Pregnant (?) stray on uni campus

[Puffinitee]

I do a part time uni course. Over summer there was a friendly but shy tabby on campus. I'm on campus again today and there was a mewling dirty tabby who looks like she could be pregnant. Not sure it's the same cat as this one tolerated some strokes. She could be owned but she looked grubby so I'm not sure she is. What can I do to help her? I can't take her home as PuffinCat would flip, and I can't feed her regularly because I live quite far away. I also forgot my purse so can't buy her food. Any advice welcome!

[thecatneuterer]

Which campus? She obviously is stray. I would go back, get her into a carrier and then contact your nearest Cat Protection, or other similar charity (not RSPCA). If you tell me where I can help find one. Or if it's anywhere within a reasonable range of CHAT I can help.

The best option is spay/abort and rehoming. If you have money to take her to a vet yourself you can do that first. Even if you do nothing else it would be a wonderful for her if you could get that done, even if you end up having to put her back, but hopefully that can be avoided.

[Puffinitee]

Some pics. She felt dirty to the touch and had sand in her (ruffled) tail. She's so friendly!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Oh bollocks, she's at the swallowed a barrel stage. Have you got a room you can put her in to birth? She must be bloody starving. Owned cats don't feel dirty to the touch.

Doesn't anyone else drive around with cat food in the car?.

[Puffinitee]

Fluffy I have spoken with TCN on the phone and we've devised a plan. Had I had my purse on my I'd have bought her some food (if not a carrier to take her to my home). As it stands, I'm going back on Saturday with PuffinCat's carrier and her food and catch her. Shouldn't be too tricky - only problem is if she has the kits before then. Poor thingy was trying to eat from a rubbish bin . Apparently she's been there for about a week - can't believe no one did anything to help! She will go in the spare room and PuffinCat will have the sulk to end all sulks

[Fluffycloudland77]

You'll have to act dumb, "what pg cat? What kittens?, you are mistaken puss,". You are a star to help a pg cat. She's just got to cross her legs till then.

People don't help them because they assume the cats owned.

[Puffinitee]

Star or just a ridiculously soft touch, I'm not sure . Could really be doing without the added stress, although I guess it might also be a welcome distraction from work stress. Not sure she'll have the kittens, but it depends on how far along she is I guess. Her belly was taut but I could feel her spine quite clearly . She was so friendly, I was able to pick her up a few times, even after she twigged I was trying to put her in a box (didn't work out). Can't wait for Saturday! I know some people are going to think we're crazy but there are just too many cats out there already!

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'd take a pg stray in. I just have to find a pg stray.

I found some kittens a few years back & cpl said they'd let me keep one if I caught them but they vanished. There was a local woman letting them breed and we think she saw us feeding them and got the mum cat back in.

RSPCA was meant to lend us a trap but they never rang me back.

If you scruff her she'll go limp. It's not nice but it gets the job done.

[Vinorosso74]

Pleased you have a plan. Well done you and TCN for her advice. Hope all goes to plan and keep us posted.

[Weedsnseeds1]

Good luck.

[Puffinitee]

Update: it's proved impossible to find a vet that can do spay/abort at the weekend. We're reluctant to take in the cat because our cat would not like it and it would also mean we're essentially taking ownership of her. This would make it very difficult to find a shelter for her, as it would be seen as us giving up our pet. I've found a small rescue that has one free pen that she can go into. It's not ideal, but better than her having her kits on the street. Will update tomorrow when we go and get her

[Fluffycloudland77]

If you can get her it'll save those kittens lives. It won't be easy finding food when it's this cold.

[thecatneuterer]

Thanks for the update. Good luck.

[Janey50]

Agree with Fluffycloudland re. scruffing. It never looks very nice,but it doesn't really hurt them. It is their natural instinct to go limp when scruffed. Sometimes it's the only way to deal with an awkward -bugger- cat. I have used it occasionally on our cat when she starts getting a bit over-enthusiastic with her claws or teeth. Sounds obvious but make sure you support her body!

[Janey50]

Sorry,meant to add good luck! You sound lovely for wanting to help out a stray.

[Puffinitee]

She was super friendly when I saw her on Tuesday, no issue picking her up, even after she twigged I was putting her in a box (that obviously didn't work out). I think she's just desperate for help we'll have food tomorrow so that should make it easier. Would it be an idea to apply spot on flea treatment before we drop her off, or is that not good for pg cats? Have also got anti worm treatment, what should take priority?

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'd let the rescue sort that out.

[Puffinitee]

Yeah I suppose. Just want to help! I still feel guilty for not helping a flea ridden stray dog years ago, it was so sore... I'm too soft, I know

[Puffinitee]

Janey forgot to mention I was thinking of calling her Janey, as she is a Jane Doe

[Fluffycloudland77]

Good luck for today.

[Janey50]

Janey - forgot to mention I was thinking of calling her Janey as she s a Jane Doe. . OP be sure to let us know how it went today. And please post a photo of the kittens!

[Puffinitee]

UPDATE We got to the campus today and couldn't find the cat anywhere. Security had seen her, and said they'd heard a story about a woman living down the road with lots of cats, and that this cat always turned up with another cat. I call BS, this cat was very much alone and definitely neglected.

We looked around for ages, keeping our ears open for kitten squeals, but to no avail. We were just about to give up when she ran up to my husband! Poor thing was parched and starving - she scoffed a standard portion of kibble in next to no time and then drank and moved onto wet food. She was quite easy to get into the carrier, a bit wriggly but very friendly (got worse scratches off PuffinCat yesterday).

There is a bit of a mystery: despite looking enormous on Tuesday, DStray is definitely not pregnant, and doesn't have any milk either, so we didn't miss her kittens. She was v v dehydrated, so got a few shots to get some fluids in her. She also has a slightly torn ear and has patchy fur. The rescue lady is taking her to the vets to be scanned for a chip and be checked up. Unfortunately, she has no suitable pens available for a normal, non-pg cat. The rescue lady is waiting for someone to trap a very sick cat that's been visiting a house, the ordinary pen is reserved for him. If this cat is trapped and taken to the rescue, and DStray is not chipped, she will be neutered and then have to be returned to where we found her. We don't like the thought of this at all (though we understand needs must), so we are seriously thinking about taking her on if it gets to this. Need to check with the landlady whether we can have two cats, but as PuffinCat has schmoozed her repeatedly I have good hopes :)

CPL said PuffinCat should be an only, but we don't really know why. Can we risk it? So... Any advice on how to introduce a new cat welcome :)

[Fluffycloudland77]

You can but try, it's very odd a cat so pg looking is no longer pg. I have heard cats can reabsorb pg but I'm not sure how true this is.

You can keep them apart and see how puffin cat reacts to another cat in the house.

This cat obviously isn't coping too well though to be so thirsty and hungry.

[Puffinitee]

It does seem odd. Hopefully the visit to the vet will answer a few questions. She was clearly in a worse state than you'd think looking at her, so she could have something wrong with her, or she might have lost all her kittens. I thought there'd be less mystery with this one then with PuffinCat because we've actually rescued this one ourselves but oh well :)

[Puffinitee]

I forgot: she might have a doppelganger :)

[Fluffycloudland77]

Bugger. One tabby looks much like another.

So pg tabby could still be out there?.