Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: Cheesecat on March 16, 2009, 21:17:54 PM
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I just got a message from a friend to say they have a very pregnant stray cat in their living room and need some advice on what to do! I have no first hand knowledge (call myself a cat lady?!) but would assume kitty would need somewhere nice and warm and a tray, food and water, other than that I am stumped - all advice gratefully received!!
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Everything you said - perhaps a bathroom or spare room to keep her in and then a vets visit to check her over
Did they have the magic sign up that said nice folks live here and the digs are good
All paws crossed here for the Mum - have they named her yet
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It amuses me that they thought 'Dawn will know what to do' but I have never been in the mummy and babies situation before :evillaugh:
I have said to try and provide her with some kind of den to go into like a box with one of the sides taken off with some blankets in (blankets they don't mind getting messy!) I will mention about the spare room ;D
I think there must be a magic sign, they are a lovely couple and very cat friendly - Gary stayed at ours one night in a wholly black outfit - BIG mistake when all our cats decide to sleep all over you especially miss tortie bum - he was covered in more tortie and white fur than she was when he left, I felt guilty but he didn't want to tell them all to get down so they took full advantage of the situation :sneaky:
I will ask if they have thought of a name for her, that is always a good sign isn't it? :Luv2:
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I get that too, Dawn. I got a message from a guy I've met once asking me if I knew of any rescues in his area as he was looking to adopt a pair of kittens. I gave him the link to the catchat list and hinted broadly that slightly older cats might suit him better. ;) I also got a message about two days ago from someone I worked with asking if I knew of any good local rescues as he'd been considering getting a rescue cat for some time.
I think the advice you've given is what I'd have said and would definitely ask about her name. ;)
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good luck for the mum cat :Luv2: :hug:
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I will try to get some piccies if possible :shy:
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If they name her its usually a good sign that they now have a furry child :innocent:
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Good luck mummy cat
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Furry child and grand children ;)
Good luck for the mum cat. :hug:
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Aww lovely. Maybe she was lost or something if she's friendly? Better off where she is now tho me thinks :sneaky:
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I'm sure it will be fine as most cats know what to do. Have they got any old towels? as they might be better than blankets - for soaking up stuff :sick:. I don't have any experience with kittens but she will need to phone a vet in the unlikely event mum isn't feeding the kits.
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got this off a website
Most cats are pretty self-sufficient when it comes to pregnancy and birth. If you put your hands on her sides and she is pregnant,
you will be able to feel the kittens moving. And, obviously, she'll look "fat". When her time comes, she'll get very restless and even
start tearing up newspapers or digging in clothes piles. She'll disappear into some dark, quiet place and have her kittens
remember years ago, one of my old workmates came in and told me his cat was having kittens and she's made her nest behind the TV :-:
hope some of this helps, but as far as I am aware it all comes pretty natural to them ;)
suppose it would also be a good idea to have a vet number at hand as well
Good luck Meowmy cat :Luv:
EDIT: found this seems Pretty informative
http://www.expertvillage.com/video/165355_cat-just-had-kittens-what.htm
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Kittens always seem to arrive at night too :shify: :shify:
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Another thing is it would be a good idea to feed her up on kitten food to keep her healthy and so she has a good supply of nutritious milk for the kits - apparently they can eat up to 6 pouches a day (PAH are doing 3 boxes of felix for £7 right now, including kitten & senior)
Hopefully Lesley, Teresa & DD (and others) will be able to give some advice.
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Thanks for the advice, I will pass the information on - she is described as 'very pregnant' so I don't think we have long to wait for news.
I always fall for the mummy cats :Luv:
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It might also be worth them getting her checked by a vet just in case she has a chip, and reporting her missing, and contacting rescues unless they are willing to go through rearing kittens, finding them homes, and spaying mum - it isn't cheap, and if she has any problems, it could get very expensive, we were quoted £500 for an emergency c-section last year. if they want to keep her, she is best either in one room or in a large dog cage, to prevent her having them in unsuitable places, and also she will need some quiet time once they arrive.
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Excellent advice already given, the box with one side cut low in a quiet corner of the room is a must and best if mum cat discovers it herself , bedding inside needs to be flat so that newborn kittens do not slip underneath and suffocate whilst mum is busy giving birth to the next. Generally there is little of no mess during birth and its best to leave birth bedding in box for a day or too if it is reasonably clean as kittens rely on the nice smell. Beware Mum needs to feel safe with her babies or she will move them. I would certainly keep her indoors with a litter tray. Kitten food plus water to drink is fine.
First signs of labour can be a refusal of food and even little noises like a cat in season.
Stronghold is safe to use on pregnant queens to alleviate fleas and roundworm.
Good Luck.
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All brilliant advice so far. Maybe worth getting her checked by a Vet just to confirm how pregnant she is. I remember my one and only pregnant mum (have dealt with loads of orphan kittens and mums with kittens, only ever had one pregnant mum) was huge when I got her and I thought she was going to drop anyday. She went another month and I thought she was going to burst at the end of it, so though she may look big to them, there could be some time to go. And mine came at night, almost midnight I think it was.
Definitely, feed her as much as she will eat and kitten food is best for her at this stage.
I gave my mum a beautiful bed, fit for a queen ;D, but she was young and decided to give birth in the middle of the floor in the spare room, with me in attendance, and that is exactly where she raised them for six weeks, no matter how many times I tried to make them confortable. :Luv2:
I'm no expert on mums but hope this helps.
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Thanks again guys - I have given my email address as the message came through facebook and I can't get on there in work. I will email all the new info - or even the link so they can see all the advice ;D
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Well sadly, mum cat wanted to get out of the house this morning so they had to let her go - apparently she used to live across the street and was mistreated so now she lives in their block of flats and someone usually takes her in when its cold and feeds her :( apparently she ate loads last night.
I asked if I got a free neutering voucher, would they take her to the vet when she's reared her kittens. I also asked if they wanted me to approach some rescues rather than let mum raise the kittens wild :(
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Will they take up your offers Dawn? Somebody needs to get the cat in :(
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I hope the poor thing is indoors when she has the kittens. I hate to think of her giving birth alone outside.
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I hope so - if they agree I can go and pick the cat up from them in Manchester and help with transport if I can find somewhere. I really hope she gives birth inside too :(
They fed her lots last night so I hope she decides to return.
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Lets hope she does come back, or this could be the start of a feral colony. I would ring some rescues to see if they can take her if she does come back (dont know which part of Manchester you are in)
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I'm in Congleton not Manchester, but the cat is in Manchester - can't remember the name of the area now but its quite near the centre :innocent:
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This cat needs to be taken in and cared for by someone - if no one else can help I'm sure I can find a place here...even if I need to go fetch
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No response to my email yet :(
I would be more than willing to help with transport if I get the OK
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Dawn, if she's not sorted I may be able to get her in at our local rescue if that's any help.
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That sounds great Dawn, I just don't think they are too sure about having her rescued - I didn't get a reply to my email but I got a message to say that they have made her a little kitty home out of a big box and lots of towels etc and they always feed her when she comes to them. Apparently she is choosing to sleep in their hallway rather than in the box at the moment - I just feel sorry for the mum and the babies when they come but not sure how I can force the issue??
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The offer is there is needed, I was talking to them last week as I have a pregnant one here that they offered to take but I've got somewhere sorted for her. They owe me the odd favour so it shouldn't be a problem :hug: :hug: