Aggressiveness in a nursing and possibly pregnant queen

Hi all,

First, before anyone gets upset, this is a rescue situation, I am fostering for a rescue and this situation was given to me, I did not create it! 

I was asked to foster a queen with 4 kittens and told they were about 2 weeks old.  Mom wasn't eating great and the kittens weren't doing so well, and I was told the Mom (who I named Joy) was a bit protective.   They suggested I supplement the feeding with some KMR, which I agreed with and started to do.

Mom (who I named Joy) was worse than they had described.  By the time she got to me, she was so traumatized she had stopped eating.  She was just laying in the box, not moving.  The kittens were trying to nurse and would start, realize there was no, or not enough milk, and fight to push the next kitten away for that nipple, so the runts were getting nothing, and I think the bigger ones at that point weren't getting much of anything either.  Mom looked so weak, didn't know if she'd make it either.

After trying a few things, she finally got a little tempted by some warm KMR I put right under her head.  She lapped at it a few times, and thankfully that seemed to jump start her appetite and give her a little energy.  She picked her head up all the way and drank the little I gave her. About 1/2 hour later, she stood up and drink a larger bowl.  By the next day she was drinking a large bowl of formula mixed with 1/2 can of wet food 3 times a day and nippling on dry kitten food inbetween.  I was feeding the kittens with a bottle twice a day.  After 2 days she began to produce enough milk, I didn't need to supplement, and she's done a 180. So have the kittens.  One we didn't even think would make it and now it's turning into a little butterball. 

So, the problem.

Now that she's feeling better, Joy is protective.  She hisses when I go in the room and kept on taking the kittens out of the box and hiding them in the closet.

Two days ago I brought in a rod type toy hoping if I played with her it would help her interact and accept me more. Instead she got spooked by the toy.  She started to hiss and get really agitated.  I put the toy out of the room and went back in.  She heard one of my cats outside in the hallway and just went off.   She screamed and slammed herself against the door to get at the cat, then turned and went for me.  The place had blood all over and I am all scratched up but I got out and left her to calm down.

Thing is, the past few days I have noticed her sides and stomach getting bigger.  We have ruled out worms.  I am suspecting she is pregnant.

the rescue is taking her to the vet this weekend and will have her spayed.  If she is pregnant, they will abort the kittens.

My question is ....

If she is pregnant, could that cause this kind of aggressive and stress above and beyond just protecting her kittens?  Do you think having her spayed will allow me to interact with her and the kittens better? 

I am disabled and can't physically really handle an aggressive adult cat.  They would be forced to separate them.  I would take over raising the kittens (I think I could get them weaned by next week) and Mom would be spayed and brought to another foster to see if she calms down enough to be adopted out.

Honestly, I'd rather not do that.  I'd like to see them kept together for a while longer.  Better for Mom.  Better for kittens.  But physically I simply can't if she's going to attack.

So, do you think a pregnancy would make her more aggressive than if she just was protecting kittens and that the extreme behavior would stop once she is spayed but still nursing, or do you think she will be this way after she spayed as well, and is separating them the best idea? 

Anyone have any experience in this kind of situation?

In case you're curious ...  pictures .  They are so freakin' cute, especially the black and white one that looks like Grumpy Cat.

deborahlee said:

 
After trying a few things, she finally got a little tempted by some warm KMR I put right under her head.  She lapped at it a few times, and thankfully that seemed to jump start her appetite and give her a little energy.  She picked her head up all the way and drank the little I gave her. About 1/2 hour later, she stood up and drink a larger bowl.  By the next day she was drinking a large bowl of formula mixed with 1/2 can of wet food 3 times a day and nippling on dry kitten food inbetween.  I was feeding the kittens with a bottle twice a day.  After 2 days she began to produce enough milk, I didn't need to supplement, and she's done a 180. So have the kittens.  One we didn't even think would make it and now it's turning into a little butterball. 

Click to expand...

Nicely done!  Your description reinforces one of my ideas.

Its well known, with a fading kitten, you can sometimes save it and perk up some energy by smearing a little glucose sugar on its gum.   Most people dont have pure glucose sugar (Dextrose) at home, so a common recommendation is white Caro syrup, or honey.   Or even common white sugar if you dont have anything else.

Much slower than glucose, but works too.

Because the fading and lethargy is often caused by very low blood sugar.  Its in these cases the glucose tricks works.

My idea is, it may sometimes be useful for moms too.   for example, when they are exhausted at labor.

Or  as here  in your case...

Of course, her noticing someone tried to be kind to her, to help her, made also its impression.   

Good luck!