Hi im completley new to cats and this site. I found her in my back yard. She is very young and very malnourished. You can definitely tell shes pregnant and I can feel her babies moving. Its getting pretty hot here so we brought her inside. I have no idea how to tell how far along she is or to get her bqck to good health before she delivers. Any advice would be great!!! Ive googled how to tell but there were mixed opinons. We bought her soft kitten food. She even is sleeping with us in bed lol...I dont want her or the kittens to live a bad life so I want to help them as much as possible.
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
found a young pregnant kitty cat.
- Thread starter shannak
- Start Date
Hi Shannak,
How fortunate for this little cat that she found you! And what good, kind people the two of you are to have brought her inside and give her good care.
If she's sleeping in bed with you this is no feral, wild-living cat. She was someone's pet, possibly dumped because they couldn't be bothered to spay her and she became pregnant. If you can feel the babies moving she's only a couple of weeks - or less - away from giving birth. Kitten food is excellent for her, lots of calories and good stuff to build her up for what's ahead, birthing and nursing and raising her kittens. Canned = wet food is better than dry. Fresh water too. At this point she can probably have as much as she wants to eat. Start her off with small, frequent meals so she doesn't gorge and overeat all at once only to vomit back up.
Put a cardboard box with some soft towels lining it in a quiet place, and see if she might like that as a nest box.
Do you know a nice, good vet nearby? Perhaps bring her in to check for internal parasites = worms and if safe get that taken care of that before the kittens are born.
What have you named her? Can you post a picture?
And oh yes, welcome to TCS. We welcome you. Just love to hear happy rescue stories like this one.
How fortunate for this little cat that she found you! And what good, kind people the two of you are to have brought her inside and give her good care.
If she's sleeping in bed with you this is no feral, wild-living cat. She was someone's pet, possibly dumped because they couldn't be bothered to spay her and she became pregnant. If you can feel the babies moving she's only a couple of weeks - or less - away from giving birth. Kitten food is excellent for her, lots of calories and good stuff to build her up for what's ahead, birthing and nursing and raising her kittens. Canned = wet food is better than dry. Fresh water too. At this point she can probably have as much as she wants to eat. Start her off with small, frequent meals so she doesn't gorge and overeat all at once only to vomit back up.
Put a cardboard box with some soft towels lining it in a quiet place, and see if she might like that as a nest box.
Do you know a nice, good vet nearby? Perhaps bring her in to check for internal parasites = worms and if safe get that taken care of that before the kittens are born.
What have you named her? Can you post a picture?
And oh yes, welcome to TCS. We welcome you. Just love to hear happy rescue stories like this one.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
Thank you we love her already. Shes such a beautiful cat too! Shes super sweet. I think I know where she came from. We went and asked the neighbors(we are new to the neighborhood) and im not sure we will take her back. They have literally 25 catd outside their house and they are all suoer skinny. Would it be bad if we did keep her? The neighbors also said she almost got hit by a car 
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #4
If the neighbors ask if you have the cat, I would answer truthfully and say she now has a good home. Otherwise, keep quiet.
You can also help the other cats as well. You can investigate whether there is an organization in your area that can help spay and neuter your neighbor's cats. Depending on your local ordinances, they may be breaking the law by having so many animals. At the very least, they should be spaying or neutering them and making sure they have vaccinations. Give this info to your neighbors in a friendly and helpful way. Hopefully, they wil realize it's a good thing.
Pretty is very lucky to have found you. Thank you for helping her.
You can also help the other cats as well. You can investigate whether there is an organization in your area that can help spay and neuter your neighbor's cats. Depending on your local ordinances, they may be breaking the law by having so many animals. At the very least, they should be spaying or neutering them and making sure they have vaccinations. Give this info to your neighbors in a friendly and helpful way. Hopefully, they wil realize it's a good thing.
Pretty is very lucky to have found you. Thank you for helping her.
Gee, it sounds to me as if Pretty decided she wants to live with you - sleeping in your bed, happy in a lap. And aptly named too, but then, I have a weakness for all gray cats.
If she did indeed come from this house overloaded with cats the last thing that's needed there is another litter of kittens to add to the horde. It is so easy for the population to swell when cats are not spayed / neutered. They're living a tough life with scant food (you mentioned how skinny she is) and likely with worms and fleas and risk of disease.
No lost cat posters up in the neighborhood - doesn't sound like anyone is searching for her. Doesn't sound like anyone misses her.
I think it would be a mitzvah, a good deed, if Pretty remains your cat, if her kittens find good homes, and if - once her babies are weaned - Pretty is spayed and lives the rest of her life as your indoor only cat. And her babies are spayed / neutered as appropriate when they go to their new homes.
If she did indeed come from this house overloaded with cats the last thing that's needed there is another litter of kittens to add to the horde. It is so easy for the population to swell when cats are not spayed / neutered. They're living a tough life with scant food (you mentioned how skinny she is) and likely with worms and fleas and risk of disease.
No lost cat posters up in the neighborhood - doesn't sound like anyone is searching for her. Doesn't sound like anyone misses her.
