Pregnant Stray....

We live in the country and it seems people dump animals (jerks!).

There's a female that showed up on my porch and she's kinda friendly. We thought she was just fat and now it seems that her belly has dropped so much it almost touches the ground and you can now see her nipples when she rolls over. She seems to be grooming the area around them quite a bit now. She has also become pretty vocal and lets us know that she needs to be fed. It seems like she is eating more. She also won't let any of our cats near her and acts like our porch is hers.

How in the world can we tell how far along she is? She bites you if you even act like you are going to touch her belly.

She is probably ready to deliver very soon if her belly is that low.

Might you bring her in and put her in a spare room to nest with her food, water, and litter nearby? It would ensure the safety and well-being of her kittens.

She's cranky because she's protecting her unborn kittens. It's instinctual that cats attempt to keep other animals, and even humans, away at this time.

If not, do you have a big box you can turn on its side and line with a blanket for her to use on the porch?

We hear about people dropping pregnant cats in the country all the time. I don't know what they are thinking! But it is kind of you to feed and care for her as she really needs help now. Poor gal!

I hear you.  Our pregnant stray just had kittens.  We borrowed a big tub and lined it with towels.  We've also managed to find a spot to keep the other cats out.  This site is great for help.  I just wanted to say hello from one country person to another (I think ours was dropped off, too.  Jerks).

We have a crate that's for an extra large dog. We were thinking of making it into a "nest" for her on the porch. I want to be able to catch her and the kittens so I get them all fixed when they are old enough.

Can you put cardboard or something in the bottom and the first 5 or 6 inches up the sides.  The kittens can either get through or get their heads stuck and/or strangle themselves it they go through the holes.

Thank you for taking this cat and her kittens in and especially for having them all spayed/neutered later on. 

Crate sounds very good! Just line it and hope she uses it.

If she has her kittens in it and does not move them, you should be able to handle the kittens eventually in order to socialize them to humans. Mom will likely be friendlier once her kittens are born and get older.

Are you giving mama cat both wet food and dry? She needs it.

How long have you had her?

Yes we can do that. I have to be able to catch them to fix them. I have never had a pregnant cat and don't want to have another one. I think she has been around for two months. I will go and get wet food for her. I love my cats and couldn't see any option besides taking care of her. 

You should be able to handle the kittens well in advance of having to trap them, hopefully.

Thanks for giving her wet food. She needs it now and while lactating.

Maybe after she has the kittens she would follow you in the house with them so you do not have to trap her either.

I though about bringing her inside, but my indoor babies don't seem to like her much. She has claimed the porch and my other cats are ok with that, but they won't let her inside the house. I don't think it would be good for anyone to have fighting cats. She lets me pet her so I don't think I would have to resort to trapping her. (that would be awful) But she will be getting fixed ASAP. 

I understand. I wouldn't expect your other cats to like her at all right now!

If you were to bring her inside she and kittens would need their own room initially anyway.

So the vet confirmed it and the kitty is very pregnant. He says we should have kittens by the end of the month. We have made her a pretty comfortable nest inside a crate and currently she seems happy with it. The vet gave us several samples of science diet kitten food so that is what she is now eating. I will post pictures of the babies when we have some!