Um, I think ones pregnant... what do I do?

Originally Posted by LDG

Feral moms can get VERY friendly when they're close to giving birth.

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That's definitely not always the case. Maybe strays turned ferals. But there are two ferals here who just had babies somewhere, they've been pregnant a few times and they've never been any friendlier at all.

Originally Posted by sarahp

Cat-tasrophe - The reality of the situation is that it's better to spay a pregnant feral cat. Please do not project human feelings onto animals. The cats do not have emotions about "abortions" like we do.

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I definitely agree. I was hesitant to spay a pregnant cat, but just because of my own feelings, which I got past. I knew it wouldn't bother the mother.

If you talk to anyone that has volunteered at a shelter they will tell you that there is a huge overpopulation problem. Many have witnessed cats being put to sleep due to overpopulation.

I had a cat show up in my yard last summer. After calling around to many shelters, there was no room for her anywhere. That is an overpopulation problem.

I never knew for sure how I would react if put in the situation to do a spay/abort. It is such a personal decision and no one should be condemned on this site for whichever they choose. I thought there was a good chance the stray that showed up in my yard was pregnant, but in the end did not hesitate to bring her to be spayed. The horrible stories about overpopulation swayed me. The cat in question ended up not being pregnant, but I wouldn't hesitate to do the same again in the future.

Originally Posted by kscatlady

That's definitely not always the case. Maybe strays turned ferals. But there are two ferals here who just had babies somewhere, they've been pregnant a few times and they've never been any friendlier at all.

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Yes, the key word in my sentence was "can." We usually don't see the feral moms until they've had their kittens. The one that nested up the hill in the woods we didn't know about until she brought her kittens around for food. But then she let them scamper about and simply kept her distance, watching everything. No getting near her. Thankfully we were able to trap her to have her spayed (once we were sure the kittens were 12 weeks old). But she disappeared after that, never to be seen again.

Then there was the feral mom that according to the vet was "maybe 6 months old" (he thought she might be younger) herself - obviously had not had a negative experience with people, because when she was ready to have her kittens (we didn't realize she was pregnant), she walked right up for rubs and pets, where previously she wouldn't come near. When she walked over for rubs, we realized she was very pregnant. Fortunately, we didn't need to trap her - just put food in a crate and shut the door. She went into labor at the vet. We were able to find a foster for her and her four kittens - and I guess she was young enough that during the three months she raised her babies at the foster, she was ready to be adopted out too.

There's definitely no way to know. Some ferals can be trapped, brought inside, they have their kittens and they're fine - until the kittens are gone. Others are still hissing, angry/distrustful cats, protective of their kittens, making it difficult to socialize the kittens.

Laurie

Another nuance about aborting feral kittens. If you have the resources to bring the feral mom inside, and if you socialize the kittens at a young age, and if you have the ability to find homes for all of them, and if you have the money to have them and the mother fixed, then by all means don't abort. collectively, those are really big ifs.

I've dealt with feral cats for over 20 years. I used to be against aborting kittens, then realized that I couldn't consistently do the things I mentioned above. If the kittens are returned to the wild, the chances are that a good majority of them will die before they are a year old. And those deaths will be painful. I've been exposed to feral kitten deaths by dogs, coyotes, hawks, snakes, cars, illnesses, poisons, and just cruelty from people. What is more inhumane?

The choice to spay/abort is a very personal one and I respect whatever decision is made. I initially wrestled with concept of aborting kittens, but as I became more actively involved in TNR, came to the conclusion that it is, at least for me, the most responsible choice. Given the cat overpopulation problem, in my own city, in fact my own neighborhood, I can't knowingly add to it.

I first faced the decision to spay/abort 2 1/2 years with a feral tortie trapped in a low-income neighborhood across town where I'd become involved in TNR after responding to a thread on TCS. The kitty in question, named Little Ma, had already had 5 litters of kittens according to the folks that fed her. Many of the kittens had died or simply disappeared. Those that survived began breeding themselves, adding to the population of cats on the street. When we trapped Little Ma, the neighbors suspected she was pregnant again. They didn't have the resources to care for yet another litter of kittens and, at the time, neither did I. They also didn't want to see any more kittens born to die or disappear. So, I told my vet to spay her regardless, as long as it was safe for Little Ma. As it turns out, she wasn't pregnant. However, if she had been, I still feel spay/abort would have been the right and responsible decision.

I'm still doing TNR at the site and just released a young feral male yesterday. He was the 24th cat to be fixed on this one, small dead-end street in one Cincinnati neighborhood. Just an example of how those of us involved in TNR/rescue have our work cut out for us. The breeding at this site appears to be under control as no kittens have been born in more than two years. If it all possible, I intend to keep it way.

Originally Posted by Cat-tastrophe

...Very unimpressed by this modern way of dealing with feral cats. They're wild, like birds and deer, what's so sad about that?...

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A specific answer to this question:

A female deer will have one or two offspring once a year;
A female bear will have one or two cubs every two years;
A female raccoon will have 3 - 5 pups once a year;
A female cat will have 3 - 6 kittens up to three times a year.

Since you believe feral cats are wild animals and should be treated as such, do you think that Wisconsin and Florida should have passed the laws allowing people to hunt them? These were real bills, actually proposed, that had the potential to become law.

Laurie

Klag, sorry for hi-jacking your thread. I just feel very strongly that Cat-tastrophe's opinions are terribly misinformed and potentially dangerous. Of course, the decision to spay a pregnant cat is a very personal one, and not one I necessarily encourage. But I do believe people new to rescue should at least understand what their options are so they can make an informed decision.



Laurie

Klag, any update on the cat? Have you seen her around again?

Klag,

Chances are strong that these cats are not true "ferals" but rather the offsprings of someone's neglected pets. If they stay in full view, lay on your porch and don't flee completely when you go outside, there is a strong chance that once trapped, neutered and returned, you will have three grateful cats that won't leave your yard for long periods of time.

You should have them spayed if they are female because more than likely they are pregnant. Your vet will decide if the spay is safe or not, but won't be able to determine that until after the cat has been sedated to be examined. Also, ask them to look for chips- you might be surprised to find that one of these is a lost pet that wandered off and got lost. Any cat outside for long periods of time will revert back to the ways of their ancestors, the feral cat in order to survive.

And "Cat" this is for you- you apparently have never been involved in active rescue where you find yourself with a lapful of kittens to weak to move, to diseased to live or carrying infection that will take their life in a matter of days or weeks. I have- I could tell you stories that would curl your hair and destroy your heart. That is the REALITY of rescue of strays and ferals and I have been doing this work privately now over 30 years. When someone lets their cat in heat outside because the meowing and posturing is driving the owner crazy, that cat is gone in 60 seconds to mate. She can be mated with more than one tomcat and carry up to three litters at a time. When the first litter is due to be born, all others are pushed out at the same time. It can make a real health issue of premies, and genetic problems and all sorts of problems. Unlike the ethical breeders who allow their cats to mate with approved toms where they have studied the bloodlines, the genetic issues etc and are looking to improve the breed- strays or cats let outside aren't controlled, they mate, they mate hard and some even get injured in the intensity.

Asking a vet to spay is the responsible action for strays. There are too many cats out there that are still having kittens and once you have a kitten die in the palm of your hand, trust me, you never forget it and it brings you to the realization that not all kittens need to be born and some should never have been conceived. That is the reality in my world, and I think you should be grateful you have never experienced what myself, Laurie or Amy and other rescuers have dealt with in our lives. It changes your life forever-