I think it would be a mitzvah, a good deed, if Pretty remains your cat, if her kittens find good homes, and if - once her babies are weaned - Pretty is spayed and lives the rest of her life as your indoor only cat. And her babies are spayed / neutered as appropriate when they go to their new homes.
Last edited:
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #7
After she has her babies we will for sure get her fixed. Im almost tempted to contact someone over the other cats. My only fear is they wouldnt try to save them, or find them new homes. How will I know shes in labor? We will be making a vet visit next week.
I would venture to bet that this is exactly how many of us on TCS got involved. Someone near us was irresponsible and we ended up with a cat. That's what happened to me (only i ended up with 7!!!) But I couldn't bear to see the other cats suffering, so I learned all I could about TNR (trap, neuter, return). I have done that for almost 50 cats now. I found homes for some but most were returned to their feeders and many are doing well. If you are up to it, that's what I would encourage you to do too. It will certainly help the other cats and maybe your neighbors will learn something too.
Calling someone who will "clean up" might result in the cats getting home or not. But what most likely will happen is other cats will move into the void and be fed, and breed, and your neighbors will be right back where they are now.
Calling someone who will "clean up" might result in the cats getting home or not. But what most likely will happen is other cats will move into the void and be fed, and breed, and your neighbors will be right back where they are now.
Last edited:
She is skinny you say. And gray with greenish eyes. How do the other 25 at your neglecting neighbour look alike? skinny, but what colors? Ie may it be they are grayish, and relatives to each other?
What Im thinking on. I had looked on her pic in my extra computer with a better screen. And it seems to me she may have quite much Russian Blue in her. The american variation of RB tends also to be more light, fair, in the color than european esp scandinavian ones...
How is her mouth? Does she seem to smile?
Any way, a possibility is she may be part RB. And RB are rather lightweighters. Common moggies tend to be more filled up if they are healthy, not so RB who shall remain well muscled but light weighters.
I mean, I dont have any doubt she was malnourished and skinny, but perhaps not SO very much as it seems.
I wont say much more here and now, you had already got very good advices and comments from all above. Esp Catapault put it nicely.
Keep reporting and asking!
Good luck!
Welcome to our Forums!
What Im thinking on. I had looked on her pic in my extra computer with a better screen. And it seems to me she may have quite much Russian Blue in her. The american variation of RB tends also to be more light, fair, in the color than european esp scandinavian ones...
How is her mouth? Does she seem to smile?
Any way, a possibility is she may be part RB. And RB are rather lightweighters. Common moggies tend to be more filled up if they are healthy, not so RB who shall remain well muscled but light weighters.
I mean, I dont have any doubt she was malnourished and skinny, but perhaps not SO very much as it seems.
I wont say much more here and now, you had already got very good advices and comments from all above. Esp Catapault put it nicely.
Keep reporting and asking!
Good luck!
Welcome to our Forums!
She looks blue/cream tortie to me, not fully blue, Stefan 
.
.
That was not fair! Buhu!She looks blue/cream tortie to me, not fully blue, Stefan.
Tortie isnt allowed for RB...So she WAS skinny for real, after all... Poor girl.
ps. Yes, I saw the coloration was uneven. I though it was part of her being mixed, the color being faulty. It being an own color, tortie, no I hadnt thought of it, no.
But having said A, B may pehaps still be said. I cant the heritage of tortie, but IF a RB mix can get a tortie color, she may perhaps still be a fairly fresh RB-mix. At least one fourth, perhaps even half.?
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2013
- Messages
- 63
- Purraise
- 10
What a beautiful cat, and what a lucky one, too. Three of my indoor cats are rescues who "found" me, and I couldn't be more glad to have them in my life.
Now, I have three outdoor cats to care for as well.
Little Brighton, a nearly 1 year old orange and white boy, is currently sitting at the top of our ravine in the back yard, blinking at us with squinchy eyes - that's "I love you" in cat language.
Congratulations on your new addition.
Now, I have three outdoor cats to care for as well.
Little Brighton, a nearly 1 year old orange and white boy, is currently sitting at the top of our ravine in the back yard, blinking at us with squinchy eyes - that's "I love you" in cat language.
Congratulations on your new addition.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #13
The other kitties I seen were a Siamese, a grey tiger stripped, and a black with orange spots in their fur. But yes she is skinny with beautiful eyes. I think she is way bigger today but it could be because she is actually eating right we have given her our master bathroom and set her up a nesting box and put blankets in the bathtub for her. We also sent and bought her some canned kitten food. Should I supplement the kitten replacement milk stuff?
we have given her our master bathroom and set her up a nesting box and put blankets in the bathtub for her. We also sent and bought her some canned kitten food. Should I supplement the kitten replacement milk stuff?- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #14
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #16
I think she might be in labor? Shes breathing kind of weird and really really anxious. If she sits down she kind of acts like it hurts. I noticed some discharge as well but its clear. Shes not licking and hasnt stopped eating tho. Could it just be because shes young?? Im getting nervous for her!
Oh my goodness. You must be feeling something like "I expected this but not so soon!"
The clear discharge could be the mucus plug. If indeed it is, real labor will start soon, or in a couple of hours.
