My daughter found a kitten and now it lives here full time and I'm clueless about cats

My 8 year old daughter and I were out for a walk and a cat ran up to her. By the size of her I have to assume she is between 7 to 12 months. She still looks like a kitten but is bigger, just not full cat size. We were coming home from my daughters favorite place to eat and had a box of her favorite left over chicken wings. Since they were just plain baked wings, I figured they would be OK for the cat to have some. We ripped the chicken into tiny pieces and dropped a piece on the floor. I never saw anything eat so fast. The cat pounced on the chicken, took it away about 20 feet from us and devoured it. We were hysterical with the sounds the cat made scarfing the chicken down. The kitten was very timid and would only approach us when we threw another piece of chicken down and then run away again. The cat was skin and bones and had a very bad limp on its front right leg. My daughter begged me to help it and I unable to say no to my daughter. She is a total angel, unlike her twin brother who is going to be the death of me. I couldn't bare to see her upset about the kitten so I I told my daughter to stay with the kitten but do not try and pet it or pick it up and that she could continue to feed it the chicken but to do it slowly because obviously the cat hadn't eaten in a while and I know when a human eats after being denied food for a long time that too much food could cause more damage. I ran across the street to get some bottled water and kitten food that I planned to leave behind the dumpster where she appeared from. By the time I got back, less than 10 minutes, the kitten was rubbing against my daughters legs and purring. I left some kitten food and water in plastic bowls I purchased and told my daughter that we can come back and feed it every day and check on it since we only lived a block and half away. We walked away and the kitten started meowing but unlike any meow I ever heard. I figured the kitten had to be retarded or something to make such strange noises. As we got further away, she started limping after us and followed us all the way to our house. 

I am going to be honest here and I'm sure piss a few people off but I have always hated cats. I don't like litter boxes. I don't like their smug attitudes. I don't like how they rip up furniture. There is nothing about them that I even liked a little. Not even all those stupid kitten viral videos. Unfortunately for me, I do have a heart. The sight of this poor skinny kitten, limping after my daughter made it impossible for me to not do something. I had an old travel cage in the basement for a small dog so I got that out, removed the front gate and put some old blankets in there and set it up under our deck. I went and got a cat bowl for food and water and got these drops you put on the back of its neck to protect against fleas, ticks and whatever else it does. She smelled around the cage, walked in, lay down and closed her eyes. My daughter asked if she could keep it. She lives an hour away with her mother but spends every weekend with me and during the summer she stays with me as much as she can since I am a web developer and can work from home a few days a week, especially during the summer. Since summer was right around the corner, I told her that I would allow her to continue to feed the kitten and that it was her job when she was here and that I would put food out when she wasn't but that the cat would not be allowed inside because I do not want to be responsible for a pet that requires so much work and that I was not fond of cats to begin with.

The next morning the kitten was gone. My daughter was upset but she understood the cat was wild and probably wasn't going to hang around as I explained to her the night before. Two nights later I was sitting on my back deck having a cigarette and some tea and the cat came right up to me and jumped on my lap. It was so affectionate. It kept trying to put its head under my hand to pet it which I reluctantly did. It was purring so loud like it had never had any type of kindness shown to her. Four hours later, I was still petting her and she couldn't get enough. I gave her some more food and water which she again scarfed down so fast, making all these hysterical sounds while doing so. I made a toy with some bird feather I had tied to a string and a stick and we played for another 2 hours. When I went to go inside, she started crying so I allowed her to come in. I sat on the couch to watch TV and she jumped up on my chest and just kept purring. She let me examine her entire body including her stomach. I was looking for fleas, bugs, whatever and found nothing. I also looked at her leg which was very swollen and had a bit of a cut on it. MY vet friend came over and cleaned up her wound and gave me stuff to apply to it but told me that the cat would clean it herself for the most part and not to worry about it too much. Her leg was fine after about a week or so.

Now, this hater of cats has a shadow. She follows me everywhere and constantly wants me to pet her. She is the sweetest thing. The first night we called her Voltron because I thought it was a boy. The next weekend my daughter renamed her Alisha or Alley Cat for short but she didn't really take to that name. She is now known as Ms. Meow because of her strange meow sounds and she loves it. 

It's been about 4 weeks that she's been staying around here. She chooses to stay outside for the most part. My kids and I are always outside playing games, grilling, eating and swimming so she gets all the affection that she wants so much out there. If it's a cold night or rainy then she wants to come inside so she can hang out and be pet and played with. She will sometimes disappear for a day but always comes back. I didn't think to have her spayed because I never had a cat before and didn't think about it plus she really still is an outside wanderer. Although we care about her a great deal and we make sure she is taken care of, she doesn't exactly feel like a family pet.

