Reasonably urgent advice needed regarding pregnant cat

[TreacherousPissFlap]

I already have a thread on the litter tray but it's a bit quiet-

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/3942978-Pregnant-rescue-cat

Basically we have the opportunity to rescue a 6 month old cat who is pregnant. I think we will take this little cat and I will bring her home on Saturday afternoon . We need enough provisions to last us until at least Monday evening which is the earliest we can see a vet, but I have no idea what we specifically need. I'm guessing we should be feeding kitten food to her straight away, but I'm also concerned about changing what she's used to. We're leaving to go to DM's tomorrow afternoon and returning on Saturday so will need to get anything we need tomorrow morning.

Any advice at all would be gratefully appreciated

Ring the vet's surgery and I'm sure the receptionists will be happy to advise.

She'll need to be made to feel safe and somewhere she can have her kittens in peace and quiet. Years ago when my queen had a litter I set up a lovely nesting box and she decided to have the kittens in the wardrobe instead 🙄😁

I'd get... flea treatment for her (check it's ok for pregnant cats), the food she is already on plus wet kitten food and kitten milk (for her). Old boxes are great for cats albeit not very aesthetically pleasing. If you can get some of varying sizes with an old blanket/towel in each one in quiet rooms in the house she may use them to settle or even eventually nest.

I'd recommend wood chipping a as the litter (holds the smell much better and doesn't stick to the litter tray)

Then just give her time (and a pack of dreamies or small chunks of meat to hand) to help her settle and for her to get used to you

When it's time for the kittens you'll really need her on old towels or blankets if possible. Bit of a messy business having kittens but queens seem to be very efficient at it. They eat the placenta after each kitten is born which was surreal to me but just leave her be as much as possible whilst she's in labour. There's no need for you to do anything unless it's very prolonged, then call a vet.

Don't touch the newborns if at all possible in case she rejects them, just keep an eye on them from a distance. It's all very exciting! Good luck!

To be brutally honest, I don't think that you should be taking on a cat, never mind a pregnant one, if you have to resort to mumsnet for advice about the simplest care of the poor creature.

Call the vet, speak to the current owners about what her current diet is, do some proper research. Cats are incredibly cute, 6mo ones moreso, and newborn kittens are scummy, but they are incredibly hard work, will take over your life for a few months and can cause utter mayhem to your lives/sleep pattern/carpets/furniture etc.

You could have this cat for 15 years - have you really thought about what changes you will have to make to welcome her into your lives and home, or what sacrifices/costs she will require?

There are plenty of professionally qualified places willing to take on stray/unloved cats even during covid, please think logically whether you are able to properly care for a teenage cat and her babies.

When my cat was pregnant a few years ago, we fed her kitten food, and set her up with a comfy box in a quiet place.
She decided to have her kittens in Dd's bed, with Dd in it!
She was a lovely cat Mum, we rehomed two of her kittens to a friend, and kept the other two, we've only one now, we lost the other to cancer last year, but girl kitten will be 8 next month.
Kittens are great, so much fun so long as you aren't house proud

Six months is very early for a cat to be having kittens. She is only a kitten herself at that age. You need to take her to the vet as soon as you have her with you and have a good discussion. Very young cats like that having kittens are at an increased risk of issues for both them and the kittens.

Sorry muppetry, there's more info on my other thread about the circumstances. I am well aware of what we're taking on and just wanted a little advice about what we should be looking to have in for when she first arrives, until we can see the vet.

Personally I'd get her to the vets to spay and abort. She's still just a baby herself

That's definitely something we have discussed polka (It was suggested on my other thread) but I think she may be too far gone. From the photos I've seen she is already visibly pregnant

It's a very difficult choice to make, but many vets will abort very close to full term - due to the pressure on rescue centres, and adverse medical outcomes for mothers/kittens born in this way.

