Question about stray cat who has delivered & not nursing

I hope someone can help me with my confusion. The vet is being no help in guiding me.

There is this very young cat that had been visiting my house where I keep food for stray/feral cats. She was afraid of us, but would let me touch her and pick her up. She's always looked thin and scrawny. When I picked her up, her breasts looked like she was either pregnant or nursing. Her tummy was really thin though.

I took her to the vet, who said she was not pregnant, and she didn't even have milk in her anymore. She was 6-9 months old. He spayed her, and said she had given birth, but doesn't know when. Right now she is still at the vet because the stitches are still there, and he needs to remove them in 10 days. 

But I am worrying that she might have kittens who are not nursing, but still young enough to need her. Yet, I can't release her as she will get infection - the vet said she could get infected. This is a residential area, and so difficult to follow her as she goes through houses.

I am rambling here...that's how confused I am.

I guess my question is, should I release her for a few weeks just in case there are kittens and then get her in and adopt her? I want to adopt her as she is very friendly and seems to love to be hugged. She doesn't seem to be anyone's pet as she was infested with fleas (been given a flea medicine now). She stays really calm in my arms. When I went to see her at the vet today, she was very calm. Do cat-mums show any anxiety if they have kittens waiting somewhere?

I wish I knew exactly what to do.

Thanks,

Swati

if you have a smart phone you can google new born kitten sounds and play it.  If she has kittens somewhere she will want to get to them.  if she doesn't get frantic, the kittens are weaned.   If she is 6 - 9 months old herself, her kittens can't be more than 3 or 4 months old at the latest.  It's also possible she lost them to predators or the elements.  You may need to try and follow her and bring the kittens to your house.  Is there someone who can help you follow her?  Bring a box to carry kittens home in.

S swatinigam

If she is that young, she may have young kittens who need nursing. It's possible, though, that someone has already found her kittens, and taken them in, thus mom is no longer nursing but was still drying up. I certainly understand your dilemma.

How much was she hanging around your house before you took her to be spayed?

She definitely sounds like she was homeless and starving. It's very kind of you to take care of her. It sounds like she will make a very sweet housecat.

I think it's important that she stay inside. Are you bringing her home tomorrow?

You may want to play kitten sounds to see if she reacts inside the house. If she does, let's talk about it before letting her out.

Thank you both! The vet checked and saw she is dry...she is not nursing any kittens for sure. She is still at the vet because he used non-dissolving stitches. And the stitches need to be taken out in 10 days. So we are keeping her there as I have 2 indoor kitties and they can't meet till she is groomed. The vet said he will bathe her only after the stitches are gone. I should have first tried following her around before taking her for surgery. He said she might get infected if she goes out now after surgery. She had her surgery 2 days back. 

This evening I went walking around the neighborhood looking for kittens. But heard nothing, saw none unless they are hiding very quietly. I will continue looking on my own because sending her out will put her on risk for infection. I learned a lesson at least...not to take a cat for spaying if she looks like she might have kittens. I'll continue looking.

Any suggestions on making hiding kittens come out of bushes? If they are alive, and not nursing, they must be getting out? 

And thank you for the suggestion on playing kitten sounds. I will do that and see how she reacts.

Well, if she's dried up, then her kittens are gone.

So the cat will live at the vet's until her stitches are removed?

Where do you plan to put her when you bring her home? Introductions will need to be made slowly with your 2 resident cats. Do you have a spare room?

SwatiNigam said:

 
Thank you both! The vet checked and saw she is dry...she is not nursing any kittens for sure. She is still at the vet because he used non-dissolving stitches. And the stitches need to be taken out in 10 days. So we are keeping her there as I have 2 indoor kitties and they can't meet till she is groomed. The vet said he will bathe her only after the stitches are gone. I should have first tried following her around before taking her for surgery. He said she might get infected if she goes out now after surgery. She had her surgery 2 days back. 

This evening I went walking around the neighborhood looking for kittens. But heard nothing, saw none unless they are hiding very quietly. I will continue looking on my own because sending her out will put her on risk for infection. I learned a lesson at least...not to take a cat for spaying if she looks like she might have kittens. I'll continue looking.

Any suggestions on making hiding kittens come out of bushes? If they are alive, and not nursing, they must be getting out? 

And thank you for the suggestion on playing kitten sounds. I will do that and see how she reacts.

Click to expand...

So the vet keeps her for a full 10 days?  Is he taking full charge for 10 days 24/7 care - surely costs a fortune, or does he it of his good heart?

Successfull semiferales usually heal quicker then an average family girl - they do, because they are survivors with healing meat above average, so that is why its possible to release them sooner than a home cat.

The standard routine in such cases is, to spay them with selfsolving stitches, and release in 1-3 days...

Now, it is as it is, you must do the second best, patrol all around, look and see, look into bushes, and places to hide.  You can perhaps ask some reliable kids to help you...  You may of course find some other litter instead, but that is a later question.

If she has dried up, her kittens are probably gone this way or another. because its seldom mommas outside just wean them and that is it foodwise.  Usuelly they continue to nurse them some, even if they are eating on their own...

So they are either dead now, or did found some adopter.   Why, I myself recommend  an early rescuing with semiferales.  Its one of the very few exception of the holy "minimum 8 weeks rule".  As its easier to foster successfully a batch of 5-6 weeks than 10-14 weeks...

So, lets hope for the best, but we must understand its fully possible she is the sole survivor.

Yet, for her part, she is saved and safe now...  So THIS saga does end happily.

I do thank you.

Yes she is staying at the vet for now. And we will pay for it. Although many times the vet doesn't charge me when I am helping a homeless animal...he just takes donations for office stuff -- like food for the homeless animals he keeps etc. But this time I am adopting the kitty. So hopefully he will let me pay. I pay for services for my other kitties.

I want to bring her home now, but because I already have 2 indoor cats who are territorial, I don't want her here with her stitches intact. Once her stitches are removed, and she is bathed (she has always been outdoors), I'll get her home. Will keep her in my bedroom till the cats get used to each other. I visit her at the vet. She seems to be enjoying herself there. Doesn't show any interest in running away. Just doesn't want to be in the cage, so the technician there often carries her around. She sits in my lap or in the technician's arms happily like that's where she is meant to be. I just love that! I don't know how this kitty stayed outdoors till now...she loves human company so much. Hopefully she is also learning how to use the litter box. 

I will keep looking for kittens around this place for some more time. 

Thank you so much everyone! I'm happy to have found this forum!

Swati