Our Pregnant Feral Mama

About 2 weeks ago I noticed that one of our resident ferals (who had managed to escape the SNR roundup) has 2 noticeable lumps on her sides and is waddeling.  Oh boy...so, I call our Animal Rescue that I have been working with to try and get all the ferals fixed to see what they want to do.  He brought a trap cage yesterday and said to try and catch only her (the rest have been fixed) and they would take her in and get her spayed.  What about the babies I asked...he said they will abort them!  I was horrified!!!!!   But-understandably, I thought maybe it was the right thing to do.  Well, she hasn't been here for a meal in 2 days and I fear she's had the babies already. 

Any of you been in this predicament?  Of course if the babies are already born, they will take them and place them-but inside, I am maybe a little relieved they are already born.  Talk about the angel/devil syndrome.  LOL!

First you have to decide whether you think letting them grow up feral is best, or if they can be placed in appropriate homes if tamed. If she's had them, she'll start bringing them to the feeding site when they're about 5 weeks old. You have to grab them right away if you want them to be tamed. It's kind of sad to take them away from mama so young, but it's the only chance.

Willowy said:

First you have to decide whether you think letting them grow up feral is best, or if they can be placed in appropriate homes if tamed. If she's had them, she'll start bringing them to the feeding site when they're about 5 weeks old. You have to grab them right away if you want them to be tamed. It's kind of sad to take them away from mama so young, but it's the only chance.

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I agree...the organization does place them in foster homes to bottle feed if they are tiny and then place them as quickly as possible.  They will return Mama here (fixed).  I was just horrified they would abort almost term babies.  I'm (almost) relieved she may have had them before we could catch her.

UPDATE:  Well, our Mama hadn't had her babies yet and the rescue team caught her last night so they will do what they have to I guess.  I am saddened because her babies will never have a chance to grow and be loved.  It breaks my heart and when I expressed my concerns and my heartbreak to them they said it would be selfish to bring another litter into an already overcroweded shelter.  I understand that, but still I am haunted by this.  I had no idea they would abort the babies.  Truly....had I known I would have never called until after she had them.  Wow....so much guilt going on. 

Very sorry with you.  It is a typical example of a dilemma.  No solution here is good.  Or rather, what you see is what you got.

YOU do see a preg ferale, you want and can help her. Nice and tidy, and your karma is growing big. Nice.  Many applaudes from us here.   The problem is, what you dont see.

At some other place they perhaps have a killing room with 65 cats a day. Most of them entirely healthy, many not feral at all.  EVERYONE of them begging for their life, begging to be saved to every visitor who happens to come in. Even the ferales do it. (Described in a tread in SOS, you can read for yourself if you have stomach for it.).

If you want to save lifes, there is no problem to visit such a kill shelter, as soon as you do  have a free place at your home, or know a good adoption home.  And take one, two, three cats from there.

Saving lives, giving them future.

Working for TNR is another way to slow down the intake to these high kill places.

Aborting and SN do spares lives. Not of these unborn, but of these already living.

It is terrible, but so it is.

I do hope you finds some consolation in it, BabyDk.

Good luck!   *vibes*

Don't confuse your feelings about abortion of humans with feral cats. It's not like these kittens were going to live on easy street, sleeping in warm beds, being spayed at an early age never to reproduce and add to the overpopulation problem.

It is irresponsible not to abort the kittens. There is no guilt, it is the end result of others not spaying/neutering.

Thank you for your replies.  Yes, it does help to think that some already living kitten will possibly be spared.  I guess it's just remorse on my part for not insisting they grab those last two ferals last year when we had them all fixed.  More seem to show up all the time.  *sigh*.

Another part that drives my guilt is the kitten I rescued last July....she was 3 weeks old and I bottle fed and raised her up.  She's nestled in my lap as I write this and I am horrified to think what could have happened to her. 

We are doing everything we can to get all the cats fixed. 

Bless you guys!