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Original poster

The Life Of Heidi! Adventures of a Durham kitty in Devon.

490 replies

StewPots · 27/11/2017 19:30

Evening all, this is a new thread all about gorgeous Heidi, following on from the thread started by Gatekeeper.

We answered her thread call to give this tiny kitty a new home and we drove from Devon to Durham and back in 24hours to do so...

Now Heidi is settling well at our place after being looked after perfectly by Gatekeeper, and this thread is all about the new life of a very little and brave cat with the bushiest tale known to catkind!

If anyone can link to the original thread it would be much appreciated :)

OP posts:
Thread gallery
35
Gatekeeper · 22/01/2018 17:25

EEkk. I hope it isn't an 'expectant' look

Jux · 22/01/2018 17:49

She's looking well.

I know it's bad, but oh! KITTENS!!!!!!

Blush sorry, couldn't help myself

TheSassyAssassin · 24/01/2018 23:15

Any news from the vets today? Hope all is well and boat/headaches improved too Smile

EachandEveryone · 25/01/2018 10:07

Bless her. Hope it went well yesterday. She does look abit different to when you first got her doesnt she?

EachandEveryone · 29/01/2018 08:34

How did the vets go?

QOD · 29/01/2018 08:43

Oh noooo
I can’t beleive yoh did such a lovely thing and now she’s poorly and 💰 🙁

BulletFox · 29/01/2018 16:51

Is she pregnant?

Original poster
StewPots · 03/02/2018 09:16

Morning all! So so sorry for the lack of updates, it's been frantic here. DS has been ill and so have half the staff at my work so I've not stopped!

Well, she is pregnant. Vet reckons there's at least three :( I have no idea what to do. The good news was that Heidi's heart murmur was a 2 so not as bad as first thought, but not a lot of consolation now. Vet says just needs monitoring for now so no medication etc for the time being. There's also a possibility she can be spayed but obviously that's not going to happen right now.

Vet also thinks she will give birth by end of this month so my suspicions were correct. What am I going to do with kittens? I haven't got a clue as I've said before all my cats before have been "done" so...

I'm gathering blankets at the moment, she is spending a lot of time under DS bed so I think that's where she is planning to give birth, so I've put a pile there. But I have no idea what to do! If it was one kitten then I would obviously keep it but I can't keep them all! I hate the idea of taking them to a shelter as I know they are overflowing (hence why I took Heidi in!).

A couple of our friends are cat people but one already has a rescue cat and a baby due in 6 weeks so that's not an option for her. She said she would love to, but I said probably not a good idea - her cat would probably hate it and she will be so busy with the baby!

I have another friend who previously had 2 cats but both passed away with old age recently and I know she's heartbroken, but again she's at placements every day and has 2 young DS so again not really an option.

Oh litter tray help me please!!

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 03/02/2018 10:29

Is the vet morally opposed to a spay & abort?.

Original poster
StewPots · 03/02/2018 10:50

No, but as he wasn't entirely sure how far along she was he said it's entirely up to me as she is most certainly half way through (more now since the appointment).

I just can't believe the position we are in, and the fact that she could have had the op after all is all the more galling.

I know a spay and abort is the right thing to do now but at this stage...it's making me feel absolutely sick to be honest.

OP posts:
Original poster
StewPots · 03/02/2018 10:58

I'm going to have to just get it done aren't I?? God I feel awful about it all.

OP posts:
Want2beme · 03/02/2018 11:07

Well, Heidi's certainly challenging you Stew. If you were able to keep one kitty, there'd be other lovely people who'd give the others a home, surely? It's so hard to decide Confused. You've done so much so far.

Original poster
StewPots · 03/02/2018 11:14

I know that it's the right thing to do in terms of the amount of unwanted kittens around. But I still feel absolutely awful at the thought of it. I'm an animal lover and doing this even in everyone's best interests seems so wrong somehow.

Maybe I'm too sensitive to this stuff regarding animals. I don't know.

OP posts:
Incrediblehulky · 03/02/2018 11:46

Poor you StewPots - I'm sorry I can't help, my girl cat is very old and far to sensitive for me to even consider taking any kittens - but I would help you if I could 😭. I'm thinking of you 🙀😽

Veronicat · 03/02/2018 11:51

If you don't want to spay and abort, talk to the Cat Protection League. They will rehome the kittens for you to homechecked families with vaccinations etc done.

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/02/2018 12:11

On the other hand your saving her a labour with no pain relief.

It's a hard choice to be sure.

TroysMammy · 03/02/2018 12:17

Thing is though her kittens could inherit her heart problems. I had a young cat, 5, who died of hcm. It was awful.

Original poster
StewPots · 03/02/2018 12:51

Yes those points had crossed my mind :/ I think it's the only option.

What's the maximum time the vet will do it for those who've had to have it done?

OP posts:
EachandEveryone · 03/02/2018 13:27

What a dilemma you poor thing. I wouldnt have a clue what to do either. I dont think you would have a problem finding good homes for them but it depends how many i suppose. Did you think this is her second lot? Good luck whatever you decide, maybe call your vet again on Monday for advice.

Veronicat · 03/02/2018 14:04

StewPots
You can have it done anytime but really, the sooner the better.

BluebellTheDonkey · 03/02/2018 14:11

I know I couldn't do a spay and abort at this stage but that's me letting my emotions rule my head. Could you not have the kittens? I know one to four is a big leap but they'd be in a loving home with their mum...

Original poster
StewPots · 03/02/2018 14:26

The vet did say also that although her murmur isn't as bad as first thought, there's still a significant risk to her just not as bad as before.

It's just a bit of a nightmare.

OP posts:
SparklyMagpie · 03/02/2018 14:32

Oh what a tough decision :(

I have no idea what I'd do, but obviously whatever is best for Heidi

Bless her and hugs OP x

Original poster
StewPots · 03/02/2018 14:52

Will be taking her over on Wednesday for more discussions with the vet, see if we can pin down how far along exactly she is. And then go from there.

It had to be us 🙄🙄

OP posts:
Vinorosso74 · 03/02/2018 15:13

Is the pregnancy or birth going to put more strain on her heart? And as said upthread the heart condition could be passed on.
I don't know what I'd do, my head would say spay/abort but heart...... It's scary how easily they can get pregnant especially as you were going to then everything came to light with her heart then the escape.
Contact your local CP to see if they would help with rehoming the kittens for you.
I think you need a large glass of something!

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