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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
TroysMammy · 03/02/2018 15:46

Suppose the worst happens and Heidi doesn't survive giving birth. You'd have kittens you would have to hand rear and I can't imagine for one minute that would be easy. It's a tough decision to make.

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/02/2018 15:48

But the worry is that she won't survive the op either.

I really wish they'd given you some sort of contraceptive pill.

thecatneuterer · 03/02/2018 16:32

I'm so sorry you're in this position OP.

Many rescues would do gravid spays right up to the point where the kittens would risk being taken out alive, so really right up until a few days before the cat would have given birth. But that's unpleasant and to do that you have to be in the dreadful position that rescues find themselves. Not enough homes, too many cats, and that is the least worst option. And can quite understand anyone who isn't in such a difficult position not wanting to do that.

However having four weeks to go means she is only just over half way through the pregnancy, which isn't that bad and it would be a very straight forward spay/abort. I totally understand how difficult it is to get your head around, but it really would be the best thing.

Original poster
StewPots · 03/02/2018 19:45

@Fluffycloudland77 Yes, I wish they'd have given me an alternative. I feel a bit let down to be honest, I registered Heidi with them because they were so good with Harry for years...

A fine mess indeed.

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Original poster
StewPots · 03/02/2018 19:47

Thank you all for advice and replies today. I will have to see what the next step should be when I speak with the vet again.

It's just awful. If this heart murmur wasn't apparent it would have been so straightforward but I guess that's pet ownership for you.

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Vinorosso74 · 03/02/2018 20:38

I don't know what's more stressful/ageing having kids or cats!

Gatekeeper · 04/02/2018 19:16

oh Stew...what a bloody awful situation Sad

I feel wretched for you and little Heidi

do your dc know she is pregnant?

Original poster
StewPots · 04/02/2018 20:00

@Gatekeeper DD knows as it's obvious to her, she's 16 in a few weeks, but DS no.

Yep, another day another drama here. Will be returning to vets on Wednesday and see what can be done at this stage. I knew she was. Poor little soul.

This week though her tummy has become very pronounced all of a sudden - she's like a little barrel in the middle.

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BulletFox · 04/02/2018 21:52

Stew are you feeling a bit better now? You sounded completely stressed when she went missing.

Hope vets visit goes well :)

Original poster
StewPots · 04/02/2018 22:04

@BulletFox yeah I was because I was frantic that this exact situation would happen and now here we are...

I thought we'd got away with it but then things started to become apparent and now there's no doubt.

I just feel utterly irresponsible. Like I've screwed it all up for her. That sounds a little dramatic I know, but the poor thing has been through so much and it's not over yet.

She's such a happy contented little thing, I just want what's best for her. She's part of the family but why can't I seem to look after her properly or make the right choices???

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Original poster
StewPots · 04/02/2018 22:06

@BulletFox sorry if that post sounds very stressed at your question, that was not my intention. I'm a bit useless at the moment for a vast number of reasons (not all Heidi related!) so apologies if my reply came across as a bit short.

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BulletFox · 04/02/2018 22:06

Oh no you have catmum angst, same as me!

Please don't fret, she's safe, loved and taken care of, vet will help you this week :)

Original poster
StewPots · 04/02/2018 22:10

@BulletFox thank you Thanks

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thecatneuterer · 05/02/2018 01:07

This isn't your fault at all OP! You have done an amazing thing in going to get her. The vets have let you down somewhat, but don't worry it can all be sorted. Just get the spay/abort done (now that you know she can have an op) and all will be absolutely fine.

QOD · 05/02/2018 10:43

I had a cat spayed/aborted a litter once. She was a rescue and tiny. We had a cat flap with a magnet on our (snipped) boy cats collar so she didn’t go out or anything pre spaying. However, a thug cat broke in and had his wicked way 😢. Sprayed the whole damn flat too
Anyway. Vet said she’d have a high chance of still births and complications so we took his advice.
Was quite upsetting as I’m a cat lady but you have to do what’s right for the cat and the potential kittens. I’d rescued a bloody cat and could have ended up producing another half dozen

Original poster
StewPots · 08/02/2018 16:05

Afternoon all, we have the vets at 6pm tonight as no appointments for Wednesday but I'm absolutely dreading it.

If the pregnancy has progressed too far what do I do next? Obviously I'll ask the vet for advice and I have their emergency number, but I've been reading up a lot last few days on birth, delivery and aftercare.

I'm just trying to think worst case scenario here. Can the vet tell from feeling how many kittens are in there if it's very far along or do i need to get a scan for her? I'm preparing for the worst here, so knowing if there's 2 or 8 would help!

No one I know has had to deliver kittens. My friend has a boxer who had 6 pups, but I'm thinking it may be completely different?

Again, what an absolute mess. I just can't believe the back and forth to the vets that's been going on when really they should have advised me better on the alternatives. I'm kicking myself for not asking the right questions and also for that night she got out!!

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Original poster
StewPots · 08/02/2018 18:57

Ok so we're back and the good news is she can be done, and is booked in Monday.

I feel relieved but at the same time pretty gutted about it all, but I guess once it's done that's it and hopefully Heidi will have no more drama for a while!

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TheLongRider · 08/02/2018 19:10

Good luck to you and Heidi. I'll send you a virtual paw hold for next week.

gussyfinknottle · 08/02/2018 19:12

Well done. Some positive news. A bit tough on the soul for you but I also send a virtual paw hold if it helps in any way.

Original poster
StewPots · 08/02/2018 19:23

Any paw holds gratefully received. Poor Heidi, she's about to go through another load of crappy stuff, I just hope she doesn't realise what's happened to her :(

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gussyfinknottle · 08/02/2018 19:53

Heidi has love warmth and food. And you. Sounds pretty ok to me.

thecatneuterer · 08/02/2018 22:27

She won't realise what has happened to her. She will be fine. None of this is your fault. You have done nothing but help her. EVERYTHING WILL BE OK!! Stop beating yourself up and feel proud of everything you have already done for her.

TheLongRider · 09/02/2018 00:35

We had to do a late spay and abort on one our girl cats about 20 years ago. She was semi-feral and had set up home in our back garden. We'd gained her trust slowly and after she was spayed we kept her as an indoor cat. In the several months she was in the back garden, we never saw her with kittens even though she had looked pregnant at various times.

I can honestly say she never looked back. About three weeks after the operation I remember her chasing her tail in a patch of sunlight looking as carefree as a cat can. We made the right decision for her and she lived with us for another 12 years after that. Good luck whatever the outcome.

Original poster
StewPots · 09/02/2018 06:40

Thanks all. I know it is the right decision for everyone involved and I'm relieved that I won't have to deal with newborn kittens at any point.

Heidi will not be impressed being starved Sunday night/Monday morning though!

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Wallywobbles · 09/02/2018 08:38

We had a spay and abort done on a rescue cat.

Another older boy at with a hurt murmur was castrated with no problems. Vet wasn't keen but it wasn't optional for us as we were moving 2 female cats onto his territory and he'd have killed them.

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