Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

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

Original poster

Pregnant cat

176 replies

ofwarren · 20/02/2020 16:15

A few weeks back a cat came to our house and didn't want to leave. We tried all the tricks to find an owner but nobody claimed her so we kept her. Little did we know, she was pregnant and is due in a week or maybe 2 according to the vet.
I forgot to ask about her going outside after the kittens are born. She's in full time at the moment as I don't want her giving birth outside. It's only been for the last week and she is already crying at the door to go out.

Obviously she isn't spayed so is it best to keep her in until the kittens are weaned?

Any other advice to newbies surrounding the whole birth and kittens thing?

I've been reading as much as possible but it's nice to hear from others who have actually experienced it.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
thecatneuterer · 20/02/2020 16:25

Don't let her out after the kittens are born until she's spayed. You don't have to wait until the kittens are weaned either - it doesn't affect milk supply. It can be done very soon after giving birth if she goes with the kittens to the vet (so she isn't apart from them for long), or you could wait until they can be apart from her for a few hours (so at around four weeks).

Original poster
ofwarren · 20/02/2020 16:27

Great thank you. At what age can you neuter kittens? I just want the whole lot done!

OP posts:
CatOnABeanbag · 20/02/2020 16:31

Is it around 5 months? Don't really know, am just here to request kitten pics when the time comes 😻

bodgeitandscarper · 20/02/2020 16:35

Many vets neuter at four months. Well done for getting them sorted, I hope all goes well.

Original poster
ofwarren · 20/02/2020 16:35

I will definitely take lots of pictures!
She's only having 3 which I'm so pleased about because I think I would struggle to re-home them. Not because nobody would want them, but because I want them myself 😂 we will have gone from a no cat household to a 4 cat household in a matter of months. She is a breeze to care for thankfully.

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 20/02/2020 16:39

You can neuter the kittens at four months (well in fact rescues do it when they reach 1kg, which is at around ten weeks, but most vets won't do it before four months). And if your vet says you have to wait until five or six months then find another vet. That is a very outdated and risky protocol.

madcatladyforever · 20/02/2020 16:42

You're so lucky, I'd die for a pregnant cat to choose me Flowers

Gratuitous pussy shots to follow I hope Grin

Original poster
ofwarren · 20/02/2020 16:48

We are very lucky. Funny thing was, my 5 year old asked Santa for a cat... Obviously we never bought an animal for Christmas but one strolled in anyway. There is no convincing him that she wasn't sent from Santa 😂

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 20/02/2020 17:13

Can he ask for a huge windfall next Christmas?. He seems to be gifted in cosmic ordering.

Poor thing being out in the cold pregnant with no owner.

LittleMissnotLittleMrs · 20/02/2020 17:16

I think we need a picture of mum-to-be to offer full advice and external visits, please. You will soon learn the rules!

Original poster
ofwarren · 20/02/2020 17:31

I just tried to add a picture and it didn't work! I've never done one before.
I'll keep trying.

OP posts:
Nutkin123 · 20/02/2020 17:34

Ahhh can't wait to see the pictures! 🐈

Toddlerteaplease · 20/02/2020 17:41

You sound lovely! Glad you are going to keep them all! Looking forward to pictures!

bodgeitandscarper · 21/02/2020 13:21

Ofwarren, just to warn you that this is how I became a crazy cat lady, we did have one, then a stray turned up, then a pregnant feral, and then more ferals, currently up to six and another three homed with my mother, but I wouldn't change it! Multiple cats are great.

WildCherryBlossom · 21/02/2020 14:39

A litter of kittens is absolute bliss. Our cat had triplet kittens when I was a child and we kept all of them. Happy, happy memories.

Original poster
ofwarren · 21/02/2020 18:32

Here she is.
I can't get a photo to upload on the app

Pregnant cat
OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 21/02/2020 18:55

She is one pretty cat! She looks intelligent too. What have you called her?.

Original poster
ofwarren · 21/02/2020 19:17

The children named her Alex because she looks similar to another cat they know called Alex...
I'm not going to let them name the kittens 😁

OP posts:
WildCherryBlossom · 21/02/2020 21:35

She's lovely. Yes, I agree, she does look intelligent.

TheMemoryLingers · 21/02/2020 21:38

She's beautiful!

bodgeitandscarper · 22/02/2020 17:12

Lovely cat. Hope all goes well with tne new arrivals!

Original poster
ofwarren · 22/02/2020 17:17

She's due next week and this morning she jumped up from sleep and her belly looked tight and she did a weird meow. I thought she was starting labour but she's been normal since.
Still eating lots and babies still wriggling.
I'm thinking now that maybe the babies got in a weird position and it was uncomfortable.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 22/02/2020 17:45

I wonder if all mammals get Brixton hicks?.

Original poster
ofwarren · 22/02/2020 17:48

Ooh maybe! I'm going to Google it 😁

OP posts:
Original poster
ofwarren · 22/02/2020 17:56

It looks like they can! I had no idea. Bless her, she looked so surprised.

OP posts: