Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

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

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
MissingKittyCat · 09/05/2015 22:50

Stinkers, I do know how bad it is. You clearly have a lot of experience, I grant you that. But these kittens are in a home. They're not in a shelter.

Stinkersmum · 09/05/2015 22:52

Lucky them - but there are 1000s and 1000s that don't and never will. And whey single time a cat gives birth to another unwanted litter, their chances decrease even more.

thecatneuterer · 09/05/2015 22:54

MissingKitty I have to say this once again. You are anthropomorphising. Even if there are aware, which seems unlikely - all they will notice is they no longer have that desire to nest - then to think that this would upset them is really giving them human emotions. Just as a neutered tomcat will suddenly not have the desire to chase female cats. It's unlikely that they bewail their lack of a sex life - they just suddenly no longer have that desire.

So, would you put down the adults instead? Or, if you ran a rescue, would you not take in cases and leave them to die of starvation, or from being attacked by thugs, or eaten by foxes etc etc. Which would you do?

I don't want an argument with you really. And I know you've been through an awful lot lately, but if you run a rescue you have three options - abort, kill some of the cats already here, or leave others to suffering and death. There isn't another option.

MissingKittyCat · 09/05/2015 22:55

We both want the same thing stinkers, we just disagree on late cat abortion.

hesterton · 09/05/2015 22:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MyHeadIsItchy · 09/05/2015 22:57

Ignoring the bun fight. If you are worried about your spare room carpet (and depending on the size of the room) what we did was go to a carpet warehouse place and bought the end of a roll of lino. We then cut gaffer taped the lino over the whole carpet so the room was wipe clean (this was a small study rather than a large bedroom though).

Hopefully some more people will be along with some helpful suggestions (rather than pontificating). Good luck OP.

thecatneuterer · 09/05/2015 22:58

And as the normal gestation period is 65 days, three weeks to go isn't that late - that's two thirds of the way through.

MissingKittyCat · 09/05/2015 23:01

Thecatneuterer, as a cat lover, do you think a cat has ever loved you back? Because I'm certain a couple of mine have. So if they can love why can't they feel confusion at no longer being pregnant? Would they not wonder where all the movement has gone? Their instinct expects a litter and then it's gone, there must be confusion and even worry.

thecatneuterer · 09/05/2015 23:01

A back of the envelope calculation makes that around the same relatively as the legal limit for abortion in humans.

hesterton · 09/05/2015 23:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MissingKittyCat · 09/05/2015 23:03

which is 24 weeks. My daughter was born at 25. Youre not going to convince me using that argument.

Stinkersmum · 09/05/2015 23:06

Cats dont have an urge to have a family. They have an urge to mate. That is all. They get pregnant. They don't 'nest'. They find somewhere quiet to give birth. Natural instincts kick in as to cleaning and feeding etc. In the same way, if a cat has a sickly kitten that won't survive they'll just abandon it and leave it to die. It's not love or emotion. Just survival instinct. They're not human. They don't have feelings like humans do.

thecatneuterer · 09/05/2015 23:07

MissingKitty - at the risk of sounding like Prince Charles - 'whatever love is ...' :) And the answer is - I don't really know. They like to have a human to give them attention, that's for sure. But to take from that that they would understand they are no longer pregnant and to feel sad about it is just a step too far. And even if it were the case (which I don't believe for a second) a cat that's sad for a while is better than either killing other adult cats or leaving others to suffer/ die of starvation/ have their kittens eaten by foxes etc.

And I keep asking - which would you choose? If you ran a rescue, which would you choose?

I understand that in this particular case there isn't a choice like that to be made. But if you ran a rescue you would have to decide. So which would it be?

justonemoretime2p · 09/05/2015 23:15

I had 3 cats and then this skinny little black and white thing showed up she ended up hanging around and eventually wondering through my house and eventually being pretty friendly.
I caught her drinking from my mothers Tia Maria at Christmas so started calling her Tia. She disappeared for a while but eventually showed up again, clearly pregnant.
She strolled around the house a bit more but showed a lot of trust in me, I managed to take her to the local vets and they checked her out.
She decided my study was the best place to nest, she gave birth to 4 kittens.
I watched it happen but didn't interfere, not long after she gave birth she was meowing at me and led me to my study.
A couple of days later I sat on the floor out of the way and she carried the kittens to me, my oldest fluffiness cat was very interested but I showed her away.
The next day Tia was at the top of the stairs, I rushed up to find all of the kittens hiding in my oldest cats fluff. She was just sitting content with 4 kittens sleeping in her fluff.
I fucking love cats.

MissingKittyCat · 09/05/2015 23:17

If I ran a rescue, I'd end up with a house full of cats because I wouldn't be able to make the decision to kill any.

I don't think they have feelings like humans. But I do think they would be confused, like the instinct would be cut short. Explain why my cat is grieving if they don't have anything but a survival instinct? I think he is confused.

hesterton · 09/05/2015 23:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hesterton · 09/05/2015 23:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Stinkersmum · 09/05/2015 23:22

Yes, he might be wondering where he is. Bit grieving? No. Sorry, I think you're projecting.

As I said, I have instructed many gravid spays. 100% of the cats recovered fully, showed no signs of depression or grieving and actually became a lot calmer and more settled. It's not barbaric and cruel. It's sensible and humane.

MissingKittyCat · 09/05/2015 23:27

Hesterton, I'm not sure what you're trying to do, shock me into changing my opinion or guilt trip me into it.
It is cruel. You're snuffing out their lives before they have begun.

MissingKittyCat · 09/05/2015 23:30

Stinkers, the vet told me my cat is grieving. I can assure you I'm not projecting!

hesterton · 09/05/2015 23:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hesterton · 09/05/2015 23:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thecatneuterer · 09/05/2015 23:34

I don't know, I think cats can miss other cats they have become attached to. But it in no way follows from that that a cat will notice or care about a terminated pregnancy.

And yes,MissingKitty, if you ran a rescue of course you would be full - that's a given (unless you're in Germany where apparently they have things pretty much under control, or maybe if you're in an exceptionally naice area of the UK), the point is what then? No rescue has infinite space. It would get to the situation of making choices very soon indeed - and even sooner if you didn't abort.

My guess then, is that you would turn away. So some of the calls we've had this week for example, would just have to take their chances. The people who phoned saying they were leaving the UK tomorrow and had a 15 year old cat. They would have to put it on the street if we didn't take it. The kittens born in a load of dumped rubbish that the Council was just about to clear. The cat with the huge collar wound. The stray cats that youths on an unpleasant housing estate had decided it would be fun to throw stones at etc etc. If we'd allowed all the pregnant cats that have come in to have their kittens then we certainly wouldn't have been able to take in any of these. We don't really have room as it is. Choices HAVE to be made. You still haven't answered the question.

IamJeff · 10/05/2015 07:08

I do agree about the over population of many domesticated pets but the OP was asking what she needed to,know to help her pregnant cat. The cat is pregnant, they're keeping the kittens, end of storyGrin

MNHQ
TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet · 10/05/2015 08:58

Morning all
May we ask for a little peace and love please
our talk guidelines are here
Thanks ever so