their children witness the miracle of life", when millions of healthy, unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized every year. If they want kids to see that, take them to a farm or show them a video. Enough said.
Deborah - 10 years ago
Worst possible reason. See this about the "miracle" of life: http://samcat.freehosting.net/miracle_kittens.htm
2,000-3,500 puppies and kittens are born every hour in the United States. Only 1 out of 10 dogs born ever gets a home. Only 1 out of 20 cats born ever finds a home. For every puppy or kitten who finds a home, another will die in a shelter. 50% of dogs and 70% of cats in shelters are euthanized.
800 shelter dogs and cats are killed each hour in the United States. More than 5 million are killed each year. Another 6-8 million will die from preventable diseases, malnutrition, illness, traffic accidents, attacks from other animals, and cruelty and abuse at the hands of irresponsible humans.
20% of pets are no longer in the same home six months after acquisition. 65% of animals acquired for free or at low cost will be surrendered to a shelter, rehomed or abandoned before their second birthday.
Katia Vera - 10 years ago
Instead of having my children experience the miracle of birth, I picked up two homeless kittens and have allowed us all to experience the miracle of life with a kitten which has been so much more rewarding for the whole family and now have two beautiful companions as well!
Having worked in animal welfare and experienced the heartbreak of knowing beautiful healthy puppies and kittens are euthanased every year I cannot agree more with the majority of comments above who are horrified at the thought of allowing a cat to bring more little kittens in to a world where there are not enough loving homes for those already in our shelters.
NO NO NO !!! Get your female cat desexed!! There are many documentaries with which to instruct children, or take them to a shelter where there is a pregnant Mum who cannot be spayed & kittens aborted. Yes I loathe that word abortion too - but just look at the euthanasia numbers - and the people who have to do such heartbreaking work.
Chris Bartlett-Saranchuk - 10 years ago
I was a foster parent to many, many kittens and cats. I have heard a few people say that they let their cats have kittens specifically for the reason so their children can watch the miracle of birth. That is the biggest bunch of b.s., as the majority of these kittens end up in a shelter. I will not hesitate to voice my opinion on this, as way too many sweet babies end up being euthanized. It is so selfish, wrong and wrong. With the nature channels available, let the kids watch these very educational programs. I feel that schools should have educational classes on everything nature, including pets.
Valerie Panagian - 10 years ago
Take them to a farm & let them see someone else's animals being born. If you have your animal produce a litter just for the children to see them being born it's putting more animals out there to have to find homes for. Plus, they might be sleeping or at school or out playing when it happens & then they won't even get to see it. Then what do you do, make your animal have to go through another pregnancy?
With so many thousands of unwanted kittens and puppies euthanised in shelters every year, this is an absolutely appalling, irresponsible, and selfish idea. Nature soon turns today's "miracle" into another group of breeding adults, and if they in turn are not spayed/neutered the problem quickly increases exponentially.
If these people want their kids to experience this, then they should look online for kitten cams or puppy cams. They can get to experience this "miracle" via the web, without contributing yet more to the overpopulation of these companion animals.
Andrea - 10 years ago
We all act, as we are some special creatures who have the right to decide what to do with the others! Often times we ignore animals, and their needs. We want to learn our kids, from the safety of our home, in controled enviroment, and yet, so many animals die in front of us, without even being noticed.
In my opinion, it should be teached in schools, how to treat animals, how to treat other human beings.
TulsaKim - 10 years ago
Are you kidding me, NO. In Tulsa alone the Shelter kills 9 out of 10 kitties who come through their door for no other reason than there Is not enough homes. If parents want their children to experience the miracle of life they also need to take those same children to the shelter and have them experience the reality of death as almost 90 percent are sent to the gas chamber, just as hitler did with the Jewish people during WW2. If they want to experience the miracle of life contact a local rescue organization and sign up to foster a momma cat who is pregnant and your children can experience the miracle of life while saving the lives of the momma and babies, otherwise they are part of the problem, not the solution. Currently four to six MILLION cats/kittens and dogs/puppies are killed every year because of no homes available. Also kittens can now be spayed/neutered at eight weeks and two pounds before their sexual organs develop which reduces the risk of several cancers. Don't add to the pet over population problem, be part of the solution, PLEASE. I've fostered many litters, I always chose the orphans because I have several adult rescue kitties, but if you don't sign up to foster a pregnant momma from a local rescue organization, win win without adding to the problem causing four to six million cats and dogs being killed each year, PLEASE. Use your brain people, this is a fixable problem. If everybody spayed/neutered within a few years the overpopulation problem would be gone. FYI 25 percent of the dogs killed in the shelters are pure bred which means buying a Pure Bred from a pet store, who more than likely uses puppy mills, can mean a pet that will never be healthy. Rescue is ALWAYS the best choice if looking for a family pet.
Francis Robbins - 10 years ago
It is a very good idea but it's not simple - birth is a single event but life is not...