Now here is my dilemma. I know she has put on a bunch of weight since she first showed up but lately it seems like it's all in her belly. Her nips have gotten quite big and pink and she is now protective of her belly where as when she first showed up she used to love to have her belly rubbed. She used to sit on me for hours and want to be pet and although she still craves the attention and affection she only stays on me for like 5-10 mins and then she goes to lay down by herself somewhere. The past two days I have noticed her sleeping a lot and breathing heavy. Do I have a pregnant cat? What else should I be looking for?

Now I know that I kind of took on this responsibility and now this cat looks to us for food and such but I am not really in the position to afford vet bills. I am not being cheap. I pay over 2 grand a month in child support on top of the bills everyone else has plus my kids are with me so much that it costs me just as much to take care of them here as I pay in child support if not more because they're here every weekend and weekends are expensive as are summer days. I also have to support my aging mother. I truly can not afford thousands of dollars in vet bills. My buddy's dog just needed surgery and it cost him 8 grand. I'm squeaking by as it is. What are my options here. Obviously I'm not a careless jerk or else I wouldn't be looking for ways to make this right. If it comes down to it then I will do what needs to be done. Ferrell and stray cats must give birth by themselves all the time so will this just take care of itself? If the cat isn't pregnant, is there any place I can take her to have her spayed that is free or pretty inexpensive and that will do a good job and not harm her?

I appreciate anyone who has taken time to read my very long and detailed story. I know I'm long winded. It's a character flaw always having the need to explain myself and the reasons of my actions so I apologize for that lol. Any advice I can be given is greatly appreciated.

RK

Yes if her nipples are pinking up and she is getting bigger she is almost certainly pregnant. Options are let her have the kittens at your place if a foster can not be found or take her now to the shelter knowing what may become of her.  

If your willing to foster(Look into rescues from petfinder.com as they put them in order of distance from your zip, call or email them and tell them your willing to foster if they can help place the kittens.  Usually you just provide food/litter some provide even that) her you need to get her to stay in your house.  They probably will want you to keep them until 8 weeks when they will go in to be spay/neutered.  Spaying Mom should be about $100 if through a clinic.  Regular vet can be cheap but often they require add ons of fluids/blood work.

They may even have an open foster home.  Some will still spay her while pregnant depending on how far along/their standards.  I know a few who will spay up until labor has started and others as long as they can not feel kittens move.  

Issue here is MANY cats are showing up pregnant and only so many resources for those cats.  

You and your dau are Chosen!  Luck you did obey the Fate - or Gods will,  Whichever you do prefer to call it.  

she was surely someones home cat, they let her out too early.  And she got astray - kittens dont have good sense for territory.  Or she come in her first heat, began to be loud, and got dumped.  Possibly even had her first litter and got dumped.  The litter perished.

Until you two come by as her saviors.

Yes, she is surely pregnant.  Sorry to say it, you must take the blame on yourself. You could and should  spay her earlier...

You can still let spay her, unless you clearly notice the kittens moving.  for an experienced vet surgeon its no big deal.

Cant your friend the vet help you for a smaller.fee?

I presue you live in the USA?  I do have somewhere tips of finding cheap spaying clinics - most of them can prob help you with standard vet treatment too, cheaper than the average fashionable vet clinic.

I will return shortly.

Good luck!

The promised links

cheap  spaying:
If you are in the U.S. ,  the ASPCA has an online database.  http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter

 Or here is a hotline number that will find you a low cost clinic in your area  1-800-248-7729   

www.spayusa.org

I'm not concerned about her having the kittens and them staying here. Like I said before, we are now responsible for making sure Ms. Meow is taken care of and that will include her kittens if she is pregnant. I will not have her spayed if she is pregnant and have her kittens killed. She will not be sent to an adoption place nor will her kittens. Once they are old enough to leave the mother then we will find good homes for them with people I know and trust. Any of the kittens that aren't taken will stay here with us. I wouldn't even place an ad on Craigslist or anything like that. I just saw two news reports of kids torturing cats, in fact one was in the next town over where a few teen aged boys recorded themselves beating a cat so bad they broke almost every bone in its body. My daughter would be thrilled if we had kittens and I think it would be a good life lesson for her on top.

I can't believe I am saying all this. I seriously hated cats until she showed up in our lives and now I'm in love.

My only concern is financial. I can not afford any more bills for thousands of dollars.

Thanks for your help! I truly appreciate it.

You are a good dad- and in this process have learned how cool cats can be. I commend all you are doing and sympathize with the costs you are facing. Do try an Internet search though to see if you can locate a rescue or low-cost spay/neuter program nearby. Once the kittens are born and have stopped nursing, spay mom ASAP. Otherwise, with her going in and out, you will have more kittens before you know it.

Some rescues can help with shots and perhaps other vetting costs. It won't hurt to check out what's in your area. Thank you for helping her!

MOST pregnant cats do not need any help delivering.  It is usually the purebreds who need help due to the breeders breeding extreme shapes of heads/stocky bodies.  Realistically you can set aside a few hundred for vet depending on what your plans are vet wise and depending how long you keep the litter/how far along she is will be you food/litter money and some toys.

