How do you know when cats are finished having kittens?

[TakingBackSunday]

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

There's been a lot of ableist ignorance displayed on this thread but for someone claiming to be autistic to pile on is terrible. I've reported your post and you should feel ashamed. You being autistic doesn't make you an authority on what the OP should do with her children, who she knows damn well better than you. How much of a calm environment to give birth in do you think it will be when 2 autistic children have a meltdown? Idiot.

@TakingBackSunday I'm impressed you've come back to this thread tbh. Nothing short of crucifying yourself, evicting your kids and signing your house over to your cat is going to appease some of this mob. You've done your best in a stressful situation and have admitted your faults which is impressive. Good luck, and your cat is beautiful!

What is the cat doing now?

I hope your cat is doing okay, OP? Poor kitten, and it must have been a shock for you, too — how sad that it was stillborn. Hope the vet can see her and check her over asap tomorrow just in case she had any retained material.

Of course it’s right. You do understand that in the US and Canada there are coyotes, bears, bobcats, mountain lions, wolves, rattlesnakes, etc that would all kill cats? Coyotes deliberately hunt and eat them in neighbourhoods. Even raccoons are known to kill cats. You’d only let your cat out if you didn’t give a shit about it dying a horrible death.

This was one of the first things I researched when I moved to the States with my cat.

I wouldn't have a cat in a place where it wasn't safe for them to go outside. Whether that's because of a dangerous road or predators.

I waited 20 years to afford to have a house in the UK, with a garden safe for a cat away from roads.

Because I think the quality of life and needs of a cat is more important than me just wanting to have a pet cat.

It's not bullying to say the truth.

@RogueFemale what do want a medal? You keep your cats however you like. That doesn't give you the right to bully the OP or suggest she shouldn't have cats.
As my grandmother would stay, if you can't say something nice then keep your trap shut and move or in this case scroll on!

I repeat, it is not bullying to speak the truth.

Nor can you silence me. If I see animals who aren't being properly cared for, then I will express an opinion. Animals don't have a voice, but I do.

@RogueFemale it's is bullying! And it's your OPINION not truths.
The OP has done everything that she can tonight to make her cat as comfortable as possible. She has sought veterinary advice and will be seeing the vet tomorrow.
Now BACK OFF and go and hunt for a little humility because you're in desperate need of some!

Sorry, I'm not afraid of capslock.

You’ve made your point. Go find some animals that are actually neglected to worry about, and leave OP alone.

I'm sorry if my concern for animal welfare offends you. Please report my offending posts if you wish to.

They are all different. My tortie will venture out the back door for about 30 seconds. My smoky tabby will go outside but sleep in the garden right next to the house. My dear departed Himalayan wouldn't have gone outside no matter what you offered her. Cats like having a home/den . Some like to wander. There are a lot of countries/cities where cats are indoor only. My 2 are very happy and late teens as was my Himalyan . My first kitten who I let run free, got hit by a car at 3 months. There are cat runs available now.

That;s inappropriate from the info given and unnecessary!

This isn’t helpful though is it.

The only thing you are concerned about is judging OP and hitting her over the head with your opinions. Against all odds this cat will somehow survive without you and your advice.

@TakingBackSunday this doesn't matter. Indoor or outdoor, if she's a female cat she will come into season and the difference between queens and bitches is that the queen will come into season and remain more or less in season until she has mated (or the weather turns very cold) whereas a bitch will come into season and if she doesn't mate, the season ends.

Queens release eggs when they mate so if they are not neutered, they will endlessly remain calling or do what your cat has done and gone out been mated by any random (potentially diseased) un-neutered cat that is designed to bite during the act (further potential for disease).

The dead kittens will have 'just popped' out because her body was rejecting them rather than labour being instigated. Labour is started as a result of the foetal hormones. The kitten is dead so there are no foetal hormones.

Get her neutered but get veterinary advice on when best to do it. It can't be done any day soon as her uterus needs to shrink back down but you also need to get it done before she comes back into season. I imagine the ideal time for this would be about three weeks from now but speak to the vet doing the procedure as it's their call, given this is an unusual circumstance.

Because it's Spring, she will likely come into season quite soon after this episode.

I too waited til i had a house with a lovely big garden away from busy roads to get cats. Didnt stop one of them going missing for 10 years, i let them out in the garden on a lovely summer morning and only 1 came back inside. She was microchipped, spayed, and very much loved and cared for. After 10 years without her, not knowing what kind of life she had in that time, shes now indoor only, and has a lovely life filled with love and attention. Im sure thats better for her than the time she spent alone, lost, even if it was outside.

If I come back as a cat in my next life, I hope I won't be an indoor-only cat in an open-plan house whose human occupants are prone to scream for hours. It does not sound like a good life for a cat.

Wow OP you have handled this thread very well considering the responses you have had, very judgemental. I bet you wish you never started it as the last thing you probably wanted was a mass of people telling you everything you have done wrong with the odd helpful comment in between. Sorry no advice, hope your cat is ok.

Disgusted that everyone has jumped on the OPs back for her cat being indoor. She has asked for advice, help her, don't bully her. @TakingBackSunday I hope your cat is okay. These things do happen and you are doing the right thing by taking her to the vets tomorrow to get her checked over. Life gets in the way of things and having read your post, your cats are well loved xx

Cats so not like to eat/drink and poo in the same place.

I know I am really late but what happened tot he umbilical cord?

Please get her to the vet today, they can tell you if there are more in there and give her any treatment she may need.

An unneutered female could escape Fort Knox in order to find a male.

Mine was a stray who came in to season within a week of me homing her, she was very vocal about things and even backed up to a male (human) visitor with her tail to one side.

Humans themselves are the most wasteful and polluting of all, so better to ban children too. We can gradually die out and then wild animals will inherit the earth - and be far better custodians of it.