Ye gods, my cats gone and got herself knocked up

[MalodyandJim]

She's a beautiful pure breed birman. We've had her just over a year. We bought her off a family member who has bred birmans for years and she was from the last litter ever. She was the only girl and we had decided with them that we would keep her for breeding possibly one litter (family member shows cats all over the country). Hence why she hasn't been spayed.

She started calling in June and we kept her in for a week. She stopped calling and everything seemed fine, we let her back out again. Around this time I took her to the vet as she seemed off her food, vet gave me some overrid? to stop her ovulating as ideally we didn't want her having a littler until she was older.

Last week she seemed to suddenly explode, checked her nipples and yep pink and huge. She's bloody pregnant! I don't think she got pregnant in June as she would have had them by now. So no signs of calling and the overrid doesn't seem to have worked.

Except now I have no idea how far along she is! She's pretty big, very big pink nipples and I can feel the kittens moving around inside her so I don't think she's got very long to go.

Family friend is away for a month so is no help. What do I do?! Does she need to go to the vet? I've been reading up and it all seems straightforward but it's a pain not knowing when exactly she's due.

I've got her a nice box and old blankets for the birth, is there anything else I need to do?

[AverageGayLadAtChristmas]

Awwwwww she's gorgeous! I'd definitely take her to the vet, they may be able to tell you how many there are, how far she is exactly and anything else you should be aware of.

also I'll take a kitten

[Fluffycloudland77]

I think cats ovulate after the pain of the male ejaculating (the little barbs stand up and cause lots of pain) so really you're lucky she lasted this long.

[sashh]

Take her to the vet, they can give you an idea of how far along she is and depending on that whether she actually gives birth.

Of course you are not going down that route and we want to see pics of the new arrivals and ideally you should leave on on Sparkling's door step, knock on the door and run.

Then you need to set up a web cam for us to monitor them 24/7.


Seriously, you probably don't need to do much, don't be surprised if she rejects your box. As a kid my cat gave birth on my bed and after most of her second litter mysteriously disappeared (my mum denied they had gone to the vet 40 years later) decided the pl;ace to keep a kitten safe is - the wardrobe in my parents room.

Oh and stop blaming your cat, it takes two (or in the case of cats 3 or 4) to make a litter.

[SlinkyVagabond]

Half Birman kittens eh? Oh go on I'll take one. Or two. Just to be friendly.

[MalodyandJim]

Kittens already have homes, luckily the extended family is cat mad so she needs at least four or someone is missing out!

Live birthing thread is a given, excited to see what they look like although I think stripy Tom cat from down the road is responsible.

I asked the vet about the ovulating from sex thing. That's what the overrid was for!

[DontFuckWithMyChocolate]

Omg she's beautiful, I can't wait to see pictures of the kittens!

[RubbishMantra]

Unless you are an experienced breeder, book a vet's appointment today.

Is she registered on the GCCF breeding register? Or sold as a pet?

[qazxc]

I'd go to vet, just for reassurance and advice if nothing else.
Now I'll just await the obligatory kitten pics.

[GerundTheBehemoth]

My favourite of all the cats I've had was a Birman x randomer cross from a rescue. She was a very ordinary-looking short-haired black cat with white feet and chest/tummy but she had one hell of a personality I agree to vet check-up, and at home maybe offer your mum-to-be a choice of boxes to reduce chances of her having them on your bed.

[MalodyandJim]

Rubbish, yes I believe she is registered with them. Family member kept her paperwork (he has some complicated family tree/breeding thing going on) she doesn't have perfect markings for showing but was the last female of that line, which was why he wanted a litter from her.

Will phone the vet after school run.

[MalodyandJim]

Oh gerund yes she has a beautiful personality. Birmans are such lovely family cats if you ignore the hair issue!

[CafeCremeEtCroissant]

She's so pretty.

I can't wait for the baby photos 😁

[roseteapot101]

awwww shes lovely she will have very pretty babys.

Get her a large cardboard box just large enough for her to stretch out and nurse.line with newspaper and a old towel.Close lid and cut a cat sized hole in the side.Place that in a quiet part of the home like a wardrobe or bathroom.Place a litter tray near by and water/food next to it.

feed her kitten food until the kittens are weaned

[RubbishMantra]

Are Birmans the cats that the Himalayan Buddist monks keep as pets?

If so, the legend goes that a monk died in the snow, and his faithful Birman put his paws on his chest and bought him back to life, and the cat's paws turned white, and that's why Birmans have white paws.

Have 2 pairs of artery forceps and strerilised scissors handy, for clamping and cutting the cord in case she gets tired. If it's a big litter, don't let her eat all the afterbirths, just 3 maybe, which she will need for nutrition. Anymore than that will make her tired - they're tough to chew on and take up a lot of energy, but she'll eat them out of instinct as not to draw predators to the babies.

I've only seen one cat give birth, years ago. It actually made me cry!

Get as much info from your breeder as you can re. the birth, ie. what to do if a kitten's not breathing once the sac has been removed by mum cat.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

Yay squeeeeeeee. Kitties
Awaits photos of the little treasures

[RustyPaperclip]

Ooh cute little kittens! I demand you post photos when they are born Rubbish what a lovely tale. I personally love the legend about Siamese cats holding rings on their tails, hence some have a kink where the tail was tied to stop the rings falling off

[RustyPaperclip]

Ah dammit now feeling broody for kittens! I have fostered many tiny little kittens over the years until they were old enough to be rehomed but I've never had a pregnant cat

[cozietoesie]

Firstcat had a kink in his tail and eyes that would cross when he gazed at you but that was many many years ago. I think those have largely been bred out now.

[Ingr]

Place marking

[RustyPaperclip]

I think so too Cozie although I did meet a beautiful cross eyed Siamese a few years ago called Cato. I've always wanted a Siamese called Cato

[cozietoesie]

Ah, Firstcat was from a very old line though - so much so that he actually had a Siamese pedigree name rather than being called 'Silver Moonbeam Dancing on the Moor at Blogsville' or some such. I think cross eyes and kinky tails are now regarded as 'breed faults' so a cat that had them likely wouldn't go for showing/breeding. I'm sure they still crop up now and again though.

[CousinCharlotte]

Definite place marking for live birth thread

[RustyPaperclip]

My next Siamese (when I can convince DH) will now be called Silver Moonbeam Dancing on the Moor at Blogsville. I feel it has a certain ring to it!

[cozietoesie]

[GlitteryFluff]

Placemarking for live birth thread..
oh and I'll have one!