(1) Many young and older children (and adults) nowadays need to learn about nature and animals. In general, life is hard for animals and in general only a fraction of the kittens will survive more than a year. For many people, it is becoming a plastic world in which even life and death are commercialized. The child can learn about life and how difficult it is for the weakest to survive. The child can learn the need to provide a safe and secure environment for the kitten where it can develop and express natural behaviours as much as possible in a world that is often dangerous and antagonistic to it. This is a vital lesson in a world that ignores the needs of the weak and marginalised.
(2) The lesson does not stop at the birth but continues in the looking after of the kitten(s). The cleaning, the feeding,the caring - the mother does these for them and at the appointed time she may give them over to the child to be responsible. We give a lot of attention to teaching children math and classics and so on... in school - do we teach them to really understand and know the needs of others. The world now teaches children to seek instant satisfaction - this makes things like patience and tolerance "old hat". But these are important qualities which caring for kittens develops.
(3) The lesson also requires learning to deal with real problems such as "What do we do if the number of kittens multiplies?" There are professional organizations that can help here. Under adult supervision, the child learns to plan for such events. The child can be involved in the process of treating and selling the kittens.
Kirsten - 10 years ago
This makes me so angry. It's unbelievably selfish to do this. No cat/dog/any animal should be used as a demonstration. I agree with many commentators above, though, that if you want to 'demonstrate' something about the reality of life for many, many animals to your children, take them to a shelter. And then point out the simple-enough-for-a-child-to-understand fact that even if all the results of their 'miracle of birth' demonstration are found good homes (which is unlikely anyway), that means that that many other animals will be denied those homes, and most probably killed.
Or if you insist, find some other irresponsible pet owner whose pet is already pregnant to watch. Better yet, adopt a pregnant cat from a shelter who is already past the point of spaying, and then commit to keeping the rest of that litter, too, for the rest of your life.
Bett - 10 years ago
Only the stupid and coldhearted would do this. It's beyond irresponsible. To be expected from college kids who aren't taught better but let's teach them better.
Tootie Truesdell - 10 years ago
I have no problems with this, IF, the mother first agrees to visit a local animal shelter's "euthanasia room" and experience the horror of euthanizing a perfectly health animal who is being euthanized just because there are not enough homes for the already existing surplus pets. Until there are no surplus dogs and cats in this world, no one should be just breeding their pets just so their children can experience the "miracle of birth", not until the "horror of euthansia" no longer exists.
Leah - 10 years ago
I have a rather unofficial rescue. I have had two, count them, TWO females have kittens. One I rescued WHILE she was in labor! She ended up having to need an emergency c-section/spay. The other came in five days before she gave birth, got sick and lost her litter. Very sad, but there was no need for 6 more black kittens in the world. I personally love black cats, one of the two cats I ever went looking for was black. I think its criminal to "let the children experience the miracle of birth" and making kittens or puppies suffer for it. My brother as a teen thought it would be good for the cat he brought home from college to have kittens, and she did. All I can say is that he didn't abandon her like his three roommate's did at the end of the semester. We found homes for 3 of the 6, kept one and two went to the shelter where I can but pray they found homes. NONE of my cats or dogs have had kittens or puppies on my watch. The cat who I rescued in labor I kept the kitten, named him Solo because he was a single birth, one BIG kitten for one tiny mother. I have also trapped stray cats and gotten them fixed so they aren't producing more kittens, male and female both. There is little that I don't appreciate more than the fact that shelters now fix animals before they are adopted, even if they are still pretty young. No question about them siring or having babies!
Robin Thatcher - 10 years ago
IF they want to see this "miracle" volunteer to foster a pregnant cat from a kill shelter that they won't spay because she is too far along!
BUT I also support that if a cat is pregnant and a vet feels it's not far enough along to put the cat at risk, it also is a better choice to spay the cat than letting the mom have the kittens--and being part of the problem of too many animals and not enough adopters.
To hear a shelter worker who euthanized cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies on a regular basis call what the shelter finally advocated (spaying animals not that far along in their pregnancies) "abortion" was rather odd. She was participating in euthanizing!
Lee Masciarelli - 10 years ago
My Priest summed it up perfectly. You let your child witness the miracle of birth, then send the results away to an uncertain future. I know this because the last time I brought food to our local SPCA, a woman brought in 12, yes, 12 kittens. She let her daughter witness said miracle but wasn't able to be responsible for the result. A woman that worked in an animal shelter in the U.S. put photos on FB with cats STACKED up like firewood because they had to be put down due to lack of homes. She described in great detail how these poor creatures were terrified and would pee and soil themselves and vomit because the room they were taken into smelled like DEATH! Far better if these parents educated their children by taking them in to witness euthanasia. I'd bet the children would become responsible pet owners.
As a rescue I get literally hundreds of emails a month with beautify, friendly dogs/cats/puppies and kittens that are on "death row" for the sole reason there are not enough homes. USA euthanizes 5 MILLION healthy, friendly animals a year. Anyone considering letting children experience the miracle of birth, let them first go to a shelter and witness a sweet kitten, puppy being killing because there aren't enough homes. The argument that you will find them homes makes no sense....because again, that is 4-7 less homes available so 4-7 more will die. Great example for your children.
