Pregnant stray always at our door, I'm getting so frustrated

Last week we took in Ghost a neighborhood stray and he is now part of the family, I'm glad we could give the old boy a home. I now have a problem and I'm getting sick over this.

There is a young female cat that I once thought had an owner since she is very friendly, super clean and only shows up at certain times and not every night. If she is owned then she really likes our house because she tries to come inside anytime the front door is opened. Our two youngest cats sit by the door and listen to her meow, sometimes she sits and looks through the front window into the family room and just waits. She was really thin and I think was attracted to the food I'd put out for Ghost when he was still a stray as she seemed to expect food from us so I gave her some soft food if she'd show up. At this point I still figured she was just locked out at night sometimes and wanted a handout or just some cuddles but now she will sit there all night and seems really hungry. I can't not feed her now that it's obvious she's pregnant but it's frowned on in our little neighborhood. The home builders group are cracking down on anything remotely unappealing such as weeds, dog poop and strays, they are fining neighbors for minor issues.

I would take her in if I could but getting my dad to allow Ghost was his last act of animal generosity apparently because he told me to stop feeding that cat and leave it be as it would find somewhere to have its kittens. I'm getting frustrated as she just showed up and decided she wanted inside and I couldn't turn her away once she kept coming back. It was apparent that food or not she was still wanting inside our house. I don't know what to do, the humane society is full of cats just like her pregnant and no place to go. There is Bestfriendsutah but they didn't get back to me and I'm not sure where else to turn.

Most of our pets are rescues but we've hit a limit and everyone else is just like ignore it and it will go away. It is the complete opposite of my beliefs to turn any animal away and this is eating me alive. I will get yelled at when my dad finds out I'm still feeding her, she's going to sit out there either way so at this point I don't care what he says.

Do any of you know of any place in Utah that helps in these situations? Putting out another shelter like we did for Ghost is out of the question now because of the builders cracking down. I'm slowly going nuts over this so sorry if it sounds like a rant. I also happen to live in one of the less animal friendly suburbs around salt lake city so I've recently found out.

Can you make a compromise with you dad? Let him know that she won't be the last cat who shows up and that if she has the kittens anywhere near your house, she will bring them to you. She's already learned you are a source of food, too late to change her mind. So ask dad if you can give her shelter until a) you have her spayed (ending the pregnancy) or b) she has the kittens and you work with a shelter/group to foster and adopt them out (and have them all spayed/neutered).

If you have a garage where you can put a shelter, that might be a good compromise. Good luck wih this. Keep calling Best Friends. They should come through eventually.

You might also get some info from www.alleycat.org for your dad. Good luck and thank you for caring.

Ondine said:

Can you make a compromise with you dad? Let him know that she won't be the last cat who shows up and that if she has the kittens anywhere near your house, she will bring them to you. She's already learned you are a source of food, too late to change her mind. So ask dad if you can give her shelter until a) you have her spayed (ending the pregnancy) or b) she has the kittens and you work with a shelter/group to foster and adopt them out (and have them all spayed/neutered).

If you have a garage where you can put a shelter, that might be a good compromise. Good luck wih this. Keep calling Best Friends. They should come through eventually.

You might also get some info from www.alleycat.org for your dad. Good luck and thank you for caring.

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I am working on him, he is at least letting me continue to feed her. We are going to call our vet next week to see if she has any clients that might take her, many people that go to her take in strays.

My dad's cat Mama was a stray that came to him while pregnant, one day she acted different and he knew she was going to have her kittens. He let her in and she gave birth in my parents spare bedroom. She became a part of the family and my parents found homes for her kittens, I took one of them. If we didn't have so many pets he'd let her inside with no issues, he doesn't want to trip over cats with every step. My mom is getting attached to the stray which is working in my favor since she helped care for Mama's kittens she feels bad for this kitty being stuck outside. If the kitty comes to the door like Mama did looking for a place to go then I will bring her in regardless of what my dad says. I just want him to give me permission over just defying him.

If I bring her in she will get fixed after having the kittens and I'd fix them as well. I would work to find everyone homes including the mom cat because the only way I think I can get my dad to cave is if I promise to re-home them all. I'd rather foster her then let them all run wild and make more babies. He says I can't take in every cat and I know this but I can't turn her away.

One last thing. My dad told me that he heard someone was tnring cats and dropping them here but I'm starting to think they are being dropped off unaltered. I'm going to find out where he heard that rumor and ask the person myself. It's a death sentence if there are tons of cats breeding in here as it's not a big neighborhood and it's nice and shiny and new so the hoa will throw a fit.

sugarsandz said:

One last thing. My dad told me that he heard someone was tnring cats and dropping them here but I'm starting to think they are being dropped off unaltered. I'm going to find out where he heard that rumor and ask the person myself.

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Nay, the idea of TNR is not dropping them anywhere like a cuckoo bird, but returning them back into their normal milieu. OR somewhere where they are welcome.  Preferably also to have some watch out for them.

So this is definitely no TNR, just dumping, exactly like you think.

Confront this dumper if possible, or rather - let the "animal police" know who he is.

A warm good luck for you and your  plans!

