Worried about a Pregnant Stray...

nhlee529 · Jun 26, 2006

I've been feeding a stray kitty(I call her Muskrat) on and off in my apartment complex for about 2 months now. Normally I wouldn't befriend any strays in my area, but this kitty was very friendly towards me. She wasn't afraid of me at all, but when others walk near her, she'd run. She'd meow continuously every time she sees me come home. She'll run in front of me as if she's leading me up the stairs to my apartment. I felt sorry for the stray everytime I see how my two indoor babies play and run around like they're queens of the house... knowing she doesn't have a home and I wouldn't be able to take her in. In any case, I fed her when she's hungry and chased away the male strays when I saw them on occasions. I sort of had an inclination she was going to get pregnant when I saw the males around though. Sure enough for the last month or so, her tummy would be getting bigger and bigger each time I saw her. She'd let me touch it too. She's a small kitty but my neighbors says she's been around for 5 years or so and she's been pregnant many times! But I still worry about her because there are so many factors out there that would put a pregnant kitty in danger out there. I've been told not to worry about her, because she'll know what to do... the thing is, for the past week or so, she seem to have lost her appetite. (I give her a lot of cat food on my deck when I see her, and she'll eat all of it in the beginning.) Last night, I was petting her and she raised per paw for no reason and scratched me. Maybe she wasn't feeling well? I noticed that her boobies were getting even more swollen than before...I think she's about to give birth! I haven't seen her since Sunday early morning until now. When I saw her last she was just laying around outside my door, but the food I left for her was untouched. I am really worried about her. I thought about calling the Humane Society for help, but I debated. She seems happy being outside, people feed her, etc... (other than getting pregnant), what if I had her taken away for help with her pregnancy and people adopt all her babies but leave her behind...then I would have done a bad thing. I just feel awful that I can't take her, since I have two already and one of my babies really got issues... I don't think they can face a stray either, in addition to that... I really don't have the space. I just hope that Muskrat can take care of herself and her babies... I really think she'll be giving birth today or within these few days... so worried. Any thoughts? Thanks.

kittylove1 · Jun 26, 2006

I would try and trap her with a humane trap that animal control can provide to you. Do you have any no-kill shelters in your area? I'm sure they would take her...or the humane society? I have to disagree with you - no animal is better off outside in the elements. Especially with babies. It's just adding to the over population and it's just plain cruel. I know animal control would put her down immediately, but having her and her litter "out there" is just as cruel.

liza24 · Jun 26, 2006

Originally Posted by kittylove1

I would try and trap her with a humane trap that animal control can provide to you. Do you have any no-kill shelters in your area? I'm sure they would take her...or the humane society? I have to disagree with you - no animal is better off outside in the elements. Especially with babies. It's just adding to the over population and it's just plain cruel. I know animal control would put her down immediately, but having her and her litter "out there" is just as cruel.

so your saying death is better then being a stray? so we should pick up all strays and put them down? WHO'S being cruel?

april31 · Jun 26, 2006

i would have to disagree kitty love i dont believe that death is better then living outside. that being said i would try to talk to a vet in town and see about having mommy fixed as soon as babys are born if possible or soon as possible after and seeing if maybe theres a low cost free clinic for the kittens to get fixed when old enough best case would be that maybe ther is people who foster around there. if u cant keep her there might be someone willing to take her in.

liza24 · Jun 26, 2006

i agree with april31. there are stray spay porgrams out there, and they can help you.

tnr1 · Jun 26, 2006

Originally Posted by nhlee529

I've been feeding a stray kitty(I call her Muskrat) on and off in my apartment complex for about 2 months now. Normally I wouldn't befriend any strays in my area, but this kitty was very friendly towards me. She wasn't afraid of me at all, but when others walk near her, she'd run. She'd meow continuously every time she sees me come home. She'll run in front of me as if she's leading me up the stairs to my apartment. I felt sorry for the stray everytime I see how my two indoor babies play and run around like they're queens of the house... knowing she doesn't have a home and I wouldn't be able to take her in. In any case, I fed her when she's hungry and chased away the male strays when I saw them on occasions. I sort of had an inclination she was going to get pregnant when I saw the males around though. Sure enough for the last month or so, her tummy would be getting bigger and bigger each time I saw her. She'd let me touch it too. She's a small kitty but my neighbors says she's been around for 5 years or so and she's been pregnant many times! But I still worry about her because there are so many factors out there that would put a pregnant kitty in danger out there. I've been told not to worry about her, because she'll know what to do... the thing is, for the past week or so, she seem to have lost her appetite. (I give her a lot of cat food on my deck when I see her, and she'll eat all of it in the beginning.) Last night, I was petting her and she raised per paw for no reason and scratched me. Maybe she wasn't feeling well? I noticed that her boobies were getting even more swollen than before...I think she's about to give birth! I haven't seen her since Sunday early morning until now. When I saw her last she was just laying around outside my door, but the food I left for her was untouched. I am really worried about her. I thought about calling the Humane Society for help, but I debated. She seems happy being outside, people feed her, etc... (other than getting pregnant), what if I had her taken away for help with her pregnancy and people adopt all her babies but leave her behind...then I would have done a bad thing. I just feel awful that I can't take her, since I have two already and one of my babies really got issues... I don't think they can face a stray either, in addition to that... I really don't have the space. I just hope that Muskrat can take care of herself and her babies... I really think she'll be giving birth today or within these few days... so worried. Any thoughts? Thanks.

