New here, with some issues

Hello All!

I'm new here and have to say I'm so glad I've stumbled across this site and forum. I have a problem- about a month ago, I was coming home from walking our dog and there was a cat hiding in our rose bushes. She was skin and bones, looked half starved, but she was sweet as could be. Was scared our us or our dog. I highly suspect someone dumped her. I couldn't stand it and I fed her, so of course she stuck around. Bad thing is (actually 2 bad things) 1:we already have 2 cats besides the before mentioned dog and 2: as she started eating and filling out, I began to suspect she was pregnant! We tried to find a home for her, with no luck, and she just kind of wormed her way into our hearts. She now has a permanent home. So, I take her to the vet and, Yep, she's pregnant  Now (long story, I know ) my first worry is- since she was so skinny, is she going to be able to give birth without any issues and will the babies be healthy? So- Does anyone have any suggestions as to ways to get her ready in a hurry. From what we're guessing, we only have a couple weeks left before she gives birth. Then, the other issue is- she is very "bossy" towards our other cats. One is a male, one is a female- both have been fixed. Is she being this bossy because she is pregnant and hormonal? I've had animals all my life, but have always had them fixed right away, so I'm new to the whole baby thing, for cats anyway. Horses, goats, rabbits, etc I've been around but never anything inside that is likely to hide in my closet LOL Thank you all for any help you can give. I greatly appreciate it.

OK, so you have had her a month now, and thus, she has eaten normally in a month now?   What Im thinking, it may be dangerous to give big portions of nutritious food to one who has starved long. It may kill them... So the recipe is such cases is haste slow, give a little but often.

She is beyond this stage, so its essentially to go all out with good nourishing food.  Good quality wet food, full fat too, or if dry food, kitten type dry food. Orijen is a good example, there are others.  Royal Canin baby and mother cat for example.

You mention goats.  Do you have access to goat milk?  Fresh or bottled?  You can use it, too. Both for her and for the kittens if it become necessary.

If not you can give her some plain unsweetened  full fat yoghurt, some cheese...   Perhaps even som nice vitamin paste, like Nutri-cal.

Re Bossy:  Yes, I think its connected with her being high preg and wanting to protect them.  She has already managed to please herself in.  Next step is to assure her children will have a good milieu.

Aftter the kittens are adopted out, and she spayed, she will surely become more harmonious.

Do you feel the kittens move?  Being a seasoned animal owner, I presume you are fairful used to palpating?   If you dont feel them as yet, it is at least two weeks left, probably sooner at least three weeks left.

So the delivery is nowhere near.

Is a late spaying = abortion an alternative for you?  If yes - you may still do it.  Its not nice, but isnt not as horrible as it sounds.  Kittens dont manage well early deliveries, unlike humans.  More than 3 days too early  and they are practically chanceless.  A week?? no way.  It will be prob stillborne and visibly not ready.

Some links

We have a good collection of articles in the Cat Health section which you can access by scrolling up to the brown bar, clicking on Articles,and then choosing the Cat Health section and scrolling through the choices.  To make this super easy for you, I am copying the links regarding birth, delivery and newborns for you here.  After reading this information, let us know if you have any more questions.  And good luck with your approaching new arrivals.

Birth, Delivery and Newborns

How to Tell if My Cat is Pregnant?

Cat Pregnancy

How Do I Know When My Cat Will Give Birth?

Pregnant Cat? What to Prepare For the Birth

Help! My Cat is Having Kittens!

Premature Kittens

Post-Birth Complications in Cats

And also:

http://www.icatcare.org/advice/my-cat-having-kittens     ( This is a link to a group of articles on cat pregnancy, birth and kittens.   Read the ones on normal cat birth and on " when to wait and when to worry"  )  

Welcome and good luck!

Thank you. I will definitely look over the links. I've been feeding her "kitten" food ever since we went to the vet and he verified the pregnancy. I try to do little bits a time but she is constantly begging for more, probably a combination of being pregnant and  being fearful of starving again. I don't have goats anymore, I wish I did, but may ask around. I've tried to palpate her but she goes absolutely nuts when I touch her stomach. She loves being scratched and petted every where else but has drawn blood when I touch her stomach. I'm trying to get her used to me touching her there so I can kind of keep an eye on her, especially since we're not really sure of a due date. That way I can try to "convince" her to use a nesting box when it's time, instead of the corner of a closet or under a bed. Not sure how much luck I will have with that! She is my avatar picture. Calico, very long legged and big ears. I was thinking she might have some siamese in her but the vet even wondered about some sphinx breed in her.