Pregnant stray- parents won't help

Hi...

There is a stray cat that my parents and I have been feeding for a while.  We didn't get her spayed because my parents don't believe in S/N, plus I really had no idea if she was spayed anyway.  

A couple of months ago I noticed that her stomach was getting a little bit harder, and she was putting on weight.  Pregnancy crossed my mind, but I thought maybe she was just gaining weight due to the fact that she was finally getting enough food.  About a month later (now), I'm pretty sure that she actually is pregnant.  Her nipples seem pretty large, at least compared to my neutered male cat, and her stomach is yet larger.  You can't really notice it though unless you're holding her or touching her stomach.

When I asked my parents what they would do, my mom told me that she would just let her have her kittens, and if someone wanted to take one, let them.  She just acted like if someone saw one of the kittens wandering around and took it, she wouldn't care. If one of the kittens just disappeared, I would be worried sick, but obviously she would just think that it found a home.

Plus the poor cat is going to have her kittens outside, and the kittens are going to have to live outside in the weather.  Honestly I was hoping that she would maybe let the cat live in our basement or something to have her kittens, but I suppose it wasn't that big of a surprise. 

Now for the worst part... we're planning on moving soon.  My parents refuse to take her, my dad thinks she was doing fine before we started feeding her.  Yeah... killing birds and eating out of our trash.  If she is in fact pregnant, I seriously don't think that is a good diet- it really isn't a good diet if she wasn't pregnant!

So I have no idea when the time of conception was, so I don't know if she would have kittens before or after we move.  I really wouldn't want to suddenly leave her when she depends on us.    

I would just offer to pay for her food myself, but I don't think that would make any difference.

Any advice? 

Call around to feral cat rescue groups or even just regular cat rescue groups and tell them your story, I'm sure they would be more than happy to take her in and put her in a very reliable foster home so she is safe and given the proper care before and after she gives birth. Then her and all her kittens can be spay/neutered and be put in there forever homes. <3 I wish you the best of luck, sounds like a very unfortunate situation.

I agree with Erwinhead. Take help from some rescue group nearby. They do such things.  

Where do you live? (you dont need to say your exact adresse if you dont want, but what country, what part of it?)

Is she friendly? Can you touch and pet her?  If you can pet her, perhaps even some non kill shelters and alike could take her in.   Most shelters and "animal-friends societies"  dont take in shy cats. Or are putting them down if they take in them.

But friendly homeless do have a chance in such places.

Rescue groups are best, they kill only when the cat is really, hopelessly sick.

You seem to have handled her to look see her nipples and feel on the stomach?

Tx for caring!

Welcome and good luck!

*vibes* for this cat, our little sister.

I would agree with both erwin and stefan that trying to get her into a shelter is your best bet. Since there are all sorts of shelter and rescue groups out there I am going to make a big generalization by saying there are three main types in the US. However, every one has their own individual policies- this is just to give you an idea of what to start looking for so you can narrow it down if this is what you decide to do. 

No kill: A privately founded shelter or rescue group that relies on donations to operate and are "closed admission". They have to limit the number of animals they take in to avoid overcrowding. The ones in my area are first come, first served and make no limitations based on sociability. If you are going to try to go this route you need to start calling them ASAP and keep calling everyday until they have an opening. In my opinion this is the best possible option, for all the reasons erwin said. 

Limited kill: A privately founded shelter that relies on donations to operate and are "open admission" (will take any animal at any time). These will have their own policies about when to euthanize based on adoptability (more common) and when based on amount of time spent at the shelter (less common). 

High kill: State funded humane societies. Usually are strictly time limited (ex: animal has 30 days to be adopted or will be put to sleep, regardless if animal is deemed "adoptable" or not). 

If you can't find a suitable shelter, I wonder if maybe you can find a neighbor or perhaps family friend that could a) take her into foster or b) at least keep taking care of her after you move. Especially if you are willing to provide some food to help them out, someone may be willing to take over the great work you have been doing. Then, when the Mom and babies are big enough you (or they) could contact a TNR (trap, neuter, release) organization that will come out, catch the little family, fix them, and then return them. 

If you are looking at some shelters and aren't quite sure what might be the best for your situation feel free to send me a private message and I would be happy to help you analyze them. 

Thank you for taking the time to care for her and about her. I know she appreciates it! 

EB24 said:

If you can't find a suitable shelter, I wonder if maybe you can find a neighbor or perhaps family friend that could a) take her into foster or b) at least keep taking care of her after you move. Especially if you are willing to provide some food to help them out, someone may be willing to take over the great work you have been doing. Then, when the Mom and babies are big enough you (or they) could contact a TNR (trap, neuter, release) organization that will come out, catch the little family, fix them, and then return them. 

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Yes, if you can talk some friend (and parents), or neigbour, or friendly adult you know, into fostering and adopting her, it would be prob best.

Especielly if she is friendly it shouldnt be too difficult.   It is possible with shy ones too, but harder - and thus - more difficult to find willing helpers.

Try perhaps with some religious people and remind them of the tale of the shepherd, who althogh had 100 perfectly healthy sheeps, did himself big trouble to seek out this one sheep who went astray. Found her and carried her back home. Surely also tending her wounds...

If this is not a good example for a person who consider herself a good christian, than I dont know what a good example of providing  to be a good christian is.

Although dont say it clear out.  Just hint veery discretly.  

Othewise an alone, older lady or man could also be a good bet.

Good luck!