nhlee529....there are a couple of things that you can do:

1. You can try to find someone who is willing to keep mom until she has had her babies and can be safely spayed.

2. You can wait until mom has had her kittens, then trap her and take her in to be spayed that day and then return her back outdoors (risky due to the fact that these kittens may die in her absense).

3. You can wait until mom has had the kittens and the kittens are old enough to eat solid food. Then trap mom and the kittens....mom should be fixed and returned outdoors, kittens can then be socialized and placed for adoption. The only potential downside is that there is a good chance that mom will be pregnant again.

I wouldn't take mom to a shelter....there are plenty of cats who have kittens outdoors and although not ideal, if she is cared for by the community...you can simply trap her and have her spayed and return her back to where she is. I would also recommend trapping and neutering those males.

Below is a link to Alley Cat Allies list of groups that participate in TNR:

http://www.alleycat.org/orgs.html

Katie

tnr1 · Jun 26, 2006

Originally Posted by kittylove1

I would try and trap her with a humane trap that animal control can provide to you. Do you have any no-kill shelters in your area? I'm sure they would take her...or the humane society? I have to disagree with you - no animal is better off outside in the elements. Especially with babies. It's just adding to the over population and it's just plain cruel. I know animal control would put her down immediately, but having her and her litter "out there" is just as cruel.

Kittylove....there is no reason for this cat to have to end up at Animal Control if she is well cared for by the community. As long as she is trapped and spayed before having another litter..she can continue to live her life outdoors.

Katie

nhlee529 · Jun 29, 2006

So I was right, Muskrat went away last Sunday to have her kittens! My originally primary concern when I posted was for her safety and where she'll have her babies. What a relief now... since she came back to my deck on Tuesday early morning. She seemed okay, but her belly was gone. Her appetite is there but not a big one so far. She's been hanging out my deck less frequently since I believe she should go back to where she left her kittens. But tonight, after she ate, she just sat around my deck, washed herself and hung out a bit. Shouldn't she be worried about feeding her babies. I have no idea how many kittens or where they are... but I noticed that about only 2 of her nipples were more swollen and perhaps sucked on. I just hope her kittens will be okay...

Thanks for all the discussions and info here. I will not call the animal shelter to disrupt her life. Although she's a stray, she deserves a chance where she's happy. Further her babies need her now. Maybe after they are bigger, we'll look for other alternatives. I'm just happy she seems healthy and had a successful birth.

tnr1 · Jun 30, 2006

Originally Posted by nhlee529

So I was right, Muskrat went away last Sunday to have her kittens! My originally primary concern when I posted was for her safety and where she'll have her babies. What a relief now... since she came back to my deck on Tuesday early morning. She seemed okay, but her belly was gone. Her appetite is there but not a big one so far. She's been hanging out my deck less frequently since I believe she should go back to where she left her kittens. But tonight, after she ate, she just sat around my deck, washed herself and hung out a bit. Shouldn't she be worried about feeding her babies. I have no idea how many kittens or where they are... but I noticed that about only 2 of her nipples were more swollen and perhaps sucked on. I just hope her kittens will be okay...

Thanks for all the discussions and info here. I will not call the animal shelter to disrupt her life. Although she's a stray, she deserves a chance where she's happy. Further her babies need her now. Maybe after they are bigger, we'll look for other alternatives. I'm just happy she seems healthy and had a successful birth.

nhlee529...the plan of action should be to have her spayed at some point....hopefully before she can become pregnant again. At this stage, I would wait it out until she brings the kittens by to eat...however I would trap her and the kittens at that point and have mom spayed. Certainly she can continue to live outdoors, but she needs to be spayed to ensure no more litters.

Katie

Worried about a Pregnant Stray...

nhlee529

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kittylove1

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liza24

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april31

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liza24

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tnr1

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tnr1

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nhlee529

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tnr1

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