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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

Unexpected birth

82 replies

sinceyouask · 13/11/2017 17:55

Not long ago we adopted a cat from a friend of a friend of a friend. Apparently she was spayed. Given that half an hour ago ds1 called me to tell me she had just given birth to three kittens in my bed, I tell think we can safely assume she was not.

DH is there and I am on my way home. I have told him to make sure they are warm, away from the other cat and dc, that the mum has food and drink and her litter tray close by, and to keep an eye to make sure the kittens are alive and nursing. I will stop off my way home to get things we need but I don't know what we need. Does the mum need special food and/ or drink? I was planning to get a big pet bed and line it with old towels, (atm they are apparently in a makeshift pile of blankets) is that OK? What temperature should their room be?

Medium term, there is no way anyone can stay home in the day time to keep an eye, how much food will the mum need left with her each day? There will be no one home for about 8 hours each day. Can she have dry food as well as tinned?

Longer term, I assume we have to keep the kittens with the mum for a while until they can be rehome via a reputable rescue place... how long is that? When can she be safely spayed? She has been treated with flea repellent spot on as normal since she came to live with us, will that have hurt the kittens?

I am in absolute shock. Will be at the shopping centre en route to home in about 30 mins so any advice on essentials to buy before then would be hugely appreciated. I have no idea how to look after newborn kittens other than keep them warm and in a private place. Help me please!

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ownedbySWD · 13/11/2017 17:58

Oh my! That is a huge shock for you all! I don't know anything about raising kittens, but I do remember reading somewhere that a queen can get pregnant again very quickly so you must keep her indoors until she is spayed.

dementedpixie · 13/11/2017 18:02

She will need a lot of extra food if she is nursing. A big box with blankets might be better as them the kittens will be more contained once they start getting mobile. Keep her in until she is spayed and contact the vet as soon as you can as they can advice on what's best to do

Oops4 · 13/11/2017 18:03

Crikey! I'd give your vets a quick call and ask them what you need. Good luck!

ScrabbleFiend · 13/11/2017 18:03

Mum will need kitten food and lots of it as it's higher in fat and calories. Dry and wet is fine. She'll need about double her usual food intake when the kittens are bigger before they start weaning so when they're about 5-6 weeks. If she's going to be alone in the day you can leave a big bowl of dry food down and plenty of water obviously.

dementedpixie · 13/11/2017 18:04

And normally they can be rehomed from 8 weeks minimum once they have weaned onto solids and are using the litter tray

MrsBertBibby · 13/11/2017 18:05

I think kittens can be separated at 8 weeks. Cats Protection branches are usually pretty active on Facebook, so you could ask your local branch for advice, and hopefully get their help in rehoming.

EachandEveryone · 13/11/2017 18:11

I wonder if there will be more than three by the time you get home?? I have no evprience of this indoors but considering I was feeding a stray who raised six outside and got them all to nine weeks I’d say those mommy cats are pretty clued up, leaving while you go to work won’t be an issue. Pictures please when you have hot over the shock.

thecatneuterer · 13/11/2017 18:16

Bloody hell. I never believe people when they tell me a cat is spayed, unless it's noted on the microchip details. And they often turn out to be telling lies (or genuinely mistaken).

Anyway yes, you will need to keep the kittens for at least 8 weeks and preferably 10 weeks. Mum cat can be spayed as soon as the kittens can be left without her for a day - so at about three to four weeks old. It's awful to take all the kittens away from mum. Can you keep one and rehome the other two as a pair? Asking a local rescue for advice on homing is a very good idea.

Original poster
sinceyouask · 13/11/2017 18:44

Oh god I hope there are no more. I've had no more frantic calls so guessing not! I've just bought loads of wet and dry kitten food, and some cat milk (panic buy, no idea if needed but better to have it and not need than the other way round. We have a huge wicker basket which the mum can get on and out of but kittens wouldn't be able to- to transfer them to that we can carefully pick up the blankets they are on and put them all in together do you think? Not sure where they should live. We have a weird house, the quietest room has a door that won't shut tight and I couldn't keep our older cat out... Unless I make dh fix up some sort of lock which I guess he'll just have to do. Not too far from home now. Mum is only about 20 months old herself. I hope she's ok.

Pics if they are all ok when I get home, I promise.

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harrietm87 · 13/11/2017 19:42

Wow that is a shock! Sounds like you’re doing all the right things. A lock might be a good idea as if she feels unsafe in there she may try to move them somewhere else. Please post pics!

GlitteryFluff · 13/11/2017 19:46

Wow that just have been a shock.
Hope all is well when you get home.
Three sounds like a good amount for mum to cope with. No practical advice but sounds like you're sorted.

Original poster
sinceyouask · 13/11/2017 21:35

Not the greatest of photos- it's not well lit in the place she has clearly picked for her babymoon, in a big box under ds1's bed (thankfully with a door that shuts tight and it's a small room and easy to keep warm) but here are the three of them :)

Unexpected birth
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EachandEveryone · 13/11/2017 21:50

OMG!! You will have to keep one now. They are very sweet.

fatbottomgirl67 · 13/11/2017 21:53

Kitten good for mum is good as high protein. She liked kitten milk too. I gave her anything I could get her to eat as she was so thin after having 5 kittens. Hope all goes well x

fatbottomgirl67 · 13/11/2017 22:03

Food not good!

Dobopdidoo1 · 13/11/2017 23:25

Oh my. They are beautiful!

Wolfiefan · 13/11/2017 23:29

Oh my.!
Gorgeous but such a shock.

StillMedusa · 13/11/2017 23:32

What a shock...but a cute one!
Be aware she may move her kittens in a day or two..probably to somewhere completely unsuitable (like behind a chest of drawers or ) because her instinct will may her to move them away from predators . It was a bit of a shock when my cat did that many years ago ( also an unexpected pregnancy) especially as she dropped one down the stairs!
Tons of food and she may wander off for a break now and then!

Original poster
sinceyouask · 14/11/2017 00:00

I'm really worried about our older cat (8 year old female, definitely spayed, mostly placid but quite grumpy with other cats) getting near the kittens. But the mum is not happy being shut in one room with the kittens and all her stuff. Very yowly. She tried to go and sleep on my bed with DH... I sent her back to them and shut the door again.

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Original poster
sinceyouask · 14/11/2017 00:01

... And it's quieter now but she isn't going to want to stay in there for long. How dangerous is it to leave the door open with an older cat around?

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 14/11/2017 07:24

Other cat won't harm them, and mum will soon sort her out if she gets too close.

I'd just keep them all.

Original poster
sinceyouask · 14/11/2017 09:00

I wish we could, but we have 3 dc and I cats already and the house is bursting at the seams. A lovely friend is very keen to take two of them. If no one I know well wants the third I'll ask one of the cat charities to help with rehoming. I really really can't keep them, gorgeous as they are. And I didn't check on them all 6 times in the night or anything like that

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Original poster
sinceyouask · 14/11/2017 09:00

I? 2!

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CruzRamirez · 14/11/2017 09:17

No it's the law that you keep one kitten at least. I vote for the black one.

pumpkinpie5 · 14/11/2017 09:23

Oh they are gorgeous. I work for a rescue. You will need to consult with a vet regarding spaying but certainly not when kittens are three to four weeks. Most of our vets will not spay until mums milk has dried up and so even tho kittens will start to wean at four weeks they will still continue to feed from mum until they are split from her. We split at 8-9 weeks. Vaccinate and regime the kittens and mum booked in for a spay. So it will be a while before you can do this. Good luck!

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