Worried

newmama

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hello all I really hope you can ease some of my worries; I am new to having a female feline, so needless to say I am in the dark when it comes to pregnancy's, which is a huge reason I've never wanted to have a female pet, males are just easier. Any who about 4 months ago my princess Rasha showed up beaten and bloody and extremely emaciated on my front porch; she only looked to be 4 to 5 months old, so I took her in only to feed her and clean her wounds, however once she was safely tucked away in my bathroom healing, I noticed  the cat population outside of my apartment had tripled, which was odd to me knowing how territorial cats are, so the fights for front row seats in front of my apartment happened non stop until we relocated a few of the bigger males(sent to good homes) the action outside died down. 

i am a starving college student so ive had to rely on common medical knowledge, and some of the vet tech experience I already have under my belt to treat her wounds, one being a recently popped abscess that had started to become infected, it was located between the base of her tale and left hip bone and about the opening was about the size of a silver dollar, which made me believe she had probably come into contact with a male that wasn't taking no for an answer and tried to latch on, although that's just a guess. At the beginning of march about a month after taking her in she was almost fully healed and had started to grow, unfortunately I could only keep her contained for so long until she finally gave me the slip and got outside, accepting that she would probably move on since she was feral when I found her, but she kept coming back especially if she was scared or running from another cat. 

After a few days outside I noticed the males had started to collect once again and tried to keep her inside and safe, but when they started to come upstairs on my balcony waiting to slip in when one of us tried to leave, so she eventually gave me the slip once I realized she was out I went to search for her finding her under our car surrounded my 5 other cats getting railed. Knowing the deed was probably already done I didn't stop her, instead I told my self I would help her as long as I could and try to find homes for the kittens.

From day one she has had problems; about 3 or 4 weeks in she had a lot of difficult controlling her bowels; pooping a little everywhere she sat, pooping when she jumped or played which really irritated her, so she ended up with an extremely irritated anus, with diarrhea and bloody discharge, I was worried it would effect the kittens, and unable to take her to the vet, I called and explained to the vet what was going on, they said she most likely had worms but I had to bring her in to be fully diagnosed. I feel horrible but I cant even afford to go to the doctor, I am nearing the end of my college career, and the course load is to heavy to work anymore, so my funds are next to nothing.

However with my health ive been practicing herbal and homeopathic medicines for sometime now and have had great success treating my own common ailments with herbal remedies and prevention with homeopathy. Knowing the anti-parasitic properties of coconut oil I started giving a little to her twice a day and within the first few days she was much better, her anus cleared up and the diarrhea had stopped.

--Now she's nearing the end of her pregnancy and has become completely depended on my presents in the apartment. I live with my boyfriend, who has in all honesty spend more time with her, but now she wants nothing to do with him and everything to do with me. She goes to the bathroom when I do, she eats when I do, she sleeps when I do and she is has started to become erratic when she cant see me, even if I shut the bathroom door to take a bath, she is on the other side howling and scratching to get in only to see that I am in there and she will lay outside the door until I come out. It is much worse when I step outside for a smoke, its like she things I am not coming back, or she's worried something might happen to me, she almost makes it seem like I am her lifeline.

Her tummy is huge but I feel like it gets bigger and smaller day by day, only really getting bigger on the bottom, her belly has dropped, and the base of her tail is setting a lot higher then in normally would, her nipples are large, erect, but only slightly pink, and a little chapped, and over the past few days, when I scratch behind her ears and give her some love, she'll kindof rollover like a sow wanting me to lightly rub her belly, while shes flat on her back and spread eagle, however I watch her face to let me know when shes had enough or doesn't like what i am doing, or shell guide my hand away from a spot she doesn't want me to mess with, ive always tried to read her body language, but now shes getting hard to read.

