Stressed pregnant feral.. help?

So I moved into my new house in December and was informed by my neighbor that there were two-three black feral cats living in the backyard- probably one girl and two boys. This neighbor told me she was feeding them and I said I would get them an igloo for the winter and feed them too. I told her I was happy to TNR them but that my schedule would not allow it until Spring Break in March. Wouldn't you know, the female is pregnant!

My husband usually feeds them when I am getting ready in the morning and since it is dark he says he didn't see that she was bigger. As we are preparing to go away this weekend, I had my cat sitter over last weekend to give her the lay of the land in the new house and show her the ferals. As we are standing there, I saw the female, who we are now calling Black Betty, and said "huh, she look pregnant to you?!" and the cat sitter said, "definitely." Ah!! She suggested I trap her, put her up in my sunroom until she had the kittens, get her spayed and get those kittens adopted. Betty's belly is definitely a funny shape now as she is small, and I think carrying two to three kittens, and I think she is pretty far along!

So, I was going to trap her next week when we got back but I fear she will go into labor in the next 5 days and be outside and then be unable to trap and I would be unable to find the kittens, yadda yadda yadda.

I lucked out and trapped her on Tuesday night. I set her up in the sunroom (enclosed by windows and separated from the basement by glass doors). I covered the doors to waist height so that my three cats wouldn't scare her, though I am sure she smells them everywhere. 

She didn't eat Tuesday night. I went in on Wednesday morning and she was hiding behind the igloo we brought in from outside that she was accustomed to sleeping in. Wednesday night after work I checked on her and she had eaten and I could smell urine, but it wasn't in the disposable litter box I had set up (not the biggest deal). When I walked in on Wednesday night she was sitting up on the wire shelf next to the window and ran into the glass three times to try to get away and when she couldn't she attempted to scale the window by jumping really high. I spoke to her with calm words and sounds and she stopped and "slept" - she won't make real eye contact with me and her pupils look really dialated when she does- her eyes are crossed to begin with and I think she suffers from eye infections sometimes too. Poor thing! I sat in the room for about 5 minutes last night and she calmed down and didn't try to go through the window anymore, but she was still breathing fast.

I gave her kitten food last night and I checked on her this morning and she had eaten some. I can't tell if she is drinking her water. I didn't stay long because she had actually curled up on an old pillow with a towel but then freaked when she saw me and tried to scale the window again. I have not seen any poop, nothing is in the litter box. 

I have set her up with a nesting box with a bed in it, a pillow in a corner with some towels, her igloo from outside, food and water, and a littler box. The room is probably 8 x 12, and has lots of natural light and warmth, with this strange winter we are having. She loves sitting in the windows. She freaks when she sees me. Like, I am scared the kittens are stressed because Betty is stressed and this jumping and running into glass can't be good for the babies!

Does anyone have any suggestions for calming her or de-stressing her? She knows that I am the food giver, but I think she is still freaked out from me trapping her. I want to sit in the room tonight and read for a bit just to make my presence known and to show her that I won't hurt her, but is there anything else I can do? 

I am going to the vet tonight with my two boys because they need distemper shots and I have a list of questions for her too. But, so many of you seem to have great advice and have done great work with ferals/strays/pregnant strays etc, that I thought I would seek you out too!

ANY advice/help would be awesome!!Thank you!!

-Nicole

Yes, her behavior not that unusual...  She had surely calmed some, but is still high strung.

You tell she avoids to see into your eyes. Yes, looking into eyes is hostile for semiferale cats. Home cats got used to it, but it is a part of becoming home cat.  Dont look at the ayes, look at her ears instead.

You can semiclose your eyes sometimes, like friendly cats do. Yawn some, strech on yourself standing on all fours.  Like your friendly homecats surely do.

Reading to her now and then is a good trick.  Baby talk in a friendly tone. Like a friendly, courting tom would do.

If you can get classical harp music is good, otherwise almost any soft, calming music works fine.

Somebody got a CD on "baby-Bach" - should be marvellous.

Set it on when you arent there.

If you can get a Feliway diffuser, or Feliway spray, it is worth a try.

Your sun room is surely wonderful, but for a new be ex feral is is a trifle too much, as you yourself see.

The common advice when they are in the bathroom or bedroom, is to cover the window...

The litter, what sort of litter you use? common cat clay litter?  you can have some dirt (earth) in, or leaves. So she recognizes better what it is.  Ferales usually dont poo and pee in the same place, so TWO litter boxes may be wise.  You can use two different  tricks if you wish, so you will see which works best for her.

Tx for helping this gal and her friends still outside!  (the boys, when neutered, should do fine with some help)

Welcome to the TCS site and our Forums!

Good luck!    *vibes*

You are such a doll for taking care of this sweet kitty

I totally feel your conundrum on leaving for a trip shortly, but having this wonderful pregnant kitty to take care of.  You are so kind to bring her in and have a cat sitter for her for when you are gone.

I am socializing a new, indoor feral myself right now.  He has been hiding out in his cubby since Friday (surgery due to racoon attack and had his tail amputated) and last night I brought my own kitty in to see him and the feral popped right out and began chatting (courting) away to my kitty, sniffed my hand and began kneading his pillows and purring. I couldn't believe it.

Perhaps you could try to bring one of your own cats in and set him on your lap and pat him letting the feral see that you are kind and gentle to kitties.  Just be so very careful with diseases.  You say this feral has some eye issues/distempter and she could have serious blood issues that could be transferred to your own cats.

...oh and I put grass and soil in Sadies litter box and he used it for #1 and #2... but it took him 2 days to do either!

Some people swear that Gerber baby food - Chicken 'N Gravy is crack for kitties.  My cats go nuts for the Fancy Feast kind.  Tuna is also very good to them.  You could try adding a bit of water to her wet food to ensure she gets a little xtra water.

Have you given your feral girl a name?  You may want to try this and use it often.  She will soon learn that it is a special bonding word.  This kitty may settle down and allow you to get closer once she has her litter....  or she may become extremely protective.

I'm new to this site too.  Please keep us updated!

I knew I would find some cat wisdom here! I am definitely going to try the soil and leaves in the litter thing!

I also really like the music idea. I will try to set that up tonight. I will also do more talking and I will read out loud to her. I feel like I'm being a little crazy, but I really want her to calm down so she can deliver these kittens with a little less stress!

The mama is named Black Betty as she is all black. I think black cats have an affinity for me because I own two black cats and all three ferals are black! There is Black Betty, Jack Black, and James Brown (he isn't as black as the other two). Jack Black is the bully of the troop and James Brown has crossed eyes too. Black Betty has one crossed eye and sometimes an eye infection.

I'm terrified to bring my cats into the sunroom just because my males are SUPER inquisitive and may squirm away from me. Also, I don't know what she has and what can be passed on. So for now, it is me, and maybe hubby if he wants to visit. And then a good scrubbing of my hands! haha.

I did buy wet food, but its just IAMS. She is currently eating the kitten IAMS. I may give her tuna while I am still here until Saturday. My cat sitters are really loving ladies and the one who will be visiting is super fabulous and will love visiting with Betty. 

Thanks for the welcome, I knew this would be a good place to post!

Those are such adorable names!

Having a litter of kittens is such a special thing, sadly of course there is too many unwanted cats, but nonetheless kittens are such a joy. 

I would be so excited to have this soon-to-be mama and all of her kitties to take care of.

You saved her at such a vulnerable time in her life.

THANK YOU for taking her in!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome to TCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT under any circumstances bring in one of your own cats into that room!!! Absolutely not. You do not know if this cat has any illnesses and that would just completely stress your own cat's out. Keep them completely separated.

I agree with everything Stefan has said and second the advice. At this point, the main issue is the kittens and you are taking on quite a lot here. I am not sure how willing she will be to allow you to socialize her kittens either but you must try. Honestly, if she were not too far along in her pregnancy, I would suggest a spay/abort :shame: . It sounds like she is toooo far along in her pregnancy though. Thank goodness you got her inside!!

Pick up some Cat Attract Litter and the Herbal Litter Attractant by Dr. Elsey. Add at least half the bottle to the litter and mix in some dirt as well. Thank you SO very much for taking her in. OH you could also start making some calls to local TNR groups, local shelter's, local rescues, local foster networks. MAYBE, just maybe someone could take her from you with loads of experience in birthing kittens from a feral mother. There are people out there like that... :cross: Just to get the ball rolling also for finding homes for the kittens and getting Black Betty spayed after she is done weaning the kittens. The other tricky part to this - is that if she is so completely stressed out - she might not nurse or care for those kitten's properly. So you have to keep close watch on that one and if she is not caring for them - then you must intervene and start bottle feeding and hand-rearing the kittens. If it gets to that point, we are here to assist you and offer support and advice. Please keep us posted

What a love you are! :rub:

Yes, I would pull the shade or close the curtains. She should also have some type of light on all the time - even a night Lite type thing is fine. :nod:

I absolutely agree with the use of Cat Attract litter (Dr. Elsley, Precious Cat Cat Attract). I would also cover with a layer of dirt (potting soil is best, no bugs, etc.). That will slowly get mixed in. :nod: If you can locate fresh pee, soaking it up with a towel and "burying" it in the box will help her understand - and if she poops outside the box, put it in the box, don't throw it away.

I third Stefan's advice. :lol3: All I really have to add in addition to the above:

If you can find harp music, this is absolutely THE best to help calm scared ferals;
Please provide her with two litter boxes. Feral cats are not used to peeing and pooping in the same place.

While you're there - and I assume the cat sitter will do this naturally - do as much as you can on a schedule. Scoop litter boxes at the same times each day. Clean her water dishes at the same time each day. Provide her food at the same time every day.... the routine will go FAR in building her trust. Lightly knock on the door before you enter, tell her (softly) you're coming in. As Stefan said, do not look her in the eyes - look at her forehead or over her head IF you even look at her. The BEST is just to let her watch you and not attempt to interact at all. :nod: This is all about building trust, and right now you're a big scary monster who put her in hostile territory (smells like other cats). Oh - and just keep talking softly to her the entire time you're in there, just saying reassuring things. :heart3:

Get a throw-away t-shirt REALLY good and sweaty, and put it under her food dish. This will help her associate you with good, comforting things (though the routine itself will help her associate you with her feeding and care).

I don't know how long you'll be gone, but the pet sitter might need to be left with instructions on what to do if she has the babies and isn't properly mothering them while you're gone.... :cross:

Great advice LDG!

Better yet, Sports, stay with your kitties and send me your travel tickets.  Where did you say you were going??!!

Thank you all!!

I am away from Saturday to Tuesday, so fingers crossed really tightly that she holds out! I am definitely trying to establish a schedule and now I know to not look her in the eye. I did make some soft purr sounds at her and she sniffed in my general direction last night so I thought that was good!

I will get the soil tonight and mix it in. I will do my best with the music too!

I will write with an update tonight. Thanks again all!

Just a small clarification - best to just put the soil in a layer over the top.

There is something I just thought of and think it was worth mentioning. Sorry if this throws a bit of a twist - but I have seen this before Is it possible that she already has a litter of kittens outside and she is nursing them? Do you see pink nipples at all? This just came to me tonight and I had to mention this to you because I trapped a female black cat last year - Dixie. I thought for sure she was pregnant too. Very large tummy and pink nipples - had milk. After I trapped her - took her to the vet and it was determined that she was NOT pregnant and was just big and full from her older kittens still nursing. It still to this day worries me that she had a litter of kittens out there... she was spayed and released within 48 hours. I also trapped the 6 month old kittens that she had at the time and they must have been nursing off of her as it was bitterly cold last year - just frigidly cold and they must have survived because of her milk. IF Black Betty was nursing a litter of kittens she would still appear pregnant . I know this is a tough call - and the only way to know for sure would be to bring her to the vet. I am sorry to throw a wrench into this - but I just had to mention this possibility to you, so sorry for the added worry...... I really hope that it is not the case and most likely she is pregnant right now - but there is a slight chance she already had the kittens.... that is one of the hardest things to know when it comes to trapping feral females..... I just had to bring this up, as it was nagging at me this last hour.... :cross: Is there anyway to tell - can you get a closer look at her underside?? I know that is a really touch call.

Thanks so much for thinking of this and for being so helpful overall! I don't think she is nursing a litter. We have seen her consistently for the past 2+ weeks, at least twice a day, so I don't know when she would have gone off and had these kittens. Also, I don't think her nipples are red, I can't get that close those. There is no milk anywhere in the room or on any of the coverings/towels/beddings. Wouldn't she be pawing to leave? She only did the running into the window when I came in, but when I would peer in on her she was still. 

I went into her room tonight and spent some time with her. I didn't look at her, and she settled down almost immediately. I put out some wet food, but she hasn't had any yet (she seems to eat in the middle of the night when she knows I won't be coming in).I changed her water and moved her bowls onto a worn t-shirt of mine. She did pee on one of the sheets that we had in there, and I put that sheet next to one of the litter boxes which I had just put potting soil in. I tried to get the Cat Attract but the place I went to was out of it, I will get it tomorrow. I sat and read aloud to her for about 20 minutes, she stayed "asleep" - very still on the window sill. She looks sad, which makes me incredibly sad! No mewing or growling or anything though. 

I straightened up and left her with classical music. I hope that tomorrow morning there will be more food missing. 

I saw the vet tonight while my boys were getting their distemper shots, and told her the situation. She said that it was normal behavior too, and hoped that any eye thing didn't turn into a cold, but it doesn't seem to have. I am just worried that she is so lethargic. I'm sure she is still terrified- it is only full day two right now (I trapped her late Tuesday night). But I do continue to worry about her. 

Thank you all so much again for the advice and input. I will write tomorrow with more info on Betty. Fingers crossed that some wet food is missing and maybe she will have pooped!

sportskitties said:

Thanks so much for thinking of this and for being so helpful overall! I don't think she is nursing a litter. We have seen her consistently for the past 2+ weeks, at least twice a day, so I don't know when she would have gone off and had these kittens. Also, I don't think her nipples are red, I can't get that close those. There is no milk anywhere in the room or on any of the coverings/towels/beddings. Wouldn't she be pawing to leave? She only did the running into the window when I came in, but when I would peer in on her she was still. 

I went into her room tonight and spent some time with her. I didn't look at her, and she settled down almost immediately. I put out some wet food, but she hasn't had any yet (she seems to eat in the middle of the night when she knows I won't be coming in).I changed her water and moved her bowls onto a worn t-shirt of mine. She did pee on one of the sheets that we had in there, and I put that sheet next to one of the litter boxes which I had just put potting soil in. I tried to get the Cat Attract but the place I went to was out of it, I will get it tomorrow. I sat and read aloud to her for about 20 minutes, she stayed "asleep" - very still on the window sill. She looks sad, which makes me incredibly sad! No mewing or growling or anything though. 

I straightened up and left her with classical music. I hope that tomorrow morning there will be more food missing. 

I saw the vet tonight while my boys were getting their distemper shots, and told her the situation. She said that it was normal behavior too, and hoped that any eye thing didn't turn into a cold, but it doesn't seem to have. I am just worried that she is so lethargic. I'm sure she is still terrified- it is only full day two right now (I trapped her late Tuesday night). But I do continue to worry about her. 

Thank you all so much again for the advice and input. I will write tomorrow with more info on Betty. Fingers crossed that some wet food is missing and maybe she will have pooped!

Click to expand...

OH THANK GOODNESS - on that you are sure she does not have a litter of kittens outside. :lol3: I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear this HAPPY NOW ... yes, if you did see her everyday for the most part of a day for the last two week's, then she does not have a litter of kittens to tend to. AND, she would still be trying to get out :nod: today.

