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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.

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Original poster

How do you know when cats are finished having kittens?

256 replies

TakingBackSunday · 10/03/2025 20:27

Hi all,

As the title suggests how do you know when a cat has finished having kittens?

Sat down for my tea and my beloved cat popped out a still born kitten, didn't even know she was pregnant.

Well apparently when I was away one weekend she got through the kitchen window and returned before I came home so DH didn't bother to tell me.

I know I'm irresponsible but she's an indoor ragdoll cat so didn't have had any urgency really (idiot) but I just need help with making sure she's okay now

She's being very affectionate, following me everywhere but not much else

OP posts:
WhenICalledYouLastNightFromTesco · 10/03/2025 22:04

Good luck @TakingBackSunday You've acknowledged from your first post that getting her neutered would've been for the best, but hindsight is a wonderful thing, and it doesn't take away the stress that you're probably in now.

Hope it all works out for you and your cat.

redbusbeepbeep · 10/03/2025 22:06

iwannaknow · 10/03/2025 21:56

Right, listen.

No you absolutely cannot just move some autistic kids at will. Ones that are under the sleep clinic are going to be having enormous difficulties, as is the OP in managing them amongst a myriad of other issues no doubt.

OP isn't saying 'I can't be arsed to move my bratty spoiled kids, fuck the cat' she is saying that her disabled children in their safe/regulation space, and that moving them would likely cause a meltdown. Which the kids cannot help, is incredibly loud and distressing and which ultimately helps no one (and will also distress the cat!). OP herself could need the sofa to give birth on and the kids may not have the capacity or ability to 'just move'.

Stop piling on, you absolutely clueless bunch, and think yourselves damn lucky that you're not in her shoes. What disgusting responses, some of you should be bloody ashamed of yourselves.

OP if it's not possible to explain, cajole, bribe (sometimes works!) or otherwise move the kids then yes take the cat the sofa cushion, keep her in the warm, dark nesty place and as far as you possibly can with your kids, keep it quiet. Keep a close eye on her. Vets in the morning. Good luck.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 this site is horrible sometimes

Teaandsympathy34 · 10/03/2025 22:07

Haven't got any advice but hope all turns out well.

alimac12 · 10/03/2025 22:09

OP take a deep breath, ignore the nasty comments and keep going. We all make mistakes, and we all have different circumstances. Is very easy for some people find the “right and perfect” solutions. I call is BS. You are doing what you can and I know you love your cat. If she is eating that’s a good sign. I would take her tomorrow to vet for a check up, get an appointment to neutralise her so you don’t have to go through this again, neither the cat, and that’s it. What is done is done. You are not a bad person, mom or anything. Good luck!

Beebopwasthebest · 10/03/2025 22:09

https://icatcare.org/articles/cat-birth

There good pointers on what to expect and when to seek veterinary advice. It's a really good resource for all things cat.

Pippinsdiary · 10/03/2025 22:10

richardosmanstrousers · 10/03/2025 21:46

if the worst of mumsnet it advocating for this cat then I shall take it all day long. Not quite the insult you think it is.

Edited
Show quote history

But the OP has a knowledged she’s failed the cat and is going to get her spayed. She cares enough to post on here for advice but gets a load of twatty, repetitive comments.

Heyla · 10/03/2025 22:16

iwannaknow · 10/03/2025 21:56

Right, listen.

No you absolutely cannot just move some autistic kids at will. Ones that are under the sleep clinic are going to be having enormous difficulties, as is the OP in managing them amongst a myriad of other issues no doubt.

OP isn't saying 'I can't be arsed to move my bratty spoiled kids, fuck the cat' she is saying that her disabled children in their safe/regulation space, and that moving them would likely cause a meltdown. Which the kids cannot help, is incredibly loud and distressing and which ultimately helps no one (and will also distress the cat!). OP herself could need the sofa to give birth on and the kids may not have the capacity or ability to 'just move'.

Stop piling on, you absolutely clueless bunch, and think yourselves damn lucky that you're not in her shoes. What disgusting responses, some of you should be bloody ashamed of yourselves.

OP if it's not possible to explain, cajole, bribe (sometimes works!) or otherwise move the kids then yes take the cat the sofa cushion, keep her in the warm, dark nesty place and as far as you possibly can with your kids, keep it quiet. Keep a close eye on her. Vets in the morning. Good luck.

Yep! Disrupting an autistic child's routine could easily result in a meltdown, involving hours of screaming.

Once a meltdown has started, the OP will be powerless to stop it until the child has exhausted themselves.

Trust that this Mum knows best so she's doing the best she can for this cat.

It's going to help nobody, including the cat if the change of routine causes a meltdown.

For those that have never experienced this with their children, count yourselves lucky.

A meltdown is not a tantrum for the child trying to get their own way. A meltdown is caused by extreme anxiety.

richardosmanstrousers · 10/03/2025 22:16

But the OP has a knowledged she’s failed the cat and is going to get her spayed. She cares enough to post on here for advice but gets a load of twatty, repetitive comments.

I was talking about her stopping the cat going to the sofa and locking it in a room. I never said anything about the lack of spay. I understand things happen but in the moment OP was potentially distressing the cat and that's frustrating to read. Anyway it seems the cat is ok and quite happy not being at the sofa so fingers crossed she is well and doesn't have any more babies, if she does that they are ok

AInightingale · 10/03/2025 22:17

My grandparents had a cat back in the day when neutering wasn't really a thing (the 40s I think) and she went into labour one evening, my gps went to bed thinking it would be all right, but sadly they found her dead in the morning with a kitten only half delivered. They never forgave themselves. Most times cats are absolutely fine, but occasionally they do need help.
Stay up with her, take turns to sleep, just to be on the safe side, however much of a pain that is.
I'm sorry you've been piled on here OP, and I hope your cat and any more kittens are okay by morning.

Tigergirl80 · 10/03/2025 22:19

Are you sure the kitten had passed? Some just need a bit of help to start breathing just like newborn babies. My friends ragdoll she birthed the first ok by the second she struggled with. They had to take her to vets for c section. But they knew there was 2 kittens as she had scan at vet checks.

Ddakji · 10/03/2025 22:20

richardosmanstrousers · 10/03/2025 22:16

But the OP has a knowledged she’s failed the cat and is going to get her spayed. She cares enough to post on here for advice but gets a load of twatty, repetitive comments.

I was talking about her stopping the cat going to the sofa and locking it in a room. I never said anything about the lack of spay. I understand things happen but in the moment OP was potentially distressing the cat and that's frustrating to read. Anyway it seems the cat is ok and quite happy not being at the sofa so fingers crossed she is well and doesn't have any more babies, if she does that they are ok

My comment, to which you replied, was not about you, though. Perhaps you haven’t read the whole thread but it’s pretty unpleasant towards a woman trying to deal with a difficult situation.

Fargo79 · 10/03/2025 22:21

iwannaknow · 10/03/2025 21:56

Right, listen.

No you absolutely cannot just move some autistic kids at will. Ones that are under the sleep clinic are going to be having enormous difficulties, as is the OP in managing them amongst a myriad of other issues no doubt.

OP isn't saying 'I can't be arsed to move my bratty spoiled kids, fuck the cat' she is saying that her disabled children in their safe/regulation space, and that moving them would likely cause a meltdown. Which the kids cannot help, is incredibly loud and distressing and which ultimately helps no one (and will also distress the cat!). OP herself could need the sofa to give birth on and the kids may not have the capacity or ability to 'just move'.

Stop piling on, you absolutely clueless bunch, and think yourselves damn lucky that you're not in her shoes. What disgusting responses, some of you should be bloody ashamed of yourselves.

OP if it's not possible to explain, cajole, bribe (sometimes works!) or otherwise move the kids then yes take the cat the sofa cushion, keep her in the warm, dark nesty place and as far as you possibly can with your kids, keep it quiet. Keep a close eye on her. Vets in the morning. Good luck.

Totally agree. Some awful ableism going on.

richardosmanstrousers · 10/03/2025 22:22

@Ddakji

My comment, to which you replied, was not about you, though.

I'm a bit confused here, I was replying to a comment by @Pippinsdiary - I realise now I haven't added the tag but it was a direct quote of their comment i replied to that you have now quoted and said you were not talking to me?

