Not sure what to do about Pregnant Stray

To make a long story short, a stray cat showed up on my doorstep a while back and is now definitely pregnant. Even though she isn't that big (she's still big) I assume she's nearing her due date because she just recently decided to nest in an old cat box on my porch and hardly ever leaves it.

I'm not sure what to do. I'm afraid if I take her to an animal shelter, they will euthanize her. I don't know of any non-kill shelters around here.

I could spay her and abort the kittens.
I could try to find a home for her and her kittens (before she has them).
I could wait until after she has the kittens to spay her and find homes for the kittens.
I could smash my head against the wall while wondering why all the pregnant female cats show up on my doorstep leaving me to pay for EVERYTHING.

Any suggestions? I can't afford to keep the kittens. I would love to keep them, but it wouldn't be fair to keep animals that I can't afford to take care of properly. I already have four senior cats (all strays) and three foster cats (owner moved to and is renting a house with a pet limit rule). I really don't want the cat to have kittens here because I'm afraid I'll get too attached and then be heartbroken when I have to find them a new home. Plus there's the fact that I don't have anywhere to keep the kittens. This cat is going to give birth in a little cat box on my covered porch. I can't keep the kittens in the garage because there is some sort of potentially toxic odor in there. I can't keep them in the house as there is no more room, the inn is full. I don't have a lot of time to make a decision.

And just for the record, since 1996 I have paid to have 10 female stray cats and 3 male stray cats spayed/neutered. I've had four of those females give birth before they were spayed for a total of 28 kittens within a four year period. In the last 20 years, all my cats have been strays. The last time I adopted one was in 1990. None of my neighbors have had to go through this. The cats always come to my house as if they know they will be taken care of. I would not take a stray cat to the local animal shelter if my life depended on it. I don't condone the way they do things there.

Any USEFUL suggestions? I can't believe this is happening again. GRR!

I'd say put out feelers for a local person who might take her in. I only rescue pregnant queens. I'm always checking Craigslist, pin boards, news paper and asking around. Put out some adds. Networking can be a beautiful thing Just an idea.

Unpleasent though it is, spaying sounds like a good option if she's not too far on, but she might well be from your description.  If she can be spayed you could continue feeding her outside.

And next time a stray cat shows up it might be worth taking it for neutering as soon as you can.

Thanks. I just resent having to pay $100+ to spay a stray cat. If it was a cat that I willingly adopted, that would be different. With four senior cats (all strays), things start getting expensive.

I'm a very shy person so I'm not to keen about placing ads and having to deal with people. Plus, I would be worried about some animal abuser trying to pose as an animal lover just to get their hands on a kitten. People are sick. I was thinking about asking my vet to maybe ask around or put something on his clinic's Facebook page.

So how can I tell how far along this cat is? Would it be unsafe to spay and abort the kittens if she's more than 4 weeks along (I think she is)? In the past, I never got too involved before the births, especially with the feral cats. So I don't know how to tell how far along she is.

I guess you've already thought of this...But are there any cat sanctuaries anywhere near you? I have a pregnant stray. I'll be keeping the mum and one of her kittens, but I've found several cat sanctuaries who are happy to take and rehome the kittens at 8 weeks if I can't find homes. It would be nice if you had a place like that close to you.

If it was me, i would let her have the kittens and find homes for them myself, but im in the UK, spend a lot of time stuck at home and have the space, i think you need to do what is best for this cat as once she has had these kittens where will she go then? will she be stray still and just get pregnant again?

Take her to a shelter who will either foster her out, spay her and rehome her, or let her continue with the pregnancy and THEN spay her and the kittens depending on money and space ect x x

The vet will be able to tell you if they are willing to spay her.  However since you've noticed presumbly from a distance that she's pregnant she might be too far along.  If you want to spay her there's no time to waste.

Sounds like you and I need to start our own rescue organization. I was sitting on my couch crying before I read your email. I have a beautiful pregnant homeless cat in my bathroom in order to separate her from my two indoor cats. She came weeks after I started feeding an un neutered male cat(most likely the father) I haven't had the time or $ to get him fixed. Meanwhile there's a feral living under the cars, a Scottish Fold who I think is in heat, and one more which I can't recall. I'm exhausted and like you, no one else around me gives a hoot(being polite) I can't not feed them! Now I have a full time job with hours that don't comply with the clinics. Did I read that someone takes in Queens? I live in Winter Park, Fl. I would give suggestions but I don't have a clue! I do commiserate with you. We are a special breed!......help!!!!

kitigo86 said:

Sounds like you and I need to start our own rescue organization. I was sitting on my couch crying before I read your email. I have a beautiful pregnant homeless cat in my bathroom in order to separate her from my two indoor cats. She came weeks after I started feeding an un neutered male cat(most likely the father) I haven't had the time or $ to get him fixed. Meanwhile there's a feral living under the cars, a Scottish Fold who I think is in heat, and one more which I can't recall. I'm exhausted and like you, no one else around me gives a hoot(being polite) I can't not feed them! Now I have a full time job with hours that don't comply with the clinics. Did I read that someone takes in Queens? I live in Winter Park, Fl. I would give suggestions but I don't have a clue! I do commiserate with you. We are a special breed!......help!!!!

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