New to caring for a stray/feral and second-guessing myself and need some encouragement and support

Thanks for the tip about the broom, Feralvr. I took it out of the laundry room and it's sitting by the door. 

One door is up and he is putting up the other one on Thursday. It's okay, though, because the nights have turned cold here again and she doesn't need to be out there when it's in the low 30's at night.  My guess, based on when I saw her mating, is that she is between 47-49 days pregnant, which means about two weeks to go. I'm still concerned about the effects of the shots, sedation and worming, but as I wasn't included on that decision I can only hope for the best.I can't tell if the kittens are moving or not. It's difficult to see them with her patterned fur and I'm not comfortable holding her sides and belly. it looks like she sticks out to the sides more than she hangs down.

I will make a photo of the doors when they are both up. They are a bit tatty since they are probably 70+ years old and have been in a dusty building many, many years. Since it wasn't cheap to have them fitted and put up, I'm leaving them up permanently and fixing a sort of "patio" area on my carport since it's attached  behind my house.

I've been letting Henryetta into the kitchen/den area more and she's meowing less frequently at the glass door to the carport where I used to feed her., but she still "talks" to me and rubs around purring. Today, she even played with a kitty toy and chased the cloth tape measure around the floor when I dragged it. Chaucer was sleeping in the living room and didn't seem to know or care that she was out. Of course she had to sample his food and water.  Henryetta is not one to pass up a meal and has yet to meet one she didn't like, even before she was pregnant.

The two other regular diners outside belong to a neighbor and have now gotten used to me. I was out staining the new door and "Olivia" as I call her ate while I was out there. "Arabella," the other one just meows at me until I feed her and then waits until I walk to the other side to eat. Both of these cats are Torties, which makes me think they are all related, although Henryetta has a lot of Tabby mixed in with her Tortie.

Chaucer said:

Of course she had to sample his food and water.  Henryetta is not one to pass up a meal and has yet to meet one she didn't like, even before she was pregnant.

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How funny :lol3: Of course, Henryetta is looking to eat as much as she can and Chaucer's food will do just fine. How cute. In all honesty, I think she will adjust beautifully into your house/home once she has weaned kittens and is spayed. This is great progress for a pregnant, outdoor, scared kitty. REALLY good progress. :bigthumb:

I would also keep the vintage doors permanent since you are going through all of this expense and work. I think you will be really happy with it !!

I bet she is related to Olivia and Arabella !!! You certainly come up with fantastic girl kitty names !! I hope those two are spayed :cross: :cross: I think you said that they were.

Well, the countdown begins then... I will have to check on your thread in PC&KC so I can keep track of those little ones and so you don't have to post things twice.

I moved Henryetta out to the storage room and it isn't going well. I went out there after about three hours to check on her and couldn't find her. I called and called her and looked around. I finally figured out she had gone under a dresser that was out there, but she won't come out like she did. She put head out once after I pushed a ribbon under there and pulled it out, but nothing. She hasn't eaten or used her box either. I'm afraid I've made her regress. I've also got to plug that area under the dresser so she doesn't have her kittens on that cold hard floor under there. Have I lost her trust because I moved her? I didn't have this kind of trouble when I first moved her into the laundry room. She was still so sweet to me and came when I called her and purred all the time.  Have I made a terrible mistake by moving her?

no if you have a favorite treat of hers just take a small sample and offer it don't waste a lot of time on it she will re acclimate to the new area; she may need a few days sulking under the chest, she will make a nice kitten nest somewhere

with a treat just give a couple whether the store bought type or scraps of chicken, beef, cheese, tuna, go easy on tuna as it is associated with mouth cancer down the road   if she snubs it give it to the outdoor cats and retry casually curry favor with her

Hi again hun 

You really have to keep in mind that you just moved her, and that she's gone through a LOT of changes in what is a relatively short period of time, especially in 'cat time'.  Just be patient, she will come out Keep trying to tempt her with interactive toys since she responded to the ribbon well! 

Thanks, guys.. Sorry. New to all of this. She knew the room because I used to leave the door open for her with food, water, cat scratcher and a litter box in there sometimes in the hope she might decided to stay in there for a while.  That's how I knew she had used a litter box at some point in her life. She also knew to use the cat scratcher then, too.

She came out this morning and was waiting for me when I went in to feed her.  She is back to her old self, which is both good and bad.  It's good that she trusts me again and purring/rubbing around me but bad because she now follows me to the door like she did in the laundry room. Thank goodness for the storage room's extra screen door, but she easily  got between the two doors, sniffing the outside.  So now she "knows" this is the way in/out. Uh oh....  If she gets out, she's gone. Since she's bonded with me she may come back for food but most likely she won't have the kittens where I can take care of them or her. So, I'm regretting the decision to keep her out there.  I'm thinking I may move a couple of old t in there next to the door, leaving just enough room for me to step over but give her more of an obstacle. There are two doors, but one door is blocked by a heavy dresser and is not easy to open from the outside. . I tried the broom and I may have to try a spray bottle of water as well to keep her back.   I hope I will be able to help others on here, once I get some experience with this, like you all have helped me.  Thank you, all!

As mentioned, here is a picture of the screen doors and one of the pregnant Henryetta:

"Old trunks"

I am catching up here from two days ago and am SOOOO glad that you are sticking it out with her in that storage room. I am so sorry because I should have mentioned that she may regress for a few days once you move her and to expect that. But, it sounds like she has quickly and rapidly accepted this and is back to normal. This is excellent news, really. She came around very, very fast after the move to the storage room.

Yes - it would be very upsetting and awful if she escapes. THANK YOU for that picture. Looks fantastic - just perfect. Good that there are two doors. How cool that you can open up the inner door and stil have the screen to keep kitties inside while you sit outside at the table. Really great set up and it looks like your carpenter did a fabulous job installing! :bigthumb:

You know, another thought to get her to stay back when you come in is to use an air can of some sort or a SSSSSS noise so she backs away from the door. This is something you could try. Usually, you set it down on the floor to keep a cat away from a door OR outside to keep strays away from your house. It is a training aid. I do think you can use it by hand to at least make the noise so when you are about to go into the room, you open the door an inch or so and then depress the can to make the air blast noise. The last thing any of us want is for her to escape. So, whatever you have to do, then do it. :nod:

Overall, I think all is progressing extremely well and Henryetta WILL learn to love her new house and territory. She will soon settle in and feel comfortable giving birth to her kittens. She is really a beautiful kitty. :heart3: More vibes for continued positive reports and updates.

Feralvar, she's gotten bigger overnight it seems. I can feel "lumps" under her skin now. Henryetta has been very affectionate towards me since early February, always rubbing around my legs and purring. Now, it's even more so. She will jump on the sofa out there if I'm sitting on it and try to get in my lap. If I sit on the sturdy end table, she jumps on it to be with me. In fact, I think she wants to go with me when I leave. She runs to the door if I'm leaving.  She has a very loud purr and works her feet when she sees me. She hasn't been eating or drinking as much the past two days but her appetite perked up today when I had a package of tuna cat food. She even stood up, briefly, on her hind legs to get closer to it.  She's been playful, chasing the ribbon and playing with a little stuffed cat and tiny furry mouse toy. She's a little more uncomfortable but I think that is due to her size now and the kittens moving, at least I hope they are moving because they are getting bigger.  I think she is between 53-55 days pregnant so I guess a week to go.

I'll look at the air can, but I've been using the broom. Hoping that because she is nearing her due date that she wants to stick around where there is plenty of food and water, plus it is out of the weather and is relatively comfortable for her.

My handy man did a really good job. I have a little more cosmetic work to do on them with some extra staining in places, but I'm pleased with them, even if they are tatty but, hey, they are at least 70 years old, probably even older than that.

Yes - the doors are lovely and one would never know their age. They don't make beautiful screen doors like those anymore. You can't find them unless you search through antique villages. Really nice job on the part of your handy man.

and on Henryetta and her being so affectionate. I can tell from how you describe her that she is so happy right now, feeling great and most importantly, feeling loved. :heart3: How heartwarming to hear and she is becoming quite bonded and trusting of you which is GREAT news before her upcoming delivery. I think she will entrust you with helping to care for her kittens. I really am becoming quite attached to this story now ! :lol3: And, will be waiting for these updates. For continued positive posts and updates :cross:

Let's hope she stays loving and friendly to me. She's been a little swatty and nippy, the latter is nipping at my clothes,  the past couple of days, but she has also been wanting to play.

I will update when the kittens arrive.