Well. . . We brought her in, it was lightening outside so my husband figured we might as well do it now. She is in our game room and I can already tell she won't want to be left alone in there for long. My dad said I could put her in the basement, I brought her upstairs because the basement is unfinished and I could just see her disappearing into the insulation lol.

We will take her to the vet next Friday for a checkup before she is allowed around the rest of the family. This is going to be interesting, I hope she's a good mama, if not I'll be home to help out. I also hope she adjusts well as  that will make life so much easier. I moved all of my clothes out of my closet and put my tarantulas in there on a shelf so I don't have to worry about them getting knocked over. It's okay to keep them in mostly darkness as they will burrow sometimes for months on end. I will open the closet daily while I'm in the room.

wish us luck I'll keep updating as new stuff comes up.

Also the other kitty we took in two weeks ago is doing great, he is still in our bedroom but is getting to know the other pets. He is indifferent to everyone of the others lol, it's kind of funny. He just sniffs them and goes about his business, I think he's just old and doesn't care.

I can't wait to move out and take my fuzzy friends so it's not so crowded!
 

That's great news... good for you.

Looking forward to hearing how it all pans out...

You sound like you have things under control. Thank you!

Here I am again

So she doesn't much like being confined to one place but it's still better than being outside. She has pretty runny feces and I'm wondering if it's because of stress or the soft food she's been eating. I did add some pumpkin to it today to see if it helps. I know she can't get any vaccines until the kittens are born but we will still take her to the vet for a general checkup.

Because of the runny poop and her almost not making it to the litter box I had to move her into a extra large dog kennel (large enough for a mastiff) with a bed, litter box, food and water. I feel bad but she has a lot of room and she is close enough to the litter box that she can get to it quickly. I will go down there throughout the day to hang out with her so she won't be lonely and I'll let her out while I'm there to watch her. It's the best I can do until we can get her vaccinated which will be a while depending how far along she is. I don't want to risk exposing the other cats to anything she might have and I don't want to stress her out either.

It was either the basement until after the kittens are born and she can be vaccinated or the humane society and I didn't want to take her there. She will get love, shelter and care. I have to keep reminding myself that her being in the kennel for a while is better than the risk of being put down.

Am I horrible for keeping her down there, I feel bad but it seems better than the other option.

I'm going to have to get her nails trimmed as she kneads like crazy and digs her claws in anytime she is on you lol. Also I've never seen her drink water, is that strange? She eats wet food like crazy and will take dry as well but I've to this day never seen her drink. Maybe it's because she was more interested in a meal when she was outside, plus Ileft water for her 100% of the time where as the food was put out and brought i before dark so the neighbors cats would keep away.

The kennel is for sure better than a shelter. You are doing a wonderful thing!!!

Franksmom said:

The kennel is for sure better than a shelter. You are doing a wonderful thing!!!

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I agree. A big dog cage is not a  bad solution, I myself recommend it quite often as an useful option if there arent any better.

One forumite witnessed even she used to foster the semiferales in there, with excellent results, so they every one could be adopted out..A couple of dozen through the years.

Such fostering taking weeks and months...

While I think it was to overdo, still a nice illustration "the worst case" is really an useful emergency option.

Good luck!

Here with an update:

Looks like she has roundworms, as there was one sticking out of her rectum tonight and she was licking at it. It didn't appear segmented like a tapeworm. Can she get de-wormed while pregnant or is there a chance she is just full of worms and not pregnant at all? I'll make her an appointment for Friday or Saturday. I have some left over Pyrantel pamoate from when the vet had us deworm the cats not brought to an appointment, it's enough but I'd still ask the vet first. She'd have to be really infested to be so bloated though wouldn't she? ugh. . .

Yes to both your questions!  You can and she may.  Ask the vet if you wish and can. you can begin and phone.

Good luck!

StefanZ said:

Yes to both your questions!  You can and she may.  Ask the vet if you wish and can. you can begin and phone.

Good luck!

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I went ahead and gave her the Pyrantel this morning. I made an appointment for her to see our vet but she can't get us in until next Friday. She's still having healthy bowl movements and isn't acting strange so unless she stops going potty or shows other alarming symptoms she should be okay to wait until her appointment. Now I need to watch for dead worms in her feces. I suppose if she passes a bunch and the bloating goes down then she's probably not pregnant. Either way, we'll know for sure next week.

Well you know that she has at least some worms, so she's going to be a lot more comfortable, pregnant or not.

Keep us posted 

Mani said:

Well you know that she has at least some worms, so she's going to be a lot more comfortable, pregnant or not.

Keep us posted 

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After getting an up close look at the worms I can see now that she has a lovely tapeworm. The signs are to obvious, they are flat and not very long and I find them dried up on her tail area and bedding. Tomorrow she will get a Praziquantel pill, I like to give one med at a time whenever possible as if there is a reaction it is easier to pinpoint. At least the tapeworm med will work fast and is also safe in pregnant kitties. I actually felt movement of the kittens tonight which was relieving. Tomorrow I'll get everything I can setup for the birth just in case there is a problem. I have no clue how long she has to go, Dr. Larson should be able to help somewhat in that department.

She's a good cat and I hope she doesn't have anymore surprises health wise once we get her looked over.

She's very lucky to have you