I already posted about my cat in the behaviour section about a month ago, she was a stray cat that I took in and today found out she is pregnant and due in about 2 weeks. I am new with all this so getting really nervous! I dont know whether I will get it right for her and really looking for any advice anyone can offer. She is just about a year old herself so I am very scared for her labour. Also any information on how to look after the kittens and when should I start feeding them cat food?
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New cat found Pregnant
- Thread starter abeer
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Most cats handle labour ok, but you do need to be there in case a kitten gets stuck or mum needs help with the cords and placentas. You also need to make sure a placenta is delivered for each kitten.
Mum will look after the kittens needs for the first few weeks, you just need to weigh them daily and make sure all are gaining a proper amount of weight and that mum is doing her job. Not all cats take to motherhood, especially when young.
Kittens will basically wean themselves, feed mum a good quality wet or raw food near the kittens and the kittens will toddle over around 4-5 weeks and just start eating. It helps if they are contained in a kitten pen or small area, this also helps with litter training.
Mum will look after the kittens needs for the first few weeks, you just need to weigh them daily and make sure all are gaining a proper amount of weight and that mum is doing her job. Not all cats take to motherhood, especially when young.
Kittens will basically wean themselves, feed mum a good quality wet or raw food near the kittens and the kittens will toddle over around 4-5 weeks and just start eating. It helps if they are contained in a kitten pen or small area, this also helps with litter training.
Good concise advice from MM. If you want more info, this is a good link:
http://www.fabcats.org/breeders/infosheets/breeding_from_your_cat/felineparturition.html
BTW has your stray been wormed & deflead? You also need to plan to worm the kittens.
http://www.fabcats.org/breeders/infosheets/breeding_from_your_cat/felineparturition.html
BTW has your stray been wormed & deflead? You also need to plan to worm the kittens.
Agree with the good advice above.
Now is also a good time to make a kittening box and get a birthing kit together. The box can be anything- line the inside with several layers of towels and drape one over the top like a comfy den. Not all Moms will use them but it's good to give her the option- otherwise she may have them on your furniture!
Your birthing kit should at minimum have a scale, extra towels, and your vet's number (and an emergency after hours vet's contact info if your's doesn't provide those services). Be prepared in case you need to cut umbilical cords- some people want gloves, others use dental floss to tie it off first. Do some research and decide what you are most comfortable with.
It's best if you can start confining her to one quiet room now that she can have and raise the kittens in. She won't need a lot of space- even a bathroom or walk in closet works well. Just make sure wherever she is there is enough room for her birthing box, food and water dishes, her litter box, and room to walk around and stretch. Once she has the kittens moving them becomes tricky so try to be as prepared as you can be in advance.
There are tons of good threads on here about the process so be sure you read through those and ask questions if you need to.
Good luck and welcome to TCS! Keep us posted!
Now is also a good time to make a kittening box and get a birthing kit together. The box can be anything- line the inside with several layers of towels and drape one over the top like a comfy den. Not all Moms will use them but it's good to give her the option- otherwise she may have them on your furniture!
Your birthing kit should at minimum have a scale, extra towels, and your vet's number (and an emergency after hours vet's contact info if your's doesn't provide those services). Be prepared in case you need to cut umbilical cords- some people want gloves, others use dental floss to tie it off first. Do some research and decide what you are most comfortable with.
It's best if you can start confining her to one quiet room now that she can have and raise the kittens in. She won't need a lot of space- even a bathroom or walk in closet works well. Just make sure wherever she is there is enough room for her birthing box, food and water dishes, her litter box, and room to walk around and stretch. Once she has the kittens moving them becomes tricky so try to be as prepared as you can be in advance.
There are tons of good threads on here about the process so be sure you read through those and ask questions if you need to.
Good luck and welcome to TCS! Keep us posted!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #5
hey didnt get time to post but she had 4 kittens last week 
all is well but im having a couple of problems regarding my cat.. Firstly she always seems to be wanting to go out i dont let her out these days because i still need to ger her spayed and as shes feeding the kittens i have to wait till she stops so i want to know if there are ways i can make her stop going out alot because i dont want her to get pregnant again.. Secondly shes using her litter not as much now she wants to do it outside in the sand rather than in the litter tray i havent changed the brand and its not like shes not using it altogether she uses it like once a day but other times she just wants to go out and do it.. I keep her litter tray clean so i dont see why after giving birth shes changing her habit
all is well but im having a couple of problems regarding my cat.. Firstly she always seems to be wanting to go out i dont let her out these days because i still need to ger her spayed and as shes feeding the kittens i have to wait till she stops so i want to know if there are ways i can make her stop going out alot because i dont want her to get pregnant again.. Secondly shes using her litter not as much now she wants to do it outside in the sand rather than in the litter tray i havent changed the brand and its not like shes not using it altogether she uses it like once a day but other times she just wants to go out and do it.. I keep her litter tray clean so i dont see why after giving birth shes changing her habit
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You may need to switch your litter tray to sand to help train her, there are also cat attract litters available. You may also need to add another tray, some cats prefer having 2.
Keep her in one room with the kittens, don't allow her to wander the house. They can come back into call soon after having kittens so it's very important she not be let outside, even for a moment. Cats mate very quickly, it's not worth the risk so keep her in.
Keep her in one room with the kittens, don't allow her to wander the house. They can come back into call soon after having kittens so it's very important she not be let outside, even for a moment. Cats mate very quickly, it's not worth the risk so keep her in.
