I came across this site recently in an effort to research ferals and pregnancy in cats and I've come to realize that there are a lot of experts that frequent this site and impart their wisdom onto us newbies. I could certainly use some friendly advice at this point.
Last summer my boyfriend and I adopted two kittens from our local SPCA after moving from NY to Austin TX. This past March we bought our first house and adopted our first puppy together. Everything was fine until I started noticing the strays frequenting our subdivision. My love of animals automatically kicked in and I subconsciously decided to be the savior of Gettysburg Loop
My boyfriend was less than thrilled (he never really was a cat lover...he agreed to adopt Cali and Chase because he knew I was lonely...he still pretends like he could take them or leave them although I know deep down he's really in love with them hehe). My first rescue occurred back in June 2003 when I crept out the front door and lured a sweet tabby into my clutches with just a little Purina. He had absolutely the BEST personality I've ever seen on a cat and his bum eye really pulled at my heartstrings. My boyfriend and I obviously had many words discussing "Chance's" future and in the end I agreed to let him turn Chance over to our local no-kill shelter so that he could find a wonderful new home and I could retain my relationship hehe. It wasn't much over a week before the woman in charge of the shelter decided that Chance was too much of a sweetheart to spend his days on her desk, so she took him home with her where he's living very happily right now.
Unfortunately for my relationship, my success with the rescue of Chance spurred on my desire to help the local strays. Less than a month after catching Chance I spotted another tabby out my front window and despite my boyfriend's protests I was out the driveway in a flash trying to coax her into my possession. She was a bit more skittish than Chance but hungry enough to wearily accept my food. It was obvious that she wanted some affection but the slightest noise or fast movement sent her running. It honestly didn't take more than 30 minutes for her to trust me at least minimally and I placed her in our cat carrier with the intention of turning her over to the same shelter that had placed Chance. The following day I called the shelter 3 times and emailed the woman in charge but I received no response. Unfortunately my car's inspection had expired so I couldn't take her to the shelter by myself. I felt so horrible watching her trapped in that cage and I eventually couldn't stand her sad eyes so I took her out into our backyard and released her into the greenbelt just outside our 6 foot privacy fence.
I was very sad that my rescue attempt had failed and I hoped very much that she would come around my front door looking for food in the future so that I could try again. Later that same evening I was telling my boyfriend how our two cats had freaked out at the mere smell of Charity (as I was referring to her by then) when my Cali starting hissing and snarling right on cue. I thought it odd since I had cleaned everything Charity had come in contact with and didn't know what was ruffling Cali's fur. Just then my boyfriend and I noticed little Charity sitting on our patio waiting for me to realize she was there. Somehow she had either scaled or crawled under our fence and was there as if to say "alright, I came back, you can feed me now". Needless to say I was overjoyed at her return!
The first time she allowed me to pick her up I noticed that her nipples were protruding from her belly. Although I've never been around a pregnant cat myself I had a feeling there was some connection there. Rather than trying to contact our shelter again I went the selfish route and starting feeding her and watering her everyday. I'd sneak out multiple times to pet her, talk to her, or even just to check on her. She seemed very content to spend her hours lounging away on our deck in the shade and she would only leave briefly to go to the bathroom or hunt for small critters like the mole she was nice enough to leave for me one morning. As long as she was an "outdoor" kitty my boyfriend had no problem with it and she's been able to sleep many a happy hour and night in the safety of our deck.
I have been doing lots of research about her pregnancy and ferals in general. I've even called my vet to ask some questions of them. I've set her up a nesting box and plenty of soft material to deliver on, but I am determined to bring her into the house to do so. When I spoke with a vet tech they told me they wouldn't be able to give her any vaccines in her condition and although she could be tested for FiV and Feluk she couldn't be treated if she was positive so I made up my mind that I'd be quarantining her in our empty 3rd bedroom and taking the entire brood to the vet once the babies are delivered.
Which brings me to the point of this post:
I understand that female cats undergo a personality change of sorts when they are pregnant. Some become uber affectionate (like Charity) and others become incredibly grumpy and antisocial. I'm not sure if she is a stray or a true feral. I know that Chance was a gray tabby and I believe Charity is a brown tabby. Some of the kids in the subdivision told me there is a whole family of cats living behind our houses and as of a few nights ago I've seen another slightly larger, male cat, that looks exactly like Charity and who apparently has been sharing her food unbeknownst to me. Do you think it's possible that she's just being so friendly towards me because she is pregnant and has therefore become a really loving cat or could this be her true personality magnified? Is she going to suddenly become some antisocial being once the babies are born? I've become quite attached to her and although I hope to socialize the kittens and pass them on to the local animal shelter when they're old enough (I've already emailed my contact regarding this impending brood)I'm hoping that Charity will retain her great personality and move quite effortlessly from "stray kitty giving birth to her litter in our spare bedroom" to "Langdon cat #3". I appreciate any advice you can offer me. Based on my calculations the kittens should be making their appearance any day now (Charity began showing around August 13th).
(Charity's belly shot, September 1, 2003)
Last summer my boyfriend and I adopted two kittens from our local SPCA after moving from NY to Austin TX. This past March we bought our first house and adopted our first puppy together. Everything was fine until I started noticing the strays frequenting our subdivision. My love of animals automatically kicked in and I subconsciously decided to be the savior of Gettysburg Loop
Unfortunately for my relationship, my success with the rescue of Chance spurred on my desire to help the local strays. Less than a month after catching Chance I spotted another tabby out my front window and despite my boyfriend's protests I was out the driveway in a flash trying to coax her into my possession. She was a bit more skittish than Chance but hungry enough to wearily accept my food. It was obvious that she wanted some affection but the slightest noise or fast movement sent her running. It honestly didn't take more than 30 minutes for her to trust me at least minimally and I placed her in our cat carrier with the intention of turning her over to the same shelter that had placed Chance. The following day I called the shelter 3 times and emailed the woman in charge but I received no response. Unfortunately my car's inspection had expired so I couldn't take her to the shelter by myself. I felt so horrible watching her trapped in that cage and I eventually couldn't stand her sad eyes so I took her out into our backyard and released her into the greenbelt just outside our 6 foot privacy fence.
I was very sad that my rescue attempt had failed and I hoped very much that she would come around my front door looking for food in the future so that I could try again. Later that same evening I was telling my boyfriend how our two cats had freaked out at the mere smell of Charity (as I was referring to her by then) when my Cali starting hissing and snarling right on cue. I thought it odd since I had cleaned everything Charity had come in contact with and didn't know what was ruffling Cali's fur. Just then my boyfriend and I noticed little Charity sitting on our patio waiting for me to realize she was there. Somehow she had either scaled or crawled under our fence and was there as if to say "alright, I came back, you can feed me now". Needless to say I was overjoyed at her return!
The first time she allowed me to pick her up I noticed that her nipples were protruding from her belly. Although I've never been around a pregnant cat myself I had a feeling there was some connection there. Rather than trying to contact our shelter again I went the selfish route and starting feeding her and watering her everyday. I'd sneak out multiple times to pet her, talk to her, or even just to check on her. She seemed very content to spend her hours lounging away on our deck in the shade and she would only leave briefly to go to the bathroom or hunt for small critters like the mole she was nice enough to leave for me one morning. As long as she was an "outdoor" kitty my boyfriend had no problem with it and she's been able to sleep many a happy hour and night in the safety of our deck.
I have been doing lots of research about her pregnancy and ferals in general. I've even called my vet to ask some questions of them. I've set her up a nesting box and plenty of soft material to deliver on, but I am determined to bring her into the house to do so. When I spoke with a vet tech they told me they wouldn't be able to give her any vaccines in her condition and although she could be tested for FiV and Feluk she couldn't be treated if she was positive so I made up my mind that I'd be quarantining her in our empty 3rd bedroom and taking the entire brood to the vet once the babies are delivered.
Which brings me to the point of this post:
I understand that female cats undergo a personality change of sorts when they are pregnant. Some become uber affectionate (like Charity) and others become incredibly grumpy and antisocial. I'm not sure if she is a stray or a true feral. I know that Chance was a gray tabby and I believe Charity is a brown tabby. Some of the kids in the subdivision told me there is a whole family of cats living behind our houses and as of a few nights ago I've seen another slightly larger, male cat, that looks exactly like Charity and who apparently has been sharing her food unbeknownst to me. Do you think it's possible that she's just being so friendly towards me because she is pregnant and has therefore become a really loving cat or could this be her true personality magnified? Is she going to suddenly become some antisocial being once the babies are born? I've become quite attached to her and although I hope to socialize the kittens and pass them on to the local animal shelter when they're old enough (I've already emailed my contact regarding this impending brood)I'm hoping that Charity will retain her great personality and move quite effortlessly from "stray kitty giving birth to her litter in our spare bedroom" to "Langdon cat #3". I appreciate any advice you can offer me. Based on my calculations the kittens should be making their appearance any day now (Charity began showing around August 13th).
