Hi from Ireland

Hi there
I've just joined from Ireland after spending the last few days reading as much as I can about pregnant cats!

I have 3 of my own girls, Minnie who is 17 years old, has thyroid problems, is deaf and has no teeth; and Fern and Willow, tabby sisters who are only 18 months old but are almost twice as big as Minnie!

Along with my 6 year old (human) daughter, I foster for my local SPCA. We are on our 4th foster. The first 3 were kittens but this time we have a pregnant mamma. We are not sure when she is due but the vet thinks maybe 10 days or so.

We are really excited about this but a little nervous too. The photo of the 3 cats are my own 3. Elsa my foster girl is on her own.

Looking forward to chatting. [emoji]128512[/emoji]

Excellent work that you are doing. Do you have a birthing box set up for momma? I used an old litter box for my foster last year, which was perfect. Momma needs to be able to recline when feeding her babies so the box has to be big enough for that.

At the moment she's set up in a crate. I keep my foster babies crated and let them out to roam in my kitchen when I'm here.

I made a cover for the crate so she's got more privacy and feels safer but I did wonder if she's going to be OK to have her babies in there or if I should include a box to keep them safer?

Here's a photo...She prefers to lie with her head off the blanket...maybe it's cooler?! Even though she'd fit better on the blanket. Lol.

That's fabulous! My concern though is that the babies are going to fall off the edge of the blankets. As you know, it doesn't take long for them to start moving.

This is just my opinion, but I would not have the litter box in the crate. Most cats don't like a box next to their food & I wonder if this hygienic for newborn kittens? Personally, I would put the box elsewhere. She will not want to be with her kittens every minute of the day. My cat in my photo had her food & box in the same room, but on the other side of the room. When she needed a stretch she came out of the birthing box, but her babies were safe alone.

I hear what you are saying. I think I will get a box or clean litter tray to put in there.

Regarding the actual litter tray, I'm not sure? I could take it out but then I'd have to leave the crate open so she could get to it. And then the kittens might get out? Or my own cats (the younger two) might try get in to steal her food. You know how it is, the other cats food is ALWAYS nicer!!

irishmammy said:

I hear what you are saying. I think I will get a box or clean litter tray to put in there.

Regarding the actual litter tray, I'm not sure? I could take it out but then I'd have to leave the crate open so she could get to it. And then the kittens might get out? Or my own cats (the younger two) might try get in to steal her food. You know how it is, the other cats food is ALWAYS nicer!!

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There is no way you can have other cats in the room with momma! Momma will be very upset with her babies if other cats are nearby.

Oh I did not realise that. So glad I joined here! Need to rethink. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

irishmammy said:

Oh I did not realise that. So glad I joined here! Need to rethink. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

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Cast your mind back to when your daughter was born. Imagine birthing her if there were several other random women in the room who did not have children. You would wonder "what the heck are they doing here?". A cat feels the same way. Compounded if she has previously birthed outside, which she may have done.

BTW, my momma cat stayed in her room for 3 months with her babies. My other two cats never even saw her & everyone was happy.

I had csections for all my human babies so there were probably 20 people present! [emoji]128514[/emoji][emoji]128514[/emoji] But I do get your point.

I'll sleep on it (it's past midnight here) and see what I can figure out in the morning. Thanks for the advice.

irishmammy said:

I had csections for all my human babies so there were probably 20 people present! [emoji]128514[/emoji][emoji]128514[/emoji] But I do get your point.

I'll sleep on it (it's past midnight here) and see what I can figure out in the morning. Thanks for the advice.

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It will all work out. Main thing is momma is safe & knows you'll take care of her. Good night!

Might I please add my two cents (or pence?) to the discussion?

I would be most worried about little heads getting stuck in the bars of the larger black cage. Is there any way to put cardboard or some blockade down at the first few inches so they cannot get hurt that way? Maybe first 4 or five inches, so they are not exposed at all to the cage bars.

MegMeows said:

Might I please add my two cents (or pence?) to the discussion?
I would be most worried about little heads getting stuck in the bars of the larger black cage. Is there any way to put cardboard or some blockade down at the first few inches so they cannot get hurt that way? Maybe first 4 or five inches, so they are not exposed at all to the cage bars.

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Gosh, you're absolutely right. I did not think of that.

So I was thinking about this overnight and I think the best thing I can do is move mama to my ensuite bathroom. I'm the only one who uses this at the moment so I can switch to another bathroom for a few weeks.

She would be much more isolated up there and I can just use a box rather than the crate so that also gets around the concern about the bars on the crate.

When would be the best time to move her? Right now she has company most of the day if she chooses. I don't want to move her too soon and find she gets lonely.

From the vets estimates she is probably due in 8 or 9 days but no one really knows. She's only gone from looking fat to looking pregnant (sticking out at sides more) in the last day or two.

When you set up her box, it should go in a corner of the bathroom. She won't use it if it's out in the open.

Why would you not use the ensuite bathroom if momma is there? She won't care & she'll enjoy showing you her babies when they come.

Hello irishmammy, welcome to TCS

This is a great place to learn about pregnant cats and kittens. You'll get great informations here

Hi all
So just to update, I've moved Elsa to my bathroom and she is so much more relaxed. We could see an immediate change in her. She comes right over to me purring and rubbing against my legs. Today I got some head busts!

I did go though a few days of being unsure she actually was pregnant as she didn't seem to be getting any bigger but today she allowed my to place my hand on her tummy and I felt some little kicks and some squirming. There's definitely babies in there.

I think we are not as far along as the vet suggested, so could have another week or two to go? Elsa's appetite has increased a bit in the last few days. She's settled into a good eating and toileting routine after a few blips.

I'll add some photos of her set up. She keeps tossing up the blankets in her nesting box but doesn't sleep in it. Is that to keep it clean for her babies? She sleeps beside it.

The photo of the uncovered crate is just to show the set up. It's covered now and has a bed on top as she also likes to sleep up there.

I changed the litter tray for a full size covered one as she was finding it hard to keep everything in the tray. She's happy with the new litter tray. It's positioned on the opposite side of the room to the crate, so not too close but near enough.

I'm still using the bathroom as I realised Elsa wouldn't get to see anyone if not and she enjoys my little visits. She's definitely happier where she is now and more relaxed.

The Queen of England could not ask for a better setup. It's really brilliant how you've thought it through and tinkered with the original plan. Love how she can sleep on top. She will be able to do that when she needs respite from her babies. You moved the litter box - good. Love how you've covered the crate. Until the babies start to crawl they should be fine there. My foster cat did not go in her box until the day she birthed. she didn't see the point. Once the kittens are on the move a tiled floor will not work for them as they will need traction as they wobble about, but, first, let's get Elsa birthed!

Thank you....I feel better that her set up is good now.

Yesterday I felt the kittens moving for the first time and today I could see little movements when she was lying down. I'm guessing that means we could have about 2 weeks to go?

irishmammy said:

Thank you....I feel better that her set up is good now.

Yesterday I felt the kittens moving for the first time and today I could see little movements when she was lying down. I'm guessing that means we could have about 2 weeks to go?

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Haven't a clue. I hadn't the faintest idea when my foster would deliver. It was so weird how it happened. I'd had her about a week I guess & she seemed small to me. One Sunday I had just finished a long weekend of cleaning, etc. I popped into her room & she immediately started birthing. Almost like she waited for me. Her 3 kittens all came tail first. She dropped the middle one on the floor & hurled all over the floor, which was alarming. I had to pull the membrane off the one on the floor, but when I checked later momma had sorted herself out with that kitten, thank God.

Oh goodness, sounds very dramatic! Hoping my lady will be calm and serene when she gives birth! [emoji]128514[/emoji]