My Diary about a Pregnant Feral Cat

Last week I was asked by the local cat rescue centre if I'd be willing to look after a pregnant feral until after the birth and homes are found for her kittens. I was unsure whether my unheated cellar, full of tools, old toys, sports' equipment etc. would be suitable. But I was assured it would be fine so after a lot of sorting out and disposal I took delivery of insulation material, old mats and towels as well as a cardboard box for the birth and a kitten box. My own cats (Lilly and Mogi) were given booster injections and last Thursday I was asked to pick up my new responsibility. She was already in a transport box when I collected her from the vet's. All I could see was a tiny bundle of black fur. The vet said she had a big tummy but it was impossible to confirm pregnancy since she couldn't be handled. She had been treated against fleas and tics. I'd been told to simply open the box at the opening to the cardboard box lined with bedding material and visit her regularly to see how things were progressing.

Although, many years ago, a stray cat gave birth to 5 kittens in a washing basket in this same cellar, all my cats have been sterilised and I have no experience with true ferals. So, perhaps this diary will be rather naive. At the moment I'm calling this little black child-mother "Katy"; the name may change as we get to know each other better.

Katy literally fell into the opening of the cardboard box. I was unsure whether she'd jumped in or I'd simply tipped her in. Needlesss to say she made no sound. In the 6 days she's been in my care I've not heard anything from her. She eats far more than I would have thought possible for such a small cat. I feed her 6 times a day making sure she has food, water and cat milk. She only comes out to eat when I'm not there. I pretend not to see her when she's hiding but go up to her when she's in or near her bed - not the cardboard box from the rescue centre, which she ignores). I then offer her cat treats, leaving them about 6 inches from her head. She eats them but not until I leave the room. Apart from some problems during her first night in my cellar, she uses her litter boxes (I have given her 2, positioning the second one where she had her little accident).

As far as I can tell, she's solid black but perhaps I'll find a white patch when she decides to show more of herself. Perhaps I'll even be able to take a photo. Must now make a last check on her before I go to bed.

You could also leave a radio on and talk to her so she adjusts to your voice. And even though she os pregnant, give her some toys orthings to play with. Even try to play with her with a laser or long feather where you need not handle her. She may yet come around to you. Good luck!!

Looking forward to reading more about your experience with Katy, and hers with you.

Gilmargl said:

 not the cardboard box from the rescue centre, which she ignores).

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I think you can take away THIS cardboard box, and perhaps instead set in one from your own house.

I suspect she doesnt want to be reminded about the smells from rescue centre. It was the first place she come to, she was still high strung there.

It is first at your place she has had a chance to land, to begin and reorient.

You got a tip on calm music, we do have a clistered thread on such suitable music.

She got defleased and de-ticked. Are you sure the vet didnt said dewormed also?  If he gave Revolution spot on, it would do this...

Keep reporting and asking!

Good luck!

ps.  You seem to do everything very nicely.  It is clear for me you did think things over, prepared, and either do have quite some knowledge since before, or you did your home work thoroughly and did read on.   

Thank you all for the tips. No real progress today but Katy's eating and drinking well!

You could also leave a radio on and talk to her so she adjusts to your voice. And even though she os pregnant, give her some toys orthings to play with. Even try to play with her with a laser or long feather where you need not handle her. She may yet come around to you.

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Well, I talk to her nonstop when I'm feeding her and cleaning the litter trays. In these days of MP3 players, I'm not sure I'll find a portable radio in the house but I'll keep looking. I have left various toys on the floor but they haven't been moved. I have tried rolling things on the floor but, if she's away from her comfort area, she just runs back to her box or perch. I unfortunately gave all my laser pointers to younger colleagues when I left work and, although my experiences with dangling toys/feathers from a rod in front of a timid cat (Mogi, 6 years ago) were so bad that I threw the toy away, I will try again (without a rod).

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I think you can take away THIS cardboard box, and perhaps instead set in one from your own house.

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I'm looking for another box anyway so that she can move her kittens about when the time comes!

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She got defleased and de-ticked. Are you sure the vet didnt said dewormed also?

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Yes, I'm pretty sure she hasn't been dewormed, I would have recognised the smell! I think, in this area, this treatment is not normally given to the mother beforehand. When the kittens are about 6 weeks old, mother and kits are dewormed. I'll have to check.