Angela - 10 years ago
This is a horrible idea. There are so many cats that go unloved or unwanted.
Young children wouldn't understand the miracle of life and would see the kittens as sources of entertainment - which is why most cats are terrified of children.
Save the hands on experience and take them to the hospital, museum, or science building for a tour.
It would be sad to see kittens welcomed into this world only for the purpose of educating a child...who has other sources to learn.
Chiquita - 10 years ago
If your cat surprises you with a pregnancy, rather than aborting the litter, allowing her to have the litter and using that as a way for your child to begin to understand the complexity of life is alright. But you should commit to finding good responsible homes for all of the kittens and to ensuring that the mother has no more pregnancies.
To neglect your cat's health, thereby putting her at risk of pregnancy, for the sake of teaching your child a lesson is wrong. Your cat is not a learning tool for your child; your cat is a living member of your family.
Your child could learn just as much by visiting a shelter, or even volunteering with you for a rescue organization or shelter. There are no shortages of those learning opportunities.
Tammy - 10 years ago
There are too many kittens/cats that don't have homes. If you bring them into the world you are responsible for them. There are lots of other ways to teach kids. Read a book, watch a video...
Eric Overton - 10 years ago
The fundamental problem is that as a society we've reached a point where we see raising our own children as an expensive hobby rather than a serious responsibility requiring enormous amounts of self-sacrifice. It's not politically correct to say this, but at the lower levels of our economic pyramid, we apportion more child support from the state to those who have more children and we create some artificial incentive for procreation. And at the upper socio-economic strata, I've encountered successful single, childless women in their 40's who are out exploring artificial insemination because they've got very little time left to have children. Some will go on to make excellent mothers. And some will take on the project because they won't personally feel fulfilled without going through pregnancy and childbirth, and the child will end up as an object of narcissism.
Should anybody be surprised that we project that value system into the realm of our pets, whom many of us sadly treat as second class family members or disposable items?
Growing up I lived with a female cat who came into heat, and the question arose whether to let her have one litter of kittens or not. And that was the point at which my parents sat me down and had a very serious discussion with me on the subject what responsibility *I* would be taking on if I were to participate in the project. At the age of sixteen and potentially capable of becoming a father myself, the message couldn't have been clearer: If you have a baby, you'd better be prepared to be a parent. Otherwise, keep it zipped.
In the end, before the cat came into heat the second time (which was when she did get bred), I went out to line up homes for as many as eight kittens if she were to have that many. And I made a pledge that at least one of the kittens would become my cat and my personal responsibility.
The result was good, since the litter of five kittens went to a combination of four good homes. A fellow who wanted a pair of sisters took the two matching calico girls. A woman who wanted another female cat took the remaining female. One of the two boys went to the daughter of a neighbor who sent us pictures of him at Christmas for each of the 18 years of his long life. And the second of the two boys went with me through my off-campus college and grad school apartments and my first job in the working world.
But the key here was that I recognized that at the moment those kittens were conceived, I was fully on the hook for making sure they had long, happy, healthy lives. Doing anything less would've been the equivalent for me of going off an having irresponsible teen sex just to prove I could do it or fulfill the "be a man" myth. And my parents made it clear that if I really wanted to prove myself a man, it was going to be by owning the responsibility for my actions and choices.
Joanne Neesam - 10 years ago
I work to see that irresponsible pet owners who allow their animal to have babies," because they are so cute"...or" to show children the birth process"...can be highly taxed in some manner ! It is beyond stupid to think of all the animals in shelters, hoping to be adopted instead of being put to sleep, and someone breeding animals for the above reasons. Wake up people. Go visit a shelter. You will see beautiful animals in cages , pleading with soulful eyes to have a home. Where do you think all the unwanted pets came from, but people who think it is okay to just "have a litter"...usually time and time again.
Eileen - 10 years ago
I had been a Vet tech for 30yrs as well as a dog obedience Trainer. This a question I HATE! For one how many people do you know ( we are talking people with a brain) brings their child into a hospital to see a sibling be born. Hospital's don't allow it for that reason. Maybe the person that thinks about doing this should for one think about the testing that is or needs to be done on the female or male even mixed breed dogs if large should have a min. of hips checked. Small dogs hearts or depending on breed it is related to? I don't care how old or young the child try to explain even if you had live pups born thriving that one pup that comes out not breathing even if your the best most experienced person sometimes you don't and can't Revive that pup. Believe me your child is and will remember that pup what if that one was my favorite, I wish. How will you explain if there mom doesn't make it your child just lost it's best friend. I AM NOT against breeding dogs, cats, ect. But leave it to professionals. I wish the boxes where used more on AKC forms for limited registration. As well put it in a contract as to when pet should be spayed and neutered. As well as some kind of fine or perhaps if not done by this time animal comes back to you (the breeder and you do it).
darlene - 10 years ago
i grew up on a farm where we had lots of baby animals being born. my dad was a hog farmer. so i got to see baby pigs being born all the time. that being said you should not breed your dog deliberately to have pups unless you are breeding to sell puppies.
