Pregnant cat~lots of advice needed, please!?

Question

I've been feeding a stray kitten for a couple of months now, but lately she's been hanging round more and more, so I let her in and in she's stayed. I've asked around and no-one seems to know who owns her, and no collar.

The thing is, she's pregnant. Or I think she is. She's very small still, I'd say about 6 months old, her belly's gotten bigger, her nipples have trebled in size and she's eating double what she was. Her tummy also feels hard. I'm happy to keep her, assuming nobody claims her, and one of her kittens too. She's become a house cat, I've got a litterbox for her and she seems happy here. I can't afford to take her to the vet for another 2 weeks though, and I'm scared she'll give birth before that. What do I do to prepare? How will I know when she's ready to give birth, and what do I do to to help? I'm also worried cos she's so small the kittens will be stillborn, although she seems perfectly healthy, and I feed her well. Any advice or links would be much appreciated!

I'm sorry, I didn't mean she was small as in thin, she's just still a small cat. She's never been particularly thin, just has gotten much fatter very quickly

Answer 1

Well to start off since shes really thin, she might not be pregnant, she could be wormy. But you said her nipples increased in size so thats a good sign shes getting very ready, if she is pregnant if you sit with her and hold her sides you should feel the movement of kittens. Number one dont get panicky. Cats are having kittens all there lives. Number 2, get her in a room that doesnt have a lot of hidey holes. Get a big box, big enough to get in and turn around and comfortablly stretch out in for the cat, perferably with a cover. Cut a cat sized hole in the side or front. Put some towels or blanket in there and cover it with another blanket leave the hole open. She will like this over all the other places. Then just keep a good eye on her. Too much disturbance will cause a cat to want to move her kittens alot. Increase her food intake. Since she is pretty skinny and pregnant. Go to a pet store and get some Kitten milk replacer... the powder kind. just coat her hard food in it. If she does have problems with the kitten she cant wait for a vet till you have money she will have to go right away. So you need to make deals with a vet now, tell them the situation see if they will be willing to help you out and be on call incase you need to bring her in. I doubt you will but its always good to have a back up. Good luck and thanks for taking her in. I just fostered a cat for the shelter that was very underweight and sickly, she just gave birth to 6 healthy good sized kittens with no problems. About a week ago.

Answer 2

Hi! They usually go off somewhere to have their kittens either outdoors or somewhere in the house. Everytime she wanders around the house and doesn't come down for a while go and check to see where she is. Cats and Small cats (meaning kittens themselves) Cope well with giving birth. Once she has had the litter she will protect them really well, so it's important that you do not touch the kittens as she may kill them. She may not want to leave them where she's had them but usually as i said they hunt out where they want to give birth to them. My mums have always had theirs in cupboards or under beds. If she not comfortable with her chosen place she will carry the kittens to where she feels like it. If you need advice regarding the birth and afetr and can't really afford to contact a vet, you can ring your local Animal Sanctuary who should be more than happy to help you and will also take the kittens from you and will make sure they get a good home. Never know you may fall in love with them and keep them all. My mum did this and now she has 8 cats!!! Can i ask how long you have had her for? Has no one claimed her or advertised the fact that the cat has gone missing? If not i think you are a really kind person to bring in a cat like that and look after it the way you have done and also to be worried about her welfare. The world needs more people like you. Good Luck.

Answer 3

You won't know when she's going to have the kittens, but some signs are that she'll start looking for a nesting site....is there somewhere she goes and snuggles up? Usually a dark, warm place out of the way of people. You should keep her inside if you can now, as if she continues to go outside, she might have them outside- and thats not good, because if you tried to bring them inside- she would invariably pick them up and take them back to the birthing site. Just feed her, keep her comfy, and it will all happen naturally. The babies should come in relatively quick time- if it takes more than a few hours, and she seems to be struggling- you might need to get her to a vet. She should be fine though- nature is pretty amazing. If she lets you, and you are there when she's birthing, just offer her some affection- she will appreciate a little head rub now and then...just like for us- childbirth is painful for them too! Good luck!

Answer 4

What a lovely story and a sweet person you are to rescue this cat and protect her whilst she has her kittens. Firstly cats are very independant, the kittens will be born without you having to do anything BUT don't touch the kittens because she might reject them with a human smell on them. My cat had kittens, she started shredding up newspapers with her claws and then went under the bed to give birth...no mess...no fuss..you would not know she had given birth. Have some soft easy to eat food and milk for the Mum near to where the kittens are and a litter tray you will be amazed at how quick they are all up and on the go. Good Luck and enjoy. Afterwards go to the PDSA they will help you for free.

Answer 5

I had an adult cat as well who got pregnant and she was my baby. Your cat may very well choose her own spot but maybe preparing a box for her would be good too. Put it in one of her favorite resting spots and she may eventually move them there. Have blankets ready for her but dont change them after the kittens are born rigth away- if you touch them, she may abandon them. If all survive, that is great but expect the worst. Because she seems so little, they may not make it. It is common for first litters and is sad but unavoidable (I was upset when one out of the three that was born died only hours after I checked on it.) She will also clean everything up and you will barely be able to tell that she had any at all. As disturbing as it is to watch, it is an amazing sight too. My cat wouldnt let me leave her side and she purred the entire time. the only time you should worry is if the bleeding from the mother doesnt seem to stop shortly after birth.

Answer 6

I rescued what I thought was nothing more than a 3 month old kitten - and she started getting fat (good living I thought!). It turned out she was pregnant when she got to me. One day, I came back from work and she had given birth to 4 kittens - in the bottom of my wardrobe. She had pulled a sweater off a hanger and made a bed for them. She coped extemely well. Just set up a warm bed somewhere for when they arrive, but she will find her own birthing place. You wont need a vet.

Answer 7

Get a box with a lid, maybe bigger than a box the size that copier paper comes in and cut a hole in the side and line it with some newpaper underneath some towels (ones you don't want back!) and place it in a location she can get to and one that is in a low traffic area like a closet. They like to feel safe and secure so don't pop the lid on her 100 times while she is trying to give birth. Cats know what to do. Have you treated her for fleas? Get some Advantage now so the fleas aren't on the mother and then will land on the kittens.

Good luck!

Answer 8

you do not usually have to do anything for pregnant cats except provide her with a warm safe box in which to have her kittens. There are very rarely complications even in small cats. There is a pet food company called Burns look at burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk. They have a free phone number for advice and I have always found them to be very helpful.Good luck for you and mum cat but do get her a nice large box cardboad is ideal as it can be destroyed when the kittens are old enough.

Answer 9

Give her lots of food and water make sher she doesnt fall or hert herself. Let her look through your house for a sutibal spot to give birth. You should be able to ask the vet over the phone about what to do from there. She should be fine on her own with giving birth its not like humans thay come in little sacks. Make sher she stays inside. If a babys sack wont open you might have to open it for it. Dont get to fusy over it because it isent that hard to deal with. After thay are born let her take care of them untill thay get teeth because you should by kitten food for them and the mom.

Answer 10

set her up a nice, warm, quiet spot to have her kittens. make sure that she always has a supply of food and fresh water. when she is about to have them she will try to find a secluded spot that she can go to. although our female had one of her litters under our sons crib. she will probably seem more energetic and agitated. watch for her to lay down and contractions to start. since it is her first litter she may not know what to do so keep an eye on the birthing process. if she doesn't care for them right away you may have to do it.