Need Advice on a Farm Cat

I have a female cat on my farm that showed up and I thought she might be pregnant. She was a very friendly cat so I brought her inside so she'd be comfortable and safe.

Last Wednesday she had the first kitten, it died within an hour then she ate it. I took that as an indication there would more if she was cleaning her nest.

Then she stopped acting like she was in labor, I think she may be young (or maybe just small) so I thought it couldn't be too weird if she had a really small litter. Then the next day about 12 hours later she had another, it lived only a few minutes but never mewed. They both looked a little weird so I think they were premature. She spent a lot of time licking the second kitten and working on it after it died then when I removed it and buried it she started enticing other cats to nurse on her.

I didn't notice right away but she still seems a little wide instead of saggy, and she's gone seriously ultra mother mode on some almost adult cats that are around the farm. Could she still be pregnant now almost a week later after having lost two kittens? How do I know for sure?

BethPush said:

I have a female cat on my farm that showed up and I thought she might be pregnant. She was a very friendly cat so I brought her inside so she'd be comfortable and safe.

Last Wednesday she had the first kitten, it died within an hour then she ate it. I took that as an indication there would more if she was cleaning her nest.

Then she stopped acting like she was in labor, I think she may be young (or maybe just small) so I thought it couldn't be too weird if she had a really small litter. Then the next day about 12 hours later she had another, it lived only a few minutes but never mewed. They both looked a little weird so I think they were premature. She spent a lot of time licking the second kitten and working on it after it died then when I removed it and buried it she started enticing other cats to nurse on her.

I didn't notice right away but she still seems a little wide instead of saggy, and she's gone seriously ultra mother mode on some almost adult cats that are around the farm. Could she still be pregnant now almost a week later after having lost two kittens? How do I know for sure?

Click to expand...

If the first two were premature, its fully possible she has more, whom are full time - perhaps a little late - but cats manage later deliveries better than too early - as you saw.

How to know for sure?  Not being very knowleable, it itsnt easy. Especielly as the uterus is often swullen, and can easily be confused with one kitten more... But now several days later it should be possible to tell.   If you arent used to palpitate, you can perhaps get home some neigbour whom is??

Best is of course to let a vet to do it, but I know not all do afford it, esp when its no obvious emergency to save the life of momma.

You can perhaps begin by training on some other friendly cats, how to palpitate...

Another option to know, is to just wait and see some... As she isnt in no distress, its possible to wait.   The only problem is, as she is apparently very motherlike - you can perhaps have her as a foster mom, if there are some kittens in need, on your farm or with neighbours. Or some shelter nearby.

I mean, as its quite probably she is done, although still a little wide, you do have the alternative AND possibility here if you so wish.

And please plan on spaying of her.  If she isnt no foster momma, it should be done now soon.  She can get impregnated anew very soon now, a week after perhaps.

I try to get all the cats that come around taken care of, as long as I can pick them up safely. Getting the rabies shots hurt really bad I don't want to experience that again. Most of the people around here just shoot them, I've convinced my husband to let the ones who don't attack us live, though.

None of them are actually mine, but as I can afford it I have them spayed/neutered, rabies, and anything else they may need. We have a VERY LARGE feral cat population in all the cities near here and I can't afford all of them.

I'm saving money for her right now and I'm trying to keep her inside, but she clawed through my screen door. She does not seem to be hurting at all, though, so I didn't want to waste money on a vet visit if I didn't need it especially since I'm saving for her to be spayed.

If you dont want to shoot the feral cats, you could think about TNR (trap-neuter-return). There are a lot of organizations and individuals out there that can help with TNR. In order to find help, ask your nearest animal shelter or check out the Alley Cat Allies Feral Friends Network:

http://www.alleycat.org/our-work/feral-friends-network/

You type in your ZIP code and how far from this ZIP code you want to expand your search, and within seconds the system will email you a list of organizations, people, vets, and clinics that can help one way or the other.

I think it is a wonderful resource! I and a lot of my TNR friends are in this list too.