From: nvonstein@memstvx1.memst.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: declawing?
Date: 4 Jan 93 16:22:01 -0600
Organization: Memphis State University


In article <29236@oasys.dt.navy.mil>, syearick@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Sid Yearick) writes:
> In rec.pets.cats, nvonstein@memstvx1.memst.edu writes:
>>In article <1992Dec31.184333.21913@zia.aoc.nrao.edu>, rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu
>>(Ruth Milner) writes:
>>
>>Speaking of Desmond Morris, one of his programs about feline behaviour was on
>>PBS and there was a barnyard full of mother kitties and their babies.  It was
>>real cute the way they showed the mom's helping with each other's kittens.
>>Then they showed a tom cat who came upon some unattended kittens (who had
>>previously been shown with their mothers).  He explained how toms will kill
>>kittens who were not fathered by him--and then they showed the DEAD KITTENS.
>>Good grief - what did they do - sit and watch this tom cat kill the kittens.
>>It was too much for me.
>>
>>Did anyone else see this program?  While I know, and understand, the male cat's
>>nature to kill another male's offspring, I couldn't help but wonder how or when
>>that segment of the program was filmed.
>>
>>> Ruth Milner                          NRAO/VLA                  Socorro NM
>>> Computing Division Head      rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu
> 
> I've seen it twice and parts of it are very interesting others are part of
> life that you really don't want to see.  When we were little we were always
> told to keep the toms aways from the kittens because they would kill them.
> It didn't matter if they fathered the litter or not.  I really found it
> interesting yet hard to watch where the male lion killed the young from a
> previous male in order for the female to come into hear.

Yes, that part really hurt, too.  Working as a volunteer at the zoo, we have
learned about 'nature's ways' in order to keep the species strong - how the
males will kill another male's offspring.  
> 
> Kepurr never had a problem with Tigger or Teal and they were both 8 weeks old
> when we brought them home.  But he is neutered.  I will find out on the 15 of
> Jan (for sure) if my baby (Lady Teal Mocha) is going to have kittens.  
> If everything works out, I will soon find out for sure about males and kittens.
> The kittens will NOT be anywhere Kepurr or Yogi (The dad) can get to them).

All of my cats have been neutered except for one female Pookie.  When Pookie
goes into heat (all my cats live indoors), she torments everybody so much until
Stripe sez OK woman, that's enough - and he will mate with her even though he
has been neutered.  He was over a year old when he had his surgery, and my
friend says that if you wait that long, the male has "learned the behaviour"
and will still breed even though he can't make any babies.  Anyway it's 
madness for a couple of days and then Pookie will go out of heat.  

Good luck with your kittens.  I envy you - they are so much fun.

Nancy

> [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
>  KEPURR        /|    TEAL      I]   syearick@oasys.dt.navy.mil
>             ` o.O '            []   Sid Yearick
>  MUFFIN     =(___)=  YOGI      []   David Taylor Model Basin Carderock Division
>                U               []   Naval Surface Warfare Center
>  TIGGER   ACK!THPTPHH!         []   Bethesda, Maryland 20084-5000
> [][][][][][][][][][][][][][]][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats