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So complicated...

post #1 of 41
4/6/10 at 5:10am
Thread Starter 
I have a young calico feral girl that is VERY preggo(she looks like a little kitty blimp with stick legs). She is due sometime this week or possibly early next week. I tried to catch her Sunday and, lucky me, the trap was to small so she scooted right out. I now have the right size trap and hope to catch her today(probably this evening at feeding time) and I was wondering if anyone has experience with ferals and could give me some tips. I currently have a large cage set up in my room for her and the babies complete with litterbox, birthing box, and food/water bowls attached to the side of the cage(so they can't be knocked over or dragged around) Also what is a typical litter size for a first time mom?
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post #2 of 41
4/6/10 at 11:28am
It's hard to say how many she will have. First time moms yes, generally do have smaller litters, but I had a girl have 8 kittens her first time, all survived and were healthy.

I also believe strays are a little different just because they can be bred by different toms and then the number of kitten is increased.

If she's huge like you describe, I would venture a guess at 5 or 6. I am happy to see how many people take in pregnant strays and I wish you the best of luck trying to get her in the house.
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post #3 of 41
4/6/10 at 2:23pm
Is she scared of you? If so, when you catch her, give her some time alone in the room to adjust. Then you can try sitting with her for awhile(you can do some work while sitting ) and maybe try feeding her some wet food by hand to temp her out. I did have a nervous mom once, but her kittens were already born. After a while she got a bit more comfertable, but she was never like any of my own cats- once they're adults, they can never be tamed the way kittens are But the kittens should be pretty tame!
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post #4 of 41
4/6/10 at 3:15pm
Thread Starter 
Callie (aka the kitty blimp) is totally wild, but she has greatly improved since she first showed up. Back then if she saw you she would run around the house and across the road-and wouldn't come back for several hours. Now she will look if you say her name and I can get about an inch away from her without her running away. She is about a year old(a little less I think) and with the improvements she's already made I'm hoping to eventually get her to be able to be adopted out.
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post #5 of 41
4/6/10 at 3:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CuteKittenKat View Post
Is she scared of you? If so, when you catch her, give her some time alone in the room to adjust. Then you can try sitting with her for awhile(you can do some work while sitting ) and maybe try feeding her some wet food by hand to temp her out. I did have a nervous mom once, but her kittens were already born. After a while she got a bit more comfertable, but she was never like any of my own cats- once they're adults, they can never be tamed the way kittens are But the kittens should be pretty tame!
Yes, when she had "landed" and realizes nobody is threating her, she will copy. Even accept this situation as the practically best for her kittens.

Try also with nice soft talk, even little baby talk. Like a friendly, courting tom would do. (the unfriendly toms dont court much, they take what they want, with force if necessary).

For Cat moms, like for humans moms, the most important is not "freedom" but their childrens welfare. As long she feels everything is safe and OK, you will have her cooperation.

In this way, fostering the kittens of feral moms, and thus also the moms, is usually easier than fostering her non pregnant sisters...


Good luck!
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post #6 of 41
4/7/10 at 5:20am
Thread Starter 
I finally caught her! She was calm during the transfer from the trap to her cage and is now snoozing on her bed. How can I tell how many days before she delivers?
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post #7 of 41
4/7/10 at 8:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cat crazy View Post
I finally caught her! She was calm during the transfer from the trap to her cage and is now snoozing on her bed.
Apparently she recognizes since before you are a friendly human. And as she knows she does needs some safe place for her kittens, she instictively accepts the situation - is even relieved....

This makes it of course yet easier for you...
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post #8 of 41
4/7/10 at 2:16pm
Thread Starter 
yes,it does make it a little easier for me. What are the first signs of early labor? She hasn't eaten today(not even canned food which she LOVES) and I read somewhere that they do that 12-24hrs. before giving birth?
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post #9 of 41
4/7/10 at 2:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cat crazy View Post
yes,it does make it a little easier for me. What are the first signs of early labor? She hasn't eaten today(not even canned food which she LOVES) and I read somewhere that they do that 12-24hrs. before giving birth?
That could be a sign...I've heard that's a sign, but I haven't really seen it in my momsBut,you may have caught her just in time! Or she could be tricking you...my mommies always do that Just keep a close eye on her, and watch for contractions.
If she lets you feel her belly, you can see if you can feel them moving...it's an incredible feeling
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post #10 of 41
4/8/10 at 7:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quick update: She ate today and used the litterbox(which she insists on laying in) and she actually let me TOUCH her! I'm so happy! Anyways will update again soon
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post #11 of 41
4/8/10 at 9:12pm
I found that with my feral kitten that by leaving him alone for the most part and trying to work him up to being handled, he started coming out of hiding more and more. It took time but he eventually started coming to us for attention. He is now a big cuddle bug.
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post #12 of 41
4/8/10 at 9:18pm
How exciting!! =)

Glad you caught her and she is cooperating! Keep us updated on Blimp Kitty! (I laughed so hard at that)

<3<3<3
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post #13 of 41
4/8/10 at 9:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Luvmy10 View Post
Keep us updated on Blimp Kitty! (I laughed so hard at that)
& a pic or 2 would be most welcome, as well!
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post #14 of 41
4/9/10 at 1:25pm
I bet you're getting close!
To get her out, you could try dangling a string over the ground...they can't help but want to grab it! I've found that's helped me to get some nervous kitties out
And you can try wet food on your lap or by your lap to get her to come near you.
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post #15 of 41
4/9/10 at 1:31pm
I befriended Elsa with food. First cat food, then when she would come to me, deli turkey and yogurt. I took her to the vet, hugely pregnant, and he said "at least 2 kittens, no more than 10 days."

