My stray is pregnant. I need advice, please.

I'll try to make the story short.  A black cat showed up on my porch one day all skin and bones and losing her hair, and I felt sorry for her, so I started feeding her scraps of meat from the table.  When she decided to start sleeping in our lawn chairs, I started buying her real cat food (the wet kind in a can).  Any way, now she's basically my friend and lives here.  She owns the outside of this house now.  Over the past week, I've started to notice that her stomach is swelling quite a bit and her mammories are swollen.  I believe her to be pregnant.  I don't have money for a vet, so can't get professional help here.  She's nice and healthy now, and her hair is all grown back nice and silky.  I think she's capable of having them, but I have no idea what to do when she does.  I've googled it, and I've read some of the threads here, and from the perspective of someone who has no clue what's going on, it's a bit confusing with the weening and all that.  What I really want to know, is when she has these kittens do I need to do anything except keep her fed so she can feed them, and make sure they're warm and dry?  Or do I need to do more for her?  I'm worried because if she's pregnant now, she'll have them sometime in the winter, I believe.  This is Alabama, so it won't get really cold until January or late December, but I'd really like some advice from someone who has ever been in a situation like this.  I can't bring her in the house per lease policy, so I made her a place in the shed where I can keep it warm.. if she'll stay there. 

What I'm asking is if anyone has a very simple guide, or some simple advice for someone who is having kittens, but doesn't know heads from tails about it.

The very basic rule of thumb, you take care of the mom, and she takes care of the kittens.

If you cant do anything else, so giving her food, and access to this shed, is a whole lot better than nothing. Especielly as we saw she isnt not any very successful feral. So probably no real feral, but dumped /astray who managed to survive.

Whatever you can help her above this, is pure bonus.

Cats are carrying about 65 days, so if she is visibly preg now, she will deliver at latest medio october.

Good if you deworm her. Round worms go also over into her kittens.

Revolution spot on is safe, takes most worms and parasites. Nowadays you can buy it OTC.

Banminth (Pyrantel the active substance) is good against round worms, and you can use it on kittens too. I know there are OTC preparates with Pyrantel, they should be OK if the dose is for cats.  If you do so, ask someone knowleable about the dosages! Normally you get these advices from the vet.

So DO ask the vet if you can phone or visit.

Nay, the big problem with having them outside, it is easier to foster them kittens inside at your place.

Ie, you want to have them socialized and find at least them kittens adoption homes.

You can prob foster them too if they are in this shed espec as mom is friends with you now, but it will be more complicated.

Another problem is, you really should spay her. If not now, so at least afterwards.  This will be a great gift to her, almost as big as saving her life as you already did once.

There are low cost clinics. You can also probably find some rescue or TNR group nearby, who can help you with this.   Or even, try to raise the money by  borrowing the money...   In a low cost place it is after all just about 50 bucks.

Continue with asking and reporting!   And reading on!

Tx for caring!

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

Basically provide her somewhere to have them (though she might not use it!) and keep feeding her, and her kittens.  Start saving as well - she needs to be neutered and unless you get the kittens neutered as well (or rehome them) you will have a blossoming feral cat colony.  She also should be wormed and pet shop products vary from useless to useless and dangerous.

Stefan is right: if you can do nothing else just take care of her and she will take care of her babies. 

The problem is once they are big something has to be done or, as OS said, your going to have a cat colony on your property (kittens don't recognize the sibling bond and they will mate with each other when they are old enough). 

I would call around and see if you can find a no kill shelter that will help you. They may be able to take the Mom now and get her into foster, or take the kittens when they are bigger and adopt them out. Or, you can start looking for people who will want to adopt them. Regardless, you will have to find something to do with the kittens. And, you will have to get her spayed or this will just keep happening. Again call around- this time of year in my home state they do mobile spays for $10. If you explain the situation they will likely give you a voucher to get the cheap spay later on.  

I know she is "not your cat" and you didn't ask for this, but she has chosen you as her home so it has become your problem whether you want it or not! You are a good person for helping her in whatever capacity you can- I know she appreciates it!