Found Pregnant cat

Ok, this is my first post. but I troll and post on many other forum sites..so really not a newbie. I did a search and couldn't find anything specific on stray pregnant cats. And with stray, by definitions that I found, I believe it was domesticated at one time, reaching this conclution noticeing a ratty, torn, old collar on her. Also noticed when I fed it, it knew (liked) dry cat food, along with using a litter pan with no training.
This cat is also pregnant. It stomach is very large as nipples are big. I have scheduled an appt at the vet for tomarrow (ps. is 26 dollars a good price for an exam?) so hopefully the vet can see how the unborn kittens are doing.

ANyway...is there anything that I can do specifically for this cat? It has a bed, litter box, food, water. I gave it a bath because it smelled pretty bad. I also do not know what to do about her and her kittens seeing as I already am taking care of her with a breach of contract on my apartment lease...and i quote " absolutly no animals other than fish, including cats, dogs or anything that cannot live outside of water"

So in conclution, any help or comments would be greatly appreciated. Or in anyone wants a kitten that lives in northern michignan :-D ...the animal shelter is only open on Saturdays, so I have her for atleast a week.

sorry for the long post..

So I am a bit confused, do you not want to keep this cat and the kittens when they arrive? As it is kitten season, most places will be full up and if you could keep this mom until the babies are old enough, that would be so wonderful of you, as you sound like a responsible pet owner.

She needs a dark quiet place and a birthing box, a simple cardboard box, or even a sock drawer pulled out and filled with soft bedding will tempt her to nest when the time comes. You can start feeding her quality food several times a day at least 4 times a day as she has probably not had much nutrition living out in the streets.

As bad as this next part sounds, it needs to be said that if your vet agrees, and if you can't care for a whole family of cats, you can opt to get her spayed right away. Then after she recovers, find her a home somewhere. I know it is not a pleasant alternative, but given the problem of over population and all the kittens now sitting in cages across the U.S. it is sometimes the more realistic road to take.

ContourPower..welcome to the site. I agree with Hissy....I volunteer with a rescue and we are full to the brim with kittens. If you cannot care for this mom cat through her pregnancy and delivery and adoption of the kittens...it may be a better option to have her spayed if your vet can perform the spay surgery. It is an individual decision...and no one will judge you for deciding to go either route. You just have to consider what you can handle right now.

Katie

Hi! I just went through something similar. We trapped a pregnant feral cat and went ahead and let her have her kittens. It made me sick just to think about having her kittens aborted. Now she has four beautiful kittens and is doing well. Now that I have been through this, I know now that if I trapped another pregnant cat I would definitly have her spayed. It is very sad but I think it is easier on the cat and everyone else involved. Good luck with the kitty! I hope everything works out okay.

Thank you so much for taking in this pregnant mom even though it violates your lease! You obviousy have a very big heart and want to do right by this kitty.

If you cannot keep her, and you cannot keep her and the kittens in your apartment for 12 weeks, I'd have to say - I agree that the spay should be performed. Some vets will not do it depending upon how far she is into her pregnancy. But others are familiar with the extremely serious problem of tens of thousands of homeless cats, and will spay a pregnant female.

If this is not a decision you can live with, can you find a friend who can care for her and the kittens? It is a HUGE burden, as Becki71 (and many others here) can attest. But kittens really need to be with mum for 10 - 12 weeks (12 is optimum). And if you do decide to have her spayed, do you think you can find a home for her? If not, releasing her back to where you found her vaccinated and spayed is an option. You can perhaps continue to feed her and provide food and water for her outside? In Northern Michigan the Winter may be tough for her - but even with the snow and temperatures there, with any kind of shelter with some hay inside, as long as she's getting good nutrition, she can survive the winter.

Oh - I just reread your post. I see you plan to take her to the animal shelter. Please just make sure they're a no-kill shelter? You may also want to check on their "no-kill" policy even if they say they're a "no-kill" shelter. Many "no-kill" shelters mean the don't kill the cats if they determine they're adoptable. Any cats that show any sign of aggression (which a friendly mom cat may do with kittens), or any cats deemed "unadoptable" for any reason can be euthanized. Please don't take the words "no kill" at face value.

Also, just so you know, it is very likely that IF the shelter has any space and IF they take your pregnant mom cat, they will most likely have her spayed before she has the kittens.

I know - who thought rescuing one pregnant mom could possibly raise so many issues?

If you decide to keep her at least through having and raising the kittens, there are plenty of people here, including our Orphaned Kitten Advisor, Kumbulu (who knows plenty about raising kittens WITH the mom around!), who can help you through the process.

If you'd like to read about what to expect in advance, although this site is geared toward kittens without moms, it's an excellent site: www.kitten-rescue.com

Please keep us posted! And let us know if we can be of any further help.

