Nervous about Mika having kittens, should I be?

Originally Posted by Spirita2010

lol, I feel old already. Thank you Keisha. I just hope I have not already hurt the kittens, by feeling for them, for a week..

I am not going to do it anymore though..

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I feel the same way abotu my pregnant cat Kalli.
I try not to feel her belly too, but its hard not to sometimes.

i love barn cats . good mix. shes very pretty. does she "talk" alot?

it is hard not to because that is your baby carrying a few babies Grandparents duty.

Ya, when she wants inside, she is non-stop meowing. So I open the door, and she darts in, Hunter is her best friend, so she goes straight to him, and cuddle up with him. Its cute. Then I have to boot her out.

Originally Posted by Spirita2010

Ya, when she wants inside, she is non-stop meowing. So I open the door, and she darts in, Hunter is her best friend, so she goes straight to him, and cuddle up with him. Its cute. Then I have to boot her out.

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why do you have to boot her out? I'm confused, this is an accidental litter, but you hve an unspayed cat and you let her outside on purpose?

She is a beautiful cat but looks very young to be having kittens. The younger they are the more complications there could be. It is like a young teenager giving birth before their bodies are ready to. So, I don't want to alarm you but here are just a few points to consider. As you have said that money is a problem (as it is with many of us!) it would cost less to spay her now, even though she is pregnant, than to have to rush her to the emergency vet for a C-section because she can't deliver the kittens. Or to have the kittens need emergency treatment. And you will need to vaccinate and neuter the kittens before they go to new homes, or even if you keep them, unless you want a colony of cats very quickly! I know it is a big decision and some people won't do it, but most vets will, and shelters do it regularly, spaying a pregnant cat, as they see the results of so many homeless cats having to be put down. So, I don't want to tell you what to do, but I would suggest you think about the options, talk to your vet, and do what you really feel is best for your cat. If you spayed her now, she would not know any different - cats don't realise they are pregnant.

Originally Posted by Spirita2010

Ya, when she wants inside, she is non-stop meowing. So I open the door, and she darts in, Hunter is her best friend, so she goes straight to him, and cuddle up with him. Its cute. Then I have to boot her out.

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Why does she have to go out because of the meowing... Maybe feliway will correct it... Or does she try to mate like when in heat. I am confused also. hmmmm

Why does she have to go out because of the meowing... Maybe feliway will correct it... Or does she try to mate like when in heat. I am confused also. hmmmm

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Mika is an outside cat and spirita's parents will not let her stay in or get spayed

ooooo ok I guess I was lost there. Must be lack of sleep LOL. She needs to get spayed she must be so miserable... Give her extra cuddles.

ya, what Maxy said. I hate having her outside, poor kitty is miserable.. If she ends up having them outside, and I find them, I am bringing them inside. With momma cat of course. And I'm going to try, and get money to get her spayed. No, she doesn't meow like she is going to mate, sorry Momof3rugratz. Didn't mean to confuse you. She meows, because she is spoiled, and likes being inside. Instead of outside. But she came to our house, and I started to feed her. lol, and then this morning, I found a Smokey colored cat in her doghouse! But, I am going to wait, and see if it stays to pick it up. So this is going to pose another problem..

when she gets close to deleivery is she able to stay in then I think she would find a comfy spot

Mika does look terribly young to me as well...forgive me if I'm wrong, but she does not yet look full-grown, and her face still has a kittenish quality. If she is allowed to continue going outside after this first litter, unspayed, she will continue to have litter after litter after litter...which is not only unhealthy for Mika, but it's seriously contributing to the cat overpopulation problem. A pregnant cat who is close to delivery should NOT be let outdoors. She needs to be kept solely inside, in a safe and well-confined area where she can begin nesting behaviors, and the kittens will be in one safe centralized location once they are born. If left to deliver her kittens outdoors, it is very likely she'll have them in a location where you won't see them, or be able to monitor the situation around the clock. And, this is dangerous...a tom will come by, and most likely try to kill the litter so that he can mate with her immediately again. And many females WILL become pregnant almost immediately after delivering a litter...you can imagine the toll this will take on her body.

It sounds like you're young, and your parents are going to need some convincing...we've seen a lot of that on here, but really, spaying her could save her life, and this is a point that needs to be conveyed to your parents. You will be saving Mika from preventable reproductive cancers down the road, and a life of having litter after litter, which would make for a tragic and horrible (and shorter) existence.

