In my case, it was a VERY unexpected kitten, in that I inadvertently
adopted a pregnant cat. By the time I found out, Francesca was at the
point of giving birth. I bowed to the absurd and inevitable in my
situation, and ended up falling in love with the kitten.  HOwever, both
Francesca and her daughter are now spayed.  And my male cat was
neutered as a 6 month old kitten, too.

I don't claim speak for anyone but myself, but I feel strongly that
neutering and spaying is the responsible and kind way to go. The number
of loving homes available is sadly far smaller than the number of
homeless dogs and cats who are either feral, or stray, or have been
surrendered by their original human.

It's kind to the human, too. As an unneutered male cat will perfume his
home with his urine. This is a nasty, nasty smell!

Melissa

The main one is Sonya who is a pregnant foster. Lois is a breeder in New
Zealand. The rest are all just people that have friends or have themselves
recently taken in a kitten.

I believe that most of us, as responsible cat owners, strongly believe
that cats should be neutered or spayed. Note that not all parts of the
world experience the pet overpopulation problem the US has, so this
feeling is not as strong there, since they don't have the daily massacre
of cats and kittens that we have here.

We do have a breeder or two and some foster families that take in
pregnant cats.

I would say that the *general* thinking here is strongly for spaying
and neutering.  We do have a few breeders,  but most of the kittens
you read about here are the results of some very kind person among us
trying to make the best of someone else's mess-- fostering otherwise
unwanted kittens, or abandoned, stray or feral mama cats.  

Theresa
Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh
My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com

All four of mine are spayed.  My kitten, Sammy, who is almost 1 year old
now, was brought into PetsMart when she was 6 weeks old by a mother and her
daughter who claimed that a feral cat ran into her closet and had kittens
there.  It was the middle of kitten season and the people at Sunmart Rescue
told her they could not take in any more kittens.  I was standing there and
couldn't stand the thought of her being brought to the pound and euthanized.
I took her home and the rest is history!
http://www.possibleplaces.com/CatNipped/With_Mommy.asp

Hugs,

CatNipped

[[cats should be spayed or neutered?  I ask because I see lots of posts
about kittens and expecting kittens etc.  Is that because of people here
breeding or unexpected kittens?]]

In this case, the cat expecting kittens (Sonya) is being fostered by the
person from whom we are hoping to see an update. She accepted the
responsibility of fostering the cat, knowing in advance that the kitty was
already pregnant.

We also have one person who has been mulling over the idea of adopting a
kitten from her niece who bred her purebred cat.

I think I'm not putting words in too many people's mouths by saying that
spaying and neutering is favored among the regulars here.

Donna, and the two neutered kitties, Captain and Stanley

As you've already found out, the expected kittens are either from the few
breeders we have who post here or are from fostered or ferals who have been
taken in for care.  My Persia was already spayed when she found me but if
she hadn't been she would have been :)

Jill

I strongly believe in altering pets.  There are too many pets without homes
for me to want to add to the problem.

Most are definitely pro spay/neuter.  There are a few that either breed
purebreds and know someone that does.  And there are plenty of kittens to go
around anyway.

Sonya for example is a supposedly pregnant rescue that Pam's family is
providing with foster care till she can have and raise her kittens.  Then
the lot will be neutered and places is good homes.

My oldest, Jake is a purebred Siamese.  But we had him altered as soon as he
was old enough.  There are plenty of excellent high quality intact Tom's in
the hands of breeders.  And intact Tom cats do not usually make really good
housepets.

My youngest is Molly.  She was a feral cat that was rescued (trapped) when
she was about fifteen months old.  She was pregnant.  And the rescue group
cared for her and her kittens, had them vaccinated, checked out by a vet,
altered, and then put the lot of them up for adoption at PetSmart.

She is gradually adjusting to having a home.

Jo

I think most of the incipient kittens are expected from
rescues who were in that condition when acquired.  However,
we do have a few (responsible) breeders on the newsgroup,
too.  Lois Reay in NZ breeds Burmese, and writes about them
delightfully.  One of her "customers" is Bev - her Bonnie
and Clyde are Burmese.

A few of the folks here breed cats, but the overall thinking is that
spaying and neutering is a very good thing.