Momma wants out of the nursery

I think Momma wants out of the nursery. She has been in this room ever since we found out she was pregnant. The kittens will stay in there till they are old enough to venture out. I've been keeping Momma secluded in there since she has never met any of my other pets, she has sniffed at them but thats it. She actually shows a great intrest in the dogs, and everytime I go to the nursery she is right at the door, I think she wants to venture out.

Im thinking about letting her, then she can come sit with me if she likes, the dogs wont chase her, and I bet they wouldnt even sniff her.
I'd like to let her come and go as she pleases throughout my house, just wondering if I should? She seems to want to get out of that room and explore, she is spending some time away from the babies, and wants to walk around.

What should I do?

Momma seems to be a very mellow easy going cat, I dont think it would stress her out, but im not sure.Thanks!

Has she been vet checked and had her vaccinations? If not, she could either give something to your cats, or catch something from them.

My last foster had fleas and ear mites. She seemed healthy enough to me, but had she been loose with my cats, they would have had them, too. (I flea treated everyone just in case! LOL!)

My last foster also seemed real friendly, but now that she has been incorporated into another foster home, they have found she does not get along with other cats. And Momma cats can be very protective of their kittens, so she may be more inclined to fight with your pets.

I am a little paranoid about health, but with my fosters, I keep them locked up until they are vaccinated. My current Momma Sarabi is very lonely without her babies, but until she gets spayed and vaccinated, she only has people visits for company. Soon enough, she can have the run of the house.

Can a nursing cat get vaccines? I know they cant while pregnant. She hasnt had any vaccines to my knowledge, since i got her when she was already pregnant I couldnt give them to her.

When is it safe?

thanks

Originally Posted by Sydney

Can a nursing cat get vaccines? I know they cant while pregnant. She hasnt had any vaccines to my knowledge, since i got her when she was already pregnant I couldnt give them to her.

When is it safe?

thanks

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Sure, it can, but you have to use a killed vaccine.
You can also vaccinate in the last trimester of the pregnancy - in fact, it's a very good idea to do so 2-3 weeks before birth, because the kittens will receive maximum antibodies. But again - only killed vaccine and never, ever earlier in the pregnancy.

thanks, if thats true, I'll take Momma in today. I want her vaccinated asap.
Do most vets have the killed vaccine? Thanks!

Originally Posted by Sydney

thanks, if thats true, I'll take Momma in today. I want her vaccinated asap.
Do most vets have the killed vaccine? Thanks!

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I suppose so, but I'm not sure, because I live in Denmark and it might be different in the US.

I have vaccinated a pregnant queen myself several times, when I had a queen, that had herpes. I was worried that the kittens would get it, so I wanted to make sure, that I protected them the best I could. None of the kittens ever got herpes and all kittens were healthy and still are and I had no complications with the vaccine.

Oh, and by the way....
Keep her in her room for two weeks after vaccinating her. A vaccination always lower the immune system and it will take about two weeks to get it back to normal, so you should not risk her getting stressed, because that will lower her immune system further and might cause her to catch something.

And I forgot to mention that I don't know about rabies, because we only do that if we want to show in another contry, so should talk to your vet about that. But distemper and upper resp. is safe.

The hospital I work at doesnt have killed vaccines. I did call another hospital close by and they said to wait till the kittens are 8 weeks. What should I do?

Originally Posted by Sydney

The hospital I work at doesnt have killed vaccines. I did call another hospital close by and they said to wait till the kittens are 8 weeks. What should I do?

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Did they mention why?
How old are the kittens? I was thinking that I might just be easier for you to wait if it's not that long.

Hi Sydney - I'm having the same exact problem at my house except Toni is a stray kitty and not a foster. She was pregnant when she showed up at my house and we kept her outside until about a week before her birth so she hasn't been introduced my other pets and honestly I don't think they would get along very well. I can tell that Toni is getting VERY tired of being cooped up in our master bath all day even though she has plenty of room and it has a huge window so she can look out.
I've been thinking about putting the babies in a laudry basket and taking everybody outside on the back porch. I figure as long as I watch the babies then momma won't go far but I have no idea if this is a good idea or not. Well good luck and I congratulations on the babies.

Originally Posted by Sydney

The hospital I work at doesnt have killed vaccines. I did call another hospital close by and they said to wait till the kittens are 8 weeks. What should I do?

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Procedures might be different in the USA...so I would go with your vets recommendation.

Katie

Originally Posted by BelleandFiona

Hi Sydney - I'm having the same exact problem at my house except Toni is a stray kitty and not a foster. She was pregnant when she showed up at my house and we kept her outside until about a week before her birth so she hasn't been introduced my other pets and honestly I don't think they would get along very well. I can tell that Toni is getting VERY tired of being cooped up in our master bath all day even though she has plenty of room and it has a huge window so she can look out.
I've been thinking about putting the babies in a laudry basket and taking everybody outside on the back porch. I figure as long as I watch the babies then momma won't go far but I have no idea if this is a good idea or not. Well good luck and I congratulations on the babies.

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I wouldn't put an intact cat anywhere where they could get access outside...a few more weeks of confinement to ensure that they receive vaccinations and that at least mom is spayed is better than risking it for some outside time.

Katie

Im thinking about letting her, then she can come sit with me if she likes, the dogs wont chase her, and I bet they wouldnt even sniff her.
I'd like to let her come and go as she pleases throughout my house, just wondering if I should? She seems to want to get out of that room and explore, she is spending some time away from the babies, and wants to walk around.

What should I do?

Click to expand...

I would keep her confined....honestly, you don't know if her first instinct will be to find a way back outdoors where she could become pregnant again. Better to have her be unhappy for a couple more weeks to ensure that she is spayed rather than risking her get outside.

Katie