One point is still worrying me: although there is a small, normal window (facing west) the cellar is not too light. During the day, it is uncomfortable to read without putting on the ceiling lights. I switch the lights on, whenever I visit. I also have a radiator with thermostat set low at all times as nights have been quite cold lately. Although she eats at all times of day and night, she is only really active at night. When should I try to spend time with her? I have tried reading in her room at night (with lights on), but then she just watches me from her box as if she's waiting for me to leave. I don't want to add to her stress. I am also fostering another cat who needs a lot of my time as he is on his own in a small room so it is important for me to be as effective as possible with the limited time at my disposal!

Thank you in advance for any ideas.

I just want to say what a wonderful thing you are doing for Kate.  It takes lots of time and patience with ferals.  You might try some feliway spray or if you have an outlet a feliway diffuser.  Have you ever tried flower essences?  I have had really good luck using them on all of my ferals and strays.  Also when you want to try for some interactions, I have used cooked plain chicken or Gerber Stage 1 chicken or turkey baby food.  Cats just love it.  I watched a couple Youtube videos on socializing feral kitties and it was suggested to try the baby food.  One of my ferals still loves it and I can use it when I need to hide any medicine. 

I look forward to hearing of your adventures with Kate.
 

It is the music which is important, not necessarily the source. Use a Mp3 with music on. Relaxing soft music, perhaps classic such.  Classic harp music is best, but any will do.

Radio is good if you want to give some variation, and human talks, but Im not sure you want it here.

You talk with her when you have time! Daytime is oK.  You can perhaps have a movable lamp with you, so you dont need to light on the whole overall light?

Good luck!

StefanZ said:

It is the music which is important, not necessarily the source. Use a Mp3 with music on. Relaxing soft music, perhaps classic such.  Classic harp music is best, but any will do.

Radio is good if you want to give some variation, and human talks, but Im not sure you want it here.

You talk with her when you have time! Daytime is oK.  You can perhaps have a movable lamp with you, so you dont need to light on the whole overall light?

Good luck!

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Great idea about the harp music.  I bought one on Amazon back in 2011 and my ferals loved it when they came inside.  It had such a calming effect.  When we have bad rain/wind storms I try to get Shadow to come inside the house.  He is so scared of the storms.  I turn the hard music on for him and he will curl up next to me.  Here is a link to the one I have which is made for animals

Today has seen considerable progress! This morning when I took a closer look at Katy in her box she started purring! Not as if she was trying to calm herself, but she was turning about in her box and jumped out with her tail upright. She sat on her perch and took a few titbits from my hand - purring all the time. This evening when I went to check on her, I forgot what I'd been advised not to do, and put on the lights. She wasn't in her box but, when I crouched down to look where she could be hiding, out she came, tail upright, rubbing against the furniture as if she owned the place. I was amazed! I had intended taking away the used (empty) dishes and bringing clean ones, but I just sat down, slowly opened a sachet of food, and tipped it into the old bowl. She started eating almost under my nose! When I'd given her a second portion I decided to go and fetch my camera. Unfortunately, my other foster needed petting and by the time I'd got back to Katy she'd finished eating and was back in her box. Still, I now feel quite optimistic - perhaps she has had more contact with people than we thought.

Well, now that I have actually seen her, I can say that she is rather compact (short legs, body and tail) and very small. Her head is particularly small and kittenish. She is solid black with no white markings at all, so if she and Mogi ever get together I will have difficulty telling them apart. Mogi has a larger head which is rounder and her fur is a bit longer.

You might try some feliway spray or if you have an outlet a feliway diffuser. Have you ever tried flower essences?

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I have been using 3 Feliway diffusers for the past 3 months in various places in the house but not in the cellar as I am not intending introducing Katy to the other cats. I am not too convinced that they have helped much. I also use lavender but only to calm myself. Once I get the music sorted out, I'll start on the fragrances.

It is the music which is important, not necessarily the source. Use a Mp3 with music on. Relaxing soft music, perhaps classic such.

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Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. I meant to imply that in this house we all use headphones - I will have to buy speakers or a small music centre. I'm looking forward to going through my classical CDs for some cat music.

