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Original poster

My cat is pregnant. What do I need to know?

80 replies

GirlInterupted · 09/05/2015 16:07

We adopted a cat 6 months ago from a reputable animal rescue. Before adopting her we were told she was spayed and vaccinated.

A week ago I noticed changes than made me think she was pregnant. I took her to the vet today and she is Sad I'm really disappointed and fuming too.

I know nothing about cats giving birth and taking care of kittens.

OP posts:
hesterton · 09/05/2015 21:26

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hesterton · 09/05/2015 21:28

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thecatneuterer · 09/05/2015 21:35

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Stinkersmum · 09/05/2015 21:35

I'm with thecat - I'd be finding a vet that will gravid spay. It's not 'cruel' to the cat. They don't sit and decide they want babies like humans do..... Angry

thecatneuterer · 09/05/2015 21:37

My maths was dodgy there - that should be around 60 kittens a week ...

hesterton · 09/05/2015 21:39

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hesterton · 09/05/2015 21:41

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girliefriend · 09/05/2015 22:05

When I was about 13yo we had a female stray move in with us who we then discovered was pregnant. It was really lovely, she came to me when she went into labour and I sat with her and just reassured her best I could as she gave birth. She needed a bit of help with one massive ginger boy, she was straining really hard and I just supported the kittens head as she delivered the body!!

She was a small cat and I reckon only a baby herself Sad

She moved the kittens a few times and we kept blankets, towels etc in various places so they would be comfy. The kittens were all lovely and we actually found homes for all of them without too much trouble.

I would say that she will need more food as she goes on and after the kittens are born, plus be warned the minute our cat went outside after the kittens were born all the tom cats were waiting for her Sad We then kept her in and got her spayed asap.

Stinkersmum · 09/05/2015 22:08

OP if you're maintaining the pregnancy, get the cat on kitten food now and while she's nursing. It'll have more in it for her.

MissingKittyCat · 09/05/2015 22:15

stinkers don't patronise me. I'm pretty sure the cat will notice that all the babies that were in her stomach have now gone.

hesterton I was in a rescue not so long ago, trying to help by taking a kitten. I know how bad it is.

This recently happened on my street. A stray turned up pregnant. I called CPL, I couldn't take her in as already had two. Eventually, a neighbour took her in, saw her through pregnancy and birth, took care of mum and kittens, all the kittens went to good homes, mum got spayed and now lives happily in her new home. Maybe I'm judging this situation by that happy ending.

In an ideal world there would be no unwanted cats, no feral cats, no homeless cats. I admire rescue centres. I'm trying to persuade my DP to let me foster mums and litters, I want to help. Maybe you're right, it would be better that way, it just doesn't sit right with me.

OP, do you want to look after a litter of kittens? Reading back, it isn't obvious.

MissingYouSoMuch · 09/05/2015 22:20

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thecatneuterer · 09/05/2015 22:21

MissingKitty we are pretty sure that the cats are unaware of what has happened. They certainly show no distress at all. You are anthropomorphising. Stinkers wasn't patronising at all.

And yes, I'm sure you found homes for those kittens, and I'm sure the OP will find homes for these, but these are homes that could have gone to some of the others in rescues. That's the point really. I'm sure that our rescue isn't the only one to be overwhelmed.

MissingYouSoMuch · 09/05/2015 22:22

Fair enough thecat. I can understand your frustrations

thecatneuterer · 09/05/2015 22:24

And Missingkitty I do realise that your view is a very well-meaning and caring one. I really do understand. I just wanted to give the wider animal welfare perspective.

hesterton · 09/05/2015 22:27

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MissingKittyCat · 09/05/2015 22:29

They don't sit and decide they want babies like humans do..... angry

This is patronising. I'm not stupid, I know they don't. Just like anybody knows they don't.

Cats show no distress when they are gravely ill, it doesn't mean they are not distressed.

I don't see the difference between kittens that are 3 weeks from birth and newborns. Why aren't you putting them all to sleep? Cat shelters that state they never put healthy animals down shouldn't be using that as a tag line of they're happy to abort kittens on the cusp of life.

MissingYouSoMuch · 09/05/2015 22:30

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hesterton · 09/05/2015 22:32

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thecatneuterer · 09/05/2015 22:34

Well, if it's a choice, and it really, really is a stark choice, between stopping an animal being born and killing one that's very much here and alive, then we are making the pragmatic choice of abortion. Which would you choose? You really would have to choose if you were in charge of a rescue.

And no, we can't know what goes on in a cat's mind, but I think a cat understanding the concept of abortion or even realising that they are no longer pregnant, is a bit of a stretch.

catsdogsandbabies · 09/05/2015 22:36

OP look here international cat care

Great info written by vets.

hesterton · 09/05/2015 22:36

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MissingYouSoMuch · 09/05/2015 22:42

Sometimes you need to be arsey. You said I wasn't pleasant which was a bit arsey - fair enough, that's how you found me. I found you audacious. An impudent lack of respect

Just.wow. Hmm

hesterton · 09/05/2015 22:45

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Stinkersmum · 09/05/2015 22:45

Missing I'm sorry but a visit to a rehoming shelter will only show you .00000001% of how it really is. I run a TNR scheme where I live. I've instructed plenty if gravid spays. Thankfully the vet I use is in full support. I've also had newborn kittens pts as the country I live I has major issues a million times worse than the uk (which is bad enough). My house and garden has been over run with rescues/dumped/feral cats. I go through 20kg of dry cat food a week. I spend the best part of £1k a month of that and surgeries, medicines, vaccinations. So apologies if you thought I was patronising but whilst you may have an opinion on the issues of unwanted cat populations, you haven't actually got a tiny clue about how it really is. So actually three weeks and aborted is a huge difference to being born and taking up three homes or places in rescue that three already living cats could've taken.

MissingKittyCat · 09/05/2015 22:47

If cats don't know they are pregnant, why do they nest? Why did a newly pregnant cat risk walking past my two to get to their dinner? Because she was desperate and she knew she was pregnant, that's why.

I don't think you're giving cats enough credit here. Of course they know they are pregnant. My boy cat lost his friend a few weeks ago, he hasn't been the same. That's grief surely. I think she'd know her babies were gone. I'm not saying she'd have the same emotions as a human, but she would know.

I think aborting those, or any kittens that close to life, would be barbaric and cruel. I wouldn't do it.

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