pregnancy/stress

Hey guys, 

Does anyone have experience with stray cats giving birth inside? I brought a stray cat inside to have her kittens, and she is just hiding under the bed and won't come out- is this bad for her pregnancy? She let me pet her sometimes outside and I picked her up and brought her inside, she didn't scratch me or anything so clearly she had a home at one point. When I go in the bedroom she will not come out from under the bed, she just meows when I call to her. 

Should I let her back outside? I'd say she has less than 2 weeks until birth, can she become too stressed inside for the next two weeks or do you think she will be fine?

I know it is safer for her to have her kittens in my spare bedroom than outside where I might not ever catch them and it would add another 3-5 cats to the ferals living around here. 

What do you guys think? Can the stress make her go into labor early?

Many a cat has chosen to have her kittens under the bed.  It's not ideal, but it is a lot safer than outside.  Most ferals will seek out hidden places.  The bed feels safe because she is covered over yet she can escape, whereas in the closet it's a dead end and she may feel trapped. She might choose the closet later when she trusts that you are not going to try to catch her, touch her, grab her, or confine her in any way.  I went through this with my Gray Boy (see below) and eventually he figured out that I was not going to try to touch him, I was just going to let him be and bring him food and water and treats and let him lie in the laundry basket.  Give her space and she will relax in time.  Make that her room with her food & litter on one side of the room.  Put some sheets and quilts under the bed to provide her with materials to make a bed if she wants to.  Let her be, and she will calm down.  Cats are more likely to stall delivery than to deliver early because of stress.  Go to the Caring for Strays and Feral Forum and you will find lots of advice on how to calm a feral cat.  They do it all the time.

brashterson said:

 
Hey guys, 

Does anyone have experience with stray cats giving birth inside? I brought a stray cat inside to have her kittens, and she is just hiding under the bed and won't come out- is this bad for her pregnancy? She let me pet her sometimes outside and I picked her up and brought her inside, she didn't scratch me or anything so clearly she had a home at one point. When I go in the bedroom she will not come out from under the bed, she just meows when I call to her. 

Should I let her back outside? I'd say she has less than 2 weeks until birth, can she become too stressed inside for the next two weeks or do you think she will be fine?

I know it is safer for her to have her kittens in my spare bedroom than outside where I might not ever catch them and it would add another 3-5 cats to the ferals living around here. 

What do you guys think? Can the stress make her go into labor early?

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Right so.   Also, here we do have a wonderful twitch of nature, which rescuers like you had rediscovered time and again:  Cat moms are almost like human moms.  The safety and welfare of her children is more important than "freedom".   Thus, when she has landed and realized nobody is mean to her,  and these peculiar humans are in their way well wishing to her - and the situation is the best practical chance for her children - she will adapt and cooperate.  Even most ferale moms do.   If she is ferale for real she wont let you handle her, but she will probably allow you to handle her kittens, as long as you do it respectfully to her and the kittens.

And if she had contacts with friendly humans earlier, the chances are excellent she will warm up, etc...

So, proceed as you had done: let her calm down in her own tempo. Be friendly, talk friendly and make friendly noises, dont force yourself on her....  But let her feel she is safe and welcomed.

Come often with food (wet food or good quality kitten dry food - type) - rather small portions but often - so she connects you with food and caretaking.

Dont look directly at her.  Yawn often, stretch yourself standing on all fours...  (like friendly cats do)

Continue with your reports and question - and fetch ideas in the  Strays and Ferale forums, as mentioned above.   (Yaah, Im often there too)

Good   luck!

Thanks Y'all! 

She definitely isn't feral, just very skittish I think. Her husband (baby daddy) comes to eat every night and I will pick him up and bring him inside and she will come right out from under the bed to love on him. She lets me pet her then and she purrrs and kneads with her paws. As soon as I put him back out (he sprays and I can't get him neutered until my next paycheck) she goes straight back under the bed and won't come out until the next night when I bring him back in! GRRRR! it makes me so angry- she clearly is ok with me petting her, why wont she come out when its just me in the room!?

i'll keep trying, I hope she doesnt decide to have her kittens inside the box springs, that's where she has been hiding. I will keep you guys updated! 

Hi guys! 

Kitty still hasn't had her kittens! She has become very affectionate and used to me. I don't believe she was ever feral, just a skittish stray. She purrrs and gives me love bites and even likes to rub her face on my face now. I swear she is holding the kittens in so she can have them on Wednesday during the blood moon. She is hard as a ROCK and ROUND! The kittens are moving like crazy, and I have been able to see them move for over a week now. I'm afraid she is going to have a ton, though I'm hoping for 4 or less.... we'll see. I will post pictures as soon as she has them. I have been reading and watching videos on cat birth/labor- I hope she doesn't have any trouble. I really hope I can be home with her when she has them so I can help if I need to- 

Anyway- here are some pictures of her! The first one from above was taken several days ago- and the one of her stomach from ground level was yesterday! 

She's a pretty girl eh? The father is a brown and black marbled tabby- can't help but wonder what these babies are going to look like! I personally hope they look like mom! But kittens are always cute no matter what!