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- Jul 17, 2005
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I took in a cat recently, last Thursday. I have seen her and had many evening petting sessions with her before this. Last September she showed up one day and spent the day in my lap. (She is actually really sweet and will let you pick her up, pet her belly, paws, tail, doesn't really care as long as she is getting attention.) I have two ferrets and a husband allergic to cats, so I didn't take her in. She kept coming around though, and even trying to come in the house. Around late October I started to give her food. I figured that she was coming around anyhow, so it wouldn't hurt.
She was pregnant last year, and came around to my house with a bloody vulva for a few days. She spent a LOT of time on my porch thouse few days, so I don't think the kittens survived.
In December she tried to follow us down the street (we live on a VERY busy street) to the store. I had to stay home so she wouldn't follow my husband.
I took her to live with a friend about fifteen miles from my house and in the country. She disappeared a few days later.
You can imagine how surprised I was to see her last Thursday. (And glad too, I felt guilty that she may have perished.) She is EXTREMELY pregnant!
I invited her in to live in my basement as I try to find a home for her. I set up a litter box, which she took to immediately, food, water, and birthing boxes around the basement.
She has been really sweet and cuddly up until today. (I tried to take her to a shelter yesterday but they refused to take her and even suggested I have a vet terminate the pregnancy....they are supposedly a no-kill shelter.) She sat on my lap two evenings in a row and let me pet her and hold my hand on her belly (I felt the kittens moving, it was so cool!). I estimate she is about six to seven weeks along, (I think?) Her nipples have enlarged, but she is not yet lactating.
Today I went down to visit her and she was friendly as usual. I went up to a landing in my basement where one of the birthing boxes is and she followed me and hopped in. I put my hand in to see if she could use some more newspaper for cushioning and she attacked my arm, biting and scratching me somewhat badly. Then as I tried to go down the stairs she got in front of me and attacked my shoe the same way. She has since been growlier than normal.
I understand that she has chosen this as her nest and probably felt that I was intruding. Is this type of defensive agression normal? Could it mean she is near delivery and actually closer to nine weeks along?
Even bigger concern: Should I go and get Rabies shots since she is a stray and appears to have been fighting? (She has some scabs and missing fur sround her neck and chest area.)
I am taking her to the local animal shelter tomorrow (Not the one that refused her, another one). I had already decided to do so since life in my basement is far from appropriate for any animal. I absolutely cannot keep her or I would. I just keep thinking how bad I would feel if she decided that ferrets=prey. I am also going to request of my shelter that they notify me if she is not adopted and it is close to a termination date. I won't have her put down, not when she is normally so sweet.
Any advice?
She was pregnant last year, and came around to my house with a bloody vulva for a few days. She spent a LOT of time on my porch thouse few days, so I don't think the kittens survived.
In December she tried to follow us down the street (we live on a VERY busy street) to the store. I had to stay home so she wouldn't follow my husband.
I took her to live with a friend about fifteen miles from my house and in the country. She disappeared a few days later.
You can imagine how surprised I was to see her last Thursday. (And glad too, I felt guilty that she may have perished.) She is EXTREMELY pregnant!
I invited her in to live in my basement as I try to find a home for her. I set up a litter box, which she took to immediately, food, water, and birthing boxes around the basement.
She has been really sweet and cuddly up until today. (I tried to take her to a shelter yesterday but they refused to take her and even suggested I have a vet terminate the pregnancy....they are supposedly a no-kill shelter.) She sat on my lap two evenings in a row and let me pet her and hold my hand on her belly (I felt the kittens moving, it was so cool!). I estimate she is about six to seven weeks along, (I think?) Her nipples have enlarged, but she is not yet lactating.
Today I went down to visit her and she was friendly as usual. I went up to a landing in my basement where one of the birthing boxes is and she followed me and hopped in. I put my hand in to see if she could use some more newspaper for cushioning and she attacked my arm, biting and scratching me somewhat badly. Then as I tried to go down the stairs she got in front of me and attacked my shoe the same way. She has since been growlier than normal.
I understand that she has chosen this as her nest and probably felt that I was intruding. Is this type of defensive agression normal? Could it mean she is near delivery and actually closer to nine weeks along?
Even bigger concern: Should I go and get Rabies shots since she is a stray and appears to have been fighting? (She has some scabs and missing fur sround her neck and chest area.)
I am taking her to the local animal shelter tomorrow (Not the one that refused her, another one). I had already decided to do so since life in my basement is far from appropriate for any animal. I absolutely cannot keep her or I would. I just keep thinking how bad I would feel if she decided that ferrets=prey. I am also going to request of my shelter that they notify me if she is not adopted and it is close to a termination date. I won't have her put down, not when she is normally so sweet.
Any advice?