Lisa Epley - 10 years ago
My children had a female and male registered Pomeranians. We were going to breed them anyway, so we thought it might be nice if the children knew the meaning of taking care of something/someone and having not only the money to show for it, but also that money is also used for their care. My children learned a valuable lesson about having responsibility and that every dollar you make, must be used to also take care of necessities such as medical care and upkeep. I think under the right circumstances, it is a good thing as long as the parents oversee everything and keeps everyone in check and responsible.
Margie Newborn - 10 years ago
I think it's a good experience for your child to watch your pet give birth if the child is old enough to understand. Not everything goes right and not everything goes wrong. That is life. If your child understands the responsibility that goes with bringing life into this world, then experiencing birth would be something for them to watch. There are no guarantees that it will be problem free, but I think your child will respect her pet for all the perseverance the animal displays to have her litter. I also think that your child should know that not all births are easy and that all life should be cherished.
Cindy O. - 10 years ago
I volunteer for a dog rescue and cannot stand it when I hear people say they want their animal to have a litter for the kids to experience the miracle of life/birth! This summer alone I took on two mamas and their litters. One had been tossed into the backyard of a vacationing family. The other was left in the yard of a vacant house with no food or water . The mama and her pups, as well as the pups' papa, were all there for two weeks. The papa had attacked the pups, killed one, and injured three others.
People need to first understand the issue with over-population of cats and dogs and think long and hard before bringing new lives into the world that may even eventually end up in a shelter. Pregnant animals, animals with litters, and the litters alone, end up in shelters all the time. It hurts my heart to know people bring the ones they could not find homes for to the shelter thinking they will be adopted because they are cute puppies or kittens, not realizing they have just exposed them to illnesses that may kill them. If illness doesn't kill them then the shelter may simply due to space.
If you want your kids to experience the miracle of life/birth, tell a rescue organization or shelter. If you live near a shelter that does not immediately spay pregnant dogs/cats (yes spay, as killing the young before they are born) they would love to have folks volunteer to foster the animal through its pregnancy and to the point the little ones are old enough to adopt. Some rescues end up with pregnant dogs and cats and can use the help as well.
Why bring new lives into the world when so many are being taken away daily?!?!?!?!
Hazel Comstock - 10 years ago
Million of animals die every year in shelters because there is no caring home for them. Some had homes but dumped them because they no longer wanted the animal.
Untold numbers are abused and die of neglect...again because they were allowed to be born when there are already too many.
If you want to allow you pet to have babies so your children can watch....which most of the time will not happen anyway as they do not do this on a schedule to fit your needs.....be sure and also take them to the shelter to watch them being PTS which happens every day....and many are just babies....little kittens ...little puppies...some just born.
Allowing your pet to reproduce is simply selfish....and the reason so many die every day.
Marilyn Ledoux - 10 years ago
My children were brought up on a farm. Life was precious and they learned at an early age to be responsible. All the animals were fed, from the cats to the cows, BEFORE the family sat down to supper. We were all up at 5 a.m. to get chores done before school and breakfast. This way the children learned responsibility, and accountability. If you don't have a farm, but you have a dog or cat, someone 3 years old can make sure the dog has water. If that is your job, you do it. I reminded them if it was low or needed changing. Chores came before T.V., your friends, your dinner. Start young and they never forget.
Lisa - 10 years ago
I think this woman's intentions are wonderful and applaud her of even considering giving her children this experience. Having grown up the daughter of a veterinarian (and for the first 9 years of my life the clinic was attached to our home) I experience life coming and going as a child. I think it has been one of the many factors of my childhood that has shaped me. However, I do agree that just doing it with your own dog solely for this purpose might not be the best choice. I would suggest she put the thought out there on social media so friends and family know she'd like her children to experience this. Then perhaps someone whose dog is having a litter and be willing to share this experience with her children. I'm also sure there are videos of this experience that could be shown. Or she could put the "request" in to her veterinarian who might know of someone with a pregnant dog that would be willing to share the experience. Just a few ideas to ponder.
Michele Zijlmans - 10 years ago
It is good to teach children about life and death but just having a litter of .... what ever kind of animal to do so is not very responsible. People do not just get pregnant and have a baby to teach children about "the miracle of life". None the less it is still important to learn that all living things, either great or small are precious and should be respected.
Why not use a video of the miracle process? There are lots out of them out there.
To allow your pet to have a litter is not a crime! If you truly want the wee ones and are dedicated to making sure they will have the best care available right from the start to the end of their lives then fine. But, finding that forever home with loving humans to care for the little ones is not as easy as most people percieve. We all know how many poor unfortunates end up in the pound or worse...
kelly mcmorrow - 10 years ago
I can't understand how any woman who has experienced childbirth would have an animal she cares for go through that pain. A woman knows what changes are taking place and the great lifetime joy the labor will bring to her. The animal does not realize the pain results in joy, and then is separated from the little ones she cares for, and looks for!