I'd take her to a vet and see if they can date the pregnancy - cats can start to 'show' at around 30 days, but full term is 63-65 days.

www.thesprucepets.com/so-your-cat-is-pregnant-552392 this website has more info on the circumstances and ethics surrounding spay-abortions

Thank you polka that's very helpful. As I said in my other thread, we were actively looking to rescue a new cat so would take her on anyway. If I'm honest the idea of having kittens appeals only on a very basic level.

Some vets will abort right up to the point of delivery by neutering but its so Horrible.I've been involved in a spay where the kittens came out alive and had to be euthanized. It was hideous

I would just buy enough kitten food to feed her and set up boxes with towels in and just keep her in one room for now. You might not be able to catch her/find her when you go up.

Goodness ami, that sounds beyond awful

We are fortunate that we can afford veterinary care for her and her kittens, DS(16) is at home full time till September, DH works only 3 days a week and I'm on shifts, so there will always be someone around. We have a spare room as well where she can be quiet.

You will be fine, flea and worm treatments can be advised by the vet, then its a case of a comfy bed, litter tray, toys and non clumping litter for when the kittens are older as they will try to eat it. Kitten food for mum is good. I'd also have a serious discussion with the vet about the risks to her at such a young age and be guided by them.

Calming products like feliway or pet remedy and Zylkene can help.
Budget for neutering, microchipping and vaccinations when kittens are old enough.
Above all try not to let the stress of it all spoil the enjoyment, even if you end up aborting the kittens. Looking out for thecat is the main thing and it is a wonderful thing to help an animal.

Ooh, I still have TreacherousCats Feliway diffuser somewhere. I'll dig it out!

OP I read your other thread, I stand by what I wrote above. If you have to resort to mumsnet for practical, basic advice about rehoming a pregnant cat (who is still a kitten herself) into a new home away from her usual area, with 2 dogs where she will be stuck indoors, upstairs where she will be safe from them, I still think you shouldn't rehome her.

Point noted muppetry, but you seem to have read quite a lot into my posts.

She will need to be indoors until she has given birth, and even if she wasn't would be in for a few weeks while she settles in.

Secondly she would not be upstairs to be "safe" from the dogs, she would be behind a baby gate which prevents them lying on my bed when they're covered in mud. The spare room is upstairs and that's ideally where she would give birth (though I appreciate she may well have her own ideas regarding this)

Thirdly she is a stray. The alternative is her giving birth in DMs back garden. Once this is all over (assuming we do go ahead with the pregnancy) she will have a safe and loving home with us. Obviously the situation is not ideal but it is what it is.

Op people come on Mumsnet for all sorts of advice. I've seen someone on here for advice about navy eyebrows this morning 😁. Asking for advice about a young pregnant cat is completely fine. Good luck with her

I think it’s a great thing you’re doing OP. There are quite a few really good kitten foster accounts on Instagram you could check out.

Also, a PP suggested buying kitten milk for her. Please don’t do this, it just upsets their tummies and she doesn’t need that right now, on top of being pregnant.

Get a few cardboard boxes and lay them on their sides for her to go in and feel safe inside - even though she will be in a quiet room, cats still like somewhere sheltered to go and hide out.

Good luck, let us know how she gets on!

It will also be a good idea to get kitten replacement milk and bottles; these items are difficult to get hold of in the shops and when they are needed, they are needed urgently. Please do keep us up to date and we can advise further on the next steps. It’s good that she will have a home and support.

Do you not have a local rescue who could take her?

A lot of the local rescue charities use foster carers who take in pregnant cats and then the rescues find homes for the kittens.

What plans do you have for the kittens? You can’t simply pass them around the neighbourhood, it would be far better for them to go to a rescue.

Also if this is a stray are you sure she’ll want to be living indoors?

If she’s used to being an outdoor cat you’ll be taking on far more than just a pregnant cat. Also if she’s not used to dogs it could be immensely stressful for her. There’s no way you’ll be able to keep her behind a baby gate.

This seems like an incredibly bad idea all round although I can see why you would want to do it.