Pregnant Stray

wendy8080

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
21
Purraise
11
Location
Minnesota
My family took in a pregnant stray tabby about one month ago.  She has adjusted perfectly with the household and found a place to have here litter.

Saturday March 23 around 8 am, she had her first kitten and then around 2-3 pm had two more and I did witness a couple sacs come out after the third.  She has been very good with the kittens, cleaning, feeding and mothering.  However, last night I noticed "rolling" and movement in her tummy visually as well as felt on both sides.

This morning I noticed a big red clump of tissue hanging on her vagina and believed that maybe she would continue to birth the remaining, but now it is 11:30 in the afternoon and she has removed herself from the box, used the litter box and has isolated herself away from the kittens.  She is not interested in food or water.

When she was in labor the day before, she followed me everywhere and purred heavy.  Now she doesn't want to be touched and has a little soft moan.  Also, it appears that she is pushing very slightly. 

I need input. 

Could she be going into labor again?

What is the red plug?

At what time do I call a vet?

And yes, we are having her fixed as soon as possible.

Thank you in advance for your guidance.

Wendy8080
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

wendy8080

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
21
Purraise
11
Location
Minnesota
Thank you for the response Willowy.  I am waiting for my husband to get home and then we will need to get in to the vet. At this point she has no interest in the kittens, (they are sleeping).

She seems very weak and the bloody plug that is hanging on is beginning to smell.

I haven't seen or felt anything move since last night.

So sad.

Again thanks.
 

clynn11

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Mar 23, 2012
Messages
765
Purraise
40
Location
California, USA
Unfortunately it sounds like she has a kitten stuck inside her, the red plug may be placenta trying to make its way out? If it smells that's a sign on infection, please get her to the vet ASAP! She can die from an infection very quickly. Good luck and positive vibes for you and your fur babies <3
 
Last edited:

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,999
Purraise
10,646
Location
Sweden
Yes,this is a crash emergency vet errand.

You must also begin to plan what to do with the kittens, ie handraise them. Time is running for them too.

Even if the vet manages to save her, and she is OK, she will hardly have the force to attend them, not full time any case.

How many are they, exaclty?  3?

Keep reporting!

Good luck!

I will soon send in some links how to care about newborns where mom cant take care, and more advices you perhaps will find useful.
 
Last edited:

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,999
Purraise
10,646
Location
Sweden
Links, gears, and some advices...

Keep the kittens warm!  Give them some  pedialyte if you dont have kmr / goat milk. (receipt below)

For handraising / handrearing:

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/kittens/handrearing.html

- There is also one Article here in this Forum.

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/kittens/handrearing.html

www.kitten-rescue.com

You will need among others; some good  kmr (kitten milk replacement). Goat milk is OK.

Of course, something to give it with, suitable bottle with nap, a dropper, or a syringe, for example such of plastic to measure medicines.  Or a real syringe, without needle.

A kitchen / mail scale, measuring in grammes, preferably electronic. You shall measure the kittens every day.

Dextrose (glucose sugar).  Preferably also minerale kitchen salt...

Ps.  If the shops are closed at your place, go around your neigbours and borrow from them whatever you can get.

In a emergency everyone will help, if you explaing and ask. The sociale behavior rules are such they can hardly refuse, even those with whom you normally dont speak much.
 
Last edited:

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,999
Purraise
10,646
Location
Sweden
Pedialyte receipt, and saline water receipt:

You may perhaps need to give some pedialyte, you dont want to have her dehydrated, not mom and not the kittens, if you dont get them kmr or goat milk soon.

Basic Pedialyte for cats, humans, etc...

1 litre water.

1,5 soup spoon (15-18 gram) of dextrose sugar.  Honey or common sugar works too, but dextrose is best.

1 tea spoon (3 gram) of minerale kitchen salt.  Common Na/Cl kitchen salt is OK, but if you must use pedialyte longer time for diarrhea or much throwing, other salts are also necessary.

Boil up, let cool down to body temp.  Dont spare too long, better make new.

If they threw up as soon as they drink, the trick is to give just a few drops, but often. This way the stomach never notices it got something...

If she drinks herself good, otherwise you give it to her with a dropper or something.

.....................

The red mass hanging out from her MAY be her vomb, inside out.  If so, you will want to wash it off now and then, by pouring some water on it, till you get her to the vet.

Use saline water.  1 tea spoon (3-4 grammes) kitchen salt in a litre water (so it just barely is feels salt, almost like tears), boil up, cool down, use.  You can pour profusely, nothing to spare. They use it in hospitals too,

Good luck!
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

wendy8080

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
21
Purraise
11
Location
Minnesota
I spoke with a veterinarian and explained everything going on.  He told me that he wasn't convinced or concerned that there were any kittens left, but if there were and I was going to spay her anyhow that she will be okay until morning.  Also, he said that as long as she is using the litter box, eating and drinking that she would be fine.  At this point she is resting sound.  She has begun eating again and has went back to nursing her kittens.  One black with grey stripes down the sides and white around the eyes.  One perky little tabby that looks just like mom.  AND, one pure white little devil that loves to kick it's siblings off of a good producing tit.  LOL  All three are beautiful and healthy!

