We've had a disaster and I feel so guilty.....We have a lovely cat, just a moggy, but lovely all the same and have been trying for kittens from her (by leaving her unspayed and unconfined) for over a year. Found out she was pregnant and due while we were away on holiday - first holiday for 3 years, and first 2 week holiday for 10 so timing couldn't have been worse.
Having spoken to the vet about what to do we decided that the best thing for her was to leave her at home (she's mainly outdoor) and to have my neighbour who has bred kittens professionally to come and check on her.
She dutifully came over 4 times a day, and last week found her having started giving birth. She'd had 3 which were already dead, and proceeded to have another 4. Her milk hadn't come in, and she wasn't interested in the kittens at all.
My lovely neighbour tried and tried to keep them going, called the vet who tried as well but sadly they all died. The vet thought they were possibly a bit premature and that mummy cat had a bit of a fever. Having spoken to the vet today, she couldn't put her finger on what had happened, but felt that a contributing factor to their early birth (by about a week) may have been our absence. I feel so, so bad about it. I know we couldn't have done anything but I still feel so guilty.
Mummy cat is absolutely fine - no sign of milk or looking for her lost family - and she's all over us and very chatty so I don't think she's too traumatised, and the vet has said that there are unlikely to be any ill effects if we want to try again. Of course the dc's are upset too as they were so looking forward to it. What a grotty end to a fabulous holiday - every time I look at her I feel guilty!