Stray pregnant kitten

Hi everyone, I took home a stray cat we found at the barn where my daughter rides horses on Tuesday. I could tell she was pregnant right away, swollen belly and her belly jumps around. We've been calling her "little mama" because she can't be older than 6 months herself! My question is, if her belly is moving around, should I expect delivery soon, and does anyone know how many kittens a young mother typically has? Im hoping not more than 2! We plan on keeping mama and maybe one of the babies because we already have a male neutered cat.

littlemama said:

Hi everyone, I took home a stray cat we found at the barn where my daughter rides horses on Tuesday. I could tell she was pregnant right away, swollen belly and her belly jumps around. We've been calling her "little mama" because she can't be older than 6 months herself! My question is, if her belly is moving around, should I expect delivery soon, and does anyone know how many kittens a young mother typically has? Im hoping not more than 2! We plan on keeping mama and maybe one of the babies because we already have a male neutered cat.

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If you clearly see movements, its at most 2 weeks left.   She isnt very big, so I presume the litter isnt very big either, 2-3?

A very sweet little momma.     In Sweden there is a name, Lillemor, which literally means little mother... 

It wiould be very adequate her, just to find some short version of it...   Lillis perhaps...

Some links:

 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.thecatsite.com/a/kitten-development-stages-illustrated-guide

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/pregnancy-and-delivery-in-cats

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"  )  

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/hand-rearing-kittens

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/
http://www.kittenrescue.org/index.php/cat-care/kitten-care-handbook/
 

Goats milk is useful instead of kmr. Raw goat milk is best, but bottled full fat is OK too.

Observe, if an orphan is much bloated, gas-filled, bloated, have colic, simethicone (google on it) may help.  1-2 drop in the bottle.

Fleece or flannel good to use in the bedding for kittens.

StefanZ Thank you for the info, I will check it out! And I absolutely love that name! I'm going to see if we can get "Lily" to stick or some version of that.

Do you know how many kittens we should expect from a 6 month old mama?

Sorry StefanZ I just realized you said about 2-3 kittens, i missed that!

I have another question, she has been hissing at my male cat and won't let him near her. My Ninja kitty is trying to be friendly with her but she's not having it. We've only had her for 2 days, but I'm hoping this is normal behavior when introducing a new cat? I've never had more than one cat at a time so I'm not sure if this is normal behavior. Ninja came from a shelter so he is used to being around other cats. Little Mama is also very moody, she will be purring and rubbing all over me and Then suddenly attack my hand and bite me! Is this normal for her condition?

Sorry for all the questions, this is a completely new experience for our family but we are so excited!

littlemama said:

I have another question, she has been hissing at my male cat and won't let him near her. My Ninja kitty is trying to be friendly with her but she's not having it. We've only had her for 2 days, but I'm hoping this is normal behavior when introducing a new cat? I've never had more than one cat at a time so I'm not sure if this is normal behavior. Ninja came from a shelter so he is used to being around other cats. Little Mama is also very moody, she will be purring and rubbing all over me and Then suddenly attack my hand and bite me! Is this normal for her condition?

Sorry for all the questions, this is a completely new experience for our family but we are so excited!

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Here we have 2 different questions.

1. Re Ninja.  Its both this they are new to each other.  And also, she being high preg, is probably extra protective, and surely, more moody.

Some moms gets extra docile, friendly, eager to please themselves in...  While others may get  more defensive, even aggressive...

So, good if they become friends, but for time being,  obey and protect the mom to be.  She must not be stressed as long its possible.

2. Yes, this behavior is rather common.  Before I continue with further analyses, is she biting for blood, or its rather friendly bites?

StefanZ said:

Here we have 2 different questions.

1. Re Ninja.  Its both this they are new to each other.  And also, she being high preg, is probably extra protective, and surely, more moody.
Some moms gets extra docile, friendly, eager to please themselves in...  While others may get  more defensive, even aggressive...
So, good if they become friends, but for time being,  obey and protect the mom to be.  She must not be stressed as long its possible.

2. Yes, this behavior is rather common.  Before I continue with further analyses, is she biting for blood, or its rather friendly bites?

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1. Ok, we are taking extra care to respect her boundaries right now as well as protect her from any fights that may occur. Poor Njnja is feeling a bit abandoned right now with the new girl in the house taking up so much attention.

2. No, she is not biting for blood, she will just hiss suddenly and then grab my arm with both paws and bite. It's rather odd because she will be so lovey a second before. She's so small and not very strong. It's hard to tell in the picture, but she's about half the size of Ninja and he's a year old. That's why we think she's maybe about 6 months.

3. Third question, since she is probably a feral, is it wise to take her to the vet for shots and dewormer while she is pregnant? I worry she might give Ninja kitty something. She's so clean though, and I haven't seen any fleas or worms in her feces, or anything in her ears at all.

Thanks for your help.

littlemama said:

1. Ok, we are taking extra care to respect her boundaries right now as well as protect her from any fights that may occur. Poor Njnja is feeling a bit abandoned right now with the new girl in the house taking up so much attention.

2. No, she is not biting for blood, she will just hiss suddenly and then grab my arm with both paws and bite. It's rather odd because she will be so lovey a second before. She's so small and not very strong. It's hard to tell in the picture, but she's about half the size of Ninja and he's a year old. That's why we think she's maybe about 6 months.

3. Third question, since she is probably a feral, is it wise to take her to the vet for shots and dewormer while she is pregnant? I worry she might give Ninja kitty something. She's so clean though, and I haven't seen any fleas or worms in her feces, or anything in her ears at all.

Thanks for your help.

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1.  Yeah, you mustnt forget to give lotsa of love and attention to Ninja too!  Its in fact important.  Perhaps one of you concetrates on Lilly, the other on Ninja, so both gets love simultaneously...

2.  A  cat whom wants to bite for real, do bites for real, not only drawing blood, but its a tremendous force in a full force bite.  So, whatever she does, isnt not biting for real!

If you were together a longer time, I would say its some sort of love bites.  But she was with you just a few days, so it must be some other explanation.

I would guess on some sort of overstimulation.  She doesnt manage with lotsa of so intensive stimulation, and this intensive feeling must get out somewhere - and so she bites, to relieve herself...   If this bother you, try and held the lovey sessions shorter, not to overdo them.  You can perhaps even notice on her body language when she has got enough?

3.  A vet check up is wise, if your vet is any good.  But if you already let them meet, it doesnt matter much as for quarantene-wise.  The deed is already done, if there was something contagious.  But as you say, she seems healthy, she seems very clean. Succesful homeless have usually immunity system above average, so she is probably OK and I expect she will get a clean bill of health, save perhaps some deworming and deparasiting.

Deworming is wise too. Use some mild dewormer for round worms, this will be surely needed - others may depend on....  If you have the Milbomax which is more allround, you can use this too.   Ask the vet!

But vaccinations must wait...   And not let him take x-rays, its unnecessary here, but costly.

I know cats are instinctual by nature but I did read somewhere younger cats especially those under a year are more likely to neglect their babies. This isn't to say yours will (I've seen many young mama cats do just fine). I just wanted to let you know to keep an eye on the babies. Keep us posted on ninja kitty and mama kitty, I love seeing happy stories.