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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

How long does it take for cat to deliver all the kittens?

30 replies

mynotfinkso · 11/09/2023 18:01

Hi, I'm just after a bit of advice about what is normal in terms of delivery times for kittens please. The back story is that Ds1 moved into his first home at the beginning of the year. After a few days there was a cat hanging around who constantly tried to get in whenever ds opened the front door.

On asking around, the next door neighbour said it was his and Ds saw the cat coming and going through the neighbour's window. The neighbour is often away for days at a time and the cat is out in all weathers so ds did let her in occasionally when it was raining heavily and the neighbour was away. The cat also wanders to some of the other neighbours ds has since learned. A few months ago the cat seemed unwell and ds went next door to tell the neighbour who shrugged, said oh well, and stated he wasn't taking it to the vet 😡

Next time ds saw the cat it seemed fine again but over the next few weeks it became obvious the cat was pregnant. Ds went next door again to tell the neighbour. His reaction was 'well if she is,you can have a kitten'. 😡 The cat came in to ds's house and it was obvious she was ravenous so (right or wrong) ds started to feed her. Ds also noticed she had worms as they were dropping out of her bum all the time 🤮 Again he went next door, the neighbour didn't care so ds wormed her (he took advice from a vet first) and has been feeding her kitten food.

Just wanted to give the back story to show ds didn't set out to steal this cat. He just couldn't stand to see her neglected like this. Last night the cat delivered one kitten at ds's house (she's been staying there more recently) Mother and kitten are doing great but she still looks very pregnant and ds thinks he can still see movement in her belly. He spoke to the emergency vet who said not to worry and it could take 24 -36 hours for them all to be delivered if there are more. Ds is still worrying and wondering what he should be looking out for. I'm no help as although we had cats when I was younger, we never had a pregnant one.

Ds is happy to keep the kitten (neighbour did say he could have one) and would love to take over the care of the mother (get her spayed etc.) if neighbour will agree but he is quite.. difficult, shall we say 🙄

Any advice about what ds should look out for and should ds take her to the vet? He doesn't want to stress her unnecessarily if everything is ok. When should her belly go down if it's just the one kitten? Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
pickledandpuzzled · 11/09/2023 18:31

Little bump. If the mum seems happy enough, you probably don't need to worry yet. It can be a slow business!

Original poster
mynotfinkso · 11/09/2023 18:36

Oh that's good news! Thank you. Everything I'd read talked about 10 - 60 mins between kittens and over in about 12 hours. I was panicking a little 😁 Mother seems fine, she's eating and drinking.

OP posts:
pickledandpuzzled · 11/09/2023 19:10

I'm no expert, I've done it once with a stray!

Hopefully someone with more experience will come along!

If she's a first time mum I guess can be a bit slower. Mine had 3.

Is yours very young?

Original poster
mynotfinkso · 11/09/2023 20:23

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately we can't be sure how old she is. She's at least a year, possibly a lot more so as she isn't neutered, I can't imagine this is her first litter. Given the actual owner's total indifference though, this may well be the first one she's had indoors 😡

OP posts:
Lennon80 · 11/09/2023 20:25

Couple of hours - mine had six and after two hours ball were born.

StillWantingADog · 11/09/2023 20:27

Can’t help at all but if the vet says not to worry I’d try and not worry too much.
big kudos to your ds for dealing with all of this though. I’d be very proud! The mum cat will just stay with him if she has any sense.

justthecat · 11/09/2023 20:33

Neighbour needs something I probably can't say and I wouldn't let him have any of the cats back.
Id be very proud of your son, let mum cat cope they have the instinct

ohsuzannah · 11/09/2023 20:36

Your son is a lovely person!
Lucky little cat to find him 😍

Original poster
mynotfinkso · 11/09/2023 20:38

Thanks. Yes ds is lovely and I'm really proud of him. It's been about 20 hours since the kitten was born so maybe it is just the one then. We'll just keep an eye on her and hopefully everything will be fine.

OP posts:
pickledandpuzzled · 11/09/2023 20:45

Thing is, it can be hard to get vet treatment if the cat is chipped to someone else.

If he wants to get her neutered, he may need to avoid mentioning she isn't his.

We have this underway on my street, a sick cat a family who want to take her on but can't get her treated because she's chipped to someone else.

Original poster
mynotfinkso · 11/09/2023 20:45

I have no idea how to add photos, but hopefully this works

How long does it take for cat to deliver all the kittens?
OP posts:
cansu · 11/09/2023 20:49

Oh my goodness. So cute.

pickledandpuzzled · 11/09/2023 20:54

Aw! Thank you!

Original poster
mynotfinkso · 11/09/2023 20:55

@Pickledandpuzzled, I can't imagine the neighbour bothered to get her chipped but ds will check when the kitten is bigger. Hopefully he'll be happy to let ds get her spayed as long as he doesn't have to pay 🙄

OP posts:
verdantverdure · 11/09/2023 21:21

You son is a good lad.

I'd lay money that cat isn't chipped since it isn't neutered and isn't well looked after.

His local Cat's Protection may be able to offer kitten advice and also a neutering and chipping voucher if he gets in touch with them to thank him for helping scar that needed help.

He's a good lad. Flowers

Original poster
mynotfinkso · 11/09/2023 21:36

@verdantverdure thank you. Ds is fab. He is being helped by his lovely fiancée too, they're both huge animal lovers. The local Pets at home mentioned the Cats Protection scheme when he was in there recently. Hopefully he can sort that when the kitten is a bit older.

OP posts:
iusedtohavechickens · 11/09/2023 21:43

My dd's cat is having her kittens at the mo too. Started yesterday and had 3 all close together. Just had another one this eve which she delivered bun first which we had to help her with and give the kitten some resus. Looks like she's getting ready for kitten number 5. We looked it up and cats can pause their labours x

iusedtohavechickens · 11/09/2023 21:44

Here they are

Original poster
mynotfinkso · 11/09/2023 21:50

Ooohhhh!!! They're so sweet!! Ds has just messaged me and said that he thinks she's only having the one. Her belly has gone down lots apparently and she's looking more normal shaped.

OP posts:
iusedtohavechickens · 11/09/2023 21:58

Wow that's pretty unusual! X

HerMammy · 12/09/2023 00:12

I wouldn't even ask the neighbour about neuter, just take her when she's ready.

iusedtohavechickens · 12/09/2023 08:57

Looks like our car is still going, no more kittens yet but still heavy breathing so think there is at least one more x

Original poster
mynotfinkso · 12/09/2023 09:47

Wow! How many has she had?

OP posts:
StillWantingADog · 12/09/2023 12:10

I think ds should try and take her to the vet to check that all is well with both mum cat and the kitten. The vet might be understanding with fees if he explains the situation.

Heronatemygoldfish · 12/09/2023 13:01

Totally unhelpful on the kittens apart from to say your DS is a star and he will definitely have his hands full with a white tortie! (As I know all too well!)