# Barn cat nurses puppies-perhaps the end isn't as near as we thought
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barn-cat-nurses-puppies-perhaps-the-end-isnt-as-near-as-we-thought/276029
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [November 22, 2004, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barn-cat-nurses-puppies-perhaps-the-end-isnt-as-near-as-we-thought/276029 "2004-11-22T02:51:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2004, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barn-cat-nurses-puppies-perhaps-the-end-isnt-as-near-as-we-thought/276029/1 "2004-11-22T02:51:38Z")
[Happy brood queen with spare teats](http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=1638&u_sid=1264437) didn’t discriminate against hungry puppies.
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### Author:  [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barn-cat-nurses-puppies-perhaps-the-end-isnt-as-near-as-we-thought/276029/2 "2004-11-22T03:06:40Z")
But… those puppies are going to grow up so confused about their identities! Oh, the heartbreak, when they try to climb trees…
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### Author:  [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2004, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barn-cat-nurses-puppies-perhaps-the-end-isnt-as-near-as-we-thought/276029/3 "2004-11-22T03:20:33Z")
I know this is supposed to be a happy feel-good story, but it really ticked me off. Aren’t people who responsibly breed animals have some sort of back up plan (like…umm…milk replacer?) handy in case something like this happens? And suggesting getting rid of the kittens so the puppies can nurse? :mad:
Spay and neuter your pets, folks.
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### Author:  [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barn-cat-nurses-puppies-perhaps-the-end-isnt-as-near-as-we-thought/276029/4 "2004-11-22T03:33:22Z")
They didn’t “get rid” of the kittens, they gave them to another cat who had kittens of her own, where they fit in fine. I knew a dog once that had been raised by a cat. He came over to me, and I rubbed his tummy, he was clearly ecstatic, wiggling, wagging his tail and grinning, but he also started to growl. His owner hastily told me how he had been raised, and added that as best as they could figure out, when he growled like that he was trying to purr!
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### Author:  [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2004, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barn-cat-nurses-puppies-perhaps-the-end-isnt-as-near-as-we-thought/276029/5 "2004-11-22T03:46:18Z")
Identity confusion… see, I just KNEW it would happen…
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### Author:  [@smartini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smartini)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barn-cat-nurses-puppies-perhaps-the-end-isnt-as-near-as-we-thought/276029/6 "2004-11-22T03:53:46Z")
🙂 I’m glad all the pups and kits ended up with a teat 🙂
Yeah, **Boscibo** I would have wanted to come looking for the owners if they had “gotten rid of” the kittens to make room for the puppies :mad:
Nice story **danceswithcats**
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### Author:  [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2004, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barn-cat-nurses-puppies-perhaps-the-end-isnt-as-near-as-we-thought/276029/7 "2004-11-22T04:51:30Z")
If this would help dogs learn to use a litter box, it could be fabulous!
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### Author:  [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2004, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barn-cat-nurses-puppies-perhaps-the-end-isnt-as-near-as-we-thought/276029/8 "2004-11-22T04:55:16Z")
There was a story on the local news a few days ago about a guy what was walking around town with two mice sitting on top of a cat that was sitting on top of a dog. It was supposed to be a sign of peace and unity or some stupid crap like that. It was pretty cute.
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### Author:  [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2004, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barn-cat-nurses-puppies-perhaps-the-end-isnt-as-near-as-we-thought/276029/9 "2004-11-22T05:34:41Z")
Interspecies friendship is a beautiful thing, isn’t it? _sniff_