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

Original poster

Trapping a pregnant stray this evening

38 replies

tropical1 · 22/05/2017 11:35

Hi,
There's a very heavily pregnant cat that appears to be living in our garden. She has no collar and appears to be very hungry.
I've been feeding her but she won't let me touch her.
I've been In touch with a cat rescue charity and they are bringing me a trap to catch her and take her to the vets, they will then collect her and hopefully rehome her and the kittens.
I'm just a bit worried In case she has an owner, she's not wearing a collar and I assume they'll check for a microchip when she's at the vet.
She's very young and is always lurking in my garden so I don't think she has a home...
Where we live, there's loads of cats and they all go in and out of the gardens so there's no telling where she comes from.

OP posts:
IAmTheWorwax · 22/05/2017 11:36

I think you are doing the right thing. She might be lost and catching her would be the best way for her owner to find her.

Good luck!

CoolCarrie · 22/05/2017 11:38

Good luck, you are lovely helping her.

Original poster
tropical1 · 22/05/2017 11:42

Thank you, I think it's the fact that she's always about that makes me think she's not got a good home and she's so hungry.
I'll update when I've ( hopefully ) caught her!

OP posts:
CoolCarrie · 22/05/2017 11:42

The vet will check her for id so don't worry you are doing the right thing in catching her.

CoolCarrie · 22/05/2017 11:46

Yes please let us know how you get on, I am sure you will do fine. The model Celia Hammond gave up her career to catch stray cats, have them netured and then rehomed which is such a brilliant thing to do.

ineedwine99 · 22/05/2017 11:53

Good luck OP, glad your trying to help her

Original poster
tropical1 · 22/05/2017 11:58

Yes it's a blessing there's people who are willing to give up their time to help these cats, I feel so sorry for her, she's like a barrel on legs and is so young.
We found our cat five years ago living wild in our garden, she was a tiny, blue eyed, spitty feral terror!
We kept her in for ages but she came into season at about 4 or 5 months old so would have got pregnant that young if still living wild, it's very sad.

OP posts:
witwootoodleoo · 22/05/2017 11:59

You're definitely doing the right thing particularly as she could actually have a belly full of worms rather than be pregnant which might explain the constant hunger. Good luck with the trap and thank you for helping her

Original poster
tropical1 · 22/05/2017 11:59

Thank you, I'd keep them if I could@!

OP posts:
Original poster
tropical1 · 22/05/2017 12:01

Witwoo really?? God I hope not, she's hugeSad

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 22/05/2017 12:04

Good luck and thank you. She can be neutered and looked after and those kittens can be safe and healthy. Flowers

TizzyDongue · 22/05/2017 12:06

Definitely the right thing to do. If she's not got a home she needs to see a vet and her kittens will do too, plus all will need a home.

She also might be lost and have someone looking for her.

If you discover she's owned locally then it's all good (unless she's not properly cares for that is).

If I had a young pregnant cat (unlikely as I'm all for neutering at the earliest opportunity) and someone took her to the vets becAuse they were concerned. I really wouldn't be upset or bothered - quite the opposite in fact.

witwootoodleoo · 22/05/2017 12:18

Yes sadly cats can have such bad worms that they look pregnant. Hopefully not in her case but don't for a moment feel bad about catching her - either way she needs to see a vet and be looked after so you really are doing the best thing for her

Original poster
tropical1 · 22/05/2017 12:19

Tizzy
Thank you, I was worried about being accused of interfering by a possible owner but I feel so sorry for her as she's so hungry and always around.
When I look outside first thing she's often sitting in the garden staring at the house obviously wanting food while my lucky cat is tucked up nice and warm with everything she needs.
I am a big cat lover and am tempted to ask for one of the kittens when they're old enough, just not sure how my cat would take it, she's quite antisocial!!

OP posts:
Original poster
tropical1 · 22/05/2017 12:20

Thank you for all your positive comments Smile

OP posts:
ElizaDontlittle · 22/05/2017 19:26

Hope it goes well and I absolutely second what Tizzy said above. It's not like you've not watched and waited and thought this through.

Original poster
tropical1 · 22/05/2017 19:44

Thanks eliza well I set the trap, we all watched with baited breath...she went in eventually, ate all the food and it didn't shutBlush
My husband has adjusted it a bit, it's now set again and we wait again!!

OP posts:
CoolCarrie · 22/05/2017 21:33

Second time lucky !

BrexitSucks · 22/05/2017 21:35

She'll go in again for sure :)

thecatneuterer · 22/05/2017 22:04

Good luck. Of course you're doing the right thing and of course she doesn't have an owner. She will go in again if she's been in before.

Alfieisnoisy · 22/05/2017 22:10

Good luck, my friend runs a cat rescue and at the moment is inundated with kittens because people are still not neutering their cats.
If this cat is hungry then the chances are she is lost or possibly feral. A rescue will be able to care for her while she has her kittens and they will neuter her as well. Hopefully she will then be found a lovely new home.

Wolfiefan · 22/05/2017 22:11

If she has an owner she wouldn't be roaming the streets hungry and heavily pregnant.
Hope you catch her.

Vinorosso74 · 22/05/2017 22:16

Hope you manage to get her. Is definitely the best thing for her, at least this litter will be her last. Plus she can be looked after.
The CP I volunteer at are overrun with kittens and mums (obviously some in foster care) and have more on the way.

Original poster
tropical1 · 22/05/2017 23:03

Thank you for all the responses, we've still not got her. She's been in twice and it's not shut behind her, I'll try again tomorrow and hopefully will be third time lucky!!

OP posts:
CoolCarrie · 23/05/2017 07:14

The good thing is she is used to getting into the trap, so she will come back to it. Good luck for today and another try

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