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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

This cat is pregnant isn't it? And not only that...

42 replies

ShowOfHands · 15/04/2013 16:45

... she's going to give birth?

Currently under my dining room table, has a v swollen belly, washing herself constantly and has swollen, slightly distended nipples. She is mewling a bit. I haven't gone too near to her, this is just what I can see. She is cowered and will not come out.

This cat's about to give birth under my table, right?

So... the local vet has closed. Who do I call?

OP posts:

SummerRainIsADistantMemory · 15/04/2013 16:49

Sounds like shes definitely pregnant and very likely in early labour.

Get a low box and fill it with soft towels/blankets and gently slide it in beside her, she may climb in and have them there.

Don't go too close unless she gets into trouble as if she gets spooked the labour could stop.

I'd push a bowl of water and some food under the table for her too.

Where did she come from?

HazeltheMcWitch · 15/04/2013 16:49

She is, yes.
Is she yours?

How old is she - she should be fine on her own, but if she's very young/very tiny then she might struggle a bit.

As to who should you call? Emergency vet if she shows signs of distress.

HazeltheMcWitch · 15/04/2013 16:50

Keep any kids/animals out of the room and make sure they're quiet also. As Summer says, make sure she's not spooked.

thecatneuterer · 15/04/2013 16:53

Yes she is about to give birth. For heaven's sake don't put her outside. There is no need to call a vet right now. Get her some food and water and let her get on with it. Maybe get a cardboard box and put a towel in it for her. Then get in touch with your local cat rescue place.

SoupDragon · 15/04/2013 16:53

Nothing much to add.

I agree, box, towels, make sure she' snot disturbed and keep an eye on her. Check the times that the kittens are born, make sure there's not too long between each one if you think there are more on the way and just make sure she cleans their noses off so they can breathe.

Having "midwifed" one cat they seem to just get on with it and deal with any mess themselves. Midwifery in my case was limited to cooing and providing updates via text on colour of kitten :)

Original poster

ShowOfHands · 15/04/2013 16:54

I came home from the school run and she was on my doorstep. I went to fuss her but she cowered against my bin. Opened the door to let the dc in and she bolted in. No idea who she belongs to or how old she is. She isn't tiny but she's not quite adult yet I'd say.

I've hand reared kittens before when my db took on a pregnant stray who was knocked down by a car shortly after birth. But a labouring cat? DC are being kept away for now but she's in our dining room which we need to walk through to get to our bathroom.

Blimey. I have put a bowl of food under the table for now. Did I say, blimey?

OP posts:

Iseeall · 15/04/2013 16:56

Has she given birth before. It should be easier
Close off the room she is in. Put a litter tray, her food and water in there but otherwise keep well away. Keep the noise down and keep dc well away.
Don't try to help kitty, nature should take it course.
Keep an eye on her from a distance.
Vets have ooh numbers, if you are not registered with a vet, find one quickly just in case. Our local pets at home has a vet(nationwide chain)

Goodluck

ClaimedByMe · 15/04/2013 16:56

Ok, first charge your camera, get a box with towels in althou they will get birth wherever they think is a safe place, my vets shuts at 7.30 and also has an out of hours service so one near you should too, remember and take pics!

HazeltheMcWitch · 15/04/2013 16:58

Can you get a bucket ready for any human toileting emergencies?
It's a nice evening, they can pee al fresco for once, no?

Blimey! You're going to have kittens!

Where is Sparkling, btw? She can normally sniff out a cat/kittens/new home thread like a good'un!

Original poster

ShowOfHands · 15/04/2013 17:01

I am NOT having kittens. I can neither afford the money nor the time to raise kittens. I have a 19mo ds, a 5yo and no means whatsoever to take in somebody else's cat and kittens. She must have a home. I'm going to finish dinner prep and go and knock on some doors. She can give birth here if it comes to it, but she isn't my cat. Somebody will be missing her.

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 15/04/2013 17:02

HazeltheMcWitch · 15/04/2013 17:04

But Showy, you have been chosen.