She has rejected all of the nests ive tried to set up for her, and is climbing the walls when I have to leave, according to my boyfriend, she becomes extremely erratic, howling and climbing the curtains. her appetite has been good maybe even a little much, shes eating about 2 cups of food a day, and filling up a large litter box in a day and a half. however she didn't come crying to me this morning to fill it up like she has been, and upon inspection shes has only eaten one cup since I filled it yesterday morning, and she spent most of the day yesterday and today sleeping under my side of the bed. she seems to be very uncomfortable and keeps looking to me for comfort or help im not sure. she's waddling slowly when she does move and instead of jumping down from things she has started taking it one foot at a time.

today she has slept for most of the day, I hear her let out a few soft meows every now and then, which follows with her rolling over on her back and stretching her legs straight up toward the sky before switching sides, I can visibly see movement and her private area seems to be more visible, not open, just the fuzzy lips around the vagina have grown in size, I have no idea If she's breathing any more than normal, or if she's having contractions, the only thing ive noticed is she will start to fluff up, and her tummy balls up really high forcing her to stretch and reposition herself. im worried she is passed her due date, or that she will hold them in until they die, and I cant take her anywhere. thankfully it will just be her and I at home this weekend alone, so I am hoping with the absence of my boyfriend she will be conferrable enough to deliver. I haven't tried to take her temp, mainly because I don't want someone putting something in my butt, but I might give it a try.

can anyone help easy my anxiety because I know my nervousness isn't helping her any.  despite my best efforts this cat has stolen my heart and I don't want anything to happen to her, even if the kittens don't survive. she was too young in my opinion and if I had the funds at the time I would have had her pregnancy aborted, but embarrassingly enough she was still a stray to me then. from what I have here does she sounds ok or should I prepare for the worst? idk what to do for her and the wide eyed scared looks and meows she keeps giving me, are freaking me out.   
 

red top rescue

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It's wonderful you are home and your boyfriend isn't.  She's obviously looking to you to be her midwife and this is probably the weekend she will deliver.  You can't control this, so trust The Cat Goddess to choose the right time.  We have lots of articles here to help you be prepared for the happy event, and the more you know the calmer you will be, and the calmer you are, the calmer she will be, so drink some Tension Tamer tea and read the articles and gather the supplies you will need on hand. 

In my experience, almost ALL of my mama cats DO want me there, and they like to give birth in a large closet in which I have laid down several folded quilts and then some large incontinence pads with a folded sheet over them and some loose towels around which she can dig and form into a nest.  They have usually loved to have their bellies rubbed until they sit up to push and deliver, and they are happy for me to hold kitten #1 while kitten #2 is being born. 

Here is the link to the Cat Health articles.  Scroll down and on the right hand side you will see a section devoted to BIRTH, DELIVERY & NEWBORNS.  There are about six articles there, and when you are done reading, you will be thoroughly educated and ready to serve as your cat's midwife.  We hope it all goes well and please keep us updated!

http://www.thecatsite.com/atype/46/Cat_Health
 

bigperm20

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I just wanted to wish you luck. Thanks for caring for her. Have you tried contacting the local ASPCA regarding low cost spay/neuter programs? For after this litter obviously. She can get pregnant again while nursing the current young.
 
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newmama

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Update, still playing the waiting game but she seems to have chosen the spot in the image, basically in the center of my efficiency apartment lol, I had previously set her up in the closet but realized how full it was I can see why she didn't like it. I went ahead and pulled everything off the floor and vacuumed it out for good measure because she is a clean freak, she did a little sniffing around but went back to the box in the middle of the apartment.

She seems to be sleeping but with one eye open, and when she does make her little chirpy meow sound, its very quite followed by twitching, and a sharp shutter. unfortunately my boyfriend came home early, and she was not happy; but after taking a nap I was able to get him to go hang out with his friends tonight.

It took a while but ive finally got her to clam down, I made a pallet in the living room so I can be down on the floor with her, and she seems to finally be relaxing again but not like before, shes hypersensitive now and only allowing light strokes, but if I put to much pressure on her back or stray close to her stomach she lets out a small cry and moves away. I think shes a little upset with me, for allowing my boyfriend back into the space; but I cant keep him away for long, he likes his own bed and I don't blame him.

however I don't think it will be to long, during the shuffle she insisted on sticking close to me and I caught sight of some white discharge that she quickly cleaned off. she seems really edgy; jumping every time she hears a noise outside.  
 
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