Pregnant Cat

[slenderisthenight]

I'm on the fence about whether to start this, having just seen a thread where a woman has been slated for knowing a dog who is having puppies and it wasn't even her dog.

My cat is due to have kittens any day. I'm not an experienced cat owner and haven't cared for a cat going through this experience. I'll say at the outset that this is a completely undesirable situation and it won't be repeated.

We've talked to the vet and read what we can about what to do, but thought it would also be helpful to start a thread in case further questions come up. If you have some experience and are happy to share it, I can't thank you enough.

If you wish to chastise me for getting into this situation in the first place, please don't bother as it will achieve nothing for the cat or anyone else at this point. I will simply hide the thread and not return to it (unless, of course, there is specific need for urgent information relating to the cat's welfare and it's impossible to get it anywhere else).

The cat is a Maine Coon and only ten months old. The vet wouldn't neuter her over the summer because she was being treated with antibiotics for a long-running gut infection that lasted months (now recovered). She came into heat at the tail end of that illness and unfortunately managed to escape my clutches (that is, the place where she was being confined) for long enough to mate. It shouldn't have happened and was an unfortunate one-off resulting from a unique set of circumstances that I won't go into here. She's a sweet natured, beautiful animal and we're upset that she is carrying a litter and at such a young age.

She didn't have the 'pinking up' symptom so we didn't know she was pregnant until the vet confirmed it two weeks ago. Apparently there are at least five kittens there. He estimated that she would give birth anytime from Monday to Friday of this week. (So she is a day late).

Don't urge me to spay her at the first opportunity because that is exactly what I am planning to do. In the past we have rehabilitated rescue dogs and never imagined we would end up contributing to the problem of overpopulation - very humbling experience and the priority now to is to get this right for the cat.

Thanks very, very much to anyone who has constructive advice.

Yes I would. She's too little to risk it.

Or at least phone them for advice.

They are beautiful Sad news about the two little ones, but it looks like you're doing a great job as is their mum x

Thanks! Their mum is a super star.

I'll phone the vet.

Well, the vet has seen both kitten and mum and both are now on antibiotics and kitten also has eye drops.

Apparently the kitten has conjunctivitis which has caused an abscess. If I hadn't taken her to the vet today, she would probably have lost the eye so thank you very much thomasrichard .

It seems too much to hope that the others won't all go down with this. I can't face the thought of seeing them all like this! The vet said to keep her in with the others but I'm afraid she is tucked up in the warm linen cupboard with a hot water bottle. She is so limp.

I brought the mum with me to have a check-up too as she is still thin (pictured) and her teats look sore. The vet would like weaning to begin at three weeks asap in light of her condition. She also said I should be ensuring all the teats are used by the kittens. I forgot to ask her if some vaseline on the sore nipples would be helpful?

I apologise for all the questions - I'm finding all this responsibility a bit hair-raising when there is so much to learn.

Lanolin would probably be better than Vaseline but that's purely based on my human breastfeeding experience! IIRC Vaseline has to be wiped off before feeding, which isn't going to work with a cat.

Mum cat is gorgeous and so small to have had 9 kittens! Is she taking kitten milk now?

Hopefully the poorly kitten will perk up quickly but if she's in the airing cupboard she's probably going to need extra fluids.

Extra fluids and lanolin. It will be done! After today I would probably string them all from the rafters if you suggested it thomas

Mum is taking 60 ml kitten milk 3/4 times a day, felix kitten sachets every few hours and her science plan dry kitten food is available all the time.

wow, just rtwt. what a rollercoaster. Lovely cats!
agree with PP regarding lanolin (BF experience - no idea about cats though). supermarket sell it as 'lansinoh' in the baby/nappy section.

:o I should probably warn you that I'm allergic to cats and am basing all this off experience of newborn babies!

Have you any large flat plates? You can mix up some kitten food with warm water to form a sort of porridge and if Mum will take it, the babies should follow her example.

Good grief op just seen this thread!

So sorry to read about the two little ones you lost

The other 7 look all fluffy and squidgy though (is it too early for a high pitched squeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! ???)