Chaucer said:

Let's hope she stays loving and friendly to me. She's been a little swatty and nippy, the latter is nipping at my clothes,  the past couple of days, but she has also been wanting to play.

I will update when the kittens arrive.

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To be expected!! Her moods may be up and down right now as she knows her delivery is coming soon! Please DO keep us posted.

 I was hoping the kittens  would come while my friends were here over the weekend, but nope.  My friends wanted to see her, but she was skittish even with them looking in the screen door so it was probably best the kittens didn't arrive. I couldn't have let my friends come around Henryetta then anyway.

The neighbor's two cats are friendlier to me now and the kitten's father, a yellow male I call Tom (for Thomas Hardy) are still coming around. The latter is very skittish and doesn't come by if he sees me.   I have a friend who wrote a little vignette about two cats, one down on his luck,  meeting downtown. The one that was better off told the other one that he'd heard about a woman on XYZ street who fed cats on a plate who might give him a meal. When asked if there was much competition, the better-off cat told him from what he could tell there was no one he couldn't "take."

By the way, Feralvr, your kitties are so cute. 

Chaucer said:

 I was hoping the kittens  would come while my friends were here over the weekend, but nope.  My friends wanted to see her, but she was skittish even with them looking in the screen door so it was probably best the kittens didn't arrive. I couldn't have let my friends come around Henryetta then anyway.

The neighbor's two cats are friendlier to me now and the kitten's father, a yellow male I call Tom (for Thomas Hardy) are still coming around. The latter is very skittish and doesn't come by if he sees me.   I have a friend who wrote a little vignette about two cats, one down on his luck,  meeting downtown. The one that was better off told the other one that he'd heard about a woman on XYZ street who fed cats on a plate who might give him a meal. When asked if there was much competition, the better-off cat told him from what he could tell there was no one he couldn't "take."

By the way, Feralvr, your kitties are so cute. 

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AW - :lol3: What a silly little brief story about two kitties. I hope the better off kitty allows the not so good kitty, a meal.

Checking in on kittens and I see all is quiet still. Keeping you in thought! Thanks for your nice comment about my kitties. Perla is the princess rincess: of ALL princesses. That is what I tell her, anyway. :lol3: She has to stand her ground at times with 5 other teasing boys. And, momma, has to intervene now and again. :wife: :lol3:

for Henryetta and kittens. :cross: :heart3:

Well, she certainly doesn't like me touching her sides or lower back these days and will turn around like she might bite me if I try to stoke her or check about the kittens.  My guess is that she has already started to protect them.    I'm still a little uncomfortable with her in that respect even though she's had her shots and seems healthy, so I'll respect her boundaries. She does, however, still purr and rub around me all the time. Hopefully, she will trust me when they are born.  

Everything I've read suggests she should be licking herself to keep the area clean but it appears that she has trouble arranging herself in that position to do so and the back end doesn't look too clean. 

Thank you for caring!

Chaucer said:

 

Everything I've read suggests she should be licking herself to keep the area clean but it appears that she has trouble arranging herself in that position to do so and the back end doesn't look too clean. 

Thank you for caring!

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Your SO welcome and no thanks needed. :heart3: I wonder IF she would allow you to use unscented baby wipes to help clean her up? Something you could try but not sure she will allow you to do so. Don't get scratched trying, please!!! Just a thought. Don't worry about her not being clean, sounds like she is getting closer to preparing for her upcoming delivery.

Did you start a new thread in Pregnant Cat Forum? Will go and check. Good idea about now to get that thread going and update daily if you can.

I'll start a new thread in Pregnancy and Kittens. I actually did have one embarrassing one  there about pooping. I didn't want to start a bunch of threads about Henryetta but I suppose she falls into the feral and the pregnant categories.

I doubt she would go for me wiping her behind since touching her sides is iffy right now.. If it was Chaucer, I'd be okay doing that.

Kittens are here. It looks like five of them. I started a topic in Pregnancy, but posted the picture and  discussed things in LolaSky's thread about anyone's cat having kittens.

It's not that great but the best I could do then.

Henryetta has been friendly to me since and has greeted me at the storage room door, no doubt expecting food. I hope she continues to be friendly and it is not just a phase from heat, pregnancy and now early motherhood. I am not quite certain of her since she is semi-feral. She is scared of other people and so there will be no visitors in the nursery.

This photo was taken yesterday. English major didn't pay attention.