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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.

Original poster

She's in labour!

156 replies

WingsAloft · 09/03/2017 09:12

First stage labour, lots of skin twitching and discomfort and thinking she needs to mate. Shall we try for a live birth thread?

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 14/03/2017 09:41

I'm guessing she'll be finding a new home soon after spaying? Lots of luck to her.

(Little hussy! Grin)

PolterGoose · 14/03/2017 10:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

picklemepopcorn · 14/03/2017 17:06

I do hope so! I'd trade DH (cat allergy) in for some kittens...

BertieBotts · 14/03/2017 21:22

Oh Wings, I'm sorry, you have the worst kitten luck!

Fingers crossed they send you some lovely fluffy ones Grin

RubbishMantra · 14/03/2017 21:46

I'm glad your little foster girl is OK, that's the main thing. You're looking after her during a tricky time in her life.

cozietoesie · 14/03/2017 21:56

I'd have her like a shot - if only for those front legs on her. She must be one heck of of a mouser. Smile

UnbornMortificado · 15/03/2017 14:08

Wings hope your ago, you've had a rough time these past few months. You sound a wonderful fosterer for what it's worth.

Original poster
WingsAloft · 16/03/2017 06:52

That particular foster is a great little cat. I'd keep her if my male cat liked her, but he gets a veto on any new family members. For her welfare a phantom pregnancy is definitely better than a real pregnancy.

We just had a very special delivery ... 6 three old kittens and their lovely mum. There are now 11 cats in my house Shock

She's in labour!
OP posts:
sashh · 16/03/2017 08:22

They are the cutes.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 16/03/2017 08:34

I am quite shocked that you didn't take a potentially pregnant cat to the vets and that despite, that the rescue has given you a ton more kittens to look after even though you say you can't afford a vet.

Original poster
WingsAloft · 16/03/2017 09:34

TheHodge pregnancy is not an illness. Even if she had turned out to be actually pregnant, she didn't need to see a vet unless she had complications. Not being sure if she's pregnant or when the kittens are due are not complications.

Vet care is the responsibility of the rescue group and if it's necessary they do take care of it. My responsibility is to house the animals, feed them and care for them until they are adopted or I can't care for them any more. I'm free to pay for extra vet appointments if I want to, but it's not expected and actually very rare for foster carers to do that. We tend to be nice people but not very financially solvent.

OP posts:
UnbornMortificado · 16/03/2017 09:43

Hope your ago = Hope your ok Blush

Pleased you have some kittens to keep you occupied. How has your boy cat took to their arrival?

Original poster
WingsAloft · 16/03/2017 09:47

Thanks Unborn. I understood what you meant Smile

Mum and bubs are quarantined so the other cats haven't laid eyes on them. I think when the kittens grow up a bit and get mobile the other cats won't know what's hit them Grin

I'm going to have to supplement feed the babies as they're all very small. They will definitely keep me occupied!

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 16/03/2017 11:31

Awwwwwwwww.
Congratulations nanny cat. Grin

MinkyWinky · 16/03/2017 11:42

oooo.... so glad you got some kittens. They look adorable Grin

ElizaDontlittle · 16/03/2017 12:16

Wings I really feel for you, what a challenging time you've had. But those tiny kittens!! They are utterly gorgeous! Obviously it's a failure in someone else's care that's led to them being here but sInce they are it is very exciting for you and super-cute for us to watch vicariously... you will update us as they grow, won't you?!

RubbishMantra · 16/03/2017 21:37

TheHodgeoftheHedge - probably because rescues are inundated with kittens/pregnant queens, and it's impossible for them to cope without fosters I would think.

Not Wing's fault some people aren't responsible enough to get their cats neutered.

Do you help out with animal welfare at all?

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 16/03/2017 22:14

RubbishMantra I didn't actually have a go at Wing and not that it's relevant, but yes actually, I've been involved in fostering and rescues for well over a decade. Hence my surprise that if we or a fosterer suspected a cat was pregnant then she would have been checked over by a vet.
I am grateful to anyone involved in the animal rescue process (and deeply critical of those who mean we have such an animal rescue issue) but without knowing the full backstory I stand by the fact that I was surprised a vet wasn't consulted and was potentially concerned that one wouldn't be called in the future due to lack of finances. Although I appreciate you would expect a reputable rescue to take on the brunt of those costs.

myoriginal3 · 16/03/2017 22:41

Hodge. I grew up on a farm. We're talking 40 cows calving and 200 sheep lambing. Add to that the random cats that are fed. Plus the two sheep dogs.

The only time a vet is called is if something is going wrong. It's not private healthcare where a cow or cat for that matter can book into a private suite!

It's insane to 'book a cat in for a scan'. Perhaps you want to tell her the sex of the kittens. Insane.

myoriginal3 · 16/03/2017 22:53

As for the kittens?

My Nanna would call them rats lol. But feed them nonetheless.

Good luck minding them. They're hardy creatures!

Original poster
WingsAloft · 17/03/2017 07:41

The kittens are exceptionally cute. The face on one of the tabbies makes me melt every time I look at it.

Mum cat is doing a very good job but seems a bit overwhelmed by so many babies. I've got her feeding them in shifts, three at a time while I mind the other three. She's very relaxed about having me around the kittens, fortunately.

I will start their very own thread in a few days Grin

OP posts:
ElizaDontlittle · 17/03/2017 08:18

Are/is the DC helping out? It sounds exhausting but wonderful. Huge respect to you for what you do. I get out of sorts if my sleep is disturbed by my one cat... you now have 6 kittens!! 🐱😸🐱😸🐱😸

Original poster
WingsAloft · 17/03/2017 08:31

Eliza I am having to beat my DC off with a stick Grin The words "don't touch" apparently reach their ears sounding like "sure, pick them all up and cuddle them".

Sleep? I think I remember something of that name...

OP posts:
TheHodgeoftheHedge · 17/03/2017 08:32

By all means disagree with me myoriginal3 but please don't be so rude as to put words in my mouth. I didn't mention scans did I? But a vet would have been able to tell with a quick grope whether or not there were kittens which would have helped the OP and then they wouldn't have had he pressure of suddenly potentially preparing for incoming kittens.
If this was any other post in the world where someone had said "I think my cat is pregnant", it would be pretty common for most people to say "get her quickly checked over by the vet". That's not exactly unreaonsable and, as I said, is what we'd have done in the numerous fostering and rescue associations I have worked with. It's a duty of care to our fosterers as well as the animal.

Soubriquet · 17/03/2017 08:44

Sorry but I agree with Hodge

If you suspected she was pregnant, she should have seen a vet.

That way the vet could have given you an estimated due date, number of kits and if she was or was not pregnant.

It's the part of being a responsible pet owner/fosterer

But good luck with these little kits

You will have your hands full come 6 weeks when one is climbing the curtains and another is scaling the sofa Grin