I'm now going to say goodnight to Katy - I am so looking forward to making friends with her!

Tail up and purring - fantastic! Keep up the good work.

I no longer believe that Katy is (or was) a true feral! OK, this morning she ignored me when I served breakfast but she's pregnant and entitled to bad moods. When I returned some time later to clean the litter trays she was all around me, pushing me about as I knelt on the floor. Of course, when I tried to demonstrate our progress to my partner at lunchtime, she stayed in her box, following him with her eyes. This evening I turned the lights on and gave her a catnip toy, which she enjoyed. She has even made a few miaows - unfortunately, I think she was only trying to tell me that she wanted to go out,


as she was looking fixedly at the closed window. As you can see, I managed to take a few photos last night and some this morning. I'm not a good photographer so can't do her justice. She is really cute but when she's rubbing herself up against the radiator, lounger or whatever, she's not exactly photogenic!



More tomorrow!

She's gorgeous! I'm glad she's come around.  Is there a possibility you can let her stay?

I was adopted by what I thought was a feral cat several years ago. But once she relaxed I decided she probably wasn't so feral after all.  She's one of the most loving and affectionate cats I've ever been snuggled by.  Sometimes to the point of "OMG would you let me do my work?!"  

Katy's tenth day confined in my cellar was peaceful and uneventful. She now greets me whenever I visit and tries to follow me out of the door when I leave. Unfortunately she flies back to her box should anybody join me in the room. So I spent quite a long time with her today - sometimes she sat next to me on a second garden chair and sometimes she stretched out on a sun lounger. She's very nervous so I had to be careful not to drop my knitting needle or rustle the newspaper. I can now lift her - she doesn't like it too much but she doesn't bite, hiss or scratch. I just lift her up and put her on the table and stroke her for a short while and then let her go. She's got to get used to being handled to stand a chance of being rehoused. 

Is there a possibility you can let her stay?

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There's always a possibility but this will depend firstly on my 2 cats, Lilly and Mogi. I am sure Lilly would get used to the idea of a third cat, even if she doesn't welcome newcomers with open paws. But Mogi, who lost her only friend and foster mother last October, has possibly never been taught to socialise, and is frightened of her own shadow. She retreats to a cupboard in the bedroom at the slightest excuse. Secondly, even though I have a garden, surrounded on 2 sides by fields, I only keep indoor cats. I have lost too many cats on the road in front of the house to risk allowing my cats to venture outside. Katy was living outside picking up food at a feeding station for feral cats. The cat rescue centre managed to trap 2 pregnant cats, who had obviousy escaped the sterilisation campaign. Maybe Katy will get used to being an indoor cat. If all goes well we will have almost 2 months before we have to make a decison.

This evening, watching Katy burrowing in one of the boxes I'd prepared for the birth, I felt sure that we won't have to wait much longer. But, who knows? 

Progress or not? Am I worrying over nothing?

I have been rather worried about Katy. She has diarrhea - not too badly - but it's not something she needs at present. Is it the food I'm giving her? I've no idea what she was fed on at the feeding station before being trapped and brought here. Or is it parasites? I contacted the rescue centre and a representative visited me with a deworming treatment for a very small pregnant cat. However, this treatment was for both deworming and defleasing. Considering she had been defleased 10 days ago,we decided it was not worth risking a reaction to the drug so didn't use it. I have seen no signs of worms so I am quite happy doing nothing. Meanwhile I have cooked chicken breasts and served them with normal tinned food which she was probably getting at the feeding station. Things have definitely improved. She is not eating as much as before - perhaps chicken is more filling than tinned food. I have also cut down on cat milk.

