# Would it be possible to give birth to kittens? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 6, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391 "2011-02-06T13:55:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/21 "2011-02-07T19:48:57Z")
> [@Eriond\_s\_Revenge](#): > > This has got to be the strangest question ever asked on this board…and obviously, that says a lot! Oh, you have _no_ idea… ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/22 "2011-02-07T20:14:38Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > IIRC **Picket Fences** had an episode where _cows_ were being used as surrogate mothers for human babies. I believe that Frederik Pohl’s Heechee series had the same scenario as a standard practice. There was a scene set in a field full of cows gestating human fetuses. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/23 "2011-02-07T20:29:52Z")
Some people on here are very fond of cats, but _wow_… ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/24 "2011-02-07T20:36:18Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Some people on here are very fond of cats, but _wow_… I have heard some cutesy types refer to pets as “furbabies”. This would make that an accurate statement instead of just cutesyness… ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/25 "2011-02-07T20:41:40Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I have heard some cutesy types refer to pets as “furbabies”. This would make that an accurate statement instead of just cutesyness… Don’t get me wrong, I like cats too. Your comment reminds me of the poster (can’t remember which one) who throws a birthday party for their cats every year and is afraid that would be too weird for potential dates. This would provide a great justification for the birthday parties. Hard to say if it would cause other problems (“And these are by babies… no, _really_!”) ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/26 "2011-02-07T20:53:27Z")
> [@Eriond\_s\_Revenge](#): > > This has got to be the strangest question ever asked on this board…and obviously, that says a lot! Three words. Pan. Fried. Semen. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/27 "2011-02-07T21:20:29Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Don’t get me wrong, I like cats too. Your comment reminds me of the poster (can’t remember which one) who throws a birthday party for their cats every year and is afraid that would be too weird for potential dates. This would provide a great justification for the birthday parties. Hard to say if it would cause other problems (“And these are by babies… no, _really_!”) “And as a bonus, with a full litter we had enough placenta stew for everyone!” ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/28 "2011-02-07T21:57:30Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > “And as a bonus, with a full litter we had enough placenta stew for everyone!” Ewww. Anyway, I imagine giving birth to kittens would be far easier than a human baby. They are just so small! Arguably cuter, too 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Eriond\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ad7895/32.png) [@Eriond\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eriond_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/29 "2011-02-07T22:17:58Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Three words. Pan. Fried. Semen. Seen it, read it. Didn’t try it myself, but man was I tempted… But questions like that are considered “natural” 'round these parts. But to implant feline embryos inside yourself & carry 'em to term…that came right from left field!!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/30 "2011-02-07T22:30:57Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > The placentation type is not even the same as humans, I’d wonder how the uterus would react to a foreign zonary placenta … Out of curiosity: could we expect to be able to implant domesticated cat embryos into the uteruses of big cats such as lions or tigers? Or would you have to go with a species that is closer genetically, like _Felis silvestris_ (regular ol’ [wildcat](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wildkatze_MGH.jpg)) ? ---
**Author:** ![gurujulp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@gurujulp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gurujulp)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/31 "2011-02-07T22:50:09Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Three words. Pan. Fried. Semen. That is where my mind went too- ‘BRB!’ ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/32 "2011-02-07T23:25:08Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Out of curiosity: could we expect to be able to implant domesticated cat embryos into the uteruses of big cats such as lions or tigers? It’s difficult to domesticate embryos. They’re notoriously unresponsive to commands. ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/33 "2011-02-08T01:04:19Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Three words. Pan. Fried. Semen. Personally, I find this thread stranger than pan fried semen. ---
**Author:** ![xoferew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/e9a140/32.png) [@xoferew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xoferew)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/34 "2011-02-08T01:48:05Z")
So if cows gestated human babies, would that please right-to-life advocates, because the rights of the fetus would clearly take precedence over the cow’s right to control her own body? I could also picture a scenario in which the biological mother has taken off, leaving the father and the cow, and the father now having complete control over whether to bring the fetus to term or have an abortion done. Once a cow had carried your child to term, would you keep it as a pet, or would you grill it up for dinner? Maybe save some of it in the freezer for your baby when her teeth come in? Hm, the cow could do the breastfeeding too, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/35 "2011-02-08T02:26:08Z")
No, but you might find the story of [Mary Toft](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Toft) interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/36 "2011-02-08T03:11:12Z")
> [@Strinka](#): > > Personally, I find this thread stranger than pan fried semen. Thankfully, there’s no chance she’s giving birth to that either. (unless she has “K19” tattooed on her hoo-ha…) ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/37 "2011-02-08T04:27:51Z")
> [@xoferew](#): > > Maybe save some of it in the freezer for your baby when her teeth come in? Next to the placenta. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/38 "2011-02-08T05:19:37Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > If you’re into the “birds are dinosaurs” theory then get a parrot. Trust me, they can be real terrors at times. Oh yes. I tell people if you ever want proof that birds came from dinosaurs, take a look at a baby bird. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, that is a unique kind of ugly till they fledge out! ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391/39 "2011-02-09T12:52:48Z")
> [@Ladymarmalade](#): > > … I would need nine because I want to beat Octomom. If it’s just record numbers your after then think about egg laying animals instead of mammals. All you’d have to do is incubate the eggs. You could probably manage a few thousand baby spiders. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-give-birth-to-kittens/570391.md?page=1)