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The litter tray

Lots of cat questions! Need some help please.

21 replies

Pinkkahori · 15/04/2017 10:48

A few weeks ago a skinny but healthy looking cat turned up at our back door. She clearly wasn't wild, very tame and friendly. I thought she had just wandered in here (quite rural but some houses fairly close) and she would go back to where she came from but she stayed here. We asked around if anyone was missing her and put it in the local newsletter but no one turned up.
After a while DH bought some dry food and we started to feed her.
The kids have totally fallen in love with her.
I've never been a cat person but I've started to get used to having her around.
The thing is I am fairly sure she is pregnant and I am at a loss at what to do.
We know a few people who want to take a kitten so that won't be a problem but I'm not sure what to do for now.
Should I take her to the vet or just let her get on with things? She lives outside and sleeps in the shed.
Should I let her in the house to give birth? It is a bit tricky as I don't know if she would stay in. I don't have a catflap for her to go in and out and I don't know if she would use a litter box.
She comes in the house occasionally but is obviously not a house cat as she always looks to go out again quickly.
Also she is a good hunter and regularly deposits dead mice or their entrails at the door and sits looking at me. I think they are her gifts to us. What do I do? I usually tell her she is a great cat and fuss her a bit and then she eventually eats them!
Also I had thought about taking her to a vet to see if she was microchipped but we are not in the UK and I haven't heard of anyone here registering their cat. It is mostly farm cats and outdoor cats here.
Thanks
Thanks

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Fluffycloudland77 · 15/04/2017 12:00

You can get her spayed and abort the pregnancy, there's no world wide shortage of kittens.

Also you don't know how many she's having, she might have 2 or 6.

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PastysPrincess · 15/04/2017 12:02

Take her to the vets immediately. She will need a checkup and possibly vaccinations although I'm not sure what they are allowed to have during pregnancy. Plus the vet can check if she is chipped.

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thecatneuterer · 15/04/2017 13:22

Take her to the vets and do the spay/abort now. If it's not showing that much then it's certainly not too late to do it, but you can't delay.

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Pinkkahori · 16/04/2017 13:43

Hi all, thanks for the advice but seems I posted a bit too late. The cat is in our utility room and birth looks imminent.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 16/04/2017 15:16

Lots of info on cats in labour on the net luckily.

Good luck with her.

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LanaorAna1 · 16/04/2017 15:20

Vets. Good luck and congrats on your beautiful new kitty (s).

Let us know how it goes.

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abbsisspartacus · 16/04/2017 15:23

Kittens?? Bear

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Pinkkahori · 16/04/2017 15:26

She has had 3 now and we have volunteers to take them when ready so at least that's not a worry. I am keeping an eye on her but she seems to be doing fine so far.
I hope she will be finished soon and gets settled with her new babies.
My main issue right now is that she is in my utility room with them and I have no idea if she has ever used a litter tray. I presume she won't want to leave them to go outside for a while.
Will I make her a litter box and hope for the best???

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Fluffycloudland77 · 16/04/2017 15:28

I would.

She needs to stay in until she's spayed, they can get pg very quickly after having kittens.

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Pleasemrstweedie · 16/04/2017 15:29

Congratulations!

I'd just set up a litter box. It's a rare cat that doesn't figure that out fairly quickly.

It would be sensible to keep her in now and get her spayed as soon as she weans the kittens.

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Pinkkahori · 16/04/2017 15:59

She has 4 now. She is in a really awkward position with them on a blanket beside an open door. I have put a bed in for her. I hope she is able to figure out how to get them in there herself.

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ElizaDontlittle · 17/04/2017 10:23

How was your night OP? Has mum and the kittens got themselves settled and the litter tray worked out.
And pictures pleeease!! Grin
Hope you are not too sleep deprived and all are doing ok.

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Pinkkahori · 17/04/2017 15:17

All seems to be fine here. She got them settled in a more comfy position last night but didn't move them to the bed I made yet.
All the kittens seem to be doing well. They are looking bigger already.
Not sure how the toilet situation is going. I set up a litter box but she doesn't seem to have used it. She has looked to go out a few times today so I've let her but she barely stayed out a minute so don't know if she managed to get her business done!
I am a total cat novice but we seem to be doing ok so far.
I'll try and post some pictures shortly.
Thanks

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Owlish · 17/04/2017 15:30

I have no real advice, Pink, except to feed her much more than normal, ad lib, maybe, as feeding kittens takes a lot of energy. Good luck to you all, you're a star for taking care of her. When the kittens are bigger, I insist on photos Grin

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user1492080882 · 17/04/2017 15:36

Definitely worm her. Skinny+hunter=probably has a worm burden. I have to worm one of my cats every 6 weeks in the summer as he is constantly mousing.

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chemenger · 17/04/2017 15:36

You could try using soil in the litter tray instead of proper litter, she might be more inclined to use that. I'm sure I have seen it suggested that nursing mothers should eat kitten food because it is richer. Don't give her milk, just water. She has been so lucky to find you, she obviously spotted cat slave potential in you Grin.

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Pinkkahori · 17/04/2017 15:41

She has just gone out and done her business. She is a but wary on her own so dd accompanied her.
She is drinking lots of water and I'm leaving a bowl of dry food with her. I've also given her a pouch of wet food today and she got treated to some lovely beef from yesterday's roast.

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Pinkkahori · 17/04/2017 15:42

Here us a bundle of cuteness.

Lots of cat questions! Need some help please.
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BuckingFrolicks2 · 17/04/2017 15:52

Oh good heavens! You're a lovely person for welcoming this cat so well. And your reward? Kittens.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 17/04/2017 18:08

Soil or sand might work, ours likes sand.

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ElizaDontlittle · 17/04/2017 18:10

Oh my goodness!!! Cuteness overload! I think you're amazing for having her and the kittens - it's not for the fainthearted even amongst cat owners but you are doing great. It sounds like she does too. Agree re worms and feed her more than twice a day. Look forward to seeing them grow with you, if you will indulge us.

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