I'm not criticizing you in any way, so please don't take this personally. It is clear that you want to have her spayed, and you realize it's the best thing once the kittens are born. I'm just telling you to absolutely do whatever you can to persuade your parents that this is the most responsible and loving thing to do for her. Also, there are low-cost spay/neuters that are often provided by various rescue organizations and vets...check into this for your area. It could save you a lot of money...particularly when you consider that having litter after litter WILL run you into more money in the long run that having a spay performed once. Factor in the price of feeding Mika and her kittens, extra litter, nipples and bottles, KMR for emergencies, etc., and possible emergency vet visits due to complications, and the price of a spay is well worth it!

Good luck to you. Mika is a beautiful girl, and I'm praying she's not as young as she looks.

Okay. As I was typing my above post, you responded, so I have a few things to add. You mentioned that you originally spotted her outside, and began feeding her, and that she prefers to be inside with you. This is great, and you deserve praise for caring for her as a stray. Has she been to the vet, for a general health check-up, to check her age, get her vaccinations, etc.? If not, this should be done as soon as possible. If she has not been to a vet, she could be carrying parasites, or some other well-hidden ailments or conditions that will eventually need attention, and could threaten her life, and the life of the kittens growing inside of her. This vet visit should be first and foremost in your mind if it has not yet happened.

Also, you mentioned, that you have now spotted a gray cat in the doghouse. This could be a long-time companion of Mika, or simply another stray in the neighborhood that knows you are providing food. Or, it could be Mika's mate...the father of her litter. You will want to approach Smokey with caution, and see if he's trusting of humans...be careful! If there is a way to warm up to him/her, do it slowly, and check to see what gender he is, if at all possible, and check if he/she's intact or fixed. If he/she isn't, and you take him/her into your home, he/she will also need to be checked at the vet for overall health, and fixed, if he/she is in tact. And once Mika has her kittens, it will be best to keep Smokey away from her at all times, IN YOUR HOME. These kittens need to be born inside, with no exception. Momma cats tend to scatter their litters outdoors, and stash their babies in some rather inconvenient, and unsafe places. There is NO guarantee that you will find all of the kittens if they are born outside...allow her a safe room in your home, a spare bedroom, a basement, laundry room, etc. Keep her in there with a nice box, lined with old towels or blankets...this will keep her litter warm, and will keep the kittens confined to one area. Even still, she may try to move the kittens to different places in your home, so limit her to one room only during the birth, and for the weeks following, before the kittens are weaned.

Good luck, and let us know about Smokey when you find out more!

me too, I am hoping that everything will be alright with her, and the kittens. And I understand what you are saying Wookie. I am trying to convince my mother to let her inside, to have them.. And I have found out where Mika has been going on her little trips! Hershey's old doghouse! She looks quite comfy in there, with some dry straw, I believe, that MAYBE, she will have them in there, and keep Hershey away from it, when he is outside. Which I am guessing the cat to be 9 months, or 10 months. Not good, I know. I didn't want her to have a litter, and I am trying to convince my mom to let me get a job to support the outdoor cats, and take them to the vet, while most kids only want a job to buy what they want. My purpose, in my opinion is far greater than some kids my age. She has a good point to not letting me have a job though. I need to concentrate on my school, so I can get a good job, to support the animals. Very good point. In my opinion..

Yes it is

Ok try to find old blankets and lay them in the very back of the dog house so she has more warm.... It is best inside but I understand she cant so we will try to work with what ya can do ok

She said maybe to this one, so I am guessing it will be a yes for some more dry straw, and put some towels, and stuff in there too. She seems to like this one today. Its sunny, and its going to be 80 degrees, there is plenty of shade there. Old blankets, some more old towels, and straw to put over the muddy part. Many animals like this doghouse. I'll work with what I know this cat actually likes. Thanks everyone! Will try, and do everything I can for her.

there is mud lets home the sun drys it all up... Did we figure a due date on her yet... The towels and blankets would be better and use the straw for padding... I would imagine it would be pokey to nekkid kittens lol

true, lol, no we haven't figured a due date yet. I'll see if I can find old blankets, if Hershey doesn't pull them out.. lol, just have to keep him inside while I put them in.

is there a way to block him from getting in the house that she is using at the moment.