Today, the portable CD player I'd ordered arrived. I tried it out this morning by playing a chill-out CD very quietly. Katy ran and hid in her box and wanted nothing more to do with me. I took the equipment away and left her alone. This afternoon I downloaded one of the "Music for Cats and Friends" albums. I took some newspapers to read, set up the CD player again and turned on the music. She stayed in her box. I went over to her and stroked her head. She rolled over and let me stroke her stomach. She purred very quietly. I left her, read the newspapers and let the CD run to the end. She was still in her box and hadn't touched her food since the morning. I went over to check the litter trays and suddenly she was running between my feet (she is so small, I worry about treading on her). She wanted petting and feeding. I had to leave her to fetch some more chicken but when I returned she was still eating. Was it the music, the CD player itself, or the vacuum cleaner in the house (not in her room) which upset her? Or am I making a mountain out of a molehill? Should I stay with her more or leave her alone? I went to have a look at her in the early hours of this morning and she was sleeping soundly on the sun-lounger in the middle of the room. It was me who couldn't sleep! Normally whenever I visit her she jumps up as if she's really glad to see me - but today she was withdrawn until this evening. Perhaps she is upset by the other people she can hear in the house. There are 2 schoolboys, who cannot do anything quietly! She hears them on the stairs or playing outside. Nights are possibly the only time when she can completely relax - was it a bad idea of mine to bring her into this house? I only hope that she copes with the birth and manages to ignore the goings-on outside her 4 own walls. I'm going down to her now, give her some milk and switch off the lights so that we can both have a good sleep.

The boys and their noise probably ruffled her a bit. I would continue visiting her and playing music or reading quietly. The important thing is routine. Her diarrhea may be just the change in food. That will even out eventually. And she may just be moody due to the pregnancy. Those hormones can really wreak havoc.

Today was a religious holiday in this area of Germany and the family (boys included) stayed in bed late so that when I went down to see Katy she was still lying on the lounger perfectly happy. I can't spend all my time sitting with her reading or I'll never get my housework done. I decided to do the ironing with her in the cellar. I was worried about frightening her so tried to set up the ironing board as quietly as possible. It was heavy and cumbersome to carry and I was most perturbed, and a bit surprised, to feel her body rubbing against my feet as I tried to position it correctly. Everything started well until I decided to move it a bit further away from her food. It squeaked and she dived back into her box where she remained until I had finished. Needless to say, her cat CD was playing throughout - not quite the sort of music to inspire me to iron quickly and get the job done.

I noticed that because of diarrhea, her back leg and bottom were rather dirty and smelly. Cat litter had dried onto her leg. I wasn't sure how to go about cleaning her up without frightening her. I placed a small bucket of warm water next to the lounger, sat on the lounger and called her over. She climbed up and rolled over onto her side for her tummy to be stroked. With my left hand I stroked her and with the other hand I wiped her down from the base of the tail to her foot with a well-wrung out face cloth. Because her fur had dried out it took quite a bit of effort (and patience) to clean her up. I managed to be present when she used the litter tray this evening and had prepared myself with a clean, wet face cloth. This time I just caught hold of her gently and wiped her down quickly.

Today she has hardly eaten anything. This evening she sniffed at her chicken, tinned food, dry food, water and grass but only took a long, slow drink of cat milk. She went into one of the boxes prepared for the birth so I left her there with her CD playing. I am now cat sitting my foster "Sir Thomas". He hasn't eaten much either - perhaps it's the weather. Tomorrow somebody, who's interested in owning him, is coming to meet him. Regardless of the outcome, it will be a case of one of my eyes laughing and the other crying. 

Let's see how Katy is doing.

She may not be feeling spunky because of the pregnancy. She is obviously a sweet cat. Usually, they're not happy about being cleaned. But she sounds like she's coming along beautifully.

Well, I can't believe that I haven't written anything for 6 days! But now I've got to tell you that Katy gave birth to 3 little kittens yesterday morning,15th May.This picture, taken this evening while Katy was eating, will not win the "Picture of the Month - Kittens" contest but it's the best I could do.


2 black and one white with a grey spot. Things were not that easy for Katy (nor for me). When I found her at breakfast time she was already feeding her new family and purring away happily but when I examined the situation more closely, I saw that 2 kittens were still attached to their placentas, the bedding was wet and there was quite a lot of blood. I took a clean box and transferred each kitten to the new box after drying them, wiping away as much blood as possible and cutting the umbilical cords. I pushed the box back into position and threw the towels straight into the washing machine. I had been told to weigh the kittens but, being rather nervous, I didn't manage to differentiate between the 2 black ones so was pretty sure that I'd weighed one of them twice! Rather than disturb them again I decided to do my weighing in the evening when I'd pulled myself together! So, we're now into day 2.  I've got my routine sorted out as far as weighing them is concerned and I'm not going to worry too much at this stage just because one black kitten hasn't yet gained anything. Katy leaves the nest when I visit lunchtime (when I haven't got much time) and evenings, rubbing herself against me. I brought my laptop into the cellar this evening so that I could continue this diary but she was most suspicious and it took some time before she accepted me as her friend. My camera pointed at her babies didn't bother her at all. Since she has diarrhea again today, I had to clean up her back legs and paws. That wasn't too big a problem, but when I decided to change her bedding and put them all in a clean box, she wasn't too happy. Still, they are all quiet now. Tomorrow, somebody from the rescue centre will visit us. With a bit of luck, all kittens will have put on weight and I will feel confident that things will go well for all my little protegées.