Could you print out some notes (saying found labouring cat...) and get a neighbour to drop them through doors, to save you the faff and time of going door to door?

thecatneuterer · 15/04/2013 17:05

She is very unlikely to have a home. Responsible owners get their cats neutered, they don't let them get pregnant. The chances are she's been thrown out/abandoned or maybe she got lost some time ago. I would be very, very surprised if knocking on doors does any good. And she really shouldn't go back to owners who can't be bothered to neuter her or to keep her inside when heavily pregnant.

You need to get in touch with a cat rescue place.

issey6cats · 15/04/2013 17:18

agree with other people if knocking on doors near you dosent produce an owner get in touch with local rescues as usually they will send her to a foster home with her kittens and she and babies will get specialist care, new homes and neutered so she dosent end up pregnant again, and well done for not just shooing her straight back out again

ItsYoniYappy · 15/04/2013 17:21

If you have a box try get her into it, if not I agree some towels and dark place if possible, do you think you get involved if she needed help?

Some kittens need a little face rub gently with a towel when they come out, you will see the kittens head, then the sac, mum should snip eat the sac and chew up the cord, leaving the kitten, then she will most likely move onto delivering another one.

You can phone a local cat rescue and they will have someone take her and the kittens and care for them. Hope it goes OK.

Original poster

ShowOfHands · 15/04/2013 17:23

I've phoned the cat rescue place and located her owner! V nice chap was just about to leave for the day and dithered about answering. Her name's Polly and she's being fostered about 100 yards from where I live. She has been showing signs of labour since last night and this morning she was spooked by something and bolted (usually v wary of moving far apparently). Her foster type person has been out looking for her since lunchtime and had phoned all rescue places/vets to notify them.

Polly will be going home. She's having 4 kittens if I understood properly. FOUR kittens. Go Polly. Poor girl.

Is it cruel to move her? Her owner/carer type person has towels and newspaper she's been nesting in and will bring them over to wrap her up inside a carrier until she's got her home and back in her usual spot. She'll be okay being moved, right? Her own towels and things will help her feel secure about moving?

OP posts:

ItsYoniYappy · 15/04/2013 17:23

Should add she should be fine, it depends if it is her first time, she might panic a little bit. Try keep them as warm as possible until you find an owner/cat protection

ItsYoniYappy · 15/04/2013 17:24

Aww that's good. Her owner should have everything ready. Hopefully she will settle back at home and be kept from escaping again.

SoupDragon · 15/04/2013 17:27

Oh... does that mean no live birth thread?

Sparklingbrook · 15/04/2013 17:28

Phew. The foster owner will be soo relieved.

Original poster

ShowOfHands · 15/04/2013 17:28

I have asked to be updated about how she does/is. She's v sweet. Mainly black but with white socks, some white on her face and a white patch on her belly.

Her poor nipples look v sore. Is that normal?

OP posts:

usualsuspect · 15/04/2013 17:28

Can you ask her owner to join MN and post a live birth thread and pictures

Doodledumdums · 15/04/2013 17:29

I agree with thecatneuterer, she shouldn't go back to her owners even if she has any. If she's not even an adult cat herself then she shouldn't even be having kittens, poor little thing. Plus she shouldn't even be outside if she's not neutered, let alone pregnant! Your best bet is out of hours vets or an animal charity. I used to work at a vets and they shouldn't charge you to take the cat there if you don't want her to labour in your house, (providing it's not too late for that) they should sort her out and then sort out finance stuff with owners/animal charities/ignore the cost- afterwards. (Don't quote me on that though, my vets wouldn't have charged, but it's worth clarifying before you take her.)

Keep us updated! I'd love this to happen to me, it would be amazing! Though I think i'd keep all of the kittens!

Doodledumdums · 15/04/2013 17:32

Sorry xpost!!

Yay for Polly! Oh the poor foster owner, she must have been so worried about her. Glad this has a happy ending! Sad for no live birth thread though!

ItsYoniYappy · 15/04/2013 17:40

Yes the teats go red, that is how you can tell if a cat is pregnant by their nipples turning pink.

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