Anita Biers - 10 years ago
All these children need to see is how many kittens and puppies are taken to shelters each year
and euthanized because their mothers weren't spayed. If they want to see a miracle in birth they can have a "wanted" child of their own. Animals shouldn't be used for this experiment.
I'm comforted by the overwhelming number of people who agree that it's moronic to have a litter "just to have their children witness the miracle of life", when millions of healthy, unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized every year. If they want kids to see that, take them to a farm or show them a video. Enough said.
Worst possible reason. See this about the "miracle" of life: http://samcat.freehosting.net/miracle_kittens.htm
2,000-3,500 puppies and kittens are born every hour in the United States. Only 1 out of 10 dogs born ever gets a home. Only 1 out of 20 cats born ever finds a home. For every puppy or kitten who finds a home, another will die in a shelter. 50% of dogs and 70% of cats in shelters are euthanized.
800 shelter dogs and cats are killed each hour in the United States. More than 5 million are killed each year. Another 6-8 million will die from preventable diseases, malnutrition, illness, traffic accidents, attacks from other animals, and cruelty and abuse at the hands of irresponsible humans.
20% of pets are no longer in the same home six months after acquisition. 65% of animals acquired for free or at low cost will be surrendered to a shelter, rehomed or abandoned before their second birthday.
Instead of having my children experience the miracle of birth, I picked up two homeless kittens and have allowed us all to experience the miracle of life with a kitten which has been so much more rewarding for the whole family and now have two beautiful companions as well!
Having worked in animal welfare and experienced the heartbreak of knowing beautiful healthy puppies and kittens are euthanased every year I cannot agree more with the majority of comments above who are horrified at the thought of allowing a cat to bring more little kittens in to a world where there are not enough loving homes for those already in our shelters.
NO NO NO !!! Get your female cat desexed!! There are many documentaries with which to instruct children, or take them to a shelter where there is a pregnant Mum who cannot be spayed & kittens aborted. Yes I loathe that word abortion too - but just look at the euthanasia numbers - and the people who have to do such heartbreaking work.
I was a foster parent to many, many kittens and cats. I have heard a few people say that they let their cats have kittens specifically for the reason so their children can watch the miracle of birth. That is the biggest bunch of b.s., as the majority of these kittens end up in a shelter. I will not hesitate to voice my opinion on this, as way too many sweet babies end up being euthanized. It is so selfish, wrong and wrong. With the nature channels available, let the kids watch these very educational programs. I feel that schools should have educational classes on everything nature, including pets.
Take them to a farm & let them see someone else's animals being born. If you have your animal produce a litter just for the children to see them being born it's putting more animals out there to have to find homes for. Plus, they might be sleeping or at school or out playing when it happens & then they won't even get to see it. Then what do you do, make your animal have to go through another pregnancy?
With so many thousands of unwanted kittens and puppies euthanised in shelters every year, this is an absolutely appalling, irresponsible, and selfish idea. Nature soon turns today's "miracle" into another group of breeding adults, and if they in turn are not spayed/neutered the problem quickly increases exponentially.
If these people want their kids to experience this, then they should look online for kitten cams or puppy cams. They can get to experience this "miracle" via the web, without contributing yet more to the overpopulation of these companion animals.
We all act, as we are some special creatures who have the right to decide what to do with the others! Often times we ignore animals, and their needs. We want to learn our kids, from the safety of our home, in controled enviroment, and yet, so many animals die in front of us, without even being noticed.
In my opinion, it should be teached in schools, how to treat animals, how to treat other human beings.
Are you kidding me, NO. In Tulsa alone the Shelter kills 9 out of 10 kitties who come through their door for no other reason than there Is not enough homes. If parents want their children to experience the miracle of life they also need to take those same children to the shelter and have them experience the reality of death as almost 90 percent are sent to the gas chamber, just as hitler did with the Jewish people during WW2. If they want to experience the miracle of life contact a local rescue organization and sign up to foster a momma cat who is pregnant and your children can experience the miracle of life while saving the lives of the momma and babies, otherwise they are part of the problem, not the solution. Currently four to six MILLION cats/kittens and dogs/puppies are killed every year because of no homes available. Also kittens can now be spayed/neutered at eight weeks and two pounds before their sexual organs develop which reduces the risk of several cancers. Don't add to the pet over population problem, be part of the solution, PLEASE. I've fostered many litters, I always chose the orphans because I have several adult rescue kitties, but if you don't sign up to foster a pregnant momma from a local rescue organization, win win without adding to the problem causing four to six million cats and dogs being killed each year, PLEASE. Use your brain people, this is a fixable problem. If everybody spayed/neutered within a few years the overpopulation problem would be gone. FYI 25 percent of the dogs killed in the shelters are pure bred which means buying a Pure Bred from a pet store, who more than likely uses puppy mills, can mean a pet that will never be healthy. Rescue is ALWAYS the best choice if looking for a family pet.