What you will want to do when they are old enough is bring the litter in for first shots-call a few vets and ask when they start.  That should not be much as they usually will treat the litter and Mom as one exam.  If it came to it you could skip it and be upfront with anyone taking a kitten.  I do not know your money situation/what you can put in.  It would be preferable to have the kittens altered before they leave so this cycle will NEVER happen to one of them. But that depends on your area as to what age they will alter and what programs are set up.  If nothing else send the kittens with info on where it can be done/what age.

Petco does shots too.  And many other pet stores will hold a clinic.  You need to source that now to see what you can find and what goal to save for by time they are 2 months or so old.

Thanks for all the advice. Unfortunately my Vet friend is doing a residency in Massachusetts and we are in Jersey. She just happened to be home when we needed her. A few hundred I can handle. A few thousand was what I was worried about. Kids are expensive as hell - little beggars expect to be fed at least three times a day and go on trips all summer like down the shore. This will actually be a good lesson about making a sacrifice for them. They will have to give up something that would have cost me money so it can go towards the kittens. 

I truly had no idea that a cat this young could get pregnant nor did I think there were male cats around who would violate the poor thing. If I got her from some place, I'm sure that I would have been informed about the importance of spaying her but since her being her was unplanned I guess we're having kittens but once is enough lol.

Thanks again!

If you are near Toms River there is East Coast Spay Clinic.  I know there are a few from NJ on here.  I am close to Philly.  Look into vets now as some are MUCH more reasonable then others.  And if something should happen tell them up front she is a stray and you are limited on funds so that they do tests in order of useful/cost effective as can be.  They see it all the time so nothing new, they just need to know before hand.

You sound like a great person all around and very level headed  This will end up a memorable experience and help out the cat/babies.  Keep in mind brother/sisters can and do mate and Mom/son.  Yeah I know.  You will see some play first few months but after 4 months I would worry.  And males can have sperm active even after neutering.

I PM'd you about some other options in Jersey - I live in Cumberland County.  I know what you mean about learning.  When I came across my first feral, I had no idea how a cat could be considered "wild."  A cat?  They were house creatures - pets - sweet little kitties.  I sure learned fast!    I'm still learning.

Your children are lucky to have a dad smart enough to teach them responsibility.

catsallaround said:

Yes if her nipples are pinking up and she is getting bigger she is almost certainly pregnant. Options are let her have the kittens at your place if a foster can not be found or take her now to the shelter knowing what may become of her.  

If your willing to foster(Look into rescues from petfinder.com as they put them in order of distance from your zip, call or email them and tell them your willing to foster if they can help place the kittens.  Usually you just provide food/litter some provide even that) her you need to get her to stay in your house.  They probably will want you to keep them until 8 weeks when they will go in to be spay/neutered.  Spaying Mom should be about $100 if through a clinic.  Regular vet can be cheap but often they require add ons of fluids/blood work.

They may even have an open foster home.  Some will still spay her while pregnant depending on how far along/their standards.  I know a few who will spay up until labor has started and others as long as they can not feel kittens move.  

Issue here is MANY cats are showing up pregnant and only so many resources for those cats.  

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You mean abort them when they're already grown and ready to be born!

Yes it is not nice to think of but if OP was not willing to have kittens around it may have needed to be considered. Healthy kittens are euthanized every day so sometimes pregnant cats are done to prevent more new ones from being born and needing weeks in foster care when a kitten alive right now could use that space.  Since OP is willing to have the Mom cat and kittens and take good care of them that is not a concern.  I believe everyone needs to know before surrendering a stray what is a possibility with some rescues.  Some who did not know would reconsider being a foster home for that found cat. And maybe go back to the rescue to foster again.

Personally I could not do it to far along but cats are pregnant over 2 months.  Going even half way means those kittens would NEVER make it on outside.  If you see the daily struggle cats face and the sheer numbers going into shelters you start to get just why it is done.

Stewball said:

You mean abort them when they're already grown and ready to be born!

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Yes, this may happen sometimes in some places, and it isnt pleasant no, for anybody involved.  I wont be graphic so I dont say anyting more.

Catsallaround gives a good answer.   Also, an alternative in many of these cases is to kill them all, like is routinely done in many of high kill shelters and county shelters.  *sad smile*

This way, at least mom is spared and gets a new life.   It become a little of the Phoenix  fire bird.  Out of the  ashes, the misery, the catastrophe, at least someone is rising up alive and well, able to a new more or less good life.

So, dont think whom didnt make it.  Think on her who got her life back.

That said, late spayings as such arent as unpleasant as it sounds.  Kittens dont manage premature deliveries, unlike humans.  Three days before the natural delivery time and its practically hopeless.  Even if the owner or caretaker is fighting on all out for the kittens life.

So, altough spaying done as late as in beginning labor isnt pleasant in any way and is gross,

   late spayings as such arent as horrible as it would be with humans.  Surely so made before the kittens move.   No big ethical problems here I would say.  But it gets really touchy  when they are moving.