Finally, last Monday, after taking him for a check-up at the vet, I delivered my foster "Sir Thomas" to his new home, so now I am able to spend more time here in the cellar, getting Katy and kittens accustomed to human company and modern technology. Quiet music doesn't seem to bother her, but when I tried to listen to the radio, she bolted at the sound of a man's voice. We'll continue to take things slowly.

This diary was just too sad to continue at the time. But for the sake of completion I will finish the story. No-one commented on "my kittens" possibly because anyone with any experience could see that they were not well. When the first one died on the day after my last post things became hectic. At the same time, Katy started showing signs of a bladder infection, I was provided with feeding bottles and milk and antibiotics for Katy. The kittens wouldn't feed in spite of help from a very patient and experienced woman who had successfully fostered orphan kittens. They died on successive days leaving a very sick but recovering Katy.

As soon as her course of antibiotics came to an end and her diarrhea had cleared up, I moved her into the spare bedroom. She was neutered and spent the next few weeks on her own. She hid behind the desk whenever anybody entered the room but when I sat with her in the evenings she would start to play. She would chew my toes, fingers, newspaper and get balls of knitting wool into such a tangle that there was no way it could be used to knit with. It was difficult trying to persuade people that she was a loving, friendly cat when she hid as soon as anybody else entered the room.

The breakthrough came when I had to spend a week away from home. My partner and daughter had to take on the reponsibility of feeding her and although she was overjoyed to see me return, she had at least partially accepted the presence of others. She became more adventurous wanting to leave her room and explore the house. It did not take long before everyone was fascinated by this little cat who could play with a wornout plastic mouse from daybreak till we all went to bed, throwing it about and taking it up and down the stairs. The only problem was the 2 other cats; they were not amused. 

I have since learnt that Katy was only 6 months old when she became pregnant. She had been living throughout the winter with other ferals. She was recognised by the cat feeders as the smallest one who actually shivered with cold and was bullied by the other cats. Before she became pregnant she had been particularly friendly with one of the feeders and followed her home for special treats (tuna). This woman had other cats who chased her away. Once she had become pregnant she was shy and was seldom seen until caught in a trap with tuna fish and landed in my cellar.

Of course, I couldn't return Katy to the wild. She has made no attempt to leave the house, rarely sits on the windowsills unless the birds outside are being particularly noisy. She is a playful cat - making up for a lost "kittenhood" and a joy to have aound. My other cats are not socialised and don't understand her antics but she acceps their unfriendly behaviour  and goes back to playing with her mouse.

Does anybody know where I could have acquired such a cheap and nasty mouse? It seems to have a squeaker in its bottom - no longer works of course but no other expensive modern, hygienic, natural-fibres-only mouse can take its place.


Since Katy left the cellar I have fostered 5 black kittens, 3 red kittens (plus mum) and a very friendly neutered tom who had been thrown out of his home and was annoying the neighbours. All have found new homes. My latest guest only arrived today and is not happy at all. He's curled up in a basket (on a top shelf) and refuses to come down. I will leave him on his own tonight and hope he soon realises that nobody in this house is going to hurt him.

It you've read all ot this you deserve to have a nice evening!

Gilmargl

Oh, God bless you!  Katy looks like a very happy cat.  So sad about the kittens but she was obviously too young to be pregnant.

I'm sorry I didn't answer again after your post about the kittens.  I honestly don't remember why I didn't, unless I simply missed the post.  In any case, thank you so much for the update.  So good to hear Katy has a good home after such a rough start.