FYI, earlier in the thread, thecatneuterer wasn't making a dog you should get your cat neutered, that's just her usual username. She's awesome on the litter tray section

Hope the kittens are doing well today, and that you're getting some rest also!!

*dig

If you need a professional cat cuddler, I'm your woman! Lanolin sounds like a fab idea for mum. It's bad enough feeding one little bugger, can't imagine feeding 7 (although she does have more nipples than me!! )

You and mummy cat are doing a fab job. And the kittens too.

Keep at it.

I fostered a couple of pg mums once and they had 11 kittens between them. i was amazed at how great they were even with being so young like yours.

Btw we had hardly any accident. The Mum taught them to use the litter tray and they did from the off. I was most impressed.

You are doing an amazing job! 7 out of 9 is a fantastic achievement esp for a first litter. Sounds like you are taking good care and helping mom out. I have v little advice on new borns other than to please keep them with mom for at least 13 weeks. Earlier than that and they don't learn everything they need to from the mom. I know it's hard work for you too, but you will be giving them the best start/chance they can get

What pippi said.. the mom teaches them everything by you do need to give her & them some time

And I am telling you, watching these kittens play havoc in the house and grow is the best reward. As seeing the mums finally starting to relax once the little one go off.

One of mine went crazy once and attacked her sister when a kitten meawed in pain for a stepped on tail. Sleep deprivation. (Reminded of me in these early months tbh)

Must say Mum cat looks very fiercely proud;!.

Its awful loosing the little ones. Years ago our cat got the mum of some mice in the compost bin. DD2 only about 9 at the time asked me to come quick and save the little mice! Duly tried but it was mission almost impossible. Kept them alive 3 days, up almost 24 hours with the little critters and very sad when they died;!

If you're nearby me I'll happily offer a home to a kitten (assuming my current two don't go crazy). I was promised a MC by DH when we married and I'm still waiting. A half MC might just fit through the cat flap... :)

(Drat. Just saw you're not mainland.)

Good luck with the teats. I suspect that a decently early weaning might be the best thing for them. They must be getting a lot of traffic! Fingers crossed for her, anyway.

Aw just seen this thread. What awesome mums you are both being!

I found cats just get in with it all in the moggy varieties anyway. Her having 9 at only 10 mths changes things but so long as you keep pimoing her full of nutrituous food (day and night) avoid anything drying like complete food. If you want to keep using complete thrn water it so its a mash maube that coild be her nightime food (likr 234 am)

Feel the mammaries to ensurr no heat or hardness there act quick to push any small limps or refer to vet nurse for hot/cold compresses.

Expecting 9 to survive is probs overly optimistic and some jus dont (no matter what you do)

Follow her instincts to ensure shensuffers as littke stress as possible. So wherevere she feels they are safe bild her nest there and then she will probs want to move them again nearer litter tray and outside as they devlop

Also be aware that she can still be feeding them and come into season again

Sorry my stoopid device making reading so difficuly. I had to post that as it was for fear of losing it!

Yeah. Keep her safe and tightly reined in or she coild end up having spay already in kit again!

Keep going it gets easier! And lots more fun

And to keep kitties with mum at all times again young inexperienced mum/stress can cause huge probs. She knows best. Its very likely that kittens that are not feeding maywell not be going to thrive anyway.
There's much debate about putting weaker ones in the stronger ones nipple but any sign of redness/lumps on nipple put strongest kit on to draw it.
I woukd only use natural aloe on nipples. Not any kind of grease and check length of claws if mum getting scratched (can put her off feeding)

Kittens pictures :) :) :)

All gaining weight well today. The mum seems to have a larger milk supply now and the kittens are more content as a result.

The kitten with the poorly shrieked like blue murder in the hot press so is now back with the flock where she is doing much better.

My DP has bought some lanolin and spread it on cats nipples (which is more than he ever did for me) :)

Shriek There is nothing I wouldn't do to make sure this doesn't happen again - the cat is under lock and key until she is spayed.