Not really, He gets in there if there is food, which I feed her twice daily, since she needs food. Or he stays out of it, if there is no food, he stays out. So I don't know how I am going to feed her, when Hershey likes to eat, since he is a Lab. I'll feed him, while I feed Mika. Or I could get a piece of wood, and cut something out, small enough, only for Mika. And no fat puppy heads. Second time I have said that, but, all I could think of. lol

Originally Posted by Spirita2010

me too, I am hoping that everything will be alright with her, and the kittens. And I understand what you are saying Wookie. I am trying to convince my mother to let her inside, to have them.. And I have found out where Mika has been going on her little trips! Hershey's old doghouse! She looks quite comfy in there, with some dry straw, I believe, that MAYBE, she will have them in there, and keep Hershey away from it, when he is outside. Which I am guessing the cat to be 9 months, or 10 months.

Not good, I know. I didn't want her to have a litter, and I am trying to convince my mom to let me get a job to support the outdoor cats, and take them to the vet, while most kids only want a job to buy what they want. My purpose, in my opinion is far greater than some kids my age. In my opinion..

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I am proud that you are doing all that you can at your age to help these cats...let's brainstorm and see what you can do to further help the situation!

Call a local rescue organization, or try to find some online in your area...they can help you with any low-cost spaying/neutering services. I've seen them have local spay/neuter events that you can have it done for only $10, or slightly more! This is definitely one option, and I'm sure you could do some calling around as early as tomorrow to investigate it...trust me, most organizations want very badly to control the cat population, and with kitten season just beginning, they are going to be at their max with pregnant strays, homeless mothers, surrenders, kittens up the yin-yang, etc. They will be your best resource for finding an economical way to handle this. Also, you'll find that many vets can put you on a pay-plan for services rendered...perhaps you could pay 10-20$ a month, until the bill is paid off. Also, there are some web sites available that will point you in the direction of financial assistance in terms of vet costs. All of this will greatly improve this scenario, and help you in the event that something goes wrong with Mika's delivery of the kittens.

As far as Mika in the doghouse goes, I'm not crazy about this idea, and I'm sure a lot of people on here would tell you the same thing...I realize it's a confinement, and Mika perceives this place as "safe"...but in reality, it isn't. First of all, Hershey will NOT be able to be out in the yard with access to his doghouse, nor should a dog be around a newborn litter of kittens...EVER. This is purely for safety...and it may make Mika nervous enough in the end, where she begins to relocate the kittens to someplace far less safe. And, Smokey will be around, which also poses an additional threat to the litter, whether or not it's a male or female cat. I realize you see this is one of your only options, and if that's true, there will have to be a way that you can somehow barricade Mika in the doghouse so that she can't roam after the kittens are born, or move her kittens to another area...or, allow other animals access to the litter. If there is NO way she can deliver and raise the kittens indoors, and the doghouse is literally your only option, you will need to make some type of screen or heavy-duty mesh door to the dog house, so that Mika is confined SOLELY to this area with the kittens, and so that other cats will not carry the kittens off, or she doesn't feel compelled to start stashing kittens in other places. Also, you don't want Hershey even remotely near his doghouse during the next few weeks for obvious reasons.

Personally, I still think you need to first look into discounted veterinary services or a payment plan, or do some research into what services a rescue organization could provide. Mika needs to see a vet. She could have worms (and if she's only 9 to 10 months old, it is actually very likely that she does have some parasites), she probably WILL get fleas (which can kill kittens) if she doesn't have them already, ear mites, FLV, FIV, or any number of other things that need treatment. Just because a cat LOOKS healthy, doesn't mean it is...and she needs to be fully vaccinated. Not all vaccines will be administered while she's pregnant, but you need to check into this ASAP. A lot of vets will work with folks who have financial hardship or difficulty...it needs to be investigated, and done quickly if at all possible.

The next thing is providing 100% indoor shelter for her. I still feel that a spare room, a walk-in closet, a laundry room, an extra bedroom, or a even confining her to a large wire crate or enclosure in the garage (with a plastic tray on the bottom lined with old towels or blankets) is better than the doghouse idea. Anywhere outdoors is still compromising the safety of her litter, and she will most likely become pregnant immediately again after delivery...and I mean within a day or two of having the kittens. The gray cat may be just laying around waiting for Mika to have this litter so that he can mate with her. It really is kind of scary.

PLEASE beg your parents to reconsider keeping her 100% indoors until the litter arrives, and until after she is spayed. Have them jump on here and read this thread, if that's what it takes. Do you know what is going to be done with the kittens once they are weaned? 10-12 weeks is the ideal period of time for them to find homes, really no earlier, if this is your plan. And, once the kittens are weaned (around 5-6 weeks), this is when Mika need to be spayed. Please, please, please keep her indoors. There are simply too many risks to do it any other way.