I have been doing some reading online and now feel very upset and let down by a vet I had though was very good.

My girl was palpated on her due date with just 1 kitten, and I was told it didn't feel very healthy, may be dead or deformed and she would just need to give borth to it get rid of it.

2 days later she went into labour, and 2 hours later nothing happened and the contractions were very mild. I took her to the vets where she was scanned and the baby was shown to be full size and alive but with a very weak heartbeat so I wasn't to hold out much hope. she was given oxytocin and left for 15 minutes, during which she had some very violent contractions. The vet then palpated her and said the kitten hadn't moved at all so she would need a c-section. While signing the disclaimer the vet asked if I wanted her spayed at the same time as I would never be able to breed from her again and it would be less stressful to her to have it done while she was under than having to come in again later in the year, with all the risks an aneasthetic brings again. I was unsure but felt I should follow the vets advice and do the best thing for my cat, so I said yes.

They then delivered a perfectly healthy little boy who has more than doubled in weight within a week and is doing well. After a reluctant 24 hours my cat is proving to be an excellent mother. However it did take them 20 minutes to bring the little man round after delivering him.

I have now been reading about the problems with singleton kittens, and how the hormones they produce which trigger the oxytocin and start contractions are often not enough which is why her original contractions were not strong enough to give birth.

So I now feel that I have done the wrong thing agreeing to have her spayed as she was purchased as my first breeding queen, and I feel like I have wasted the 18 months I spent looking into her pedigree, breeding and colours, selecting a stud and all of that by having her spayed when there was a chance there was nothing actually wrong with her.

What would you have done in my position? I know I can't change anything now but I feel I have lost everything I had been working towards and feel absolutely devastated about it. I understand and was prepared for the fact things go wrong, and was fine with that but to think I have lost the future of my beautiful breeding queen just by following a vets advice is very difficult!

In my opinion it was very wrong of the vet to suggest spaying her on the basis that you would "never be able to breed from her again". That would be a statement I would accept, for example, from my vet AFTER a spay (where of course it might have been discovered why my queen had problems delivering) or AFTER a c-section where the vet found evidence of something to strongly suggest why the queen had experienced kittening/reproductive issues.

I honestly don't think though, having said all that, that there's an answer to your question or a right or wrong thing to do in those circumstances; she's spayed now so you'll never know what might have been - conversely, had you not spayed her and she had awful problems kittening/needed another section on her next pregnancy you'd be kicking yourself for having not spayed her initially. It's a dilemma for all breeders.

If it's any consolation, some years ago I stupidly and selfishly continued with a line of breeding I loved; I desperately wanted to keep, and did so, a female from three consecutive generations. Each generation were singleton females and each generation also had kittening complications. I finally came to my senses on the fourth generation. Not particularly prooud to admit that

I'm going to get on everyone's nerves here today; I think I'm in chatty mode this morning.

Just wanted to add something as an afterthought. Though you will always find breeders who will you that their girl had only one kitten, without any problems, but then went on to have 7 the next time... you'll find equally as many who have girls that experience the same problems repeatedly and should have been spayed at the outset.

I can't, hand on heart, say that every queen I've ever bred from falls into a black or white category - one or two have needed a c-section for absolutely no apparent reason where previously they'd sailed through kittening and vice versa... nor can I say that litter size hasn't varied with my girls. What I can say though, in absolute truth, is that in 27 years by far the majority that have been carrying singtletons/had birthing difficulties have continued to do so... and those that conceive an average sized litter/don't have problems kittening have also continued in the same trend.

I know how disappointing and dishearetening it is but, on the balance of probability, perhaps you did right thing in spaying your girl.

I'll back this 100%. If you've got what used to be referred to as a 'good breeder' then it's usually apparent from the first litter. I've known breeders blame the stud but in my experience litter size is fairly consistent in any given queen and it has far more to do with the dam than the sire.

Your vet was wrong to tell you at the outset that you wouldn't be able to breed from your girl again as he couldn't have known at that point. However, I don't think you made a wrong decision.

Thank you so much for that, I'm just starting out and it feels very hard. This was my first litter and I am so glad the one little boy is happy and healthy and growing at the most amazing rate. I don't want to lose her lines as she is the most beautiful chocolate with amber eyes but I don't think I can keep a boy at the moment (see my other thread, trying to work out how it could be possible) so I reckon I will just have to wait and save up and start again.
It is very difficult to find a breeder happy to sell you an active queen though! I might start showing her and then I can meet some people and get to know other breeders. Her breeder did think she would do very well.

To add to what gskinner posted above...

If my girl had needed a C section, I would have personally chosen to have her spayed as well. Though I know that some queens do have one, and then go on the have more successful deliveries after, I just wouldn't want to take any chances.

Don't feel bad about trusting your vet, he may well have done you a favour. Think of it like that

18 months is a long time, but now you know what you're looking for in a Queen and have more knowledge about the breeding process ... it shouldn't take quite so long if you try again with another queen

Why not wait until the little man is big and strong, then have a little dig around looking for a reputable breeder. If your little man turns out to be a lovely looking boy and potential stud, you 'might' be lucky enough to find a breeder who may happily swap your boy for a queen that is just maturing.

Don't see it as starting again, it's carrying on after a setback. We all have them. Good on you for not giving up in a fit of self pity. I think you've got just the attitude needed for a great breeder and I hope you get the support you deserve within your breed.

I think if my girl had a c section I would also spay. Some choose not to and go onto have many litter but some don't.

Now it's time to plan for breeding girl number 2!! A nice new girl!

It's a big shock and very disappointing when things like this happen - but you have to dust yourself off and carry on. Breeding is a learning curve and everything that happens, either good or bad teaches us something. Things will get better (although you probably don't feel like that right now). I like to believe that there's a reason for everything.

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time just now ((hugs))

I agree it has far more to do with the dam than the sire. However, one of my girls has produced (in order) litters of 5 4 7 5 2 and 1 - quite a range there!

Liz