my feral has a 6 week old kitten and is pregnant again

Hello everyone. I am new to the board and I am wondering whether anyone has some thoughts about this issue.

The heroine of the story is the little feral cat that started coming by several months ago. I call her Peeky. She started getting pretty big soon after she showed up, then all of a sudden (when I was away for a week and had someone else bring out food for her) got back to her normal size. Sure enough, several weeks later she came to the door with a little orange kitten, Crumbly. And now she looks pregnant again and looks like she's pretty far along too! She obviously needs to be spayed right away, but there are all these complications.

First, I don't have an adequate space in my apartment to give her shelter to help her recuperate from the procedure. I live in a one bedroom and the only area I could free up for her would be a small laundry room that I use as an office. My two cats fight with her all the time over the screen door, and I can't imagine keeping her in a trap for a whole week, which is what the vet's office is saying she might need. They would probably scratch at the office door too. But I can't imagine just releasing her after the procedure (especially given how complicated it will be) -- I would like to be able to observe her to make sure she is doing fine.

Second, she is still nursing her kitten. I feel bad about taking Crumbly away from her, but I have been told I need to do it so that she would stop lactating. He is about 6 weeks old and eats solid food. There are space issues with that too, but I think that might be manageable.

I have scheduled the procedure with the local SPCA for Monday the 17th. They are very busy and I had to practically beg them for this date. But I am not sure I can go through with it -- I would hate to make a decision that would end up hurting her when I am the only person she trusts. On the other hand, the last thing we need is for her to have more kittens. There are already too many feral and abandoned cats in the apartment complex (thanks to irresponsible owners) and in the area. I am very torn up about all of this.

Does anyone have any advice about any of this? How risky is for her to have the procedure while she is lactating? How long do kitties typically take to recover? Is it inhumane to take the kitten away from her after only 6-7 weeks?

Thanks.

First, a big tx to you for helping these little sis our ours, and her child.

I myself do approve on your plans. If there is a vet who does that type of spays, excellent.

Im not sure about the part of taking away the kitten because of lactacing or the operation.  Operations are done, say emergency spaying if the mom got complications, and kittens continue to nurse afterwards too.  If the surgeon makes a flank incision or is careful not to cut through the nipples.  So I dont understand why this problem.

NEXT question, if there IS a foster- or adoptive home waiting, it may be wise to separate them now, to get the kitten into this awaiting foster home NOW.  As he is in the period of easy socialization.  If he is toghether with his shy mom the usual 10 weeks, it will be more difficult to socialize.

This is one of the few exceptions to our usual recommendation of minimum 10 weeks with the mom...

OK, the surgery. If the vet is decently experienced surgeon )at SPCA he should be), the operation shouldnt be too difficult.  How long recovalescenceQ   A home girl would have at least one week, probably two. But homeless semiferales are made of tough wood!  They typically have a good healing meat. Of course, otherwise they wouldnt be semi-ferales, they would die off before they become semi-ferales.

So after a common spaying three day at most if they dont get complications like inflammed wound, but if necessary, they may be released after just one 24 hour...

Here, count with 3 days.  Give her more if you can, but hopefully 3 days should be ok.

And where to have her.   Almost anything will do. As you yourself say. The vet can keep her, and there she will be in the trap carrier.  So your laundry room should be more than enough.

A big dog cage is another solution often used in such cases....

TrustQ  You will be the one who lets her out from the cage, so the trust will be immediately rebuild again.

Nay, the greater good is to do what you do. Spay, and care afterwards.  You ARE doing what you shall, your call of duty, for her long term benefit.

Good luck!

I agree with everything Stephan says. Think about it this way. She's been living outside, with who knows what shelter. A laundry room with a potty and steady food will seem like a four-star hotel to her! Crumbly is a little young but if he's eating solid food, he will be fine away from her.

If you decide to keep mommy in a trap for recuperation, get a package of large pee pads. You can place them under the trap and change them when she goes to the bathroom. It would of course be better if she had a crate and her own potty but as Stephan said, these kitties are tough. She'll be fine and will most likely be back for her food when she realizes how much better she feels!

Thanks, StefanZ and Ondine! I appreciate the support. And thanks for reminding me that she is a tough cat -- she most definitely is! I just kept going over the worst case scenario.

We are still trying to find a home for the kitten. Peeky (the mom cat) is not very protective of him and they never wander far away. So he is around people all the time and I also try to handle him and play with him often. I don't expect him to have trouble socializing even if he stays with his mom, if that is otherwise the best for both. I occurs to me now that I haven't made plans for the kitten after the surgery. Should she be with the kitten while she is recovering, or should I keep him away?

I would keep him away. She won't be feeling very well and will be stressed by being confined, so the kitten will probably take energy she can use to recuperate. This will give you a chance for some one-on-one contact with him, too.