Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Original poster

Advice please! Cat close to birth?

167 replies

MDParks · 10/05/2023 00:30

Hi all, I have a 7 month old kitten who’s due to give birth imminently. I have never been in this position before so am slightly shitting it! I think I have everything set up (as well as it could be given the circumstances). She’s been acting quite odd today, incredibly affectionate, needy and has been continuously scratching in her litter tray. She was ‘humping’ my jumper earlier and is now in a deep slumber on it. We don’t know when she was impregnated but we had an ultrasound at the vets 3 weeks on Thursday, where they said it would be 2 weeks max. I’m just incredibly worried because she is so tiny and baby belly is huge. I think I’m just looking for reassurance and possibly some uplifting cat pregnancy/birth stories. Thanks guys

OP posts:
Thread gallery
35
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 21/06/2023 21:59

The little dark tortoiseshell has the sweetest face ...but keeps hiding it Smile

We need more photos of the tabby and the tortie , to help you decide which ones you are keeping , obvs

Though MumCat might say "For the love of Jeff, I birthed them, raised them and now you want me to keep some " Wink

RichardsGear · 23/06/2023 07:24

I have a soft spot for the brown tabby as s/he looks like my youngest daft little sod 😻.

HormonalHetty · 26/06/2023 14:04

They are absolutely beautiful. I'd end up keeping them all!!!

lljkk · 27/06/2023 07:16

Gorgeous. x

TheLifeofMe · 06/07/2023 16:06

Good for you for taking in the cat. I would speak to the vet for sure as if she is very small, she may need a c section. It is very young to be having kittens as she is a baby herself! It is why anyone who gets a female kitten should have them spayed at 6 months as so many unwanted kittens this time of year.

I hope it all goes ok.

Original poster
MDParks · 06/07/2023 16:57

TheLifeofMe · 06/07/2023 16:06

Good for you for taking in the cat. I would speak to the vet for sure as if she is very small, she may need a c section. It is very young to be having kittens as she is a baby herself! It is why anyone who gets a female kitten should have them spayed at 6 months as so many unwanted kittens this time of year.

I hope it all goes ok.

Hi LifeofMe, they're actually 8 weeks old now! The birth was eventful but Mum and babies are all happy and thriving! x

OP posts:
BreeTown · 06/07/2023 21:33

Ahem... Where are the July Cat Tax pics?! 📸🐈

Original poster
MDParks · 06/07/2023 21:44

BreeTown · 06/07/2023 21:33

Ahem... Where are the July Cat Tax pics?! 📸🐈

Two of them went yesterday 😭 They've gone to the most amazing home and I know they'll be spoilt rotten but it was traumatic! Can't believe we've got here so quickly, it only feels like yesterday! x

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/07/2023 21:48

Awwww ;ove the cute little "paws" pose from the tabby ....

But just LOOK at the face on the little dark tortoiseshell GrinYou have to keep her , she's gorgeous and your life would be very interesting with her in ut .

Such a look of disapproval Wink

Original poster
MDParks · 06/07/2023 21:49

Beautiful babies update 🥰

Advice please! Cat close to birth?
Advice please! Cat close to birth?
Advice please! Cat close to birth?
OP posts:
Original poster
MDParks · 06/07/2023 21:51

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/07/2023 21:48

Awwww ;ove the cute little "paws" pose from the tabby ....

But just LOOK at the face on the little dark tortoiseshell GrinYou have to keep her , she's gorgeous and your life would be very interesting with her in ut .

Such a look of disapproval Wink

We're keeping both of the girls...the tortoiseshell and the the other dark tabby. Incidentally, the vet said she was also a tortie 🤷‍♀️ she does have a lot golf ginger in her so maybe thats it!?

OP posts:
HydrangeasEverywhere · 07/07/2023 10:04

They are absolutely gorgeous and I‘m so glad you took in the mum and gave her and those adorable kittens a safe home! ❤

Since two have already left it‘s possibly too late to mention this, but 8 weeks is very young for kittens to go to their new homes. Kittens should be with mum until they’re 12 weeks, so if you can hold onto the other ones that you aren’t keeping for a bit longer, please do.

Original poster
MDParks · 09/07/2023 03:25

HydrangeasEverywhere · 07/07/2023 10:04

They are absolutely gorgeous and I‘m so glad you took in the mum and gave her and those adorable kittens a safe home! ❤

Since two have already left it‘s possibly too late to mention this, but 8 weeks is very young for kittens to go to their new homes. Kittens should be with mum until they’re 12 weeks, so if you can hold onto the other ones that you aren’t keeping for a bit longer, please do.