It is a very good idea but it's not simple - birth is a single event but life is not...
(1) Many young and older children (and adults) nowadays need to learn about nature and animals. In general, life is hard for animals and in general only a fraction of the kittens will survive more than a year. For many people, it is becoming a plastic world in which even life and death are commercialized. The child can learn about life and how difficult it is for the weakest to survive. The child can learn the need to provide a safe and secure environment for the kitten where it can develop and express natural behaviours as much as possible in a world that is often dangerous and antagonistic to it. This is a vital lesson in a world that ignores the needs of the weak and marginalised.
(2) The lesson does not stop at the birth but continues in the looking after of the kitten(s). The cleaning, the feeding,the caring - the mother does these for them and at the appointed time she may give them over to the child to be responsible. We give a lot of attention to teaching children math and classics and so on... in school - do we teach them to really understand and know the needs of others. The world now teaches children to seek instant satisfaction - this makes things like patience and tolerance "old hat". But these are important qualities which caring for kittens develops.
(3) The lesson also requires learning to deal with real problems such as "What do we do if the number of kittens multiplies?" There are professional organizations that can help here. Under adult supervision, the child learns to plan for such events. The child can be involved in the process of treating and selling the kittens.
This makes me so angry. It's unbelievably selfish to do this. No cat/dog/any animal should be used as a demonstration. I agree with many commentators above, though, that if you want to 'demonstrate' something about the reality of life for many, many animals to your children, take them to a shelter. And then point out the simple-enough-for-a-child-to-understand fact that even if all the results of their 'miracle of birth' demonstration are found good homes (which is unlikely anyway), that means that that many other animals will be denied those homes, and most probably killed.
Or if you insist, find some other irresponsible pet owner whose pet is already pregnant to watch. Better yet, adopt a pregnant cat from a shelter who is already past the point of spaying, and then commit to keeping the rest of that litter, too, for the rest of your life.
Only the stupid and coldhearted would do this. It's beyond irresponsible. To be expected from college kids who aren't taught better but let's teach them better.
I have no problems with this, IF, the mother first agrees to visit a local animal shelter's "euthanasia room" and experience the horror of euthanizing a perfectly health animal who is being euthanized just because there are not enough homes for the already existing surplus pets. Until there are no surplus dogs and cats in this world, no one should be just breeding their pets just so their children can experience the "miracle of birth", not until the "horror of euthansia" no longer exists.
I have a rather unofficial rescue. I have had two, count them, TWO females have kittens. One I rescued WHILE she was in labor! She ended up having to need an emergency c-section/spay. The other came in five days before she gave birth, got sick and lost her litter. Very sad, but there was no need for 6 more black kittens in the world. I personally love black cats, one of the two cats I ever went looking for was black. I think its criminal to "let the children experience the miracle of birth" and making kittens or puppies suffer for it. My brother as a teen thought it would be good for the cat he brought home from college to have kittens, and she did. All I can say is that he didn't abandon her like his three roommate's did at the end of the semester. We found homes for 3 of the 6, kept one and two went to the shelter where I can but pray they found homes. NONE of my cats or dogs have had kittens or puppies on my watch. The cat who I rescued in labor I kept the kitten, named him Solo because he was a single birth, one BIG kitten for one tiny mother. I have also trapped stray cats and gotten them fixed so they aren't producing more kittens, male and female both. There is little that I don't appreciate more than the fact that shelters now fix animals before they are adopted, even if they are still pretty young. No question about them siring or having babies!
IF they want to see this "miracle" volunteer to foster a pregnant cat from a kill shelter that they won't spay because she is too far along!
BUT I also support that if a cat is pregnant and a vet feels it's not far enough along to put the cat at risk, it also is a better choice to spay the cat than letting the mom have the kittens--and being part of the problem of too many animals and not enough adopters.
To hear a shelter worker who euthanized cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies on a regular basis call what the shelter finally advocated (spaying animals not that far along in their pregnancies) "abortion" was rather odd. She was participating in euthanizing!
My Priest summed it up perfectly. You let your child witness the miracle of birth, then send the results away to an uncertain future. I know this because the last time I brought food to our local SPCA, a woman brought in 12, yes, 12 kittens. She let her daughter witness said miracle but wasn't able to be responsible for the result. A woman that worked in an animal shelter in the U.S. put photos on FB with cats STACKED up like firewood because they had to be put down due to lack of homes. She described in great detail how these poor creatures were terrified and would pee and soil themselves and vomit because the room they were taken into smelled like DEATH! Far better if these parents educated their children by taking them in to witness euthanasia. I'd bet the children would become responsible pet owners.
