pregnant stray help

I actually found this site when I was searching for info on how to care for a pregnant stray- so I apologize if this has been written about and if it has please point me in the right direction

I have seen this cat around for about 6 months and my neighbor says she was born a stray and a lot of people in the area feed her. She is visibly pregnant and I would like to take her straight to a shelter. Im afraid with the cat I have that introducing a pregnant momma and soon to be birthing would be a bad situation for all- my current cat is very territorial. The pregnant cat is very friendly (as I have read is common with pregnant cats) and I wonder is it safe to try and pick her up- I dont want to hurt the babies. I want to put her in my carrier. Also the closest no kill shelter is an hour away- and after seeing this cat come around and feeding her for awhile I've really bonded with her- is the stress of the 1 hour car ride going to hurt her or the kittens? Thanks for the help!

Hi! Welcome in here!


Before I try to answer your questions - i want to think on them - I have my own question.

Is it possible for you to foster her and her babies in your place? Ie do you have a room where they could be? It prob ok with a cellar too. Or bathroom. As many rescuers use. Otherwise you could prob try with a big dog cage. Some rescuers do so.

You could perhaps be a foster-home for this shelter? this way you would get help with veterinary costs.

Your own cat territorial isnt not necessary big issue. Shy strays/semiferals are usually very submissive to the resident, so there is seldom any big problems.
She will surely be submissive to him. At least before the babies are born.
IF they meet, ie you dont have an own room for her.

The more difficult question is the quarantene. If he is fully vaccinated, healthy, and in/outside cat, you dont need to overwork this with quarantene.
But if he is a strickt indoor kitty, you should have a rather strickt quarantene.

Helping strays is a holy quest, especially pregnant moms.
But you shouldnt risk the health of your own cats either.
Thus: the need for a quarantene...


good luck!
B

well actually the cat I have now is a female but when socializing her with other dogs or cats she gets very upset. So I'd be worried to introduce any turmoil into her life or the mother/kittens lives when it is already stressful. My cat is strictly indoor so I do worry about her (or me) having to deal with any sorts of fleas/ear mites/lice, etc. Also, I live by myself in a 2 bedroom apt. So there may be room to coexist but probably not much. I think it may be worse if I keep the cat and start to get attached to her and the kittens. My plan right now (I think) is to call the shelter thats an hour away and ask what their policies are and what they think I should do, I'm sure they have dealt with this before. I guess my main worry is that I don't know how pregnant she is, how much time I have to get this done, since I am unfamiliar with what to look for. Just because she looks big to me, does that mean she really is about to have them or not. Thanks for the advice- hope to hear some more good stuff!

You can try doing what we do - try putting a little baby food (Gerbers Chicken) in a paper bowl in the back of the carrier, and set it down near her. She may walk right in, and all you have to do is close the door. But picking her up if you're gentle shouldn't be a problem.

The hour drive may stress her into labor if she's far along. Last summer we crated a pregnant feral, actually, and drove 10 minutes to the vet, and she went into labor within the hour. This would be OK if there's a vet on staff AT the shelter - so I would definitely call them before doing any of this. The big problem is that it's kitten season, and a no kill shelter may already be full. Around here they ALWAYS are, which is why we were forced into rescue work on our own, because no one would help.

With a two-bedroom, theoretically you could be a short-term home for her and her kittens - if you can afford the vet care &etc. She never need meet your resident cat, actually. She'd have to be quarantined, as Stefan pointed out, anyway. You're right to worry about fleas or anything else she may have.

We, however, live in an RV with seven cats, so fostering a pregnant mom was NOT an option. What we did was conduct an e-mail campaign. We found a foster network willing to take her, foster her and the kittens - they ALL (including her) got adopted out to great homes. She had four kittens, and they got adopted out in pairs.

If you're in the U.S. or Canada, you can use Petfinder to do this (if the no kill shelter is full). Here's a good description of how to do it, just a couple of posts down in the thread: Adoption Tips

Had you phoned this shelter as yet? What did they said?

If they agreed on taking her, your problem is solved. If they cant, lets think.

Can they help you if you are the fostering home for example?? THIS would be the best solution, I believe.

Or possibly, if you can talk someone of your friends or relatives into helping her. In some ways, it is easier to help a semiferal mom and her kittens than foster a freshly catched semiferal.

IF you have her with you. Try with a Feliway diffuser in the room where your resident is. It may be the trick to easier copy for her with the situation. You can also play calming music. Classical is best, but any calm music should do. LDG recommends harp music!

As I said before. Many rescuers do have small flats. They often use the bathroom or a big dog crate as the quarantene for their rescue.


Catching the mom. It is correct as you say, you dont want wild chases nor wild wrestling matches. But a careful pick up is OK.

With a little luck you can get her into the carrier as LDG advised. Or, you or somebody she knows is friendly to her - perhaps one of these neighbours who gave her food earlier - does it.
As you say, she is extra friendly now. She being pregnant knows her coming kittens need to be helped. Half job done for the goodwilling rescuer!

But if she doesnt want to be picked up nor go into the carrier, you must use a trap of some sort. The so called Human trap, Havahart, or some homemade...


Keep us updated and good luck!

Originally Posted by r.clarkbryner

a lot of people in the area feed her.

Click to expand...

It dawned on me.
IF the shelter cant take her, and you feel it is impossible for you too. You can try to talk over some of these neighbours feeding her.
They are all evidently cat-friendly people... So someone of them will volunteer. Surely. "As Amen in the church" as the saying goes.

And also, if you feed a homeless cat, you are taking some responsibility for it. You can even say - legally you are the owner.

In a longer perspective you and these people can perhaps cooperate in a neighbourhood group for doing some TNR- and adoption for the homeless cats in your neighbourhood??

This is not difficult at all as long you are several who cooperate. helps each other and works together.


This is only some thoughts, not even really suggestions.
I dont know how is it at your place, What is possible.... For you, and for your neighbours.