We weren't planning on giving them away this early but our lovely Mama is really struggling. Our vet actually advised us to get the ball rolling because Mum cat is losing her shit...not putting weight on etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
MDParks · 19/07/2023 22:33

Me again! You've all been so helpful in the past that I thought I'd try my luck again! 4 kittens have now settled beautifully into their new homes but the 2 that we've kept are still feeding off of Mumma and she is thoroughly fed up. She does try to tell them off but it's almost like she gives up and just lets them get on with it so she can have some peace! Our vet has said that they absolutely do not need to be nursing anymore as they're eating pretty much everything in sight and are great weights for their age but it's almost like they're bullying her in submission. I'm not sure this is an issue I can solve but any advice would be gratefully appreciated. Pictures are just because their bloody gorgeous!

Advice please! Cat close to birth?
Advice please! Cat close to birth?
Advice please! Cat close to birth?
OP posts:
alargeoneforme · 19/07/2023 23:29

Oh dear. I have no advice but just want to agree that they are, indeed, bloody gorgeous.

Ellmau · 19/07/2023 23:33

They're very cute.

I know you wanted to keep two kittens plus mum, but there is a reason kittens don't usually stay with their mother.

Original poster
MDParks · 19/07/2023 23:50

Ellmau · 19/07/2023 23:33

They're very cute.

I know you wanted to keep two kittens plus mum, but there is a reason kittens don't usually stay with their mother.

A litter of kittens wasn't part of our plan but we have adapted and made the best of a situation we weren't prepared for. Our only concern throughout has been to ensure they are all loved and well cared for. Hence us keeping two and not sticking them on a selling site. I'm completely out of my depth as have never been in this situation before so I don't know the reason why kittens don't usually stay with their Mother. If you could expand on that I'd really appreciate it Smile

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 20/07/2023 00:00

Lots of breeders keep kittens , it’s not unusual . I think the best thing would be to separate them , speak to the vet and check whether it’s best to start by separating for a few hours or whether to go the whole hog and keep them completely apart .

Original poster
MDParks · 20/07/2023 00:09

Floralnomad · 20/07/2023 00:00

Lots of breeders keep kittens , it’s not unusual . I think the best thing would be to separate them , speak to the vet and check whether it’s best to start by separating for a few hours or whether to go the whole hog and keep them completely apart .

Thank you! I have started separating them...we've quite a big, weirdly shaped house, so Mum has got the run of it and the kittens are segregated to a few rooms at the moment. When she's not with them she just cries to be let into the same room as them. Our Vet says she'll tell them to bugger off when she's ready but I just feel so awful for her, she seems overwhelmed almost x

OP posts:
Ellmau · 20/07/2023 00:22

Basically, that at a certain point mum is completely over motherhood and wants nothing to do with them any more.

WanderingWitches · 20/07/2023 00:25

Ellmau · 19/07/2023 23:33

They're very cute.

I know you wanted to keep two kittens plus mum, but there is a reason kittens don't usually stay with their mother.

What is the reason?
We kept a mother cat and all her kittens and it's been fine for us.

Original poster
MDParks · 20/07/2023 00:40

Ellmau · 20/07/2023 00:22

Basically, that at a certain point mum is completely over motherhood and wants nothing to do with them any more.

I appreciate your insight but we're in the situation we're in and that won't change...for a myriad of reasons. So, I'm looking to mitigate the issues by being well informed and fostering an environment where they can all thrive harmoniously x

OP posts:
Original poster
MDParks · 20/07/2023 00:42

@WanderingWitches Tell me your success story! x

OP posts:
WanderingWitches · 20/07/2023 00:48

MDParks · 20/07/2023 00:42

@WanderingWitches Tell me your success story! x

We took in a stray female who was pregnant at the start of the pandemic. Couldn't find an owner so we kept her. She gave birth to 5 kittens. The plan was to keep 2 but we just couldn't give them away 😆

One cat got run over a few months back and another has decided to live with a neighbour so we just have mum and 3 kittens now. They all get on fine.

The mum was very insistent that breastfeeding stopped once the kittens were older, though one kept trying. She would just stand up and walk away when it tried to latch. She still sleeps with them though, and washes them occasionally.

LilacpointMummy · 20/07/2023 05:37

I've been in this situation, and we put the mum cat in a surgical suit for a bit so the kittens couldn't get to her nipples. Worth a try and you'll use it again when you get her spayed.