Pregnant Cat

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Peggy Fair - 25 Dec 2006 21:27 GMT

About a month ago, I took in a pregnant stray that has been in my
neighborhood for a couple of years. I was getting tired of her having
babies, so I decided to take her in so she can give birth in my home. I

gave her a flea bath on the first night and now a month later she is
still doing well. Her stomach has gotten bigger and I think that she
will give birth any day now. I have gotten a carboard box, turned it
upside down for privacy, with some old blankets and put it in a corner

hoping she will give birth in there.

I have a few questions:

1. I think she has been a stray all her life, and when she was out on
the street I fed her often so she knew me before I took her in. She
lets me rub her head but won't let me touch the rest of her body,
especially her stomach. She just stays under my bed and comes out to
eat, use the bathroom and whenever she feels like allowing me to pet
her. But if she sees me coming, she runs. How long will it take for her

to stop running away from me? She should know that I don't want to hurt

her by now, right?

2. When she has the babies, I am guessing that they will be
urinating/pooping right there with her in the bedding. What are your
suggestions for making this as hassle free as possible? Do they have
anything on the market for newborn kittens to relieve themselves in?(I
looked but couldn't find anything)

3. Once the kittens are weaned, I plan to take mother and kittens to
the vet to be fixed, shots, tested for diseases and all that good
stuff. Are there any agencies that will help offset the costs for all
these cats?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Peggy

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William Graham - 26 Dec 2006 00:25 GMT

> About a month ago, I took in a pregnant stray that has been in my
> neighborhood for a couple of years. I was getting tired of her having
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
>
> Peggy

Keep a litter box fairly close by, so momma cat can use it and won't have to
go very far away from her kittens. Change her bedding about once a week with
fresh cleaned and dried cloths/blankets.....Anything warm will do. - Even
bath towels. Count yourself lucky that she chose your place to have her
kittens. We have been feeding our feral cat for 5 years now. He hardly ever
leaves our property anymore, and yet, he still runs from me about half the
time. The lessons they learn from their mothers can never completely be
forgotten......

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Peggy Fair - 26 Dec 2006 14:06 GMT

Thanks William. I will go to the Salvation Army and get some old towels
and blankets.

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~*Connie*~ - 26 Dec 2006 13:11 GMT

> 1. I think she has been a stray all her life, and when she was out on
> the street I fed her often so she knew me before I took her in. She
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> her by now, right?

She will keep that reluctance for a while. Spend time with her just in the
room, not forcing yourself on her. Read a book (outloud if you won't feel
silly), or do other activities, just to be near her. Occasionally impose
yourself on her and pat her if she isn't asking for it. But watch her
reactions, and stop shortly before she wants it to. Most pregnant cats LOVE
to have their bellies rubbed (I've had many pregnant foster cats from the
local shelter) but not all. Once they give birth they don't like it so
much. Just take it slow, and occasionally try new things, but you don't
want to overwhelm her. Also household noise helps. A TV or a radio on talk
radio keeps them used to the human presence. Its amazing how much.

> 2. When she has the babies, I am guessing that they will be
> urinating/pooping right there with her in the bedding. What are your
> suggestions for making this as hassle free as possible? Do they have
> anything on the market for newborn kittens to relieve themselves in?(I
> looked but couldn't find anything)

Mom will completely take care of the kittens until they start eating on
their own, between four and six weeks. She licks their bottoms to make them
pee and poop. You will need to change the bedding every couple of days, but
try to keep something in there that smells like the old bedding. If she is
too agressive (she MIGHT be) let her decide to change beds by providing a
new box. She can (and most likely wil anyway) move her kittens on her own.
And despite what you have provided.. there is a good chance she'll give
birth in her litterbox or in your closet.

You can help, but you don't have to. Sometimes just being there and talking
soothingly to her will go a long way to help with your bonding.

> 3. Once the kittens are weaned, I plan to take mother and kittens to
> the vet to be fixed, shots, tested for diseases and all that good
> stuff. Are there any agencies that will help offset the costs for all
> these cats?

In my area, there is. I don't know where you are. Contact your local ASPCA
and see if they can recommend anything. If not, ask if there are vets in
the area that might be helpful - they might help defray the costs. Usually
you only have to test the mother. Rabies and a series of two or three
distemper shots (depending on your vet's protocol) are the only shots
needed. If you are going to let the mother back out on the streets, a
feline leukimia - FELV - vaccine (series of two) wouldnt be a bad idea -
despite the fact they are usually boostered every year.. some protection is
better than none. FELV is only needed if the cat goes outside, since they
can only get it by coming in contact with other cats. There are a few other
vaccines out there, but their effectiveness is very much in question.

Good luck, and thanks for giving these kittens such a good start. I got
into animal rescue after finding a kitten living in the dumpster by my
house, and she died shortly after of FELV. It was heart breaking that no
one cared enough to help her.

> Thanks in advance for your help,
>
> Peggy

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Peggy Fair - 26 Dec 2006 14:10 GMT

Thanks Connie. I believe she has been a stray all her life, but I will
not be letting her back outside. I plan to keep her and give her a good
home for the rest of her life, I think she is an older cat, so I think
she deserves good shelter for all she must have been through. I had
planned on taking her in sooner, but I was too busy in personal life. I
remember one day, on a hot summer day, seeing her down the street and
she looked so miserable! Well from now on, she will be in comfort each
and every day. I believe she is a calico cat, she has some Black rings
of fur on her tail, and white fur from her belly to her neck, and a
combination of brown and white over the rest of her body. I think I'm
going to name her Heather because she looks like a Heather! LOL

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