She had 8 kittens 21 days later! So even vets don't know. But something she might appreciate is a rug or a towel over her cage at least on a couple to three sides so she will feel more protected.

Honestly, if she's at the point where you can pick her up, you have come a very long way. Just try not to introduce too many strange people right at one time.

It's been 5 years and Elsa is an amazingly loving sweet cat! (that is spayed)
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post #16 of 41
4/9/10 at 4:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kluchetta View Post
But something she might appreciate is a rug or a towel over her cage at least on a couple to three sides so she will feel more protected.
Right, that is a very good advice. If she doesnt have an igloo in the cage, something ON the cage is highly advisable. Especielly for semiferales, but also for homecats.

But even is she has an igloo there, these towels on the case is still a good idea.
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post #17 of 41
4/9/10 at 4:47pm
Thread Starter 
She has a cardboard box filled with blankets and newspapers and a bed sheet covers half of the cage to give her privacy.
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post #18 of 41
4/9/10 at 6:12pm
I'm really excited to hear how this goes! And I agree with the person above me -- take some pictures for us!

Bless you for taking care of this momma.
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post #19 of 41
4/10/10 at 6:43am
Ooo, you're getting me all excited, now I can't wait for them to come too! Have you thought of any names for little blimp kitty?
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post #20 of 41
4/11/10 at 8:21am
Thread Starter 
Her name is Callie. I just call her Blimp Kitty because she's gotten so big. She's becoming more relaxed and now meows at me if I try to go to bed. So I am,for now, sleeping on the floor next to her cage so she doesn't meow me to death!
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post #21 of 41
4/11/10 at 11:14am
You're doing such a great thing taking in Little Callie and her blimp belly full of fuzz balls Please post some pictures for us all too see! I can't wait to see what the babies look like...i hope they come soon, waiting is the longest part! Hopefully she will warm up to you really soon and you guys will have a great relationship. Rescues are the greatest friends! Good luck and keep us updated.
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post #22 of 41
4/11/10 at 12:36pm
Although I'm new here I thought I'd share my experience with my cat. This was her first pregnancy and she had 7 kittens. The night before, she wouldn't let me leave her side or she'd meow and meow and meow. So I pretty much slept by her side and at 2 in the morning, she had her babies (:
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post #23 of 41
4/11/10 at 3:24pm
Thread Starter 
How do I post pics on here? Also, kind of a gross question, but do their bowel movements change when they are getting close?
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post #24 of 41
4/11/10 at 4:41pm
To post pics, you can attach them, but most of us use tinypic or photobucket. You just upload the pics there, and it will have special codes just for forums that you past on your post, and it'll come up as a pic
For example...
This is on tinypic
http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=...FlEoh4l5k2TGxc

This is a link to the pic
http://i44.tinypic.com/14dmsy8.jpg

And this is the IMG code so that it comes up as a pic


And voila! Pictures!

About the bowel movements, I'm not sure....sometimes they try to have the kittens in the litterbox...
It sounds like you're being such a great mommy to her!

P.S. Welcome to the site Tori's Owner
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post #25 of 41
4/11/10 at 10:23pm
Hi! I hope Callie is doing well!! This is really exciting, I hope you keep us updated. I can't wait to see pictures at some point!! I don't know about the kitty poop, I just know that if you change their food suddenly and they don't have time to get used to it, the poo will change.
Anyway, I wish you luck with the cat!!
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post #26 of 41
4/12/10 at 2:43pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you, everyone for the support. I will be posting pics hopefully tonight. In the meantime if you want to know more about Callie or get a sneakpeek at her pic she has a diary(as of today) that I will be updating daily. You can find her profile-and the rest of my fur family on (so sorry if this against the rules- I didn't know if it was) Catster. As of right now there still aren't any kittens, but she's eating enough for a kitty army and looks pretty comfortable stretched out on her side(I think it's hard for her to lay on her belly because it's so big).
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post #27 of 41
4/12/10 at 7:13pm
Thread Starter 
Major update: Theeeyyy'rrree Heeerrree! 5 healthy and SO CUTE kittens have arrived! Callie is a very proud and happy momma- and I couldn't be happier either!
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post #28 of 41
4/12/10 at 10:26pm
Hooray, good job!
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post #29 of 41
4/13/10 at 5:20am
Yay! What colours are they?
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post #30 of 41
4/13/10 at 5:32am
Thread Starter 
2 gray and white tabby(I think)toms, 2 black and white(I think) girls and one orange tabby tom. They are soooo CUTE!
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