Foster cat - pregnant and semi-feral

I'm fostering a 7 yr old semi-feral cat for the local humane society that appeared to be pregnant when she was brought in. She's part of a seizure of a criminal animal cruelty case and I'm socializing her while she gives birth and raises her kittens. Outside of being thin and undernourished, she wasn't in terribly bad shape. Her behavior at first was typical - stressed and frightened. She laid in her litter box constantly and wouldn't eat or drink if I was in the room. She'd allow me to touch her and pet her but didn't appear to be able to relax and enjoy it and definitely didn't initiate contact. No hissing or swatting, just stiff and a bit fearful. She's really come around a lot - she enjoys being petted and stroked, head bumps me and rubs her face on my hands and face when she wants attention. Still skittish but a vast improvement. I have her in an x-large dog crate so that she has a safe place to have her kittens - covered on top and 3 sides. I let her out several times a day, confined to the room, to stretch her legs and explore.

I was told she was pregnant and when she first came to me and she showed all signs of being in late pregnancy. However, she was given a 3 way distemper vaccine about 10 days before I started fostering her. The shelter vet examined her and was able to express colostrum. At that time, her temperature was 103.4 and she was put on clavamox. That was 8 days ago. Since then, she's not as round or large, her nipples aren't as large and her mammary glands aren't as enlarged - slightly smaller. I never felt any movement but did feel lumps I assumed were her kittens. Can't feel them now.

Her behavior has changed, too. She'll go from being extremely affectionate and flopping around to get more attention to hissing and swatting at me when I try to clean her box or change out her bed/blankets. Back and forth. When I pet her, she raises her rump as high as she can and rubs her face on whatever she can and does "happy paws" on her blankets. And on me sometimes. LOL

My question is this - is it possible that the vaccine she received caused the kittens to die or is she still pregnant and getting closer to going into labor? The vet is out of town on vacation and I don't have anyone to ask. Help?

Both are possible...  IF they died, it seems they had been retrieved. which can happen, and is of course good, as it is not healthsome to carry around dead foster inside.

As you surely know, vaccines arent good on preg, and worst - living vaccines.  Killed off vaccined not as dangerous.

Look out, wait and see.  Not much else to do, especielly as there is no vet who can do ultrasound either...

If they are alive and born, there is a big risk there may be some faults on them, so be prepared for it too.   Sorry for you...

But mothers life and future is the most important, and this is won and OK, in much thanks to you.

TX!

Good luck!

Welcome to our Forums!

Thanks, StefanZ! I have a copy of her immunization records - it was a modified live virus vaccine. She's supposed to get the 2nd vaccine in 2 days but the vet instructed me not to bring her in for that until after her kittens are born and weaned. I've read that the vaccine can cause all kinds of problems for kittens so I'm hoping that if they're still alive, they're fine. If not, it may be for the best. I think she has a fair shot at finding a home with some more socialization time.

Even though I'd be sad if they're not viable or alive, my concern is for her health right now. Something I forgot to mention though - when she lays on her side, she still appears pregnant. It's hard to get her to hold still long enough to check her out. She doesn't seem to be able to lay still for very long and prefers the firmness of a blanket covered crate bottom than the soft cushy bed she has.