As a rescue I get literally hundreds of emails a month with beautify, friendly dogs/cats/puppies and kittens that are on "death row" for the sole reason there are not enough homes. USA euthanizes 5 MILLION healthy, friendly animals a year. Anyone considering letting children experience the miracle of birth, let them first go to a shelter and witness a sweet kitten, puppy being killing because there aren't enough homes. The argument that you will find them homes makes no sense....because again, that is 4-7 less homes available so 4-7 more will die. Great example for your children.
This is a horrible idea. There are so many cats that go unloved or unwanted.
Young children wouldn't understand the miracle of life and would see the kittens as sources of entertainment - which is why most cats are terrified of children.
Save the hands on experience and take them to the hospital, museum, or science building for a tour.
It would be sad to see kittens welcomed into this world only for the purpose of educating a child...who has other sources to learn.
If your cat surprises you with a pregnancy, rather than aborting the litter, allowing her to have the litter and using that as a way for your child to begin to understand the complexity of life is alright. But you should commit to finding good responsible homes for all of the kittens and to ensuring that the mother has no more pregnancies.
To neglect your cat's health, thereby putting her at risk of pregnancy, for the sake of teaching your child a lesson is wrong. Your cat is not a learning tool for your child; your cat is a living member of your family.
Your child could learn just as much by visiting a shelter, or even volunteering with you for a rescue organization or shelter. There are no shortages of those learning opportunities.
There are too many kittens/cats that don't have homes. If you bring them into the world you are responsible for them. There are lots of other ways to teach kids. Read a book, watch a video...
The fundamental problem is that as a society we've reached a point where we see raising our own children as an expensive hobby rather than a serious responsibility requiring enormous amounts of self-sacrifice. It's not politically correct to say this, but at the lower levels of our economic pyramid, we apportion more child support from the state to those who have more children and we create some artificial incentive for procreation. And at the upper socio-economic strata, I've encountered successful single, childless women in their 40's who are out exploring artificial insemination because they've got very little time left to have children. Some will go on to make excellent mothers. And some will take on the project because they won't personally feel fulfilled without going through pregnancy and childbirth, and the child will end up as an object of narcissism.
Should anybody be surprised that we project that value system into the realm of our pets, whom many of us sadly treat as second class family members or disposable items?
Growing up I lived with a female cat who came into heat, and the question arose whether to let her have one litter of kittens or not. And that was the point at which my parents sat me down and had a very serious discussion with me on the subject what responsibility *I* would be taking on if I were to participate in the project. At the age of sixteen and potentially capable of becoming a father myself, the message couldn't have been clearer: If you have a baby, you'd better be prepared to be a parent. Otherwise, keep it zipped.
In the end, before the cat came into heat the second time (which was when she did get bred), I went out to line up homes for as many as eight kittens if she were to have that many. And I made a pledge that at least one of the kittens would become my cat and my personal responsibility.
The result was good, since the litter of five kittens went to a combination of four good homes. A fellow who wanted a pair of sisters took the two matching calico girls. A woman who wanted another female cat took the remaining female. One of the two boys went to the daughter of a neighbor who sent us pictures of him at Christmas for each of the 18 years of his long life. And the second of the two boys went with me through my off-campus college and grad school apartments and my first job in the working world.
But the key here was that I recognized that at the moment those kittens were conceived, I was fully on the hook for making sure they had long, happy, healthy lives. Doing anything less would've been the equivalent for me of going off an having irresponsible teen sex just to prove I could do it or fulfill the "be a man" myth. And my parents made it clear that if I really wanted to prove myself a man, it was going to be by owning the responsibility for my actions and choices.
I work to see that irresponsible pet owners who allow their animal to have babies," because they are so cute"...or" to show children the birth process"...can be highly taxed in some manner ! It is beyond stupid to think of all the animals in shelters, hoping to be adopted instead of being put to sleep, and someone breeding animals for the above reasons. Wake up people. Go visit a shelter. You will see beautiful animals in cages , pleading with soulful eyes to have a home. Where do you think all the unwanted pets came from, but people who think it is okay to just "have a litter"...usually time and time again.
I had been a Vet tech for 30yrs as well as a dog obedience Trainer. This a question I HATE! For one how many people do you know ( we are talking people with a brain) brings their child into a hospital to see a sibling be born. Hospital's don't allow it for that reason. Maybe the person that thinks about doing this should for one think about the testing that is or needs to be done on the female or male even mixed breed dogs if large should have a min. of hips checked. Small dogs hearts or depending on breed it is related to? I don't care how old or young the child try to explain even if you had live pups born thriving that one pup that comes out not breathing even if your the best most experienced person sometimes you don't and can't Revive that pup. Believe me your child is and will remember that pup what if that one was my favorite, I wish. How will you explain if there mom doesn't make it your child just lost it's best friend. I AM NOT against breeding dogs, cats, ect. But leave it to professionals. I wish the boxes where used more on AKC forms for limited registration. As well put it in a contract as to when pet should be spayed and neutered. As well as some kind of fine or perhaps if not done by this time animal comes back to you (the breeder and you do it).
i grew up on a farm where we had lots of baby animals being born. my dad was a hog farmer. so i got to see baby pigs being born all the time. that being said you should not breed your dog deliberately to have pups unless you are breeding to sell puppies.
