Adopted Stray Cat Pregnant

Hi all!  

I'm new to this site, and i love the feedback everyone gets! 

Around early last November (2012), two stray kittens appeared on our back doorstep with their mother, all 3 of them were sniffing around and curiously peaking inside. The kittens were not very small,they were wide eyed and bushy-tailed, very active and playful with each other, suggesting that they were probably a month or so old (just an estimate).

So we started leaving canned tuna and sardines just to see if they would make it a habit of coming around - and they did. We started giving them dry cat food and water. They were afraid of us, so we couldn't come within 5 feet of them before they scurried off. Over time the mother and one of the kittens started coming less and less, and only one cat stayed. She soon began meowing and gradually started rubbing against our legs and allowing us to pet her. She has turned out to be a very demanding kitty, she would meow and rub against us until we gave in and played with her! So adorable.

The cats around the area were in heat a couple weeks ago, making noises that would wake me up at night and look out the window thinking there was a kitty in distress that needed my help!

***Getting to the point now, we've noticed our kitty's belly looks bigger, and from the sides u can see it definitely grown. I am almost 100% positive that she is pregnant. But I am not sure how i can be certain. She sleeps indoors and outdoors, she spends equal time inside and outside the house.

If she is pregnant, how can i get her to nest INSIDE the house? and not somewhere outside?

And any advice and tips would be really appreciated!

Ps - We cannot lift her up, she never let us lift her up but she jumps on the couch and plays.  

rokrchck said:

Hi all!  

I'm new to this site, and i love the feedback everyone gets! 

Around early last November (2012), two stray kittens appeared on our back doorstep with their mother, all 3 of them were sniffing around and curiously peaking inside. The kittens were not very small,they were wide eyed and bushy-tailed, very active and playful with each other, suggesting that they were probably a month or so old (just an estimate).

So we started leaving canned tuna and sardines just to see if they would make it a habit of coming around - and they did. We started giving them dry cat food and water. They were afraid of us, so we couldn't come within 5 feet of them before they scurried off. Over time the mother and one of the kittens started coming less and less, and only one cat stayed. She soon began meowing and gradually started rubbing against our legs and allowing us to pet her. She has turned out to be a very demanding kitty, she would meow and rub against us until we gave in and played with her! So adorable.

The cats around the area were in heat a couple weeks ago, making noises that would wake me up at night and look out the window thinking there was a kitty in distress that needed my help!

***Getting to the point now, we've noticed our kitty's belly looks bigger, and from the sides u can see it definitely grown. I am almost 100% positive that she is pregnant. But I am not sure how i can be certain. She sleeps indoors and outdoors, she spends equal time inside and outside the house.

If she is pregnant, how can i get her to nest INSIDE the house? and not somewhere outside?

And any advice and tips would be really appreciated!

Ps - We cannot lift her up, she never let us lift her up but she jumps on the couch and plays.  

Click to expand...

Now, she is about 8 months, and usually outside. Yes, of course she is pregnant.  The only way to stop this is to spay them in time.  Or afterwards. 

You prepare her room, with nest, laying place, cat igloo litter and so on.  You block any unsuitable hiding places.  Say, if it is a bedroom so you lay the bed on the floor.

And you close the doors behind her, shooshing her gently to her new room... Closing the door after her.

Something like that!  

Observe, she will use the nest firstly immediately before the delivery, she doesnt want it to get smelly too early. But good she sees there is a nest prepared.  So you must also make a normal sleeping place for her. have also cat igloo or similiar if she wants to hide a little, but yet, you can reach her there if need be.

IF you need to lift her or similiar, the standard tip is to wrap her in a soft towel, up to the neck. Immobilized and surrounded, she ceases any resistance, and you can do what needs to be done.

Cut her nails, one paw at a time, give meds, set in a carrier and visit the vet for a check up & deworming, etc...

Wrapping in a towel is much milder and dignified than holding by sheer force - which is almost impossible, and dangerous for her kittens - and for the person trying to hold.

Good luck!

 Welcome to our Forums!

Hey thanks for the response! Great tips, i'd definitely try to set up a nesting area in one of the rooms. One question though, she doesn't have a litter box inside the house, she always goes outside to do her business, as she was accustomed to doing from before. If i get a litter box, will she automatically know how to use it?  Or would she still want to get out? 

rokrchck said:

 One question though, she doesn't have a litter box inside the house, she always goes outside to do her business, as she was accustomed to doing from before. If i get a litter box, will she automatically know how to use it?  Or would she still want to get out? 

Click to expand...

Hopefully she will know.  Otherwise you must try and begin to learn her now.

You cant let her out later on. The risk something happens is too great.  They often get, among other, in heat a week or two after delivery.  You dont want her on love adventures...

There are tricks for it now, cats unused to use litter. 

First, it must be some natural litter, no fancy perfumed variants.

Second, you can add some dirt from outside, so she recognizes.

Third, there is something called for Kitten attract litter, the one by Dr Elseys is the most known.

Sprinkle some of it on the surface.  

Great, will try it out very soon! Thanks!