Advice on taking in a very pregnant cat

[KittenyChops]

It’s a young cat that lives locally to me. On its 3rd litter and is barely an adult. Clearly about to give birth any day now

she has owners but they’re an awful household. She’s not allowed indoors and they also own the father - an un-neutered male.

I called our local cat rescuers who are at capacity and they’ll come and capture the male, neuter him and return him but they cannot take the pregnant female

Called local rescues. All bursting at the seams right now.

I cannot have her in my house as I have a cat and she would not have a single bit of it. I do however have a warm and dry triple garage which is properly floored and is used as a gym / utility type room etc. I can section off a quarter of it, pop a large playpen in there with blankets and bedding etc and longer in there. The birth is imminent

but I’m far from an expert here and don’t want this to cost me money I just don’t have

so … do I

A leave it. Not my business and I can’t solve all these cat issues

b take her and make her comfortable and as soon as she’s given birth and kittens are here, get them sorted with a rescue

im leaning towards A I suppose as I’m not sure I’m adding any value here - she will just given birth in a bush or wherever they usually go

thoughts?

Do not use blankets as they will suffocate the kittens. Get some cardboard boxes so she can choose one and use either hay or straw.
Make sure she can live with one of her kittens after she’s been spayed.

I would try to get her as comfortable as you can - she may be OK nesting in the bushes but we're having some very erratic weather lately & the kittens could get soaked through & get very ill or even die. Yes she may have had to have 2 litters outdoors before now, but that's no reason not to bring her in & reduce any risks to the third litter.

If you can afford to feed etc the mother throughout pregnancy and up to weaning, that would definitely be the best for her. From what you've said I doubt her "owners" will be giving her the extras she needs while growing then feeding kittens. I'm guessing she may not be chipped either, even though that's the law these days, so you could possibly pass her off as a stray if she needs vet assistance?

Option B please.

Newborn kittens without shelter are at risk from the weather and predators. The majority of them won’t survive to adulthood.

It might seem like a drop in the ocean but you can make a world of difference for this cat and her babies.

Agree with the above. Right now she doesn’t stand a chance and neither do the kittens. If you can help please do. I inherited a pregnant cat once. She was ravenous before and after birth and she especially loved cat milk from the shop. In the end I had her spayed and kept her.

I was assuming you would take her in and feed her

Thanks all

and yep I can feed her and kittens with no issue. But I do not want to pay vet fees - I’m not some sort of crusader here but I just feel so sorry for this sweet little cat who sits on the windowsill every single day

I also can’t keep her or a kitten or anything like that.

the only thing I can do is make her comfortable in a warm space. My husband was less than thrilled at the suggestion (exact words were ‘ I’m not having my garage over run with bloody cats!’) but he’s an animal lover and I sense weakness so he will get over it

but I really can’t do some sort of kitten rearing thing for weeks on end so who on earth do I contact when she’s had these kittens?

Oh and she isn’t chipped. That’s been checked by the local team we have in the community. She also has some bites on her where she’s being attacked by some other cat. just a couple on her head which don’t seem to be bothering her much at this point

why oh why do people get cats to just let them roam and have litter after litter? What’s the bloody point? Makes me cross

She will take care of the kittens. You just need to feed her and then she will nurse them. That’s how it works for about the first 8 weeks. She will teach them how to toilet. You should provide a litter tray for them so they get used to using one (this is something that potential adopters will want).

Also, she’s absolutely gorgeous 😻

@Overtheatlanticim not able to have them for months. Golf simulator in garage used by pro golfer husband so it just won’t work long term

I can take her until she gives birth but then I’d need a rescue to step in and have to hope they will although I know they’re all stretched themselves

@Overtheatlantic She’s very sweet as well! Lovely personality

Err I think you will feel differently once you have witnessed them being born😀

have you got any friends or family looking for kittens? Hopefully a local rescue will take them but if you know people it would help. You are so kind giving her a space and really all she needs is food. You will need a litter tray.

@EachandEveryone @EachandEveryone perhaps one friend who’d like a kitten! And perhaps one friend who may rehome mum …

O f course what I’m planning to potentially do today is probably illegal 🤣 She does have owners - they have three cats in total. One - a small tortie - gave birth less than a fortnight ago and is already back out and about. The black one is the father I believe and he’s always roaming and then we have this tabby girl - on her third litter already and not much more than a kitten herself

so can I really just whip someone’s cat and hold her in my garage?! She has a small eye injury and a small bite on her head but is otherwise fine

I’ve moved a couple of things around in the garage whilst I think about it more

parking here for soon-I-hope tiny-kitten pics.

I'd be minded to sneakily help capture the male to get his nuts chopped, and GoFundMe to get mama neutered too. Release her back outside only after she's spayed. Ditto the boy of course.

Kittens could be tough or easy to rehome but I think you'll find them a home, have faith.

Fuck whether it's 'illegal' set of actions. Besides, aren't cats obliged to be chipped nowadays?

@lljkk black cat dad is being collected today I believe. By a local community initiative who trap unneutered males, get them sorted and then pop them back in due course. This collective just can’t take Truffle (and that’s not her name I very much doubt but one I’ve decided she will have )

I have to consider what I’m prepared to do. Im
busy and have a very territorial cat. I also won’t have cats and kittens in my actual house as I don’t want that. Don’t want to be an animal sanctuary. 🤣

but I also don’t like to think of Truffle being without food for herself and giving birth on less than ideal conditions for her

Here she is this morning. Just chilling

She isn't chipped you say. So as it's a legal requirement to chip any cats they own, theoretically she's a stray and not owned by them. So you are just rescuing a stray.

They can be fined £500 per cat for not having their cats chipped, if anyone sort of let it slip to someone like the RSPCA or Cats Protection 😼

What a pretty little cat. And not much more than a kitten herself, sadly.

A warm, dry, safe garage is going to seem like a palace to Truffle.

She’s not chipped so you’re just helping out a stray until a home can be found for her.

Thank you for caring about her, OP.

Ok so truffle has been secured. And I’ve managed to get her a space at a lovely rescue - they have one pen free! They were keen to know she wasn’t chipped (for obvious reasons really!) and I can take her there tomorrow

so she will spend the night here. I’m debating whether to actually have her in my kitchen as it’s just overnight. I can pop my cat elsewhere for one night. I’ll think about it!

I’ll pop some pics in here soon once she’s cosy

Can I ask why you advise her living with one of the kittens after please ?

Shameless place marking. 🌈 You’re a good’un op

Good for you for caring, you are definitely a good 'un. (More photos please!)

Well done, will make such a difference to her.

A thought OP, but if she is pretty much left to her own devices normally, she might be happy enough with an outdoor shelter if you can provide that? I know you have your own cat, so maybe tucked behind the garage or something, nice and quiet?

The King of Cats will look very kindly upon you for helping this gorgeous girl.

She is currently under my sofa in the kitchen ( I have a sort of kitchen diner living room thing so I’m thinking I can leave her in there actually and keep my own cat in our other living room.

my cat took one look at her (through the patio doors) and started spitting and hissing as she’s a menace

anyway, Truffle is super sweet. She was quite stressed for a good hour or so but is now curled up quietly. Comes out for strokes and isn’t crying now. She’s had some food and seems quite happy

she is absolutely FULL of kittens!!!