My children had a female and male registered Pomeranians. We were going to breed them anyway, so we thought it might be nice if the children knew the meaning of taking care of something/someone and having not only the money to show for it, but also that money is also used for their care. My children learned a valuable lesson about having responsibility and that every dollar you make, must be used to also take care of necessities such as medical care and upkeep. I think under the right circumstances, it is a good thing as long as the parents oversee everything and keeps everyone in check and responsible.
I think it's a good experience for your child to watch your pet give birth if the child is old enough to understand. Not everything goes right and not everything goes wrong. That is life. If your child understands the responsibility that goes with bringing life into this world, then experiencing birth would be something for them to watch. There are no guarantees that it will be problem free, but I think your child will respect her pet for all the perseverance the animal displays to have her litter. I also think that your child should know that not all births are easy and that all life should be cherished.
I volunteer for a dog rescue and cannot stand it when I hear people say they want their animal to have a litter for the kids to experience the miracle of life/birth! This summer alone I took on two mamas and their litters. One had been tossed into the backyard of a vacationing family. The other was left in the yard of a vacant house with no food or water . The mama and her pups, as well as the pups' papa, were all there for two weeks. The papa had attacked the pups, killed one, and injured three others.
People need to first understand the issue with over-population of cats and dogs and think long and hard before bringing new lives into the world that may even eventually end up in a shelter. Pregnant animals, animals with litters, and the litters alone, end up in shelters all the time. It hurts my heart to know people bring the ones they could not find homes for to the shelter thinking they will be adopted because they are cute puppies or kittens, not realizing they have just exposed them to illnesses that may kill them. If illness doesn't kill them then the shelter may simply due to space.
If you want your kids to experience the miracle of life/birth, tell a rescue organization or shelter. If you live near a shelter that does not immediately spay pregnant dogs/cats (yes spay, as killing the young before they are born) they would love to have folks volunteer to foster the animal through its pregnancy and to the point the little ones are old enough to adopt. Some rescues end up with pregnant dogs and cats and can use the help as well.
Why bring new lives into the world when so many are being taken away daily?!?!?!?!
Million of animals die every year in shelters because there is no caring home for them. Some had homes but dumped them because they no longer wanted the animal.
Untold numbers are abused and die of neglect...again because they were allowed to be born when there are already too many.
If you want to allow you pet to have babies so your children can watch....which most of the time will not happen anyway as they do not do this on a schedule to fit your needs.....be sure and also take them to the shelter to watch them being PTS which happens every day....and many are just babies....little kittens ...little puppies...some just born.
Allowing your pet to reproduce is simply selfish....and the reason so many die every day.
My children were brought up on a farm. Life was precious and they learned at an early age to be responsible. All the animals were fed, from the cats to the cows, BEFORE the family sat down to supper. We were all up at 5 a.m. to get chores done before school and breakfast. This way the children learned responsibility, and accountability. If you don't have a farm, but you have a dog or cat, someone 3 years old can make sure the dog has water. If that is your job, you do it. I reminded them if it was low or needed changing. Chores came before T.V., your friends, your dinner. Start young and they never forget.
I think this woman's intentions are wonderful and applaud her of even considering giving her children this experience. Having grown up the daughter of a veterinarian (and for the first 9 years of my life the clinic was attached to our home) I experience life coming and going as a child. I think it has been one of the many factors of my childhood that has shaped me. However, I do agree that just doing it with your own dog solely for this purpose might not be the best choice. I would suggest she put the thought out there on social media so friends and family know she'd like her children to experience this. Then perhaps someone whose dog is having a litter and be willing to share this experience with her children. I'm also sure there are videos of this experience that could be shown. Or she could put the "request" in to her veterinarian who might know of someone with a pregnant dog that would be willing to share the experience. Just a few ideas to ponder.
It is good to teach children about life and death but just having a litter of .... what ever kind of animal to do so is not very responsible. People do not just get pregnant and have a baby to teach children about "the miracle of life". None the less it is still important to learn that all living things, either great or small are precious and should be respected.
Why not use a video of the miracle process? There are lots out of them out there.
To allow your pet to have a litter is not a crime! If you truly want the wee ones and are dedicated to making sure they will have the best care available right from the start to the end of their lives then fine. But, finding that forever home with loving humans to care for the little ones is not as easy as most people percieve. We all know how many poor unfortunates end up in the pound or worse...
I can't understand how any woman who has experienced childbirth would have an animal she cares for go through that pain. A woman knows what changes are taking place and the great lifetime joy the labor will bring to her. The animal does not realize the pain results in joy, and then is separated from the little ones she cares for, and looks for!
All these children need to see is how many kittens and puppies are taken to shelters each year
and euthanized because their mothers weren't spayed. If they want to see a miracle in birth they can have a "wanted" child of their own. Animals shouldn't be used for this experiment.