Do I remember correctly that she has not yet had a visit to the veterinarian?
If she seems comforted by having you near her can you stay with her? It's a good idea because sometimes there's a small problem or two with a young cat / first time delivery. You might need to open the birth sack (each kitten comes in a separate "package".) Most often the mom cat will lick and remove it. She'll bite the umbilical cord to free the kitten from its placenta. She'll eat the placenta, again there's one for each kitten. Don't panic, she's not eating the kitten, just the placenta. The kittens may come very quickly one after the other. Equally, there may be a delay between one kitten and the next.
Instinct is wonderful and most cats do just fine.
So exciting! Everyone here at TCS will be eagerly awaiting your next update.
The clear discharge could be the mucus plug. If indeed it is, real labor will start soon, or in a couple of hours.
Do I remember correctly that she has not yet had a visit to the veterinarian?
If she seems comforted by having you near her can you stay with her? It's a good idea because sometimes there's a small problem or two with a young cat / first time delivery. You might need to open the birth sack (each kitten comes in a separate "package".) Most often the mom cat will lick and remove it. She'll bite the umbilical cord to free the kitten from its placenta. She'll eat the placenta, again there's one for each kitten. Don't panic, she's not eating the kitten, just the placenta. The kittens may come very quickly one after the other. Equally, there may be a delay between one kitten and the next.
Instinct is wonderful and most cats do just fine.
So exciting! Everyone here at TCS will be eagerly awaiting your next update.
Canned kitten food should be enough, but if you do have good kmr you can add some. Do it.
Doesnt hurt, may be good.
If you dont have problems with salomonella in eggs in your place, raw egg yolk is good. Mixed with goat milk, mince meat, or almost whatever.
Boiled egg yolk is surely useful too, but as all such emergency receipts for weak cats tells about raw egg yolk, raw is apparently better.
Raw egg white is not good, but boiled egg white is OK.
Good luck!
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2013
- Messages
- 34
- Purraise
- 10
Hello,
We too have a neighbor who lets cats breed indiscriminately. While not "feral", per se, as she does feed them and they have free roam to go in and out of a cat door on her patio and they have some human contact, they range in degree of socialization with humans. That said, there are anywhere from 10-15 cats/kittens around her house at any given time. We usually see the kittens grow into cats and reproduce. Some just disappear. We have had a total of 6 kittens/cats find us that we have kept as our own and spayed/neutered. 1 was under a year and pregnant.
There is a clinic fairly close (18 mi) that will alter cats at very low cost. $45 males and $55 females if not in heat or pregnant, plus do shots if wanted. Some other neighbors have taken it upon ourselves to trap, fix, and release these cats. The cat lady can enjoy her animals without the continual breedings. Perhaps there is a low cost place near you and perhaps some neighbors to get some fixed. Just a thought. I don't mind a feral or semi feral cat community as long as they are not procreating like crazy.
Currently, we have two of the neighbors cats who will remain here if they wish. One is a van pattern girl about 8 months old, (white with black tail and black head spot) who snuck into our next door neighbors home the morning after some big storms (TX tornadoes) and was fixed on June 5. She looks very siamese in the face and body but no siamese markings. We call her wild child. We also have a sweet torti calico we have had going on nearly two weeks. She came to our door one night and stayed around all the next day so we took her in. She is pregnant and due soon. She will be fixed upon weaning the kittens, then become and indoor/outdoor cat, whichever she prefers.
Good luck with your mama cat and happy kittening.
Laura
We too have a neighbor who lets cats breed indiscriminately. While not "feral", per se, as she does feed them and they have free roam to go in and out of a cat door on her patio and they have some human contact, they range in degree of socialization with humans. That said, there are anywhere from 10-15 cats/kittens around her house at any given time. We usually see the kittens grow into cats and reproduce. Some just disappear. We have had a total of 6 kittens/cats find us that we have kept as our own and spayed/neutered. 1 was under a year and pregnant.
There is a clinic fairly close (18 mi) that will alter cats at very low cost. $45 males and $55 females if not in heat or pregnant, plus do shots if wanted. Some other neighbors have taken it upon ourselves to trap, fix, and release these cats. The cat lady can enjoy her animals without the continual breedings. Perhaps there is a low cost place near you and perhaps some neighbors to get some fixed. Just a thought. I don't mind a feral or semi feral cat community as long as they are not procreating like crazy.
Currently, we have two of the neighbors cats who will remain here if they wish. One is a van pattern girl about 8 months old, (white with black tail and black head spot) who snuck into our next door neighbors home the morning after some big storms (TX tornadoes) and was fixed on June 5. She looks very siamese in the face and body but no siamese markings. We call her wild child. We also have a sweet torti calico we have had going on nearly two weeks. She came to our door one night and stayed around all the next day so we took her in. She is pregnant and due soon. She will be fixed upon weaning the kittens, then become and indoor/outdoor cat, whichever she prefers.
Good luck with your mama cat and happy kittening.
Laura
Laura: God bless you and the others for doing this for the neighbors. Keep working at it; eventually, all will be spayed or neutered.
shannak: how are things going?
shannak: how are things going?