As I posted before, she is a stray and I just fell in love with her when she poked her head around the corner of our house one cold winter night and meowed at me.  She was starving for food and love. When I brought her out some food and warm water, she loved me up first and looked me in the eyes before she even had a bite to eat.  Once I found out that she was pregnant, I have had her inside.  She has just become such a friend.

When I called the first vet, she said that I needed to bring her in immediately and that I would need to pay $700.00 at time of service.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't have that kind of money.  We had always just figured that once she had the babies, we would have her fixed and that would be that.....  I even have families lined up for babies as soon as they are ready.  You can probably imagine my shock when I got off the phone.  I was sick to my stomach until I found the veterinarian that I first mentioned.  He was calm, understanding and extremely compassionate.  Sounded like someone that cared vs. someone looking to make a quick buck.

StefanZ, I will certainly take your advice with the saline wash.  I can't see how that would hurt anything and may even make her more comfortable.  Like I said, she is almost back to normal with behavior.  I will most likely sleep with her and say a TON of prayers.

Thank you all so much for your advise, wisdom and compassion.  You were all so helpful and understanding. 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #10

wendy8080

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
21
Purraise
11
Location
Minnesota
Update:  Kit Kat is doing great!!!!! 

After my last post, the vet that I had spoken to had called to check on her (this guy is great and I will be spreading the word to everyone in my area.).  He said things sounded good and if her condition changed at all to just call.  So as the early evening passed by, hubby and I talked and decided that we would do whatever we needed to no matter the cost. She is an awesome cat! 

At any rate....I have been checking on her about every 15 to 20 minutes and about 2 hours ago I walked in to discover that she had passed the two kittens (both dead).  She began cleaning herself and allowed me to help.  Her eyes were so wide, clear and relieved looking.

Tomorrow we will be meeting the veterinarian at 8 am.  Our plan is as follows.  We will make sure that she has all of her current issues resolved and then bring her home.  Once the kittens have their eyes open, we will take her back in for shots and to be fixed.

Thanks again you guys!

Love the site!

W.
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,999
Purraise
10,646
Location
Sweden
I too, Im much relieved. It is like the Angel of Death were at your place, hesitated, but decided to pass over.  Almost like in the Bible and the Passover story...  The prayers and vibes did helped here.

Good luck!

Ps.

(BTW, emergency vets do take money. Esp if it is night and holiday.  And they tend to be quick with the knife, after all, people are asking for this service and expecting it.

Human surgeons are btw also quick with the knife)

ps 2.  Calming down, I realize there WERE two who didnt make it...So everything istn pure joy.

  But I suspect their fate was such, in all variations.
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #12

wendy8080

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
21
Purraise
11
Location
Minnesota
Update:  Checked on Kit Kat this morning and she is frisky, playful and a proud little mama.  There is no mess, no blood, no smell and she is eating, drinking and using the litter box.  She even came out of the bedroom and played with her buddy the dog for a little bit.

I called the vet to let them know her status and they felt that there is no reason to come in at this time.  Instead we are going to watch her closely for any changes and if need be, bring her in.  Otherwise, we are making an appointment for her and the babies in 6 - 7 weeks for shots and a spay. 

Thanks again for the prayers and well wishes.  I hope someday I can reciprocate! 
 

orientalslave

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 23, 2012
Messages
3,425
Purraise
114
Location
Scotland
Good to hear she seems OK now.

Do weigh the kittens each day at about the same time, preferably in grams as that avoids fiddling around with decimal points, and 10g is a nice round number - it's the minimum amount of weight each kitten should gain most days.  I use a cheap set of electronic digital kitchen scales, and I also took photos of my last foster litter on it each week:

http://shunracats.wordpress.com/jasmine/
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #14

wendy8080

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
21
Purraise
11
Location
Minnesota
Good idea Oriental, I will get on that and get a base line started.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

wendy8080

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
21
Purraise
11
Location
Minnesota
Okay, here are some weights.

1st kitten born (black) - 191 grams

2nd kitten born (tabby) - 171 grams

3rd and final (white) - 168 grams

2 days old.

Do these numbers sound correct?  Hope they are within normal ranges.
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,999
Purraise
10,646
Location
Sweden
If correct, it is jolly good development.   :)  Good start weigh, about 120+, and good gaining.

One bigger, two visibly somewhat smaller, but they must be beyond worrying with these weight after 2 days. (= day 3 I suppose).

Good luck!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #17

wendy8080

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
21
Purraise
11
Location
Minnesota
Yeah the biggest one was born first and then the last two were born about 7 hours later.  I will post new weights tomorrow.
 
 

orientalslave

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 23, 2012
Messages
3,425
Purraise
114
Location
Scotland
The actual weight doesn't matter much, what does matter is that almost every day each kitten gains 10g or more.  So, until you can weigh them for a second time you don't have a difference in weights.

Do remember to write it all down - I find using a spreadsheet useful.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #20

wendy8080

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
21
Purraise
11
Location
Minnesota
UPDATE:

All kittens are gaining weight by at least 20 grams.  The smallest one gained 31 grams just from last night.
 
Top