YaY! Mishugana just gave birth!

andrea727

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
May 17, 2007
Messages
139
Purraise
1
Location
PA
3:30 am I heard little meows... went searching for kittens because it sounded like they were under the bed

I woke my husband up and told him...a couple minutes later I heard a louder meow at the foot of my bed, and it was Mushy coming to find me. She led me back to where she was and thank goodness...it wasn't under the bed. It was under a table that had a blanket over it on my husband's side of the bed...wasn't the most ideal place as there was no box. So I CAREFULLY cleared out what was under there and saw two black kitties. About an hour later she gave birth to another black kitty, and I think she still has one more to go (she had an xray that confirmed 3 and possibly 4).
I kept thinking she was going to sit on them and suffocate them or something. That can be a very nervous experience for an onlooker. She did an awesome job! Wasn't really messy as far as I can tell... Anyway, I wanted to let everyone know! Pics to come.
Question: I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I need to at least get these kittens in a box, right? I'm scared they're going to go crawling all over creation and I don't want my husband to step on one as he gets out of bed
Do I do this while Mushy is away or do I do this asap? I can barely reach under the table (now that i think about it, it was a pretty good spot).
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
Yes, you need to confine mom and kittens in a box or large dog crate for safety of everyone. Do you have another spare room you can set things up and put everyone in there? You don't want a high-traffic area. If you put her in another room, but sure there are no drafts and you'll have to keep mom in there a few days; otherwise she might try to move the kittens.

Put a soft blanket wrapped in a pillow case (so nails don't get caught) in the box. Cut out an opening (leave a few inches (3-4)) as a door. Mom can step in there, kittens can't crawl out till a little older.

Keep the food/water and litter pan in the same room. Litter pan at least 4-5 feet from the food/water. When the kittens are about 3-4 weeks old, add a shallow cake pan with some litter for them to use.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

andrea727

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
May 17, 2007
Messages
139
Purraise
1
Location
PA
Should I just move them or should I wait until mom leaves their side for a minute, and then move them?????? I think I'm just a nervous first time .... grandmother? lol I'm only 25 and I'm a grandmother...
 

fostermomm

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
1,032
Purraise
1
Location
Hicksville
Originally Posted by Andrea727

Should I just move them or should I wait until mom leaves their side for a minute, and then move them?????? I think I'm just a nervous first time .... grandmother? lol I'm only 25 and I'm a grandmother...
I would just move them. Most new moms want to keep their kittens in sight at all times. So let her watch you move them.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

andrea727

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
May 17, 2007
Messages
139
Purraise
1
Location
PA
fantastic! thank you for replying so quickly
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

andrea727

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
May 17, 2007
Messages
139
Purraise
1
Location
PA
well, I moved them, but she moved them right back lol. This time, though, I had a box in there. She tried to put one behind the box, but I had moved the box next to the wall too fast. Then I brought the rest of them back and put them in the box. She's laying in there nursing right now
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
As long as they are confined to one area. Is the box open so the kittens can get out easily. If so, flip the box and cut a "door" but leave a few inches so the kittens just can't walk out on their own.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

andrea727

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
May 17, 2007
Messages
139
Purraise
1
Location
PA
The box I have them in, I don't think that they can walk out on their own...maybe when they get a little bit older? It's about 4 inches high..just measured it.
She had them under a glass top coffee table that had a blanket over it. I have a section cleared off so I can lift up the blanket and make sure everything is ok. If I need to, I can just pull the box out from under the table.
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
Sound good - but is the table in the middle of the room or on the side. Sometimes if mom feels its getting too much traffic/noisy, etc. she may try and move them again. That's why its important to keep everyone in a quiet room till the kittens start to wonder (4 weeks old) - then let them more freedom but still under supervision.

I had a large cage my cat/kittens stayed in and it was covered on one side. Everyone stayed there happy till the kittens were old/big enough to get out of the cage door on their own; probably about 6-8 weeks old.
 
Top