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.
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The litter tray
Pregnant Cat
slenderisthenight · 22/10/2016 14:56
fluffy 
Thank you all for the encouragement. I really appreciate it. Seeing the kittens grow is hugely rewarding.
We have two more wonderful homes lined up - that's five homes for a litter of seven!
thomas the one in the middle is the one you advised me about. I know you were basing it on babies but I'm still so grateful!
rat We're leaning towards letting the grey one go too at the moment. My (human) baby has now had three bugs as a result of infections that began in the cats and I would like to draw a line under having very young cats after this. Our Maine Coon was ill when she arrived with us which has complicated the experience considerably! Our DD will have her two cats and a pony at the local riding stables so she's not deprived (I keep telling myself!). I haven't actually done it yet...
Wish we were on the isle of man serial. I did spend fifteen minute trying to work out a surreal plan for kitten transportation involving the parents of an ex-boyfriend but it got ridiculous, sorry
Such cute kitties !!!!
An exhausting worrying but rewarding experience 
If mum is still underweight this is a good choice, but also once the early days are passed she would be expected to just nip in and out as they will drain her milk from her veey efficiently now they are stronger and she will be enjoying her breaks amd freedom. Shes done a grand job with a little loads of help from you
Look on the bright side. At least she's licking their backsides to keep them clean.
I assume!
Has the kits' conjunctivitis cleared up?
My own instinct is to keep them until 12 weeks but I appreciate that it may make the household unmanageable by then. 
If they're going to experienced homes, 10 weeks at least, I'd say.
Thanks. We'll think twelve weeks and if everything disintegrates horribly, bail at ten!
My DH has been wandering around with bleach and a bucket of milton all weekend.
A feeding question. Their weights have reached 400g and levelled off. The tubby ones are losing to revert back to this weight. Is it a magic number in terms of weaning? We offered some wet kitten food yesterday but it was rolled in, not eaten 
Eyes have all been nice and clear for a few days.
....but it was rolled in not eaten....
I did warn you to invest in some kitchen towel!
Did you make it real sloppy? You might have a slightly more challenging task on your hands if Mum has given up on 'motherhood duties' - eg, smear some of the 'food soup' on their mouths to give them the idea.
Are they still taking a bottle?
I wonder if there's a clinical name for seeing a kitten and having an urge to put it in a tea cup
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