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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if anybody knows what to do

22 replies

farnywarny · 03/08/2011 14:32

When your cat has kittens?

Never experienced it before, so some tips would go a long way - she is due any day now!

OP posts:

TheMagnificentBathykolpian · 03/08/2011 14:33

Leave her alone to get on with it!

Comfy quiet dark area that gives her privacy.

Has she chosen her spot yet?

Original poster

farnywarny · 03/08/2011 14:35

She keeps going under ds's bed so I think thats her spot. We have towels down under there and have told the kids to stay away from her.

OP posts:

Beepazoid · 03/08/2011 14:41

TheMag's advice is very helpful, so i don't really have anything to add, but i just remember the look on my cat's little face when she was having contractions and it was adorable! I kept saying 'go on girl'!!

So if you can be there to watch, then i would..but let her get on with it and resist the temptation to touch the wee ones, cos she won't thank you for it and could well reject them.

Enjoy the experience, though...:)

notnowImreading · 03/08/2011 14:41

Our cat had kittens in her own litter tray, which was delightful. It might be an idea to get a pair of all-metal scissors you can boil to sterilise and use to cut the umbilical cords if the cat doesn't bite them off herself. Mine was too tired to do it and we cat these four tiny kittens with placentas attached with bits of litter stuck all over them, then when I boiled my scissors, the handles melted. I wasn't that well prepared, if I'm honest.

NewbeeMummy · 03/08/2011 14:43

As TheMags says - just leave her to it - somewhere dark, quiet and safe is all she needs, sounds like she has chosen her spot - but will your daughter be moving out of her room for a bit, as they can be a bit noisey.

notnowImreading · 03/08/2011 14:43

Oh yes, Beep - the contractions face was so cute. All confused and sort of accusing at the same time. I thought the kittens were a bit horrible at first though. They didn't get cute until their ears grew a bit.

TheMagnificentBathykolpian · 03/08/2011 14:43

Yes, just leave them alone and don't touch.

Although, years ago, one of my mum's cats gave birth - to a single kitten, which I'd never known before - and after a few hours, got kitten by scruff of neck, leapt up into my mum's lap, deposited kitten and buggered off outside My mum was regular babysitter for little Sally-Anne.

TheMagnificentBathykolpian · 03/08/2011 14:46

Best cat birth story I have ever heard came from my vet. Took my cat in as he (HE is important) had a hernia. Turned out he was a she and she was pregnant.

Vet gave her a cs and described the moment when she woke up to discover 3 babies.

He said her face was a picture!

Well, I'm not surprised. It's not every day a bloke goes into hospital for a hernia op and comes out a mother of three

EricNorthmansMistressOfPotions · 03/08/2011 16:37

Bathy I bet she knew she was pregnant even if her numpty humans didn't

TheMagnificentBathykolpian · 03/08/2011 20:37

Oh, I know. It's just a funny way to tell it

Apparently the shock on her face when she saw the kittens was amazing

LadyBeagleEyes · 03/08/2011 20:50

I had a cat have kittens many years ago, she chose her spot (in a cupboard), but kept me and my flatmate up all night till she had them. I think she just wanted us to be there.
We didn't have to do anything, she did it all herself and was so proud of herself. After they were born she just lay there and purred.
She used to sleep in my bed and a couple of weeks after they were born she would bring them one by one into my bed too. I'd put them back but she would carry them back until I just gave up.
I loved having kittens around. I'm so .

Kladdkaka · 03/08/2011 21:01

It is absolutely essential when your cat has kittens to gather them all up and post them to me. :o

ModreB · 03/08/2011 21:06

Oh, my cat has about 3 weeks to go. She hasn't shown any signs of a place yet, but we are prepapring a nice dark corner under the stairs.

DS3 is ecstatic, as he has never yet had any contact with babies, even baby animals. lol

DontAskMeSums · 03/08/2011 21:09

Best to be on hand for her, especially if it's her first litter. A rescue cat I had once chose to deliver hers in my lap!

TheMagnificentBathykolpian · 03/08/2011 21:14

Oooh! Oooh! That's just reminded me! One of my mum's cats had a litter a few years ago. six lovely little kittens.

My husband decided to take a photo of them.

He lined them up! No, I am not kidding you

He got 3 of them in a line, went to get the 4th and the three had wobbled off. He got them back, got the 5th and the 4th had wobbled off

He spent over 5 minutes trying to get the kittens lined up.

By that time, I was on the floor!

TakeMeDrunkImHome · 03/08/2011 21:17

Are you an accredited breeder? Or did you just let your unspayed cat get out and get knocked up?

LadyBeagleEyes · 03/08/2011 23:17

TakeMeDrunk, cats will occasionally get pregnant you know.
My 'unspayed cat' gave birth 25 years ago, and was spayed very soon after.
I now have two cats, brother and sister, and spayed as soon as it could be done.
The op was asking advice about her cat having kittens, people with a little bit experience of it were replying.
Your rather sour post, when you haven't got a clue about the circumstances was a thread killer.
I've just decided to resurrect it.
farnywarny keep us up to date, I'm a sucker for kittens.

notnowImreading · 04/08/2011 11:04

My unspayed cat (the feline equivalent of a over-stimulated fourteen year old hopped up on cheap cider) systematically headbutted the locked catflap until she broke it and ran out into the night shouting 'Shag me! Shag me!' to the mean black cat from over the back. Since having the kittens she's been spayed but occasionally still shags him just for laughs and to annoy our boy cat.

AuntieMonica · 10/08/2011 13:44

just seen the OP on another thread, so rather than hijack that one, i thought i'd bump this...

how's the kitty?

any news?

HPonEverything · 10/08/2011 13:51

I wish humans could give birth like cats do.

I'd love to just go into the airing cupboard and come out hours later with the baby, without all that medical nonsense.

DogsBestFriend · 10/08/2011 14:54

Have the number of an emergency vet on hand so that you can call him if the cat struggles in labour and get her straight in for a caesarean section.

Have the money to hand to pay for the above.

See this for vitally important further advice which could be a lifesaver

Get the kittens rehomed via rescue so that those homes can be homechecked, those kittens will be assured of being vaccinated, health checked and spayed/neutered themselves and that there will be a guarantee that should the owners not be able to keep them or not want them the rescue will take them back, even if they are 15 years old by then.

Get the poor fucking cat spayed as soon as it humanely possible afterwards.

TakeMeDrunk, thank fuck SOMEONE has some compassion, common sense and knowledge of the number of cats facing death through want on homes on this thread.

DogsBestFriend · 10/08/2011 14:56

'want OF homes', not 'want on homes.'

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