I've been breeding for 18 years and have never come across this, so I rather doubt it is common. In my experience queens drink vast amounts before birth. However, if you've experienced something else then of course you should alert new breeders to the possibilities. I just find the constant scaremongering on this forum over the top, that's all. Cats have been giving birth successfully for thousands of years!

Liz

so have humans, but without the modern medicines the mortality rate was much different!

__________________
PETFORUMS CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISER: http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/petforums

please donate if you can!

Liz, the flip side of this is... what you see as some poeple scaremongering.... well other people see you as being so laid back that you could be accused of being horizontal.

Like I said on the other thread, there's a fine line between being relaxed but responsible and being downright lacsadaisical.

I think that there is a place for "scaremongering", but that is perhaps the wrong word.

I think realism is a better word.
There are better vet facilities and care nowadays and I think also that the internet is a fantastic resource too. The internet can put you in touch with so much info that previously you could only learn from vets or from buying large tomes or subscribing to specialist magazines. It puts you in direct contact with people who have wide ranging experiences too.

The days of the pregnant moggie who will manage "all by herself", or the breeder's lore learnt at shows with no basis in fact, should be gone. It is now possible to save sickly kittens and pregnant mums suffering with extra knowledge and not just to put all losses down to bad luck. The more "scaremongering" there is can in fact save lives and for that it is no bad thing, IMO.

__________________
Lauren

Don't Shop Adopt! - Stop Puppy Farming

Battery Farmed Dogs Campaign (Puppy Farming)

My queen, Bibi's milk didn't come in for 2hrs after the birth of the last kitten and 7hrs after the first one.

I panicked and thought - 'oh no she has no milk', but I rang two other breeders and they assured me the kittens sucking would most likely bring it in and it did eventually.

In the days after the birth, I did try to top the kittens up with hand feeding a few times but they were having absolutely none of it, no matter what I tried teat/bottle wise, so I left it to mum in the end and they all developed well.

Thank you so much for that Lauren.

I don’t like the word scaremongering used against people like myself and BBM and Aurelia. I do agree realism is a far better word.

as they say

one man’s meat is another man’s poison
one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist

well I think its much the same in this breeding-rearing lark

Lizward views some of us as scaremongering panic merchants

and some of us view Lizward (and at times some other “breeders”) as being so laid back that at times her (their) advise verges on the irresponsible/lacsadaisical.