Dog and pregnant cat get along now but what about when delivery happens?

I've got a small dog that does EVERYTHING with my almost ready to deliver pregnant calico cat! They sleep together,eat together... seriously just about everything! What am I to do when she goes into labor? He is going to bark his head off when I try to keep him out of the room they have slept together in since day ONE! Please help!

I guess I know the answer... let him bark... but I do let them both along with all the other cats roam freely throughout the house during the day while my husband and I are both at work! I wonder all day wile at work if she's in labor having the kittens while I'm not there... that's also a problem! Any thoughts?

pbrewer38 said:

I've got a small dog that does EVERYTHING with my almost ready to deliver pregnant calico cat! They sleep together,eat together... seriously just about everything! What am I to do when she goes into labor? He is going to bark his head off when I try to keep him out of the room they have slept together in since day ONE! Please help!

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I guess you can let them continue to help each other.  Many dogs are quite motherly, even male.    If momma wants the dog near, so be it.  Do observe the first hours, though.  we arent stupid to take unnecessay risks.

The same answer with a cat, even a tom.   Although with toms there is the complication he can make her pregnant anew.  Here we dont have this problem.  

Yes, I would continue to allow them to be together, but supervise to make sure the kittens are safe. Co-parenting is fine as long as it works and mama kitty is happy with it.

Let us know what happens! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

I think you need to keep the dog away from the kittens completely, at least until their eyes open and they are walking around.  Too often, a pet dog kills new kittens, and it is heartbreaking all around.  And the momcat cries for days looking for her babies.  Any time they are home alone (everyone out at work and school, or out to dinner) be sure a door separates the dog from the kittens.

We'd love to see photos of this friendship!

You'll want to make sure that the dog barking doesn't distress mom either. Follow her lead.

Can you keep mom inside and 100% away from intact males? She can get pregnant again within a week of delivery.

Do you plan to spay after this litter?

Yes she will be getting spayed after she has kittens! And the kittens will also be finding new loving parents! I keep reading about her temperature dropping her getting higher when she's ready to deliver which is it and also how do I take her temperature this is all new to me can anybody give me some advice?

Don't stress her by taking her temperature. It is not a reliable indicator in my opinion. Look for contractions starting in her belly, along with discharge.

Are you keeping mom inside and away from any intact males?

My calico cat and Red Healer did everything together. I was also worried what would happen when my cat delivered her litter. I kept my dog away during delivery but introduced her to the kittens after all of them were born. The dog was a great second mother for the kittens. She did everything for them that the mama cat did including trying to nurse them even though she had no milk. I say carefully introduce the dog to the babies like I did and see what the reaction is. You might very well be pleasantly surprised by your dogs behavior. My cats yes plural 2 at the same time are delivering this morning together helping each other. I didn't separate my dog this time. The dog has been a Nervous Nellie checking on the birthing process and pacing the floor but everything is all good with her and both mothers and babies!

How is your cat doing today?

freedom said:

I think you need to keep the dog away from the kittens completely, at least until their eyes open and they are walking around. Too often, a pet dog kills new kittens, and it is heartbreaking all around. And the momcat cries for days looking for her babies. Any time they are home alone (everyone out at work and school, or out to dinner) be sure a door separates the dog from the kittens.

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I agree. I'm amazed others have said it's ok for the dog to be around newborn kittens. There was a horribly sad thread here this month about a male cat indoors who bit the paw of a newborn kitten. The kitten later died.

Momma should be ALONE with her babies. That includes all dogs & cats. She should not be left roaming around the house when OP is away because her kittens are then defenseless.

This has solved all my problems. It allows the dogs to look in, but not touch and it's big enough to put a litter box in. It only works well if you flip it upside down though. It's 3' in diameter and 2' high. And it's collapsible for easy storage. I don't know how I lived without this for so long. (I know the place is a mess, but I am not strong enough to take that t.v. out to the dumpster).

I would think an excited dog could clamber over the top of that.

Only if the dog is big. The biggest dog I have is a beagle, and yes he could, but he's too old and arthritic to care. The schnauzer and morkie can't. The morkie tried, but failed.

kashmir64 said:

Only if the dog is big. The biggest dog I have is a beagle, and yes he could, but he's too old and arthritic to care. The schnauzer and morkie can't. The morkie tried, but failed.

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But surely momma & the kittens would be terrified of a dog so close? If it were me, I would not do it.

kashmir64 said:

This has solved all my problems. It allows the dogs to look in, but not touch and it's big enough to put a litter box in. It only works well if you flip it upside down though. It's 3' in diameter and 2' high. And it's collapsible for easy storage. I don't know how I lived without this for so long. (I know the place is a mess, but I am not strong enough to take that t.v. out to the dumpster).
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I used to have one of those and silly me gave it away when we moved!! But I have wonderful news! She started having her kittens this morning at 6:00am in my bed WITH MILO ( dog) LAYING RIGHT NEXT TO HER AND ME ON THE OTHER SIDE OF HER! I was getting up anyway and was getting ready to just pet her and felt something wet and realized it was a kitten... I then removed Milo who really could have cared less and didn't seem to be too worried or freaked out about anything, off the bed and she continued to just keep having the kittens till 9:00am so very naturally... all is well and I have picked him up through out the day and just talked to him and showed him the kittens and he has been really great with everything! I'm not allowing him to get in bed with them at all and I'm waiting a day to move them so they are at least a day old... but all is going very well so far!
I will keep everyone posted on the progress of these two buddies and 5 kittens

Precious. Congratulations!

How adorable they are. It's going to be hard not to take photos every 10 minutes. Fortunately, I love kitten photos.