Ddakji · 10/03/2025 22:23

richardosmanstrousers · 10/03/2025 22:22

@Ddakji

My comment, to which you replied, was not about you, though.

I'm a bit confused here, I was replying to a comment by @Pippinsdiary - I realise now I haven't added the tag but it was a direct quote of their comment i replied to that you have now quoted and said you were not talking to me?

And that poster was replying to your response to me. You can click on quote history to see.

Original poster
TakingBackSunday · 10/03/2025 22:24

Tigergirl80 · 10/03/2025 22:19

Are you sure the kitten had passed? Some just need a bit of help to start breathing just like newborn babies. My friends ragdoll she birthed the first ok by the second she struggled with. They had to take her to vets for c section. But they knew there was 2 kittens as she had scan at vet checks.

I'm 100% sure, she didn't even react to it. She got up and went to the kitchen and wasn't at all bothered. I checked google and it was floppy, not breathing etc.

She's now chasing the other cats and jumping up and down the stairs - I'm trying to stop her, but she does keep going over and wanting a stroke and cuddle.

She's eaten and is grooming herself (like just in general not just her backend)

Are these signs she's fine and no longer in labour?

OP posts:
richardosmanstrousers · 10/03/2025 22:26

And that poster was replying to your response to me. You can click on quote history to see.

Right but I was replying to them, they did quote me. So why you came long to say on that reply you were not talking about me makes zero sense.

HughGrantsfurrysquirrel · 10/03/2025 22:27

Here here. I am lost for words at some of the downright ignorant and unkind comments on here tonight.

skintbuthappyish · 10/03/2025 22:30

Mines an indoor cat too, we did take her in to get neutered when she was a kitten but she went into cardiac arrest and they stopped the operation

She had a bad reaction to whatever it was they gave her to put her to sleep. I haven't risked it since. Unfortunately the neighbours Tom impregnated her a couple of years ago. I didn't know until she started giving birth on my couch

JulianFawcettMP · 10/03/2025 22:31

SassySusie · 10/03/2025 20:29

Why is she not neutered?

It's clearly in the OP. Furthermore, what are you hoping to achieve by asking this? Does you have a time machine that can be deployed or are you just being silly?

WhistPie · 10/03/2025 22:34

TakingBackSunday · 10/03/2025 22:24

I'm 100% sure, she didn't even react to it. She got up and went to the kitchen and wasn't at all bothered. I checked google and it was floppy, not breathing etc.

She's now chasing the other cats and jumping up and down the stairs - I'm trying to stop her, but she does keep going over and wanting a stroke and cuddle.

She's eaten and is grooming herself (like just in general not just her backend)

Are these signs she's fine and no longer in labour?

Show quote history

Are the other cats neutered?!

Jimmyneutronsforehead · 10/03/2025 22:35

We had a cat that had 6 kittens over the course of about 8 hours, and acted fine in between each one so we were surprised more kept coming out as we were sure the last one must have genuinely been the last one.

Definitely let her move around if she needs it and don't tamper with her safe space once established, but I'm not going to pile on you about making her a safe space that's actually safe from your children as I think it's actually very sensible and responsible.

Original poster
TakingBackSunday · 10/03/2025 22:38

@WhistPie yes, the other cats are neutered.

Oh so she could still be in labour, I'm wondering if it was a premature birth because it's not been 60 odd days since I went away but the kitten looks pretty developed so I don't know.

I'm staying up with her tonight to make sure she's okay.

OP posts:
WellsAndThistles · 10/03/2025 22:41

vodkaredbullgirl · 10/03/2025 20:30

Get her to the vets.

She's a pedigree, maybe the OP wanted to breed her at some point?

gamerchick · 10/03/2025 22:44

Cats purr when they're distressed though OP, it's not just when they're content. It's a self soothe thing.

WhenICalledYouLastNightFromTesco · 10/03/2025 22:46

WellsAndThistles · 10/03/2025 22:41

She's a pedigree, maybe the OP wanted to breed her at some point?

Show quote history

The OP doesn't allude to that in any of their comments.