Hun, don't worry about no meowing, growling or anything. Feral cat's do not make any sound in the presence of a human. Of course, she is feeling stressed and is just plain old worn out from all of this and being pregnant on top of it. BUT surely, she knows how to survive and certainly knows now that you are not going to hurt to but you are going to help her :nod: To you she may seem lethargic, but she needs her rest for her upcoming delivery of kittens. Lots and lots of wet food - just keep pushing the wet num-nums for her... :rub: :heart3:

Thanks for the quick reply too, I was worried :lol3:

I checked on Betty this morning.. she hadn't eaten anything and hadn't used the box from what I could see. As far as I know, she hasn't eaten anything significant since yesterday morning. I put out some sardines too. She now has kitten dry, IAMS wet, sardines, and a bowl of water. Still quiet, tried to run once, then sat down. 

I'm worried about the not eating. I will be out today from now, about 6:45 until 1:45, and then I have to be home for the cable guy to come. I should be able to get her other food after that. Tuna? Baby food? What will attract this stubborn mama cat?

Her kind brother, James Brown, was sitting on the patio chair outside today. He is her best buddy and I'm sure he misses her, but there he can still see her because she sits up in the window. Fed him and Jack Black today. They're still hanging around. Will try to trap them next week.

sportskitties said:

I should be able to get her other food after that. Tuna? Baby food? What will attract this stubborn mama cat?

Click to expand...

I find Temptations treats are a good ice-breaker for ferals. I had a similar situation with a pregnant kitty that I trapped a couple years ago. I totally know what you mean about Black Betty being sad. It breaks your heart, but you're doing an awesome thing! You can read my story of Cinnamon Girl here if it helps.

It's just very disheartening. I might get her a bigger box, but she too loves being in the windowsill right now just soaking up the sun, stretching in different positions. 

I thought she was very far along, with how distended her belly looked last week, but I can't tell now. She stretches with claws out front, or sits in the "praying" position at the window with her eyes closed. I can't see her belly, I can't see her nipples, I can't see any underside and she won't let me get any closer.

I will pick up the treats tonight. I feel so bad. I'm getting sad myself and scared!   

As you write it, it sounds she has landed now, taking it more easy.  It should go better and better. The "only" peculiar is her not eating nor doing the others natural chores.

Its not good, but as homeless she knows how to be without food, so itsnt as bad as it sounds.

As you cant see the tummy much any more may be the sign its nearing, the kittens going down into the pre-delivery positions.  Possibly even the non eating is part of this. Some eats almost into the last moment. Some does stop eating perhaps 24 h before.  Dunno, maybe.

Good luck!   *vibes*

Oh Sugarcat!  I have just read the first entry of the thread you noted on your siamese!  I am exactly where you are right now and it sounds like Sports is too.

I am looking forward to reading more right now!!  I feel the same way about having this poor kitty feeling like a prisoner when he was happy as can be outside ( I posted his sad story earlier Sadie's Story).

Sports just trust that for now you are doing the best thing for this kitty, you clearly have good instincts and will make the right decisions.  Play it day by day or 1/2 day by 1/2 day.

Thank-you for taking care of this kitty.

I have read that KFC chicken is also a good kitty nummy - the skin.

Are you able to keep the room on the dark side?  (sorry if you've already mentioned this)

One thing I did with my feral that he seems to like, is I took a log from where he hung out and scratched a lot and put it in with him.

A nursing kitty will almost always have a wet looking 'nest' around her nipples where little ones have been sucking and kneading.  Sounds like you reallly know this sweet girl and are confident she's not a mama. 

Please keep us posted!!

../.... going to read up on sugarcats post!

Sugarcat, you're hilarious!

"What does the person who guessed 5 correctly get?"  "A kitten!!!!"

"She rolls over on her belly to give the kittens better access to the wet bar" 



...more reading to do!  So exciting!!

Sports you HAVE to read that thread!!

Doh! Was getting so frustrated trying to post a reply to the end of Sugar's pregnant kitty thread and the site was totally getting frustrated at me too, until I realized that it was a different site!! lol

SUGAR where is the ending????!!!  You didn't tell us what happened to CG!!!!!!   I was oodled with cuteness when the two kittens each manipulated you and DH into keeping them. AHHHHHHHHHH  I love happy endings.

BUT we need an ending!!!!!