Wow, thanks for all the responses...i think it is a little late as to spay the litter (i s that the right term?)...just to make everything clear, i would never put a little cat out on its own, including the mom (named bimmer, after the car..BMW ) I just mean i can't have 10 cats running around here all year while I am at schoo. I will probably keep bimmer because of all our bonding this past week, including falling asleep in my arms at the vets, with dogs and cat running around everywhere. I want/will keep the kittens untill they are healthy enough to leave the mom, and the vet says it is ok I took bimmer to the vet and she has ear mites and worms, all of which is expected i'm sure w/ a stray, but no fleas..so thats good.

so, as we speak, my girlfriend is watching over her as she is in stage 1 of queening ( new word of the day)...why did she have to do this during game 5 of the b-ball finals GO PISTONS!...wish me luck with new kitties, and convincing my mom she needs another cat



p.s. i am following this advise..anyother would be helpfull! clicky

Originally Posted by ContourPower

Wow, thanks for all the responses...i think it is a little late as to spay the litter (i s that the right term?)...just to make everything clear, i would never put a little cat out on its own, including the mom (named bimmer, after the car..BMW

) I just mean i can't have 10 cats running around here all year while I am at schoo. I will probably keep bimmer because of all our bonding this past week, including falling asleep in my arms at the vets, with dogs and cat running around everywhere. I want/will keep the kittens untill they are healthy enough to leave the mom, and the vet says it is ok

I took bimmer to the vet and she has ear mites and worms, all of which is expected i'm sure w/ a stray, but no fleas..so thats good.

so, as we speak, my girlfriend is watching over her as she is in stage 1 of queening ( new word of the day)...why did she have to do this during game 5 of the b-ball finals GO PISTONS!...wish me luck with new kitties, and convincing my mom she needs another cat

p.s. i am following this advise..anyother would be helpfull! clicky

Click to expand...

It's funny.
My old apartment lease also had no pet contract.
The girl living upfront had a bunch of cats who liked sitting in the window.
The guy to the left of me had a dog who he would let out at night and that dog will bark and whine non-stop.

How are the mom-cat and kittens today?

Isn't it amazing how quickly our lives can change because of one furry animal! Best of luck to you and thanks for caring.

Your doing a wonderful thing.........please keep us updated!

Sending good thoughts out to you and Bimmer! How's it going? If you need any help, Kumbulu has LOTS of experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also wondering how it's going......how's Bimmer.....any babies??

Yes...please keep us post.

Katie

well, bimmer had 3 kittens...a white one, grey, and orange and grey mix. They are about 10 days old. One has it's eyes open already, and the other two I'm sure in a few days. They are all putting on weight nicley, and I am sure are all living well. Bimmer is doing well, but has the worse breath in the world!
Only bad thing is that I have to keep the litter box in my bedroom, and whenever bimmer "uses" it, she clears the room

I plan on taking them all in to the vet next week sometime, as soon as I figure out how a poor college kid can pay for all the things they will need pretty soon!

I have pictures taken, but need to find a site to host them (fototime is out of the question, used all my emails on them :-D)..

THanks for all the nice replies!

ContourPower, I did a search for low cost clinics...some of this may be repetitive:

MICHIGAN
West Michigan SPCA
No Kill Cat Shelter
6806 E. Evanston Avenue
Muskegon, MI 49442
Phone: (231) 788-5933
Email: [email protected]
Provide transportation to low cost spay and neuter facilities.

A-Care Animal Clinic
1701 Rochester Rd.
Troy, MI 48083
Phone: (248) 524-0500
Low cost S/N for all. Neutering of cats: under age 1: $21.00.
Neutering of cats: over age 1: $24.00. Spaying of cats: $35.00 under age of 1
Spaying of cats: $40.00 for cats over the age of 1

Long Lake Animal Hospital
5044 John R Road
Troy, MI 48098
Phone: (248) 689-8899
Does NOT provide S/N for ferals, will only do domesticated pets.

Cascades Humane Society
626 N. Mechanic St.
Jackson, MI 49202
Phone: (517) 788-6587
Low cost spay/neuter of both dogs and cats; extremely low cost rabies
vaccination, if needed, at time of S/N. Fees go according to income.
If someone can afford to pay, then fees are determined by the weight of
the animal.

Animal's Best Friend
PO Box 443
Oshtemo, MI 49077
Phone: (616) 624-1090
For pets living in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties, ABF
provides small subsidies at particular veterinary clinics each
month. Call for details.

Kalamazoo Humane Society
4239 South Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI
Phone: (616) 345-1181
Low cost spay/neuter for pets of qualifed low income people

Humane Society of Huron Valley
Ann Arbor, MI
Phone: (734) 662-4365

http://www.angelfire.com/md2/mdpetrescu/Mich.html


MICHIGAN

C-SNIP (Community Spay/Neuter Initiative Partnership)
Serves Kent County and adjacent counties
Grand Rapids MI
Web: www.csnip.org
Low cost mobile clinic for pets of people with low income.

West Michigan SPCA
Muskegon MI
231-788-5933

Silver Lake Animal Rescue League
Dixie Highway
Waterford, MI
248-545-6583, extension 5 This organization has a program for spay/neuter of pets of low income people in metropolitan Detroit.

Long Lake Animal Hospital
5044 John R Road
Troy, MI 48098
248-689-8899

Humane Society of Huron Valley
Ann Arbor, MI
313-662-4365

Kalamazoo Humane Society
4239 South Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI
616-345-1181
Provides some assistance for the spay/neuter of pets of qualifed low income people.

Animal's Best Friend
PO Box 443
Oshtemo, MI 49077
616-624-1090
For pets living in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties, ABF provides small subsidies at particular veterinary clinics each month. Call for details.

Zimmer Foundation
PO Bx 130944
Ann Arbor MI 48113
734-663-8000
For feral cats in Washtenaw County

Good job ContourPower! I'm so glad this kitty found it's way to you.