Feral momcat in labor?

[kittiefoster]

Hi all my name is Annie and I've been fostering kittens for years I usually do bottle babies. I have a feral cat mom who was trapped bioresco group and I am fostering her. She was very terrified for the first few days and I have slowly made friends with her. She is very large and very pregnant. She has now started crying continuously. I can't figure out if she's going into labor or if she's just now decided that she's not so terrified and if she cries enough she can go back to her colony? It makes me sad to think that she is so lonely for her colony family. she did not vocalize at all for the first few days here she got to me on Friday morning. is there a way for me to know if he's going into labor or if she's just really upset about being locked in my bathroom? I suppose the next 48 hours would tell me, I have been happy with the progress I have made socializing her ...she was completely terrified when she arrived I would only cower in a corner with her head down and eyes like saucers...and now she lets me rub her tummy....she's still very skittish until I rub her a lot, she kind of gets hypnotized. Any advice is always welcomed! Thank you!!

 

[StefanZ]

First of all. Its very apparent she has landed now. she isnt terrified much any more. A cat in pains out in the wild, in a potentially hostile environment, keeps quiet also being in pains. Especielly being in pains. Because its the only practical chance.
This with accepting belly rubs sounds promising. High pregs usually do like this; its good massage and helps things go forward. So also females reluctant to belly rubs, usually allow them in this situation...

Has she dropped? Ie, suddenly seems less large? Not all drop before the delivery, but this is common...

You can try to have on calm relaxing music. Or you sitting there and talking, singing, reading... Or have some nature sounds, alike birds sounds. Does she have access to some toys? When terrified, she of course wouldnt hardly play. But now when she has landed, she prob want something to do, something happening...
Do NOT have radio with other human voices on. This will come later on, not now.

What is she eating? Do you give her calcium rich food?

 

[kittiefoster]

Thank you very much she is eating Royal canin Mama /Baby cat food, wet and dry... It's the best they have at the pet store....

I can't tell if she has dropped cuz usually when I see her she is laying down still, ...she's still pretty skittish and gives me dirty looks until I rub her tummy to hypnotize her LOL.. and she didn't scratch my face when I tried to move her out of the litter box because she was laying down in there like she thought maybe she would deliver in there and I didn't want her getting that idea.

Do you think that she's calling out for her colony? When you say she has landed, does that mean that you think she's content with her environment now? I was wondering how I can tell if she's coming out in pain or if she's calling out because she wants to get out I noticed that she was in the windowsill and also paws/scratches under the door like she's trying to get out. I know that she's so much better off where she is I just wish she knew too! Thank you very much for the advice I will try some nature sounds for her I have a noise machine for my granddaughter who's only here occasionally so I will try that thank you very much!

 

[di and bob]

Is she an only cat? if she is you could try letting her out in a bigger room. I wouldn't let her out in the house, there is too much to get into to. Maybe a small bedroom? she is certainly lonely and calling out for her friends and family. It takes about two weeks for them to start to forget. That you can touch her is VERY good, she mostly is a dumped stray or raised around humans, a feral would not let you do that. just try to spend a little more time with her, maybe sit and read your phone with her. Her sides would be rippling if she was in labor, try to give her a box with a towel to lay in. Her paws at the door indicate she wants out and to be with someone. Maybe you could find a cheap large dog kennel on Facebook and put her out in the main house in that? With a box she could hide in of course.

 

[kittiefoster]

Thank you for these recommendations... No as I mentioned I have then animal rescue for a long time with bottle baby so that they don't end up in the feral world...the rescue group told me that apparently this baby was born out in the wild , (parking lot foliage) and also her siblings are still out there...I think she's only about 8 months old that women she wanted to hate around six months and she's almost due now, I can feel the babies move in her tummy I have read on here that that usually means about a week or two or less. Anyways so I Foster flunky and have 12 cats that ultimately ended up being unadoptable. Through rescue group.... our house is so full and that's why I had to put her in the back bathroom...I'll put some toys back there and hopefully that will keep her busy....I have a lot of bottle baby stories and experience but not a lot of pregnant mother experience... I did have one pregnant mother 14 years ago, but she was not feral... they told me she was due any day because she was so big and she did not deliver for almost a month after and she had 8 kittens. (1 died at birth)

Thank you very much for your thoughts and advice...I guess I will just continue to try to make her feel at home so she won't miss being out in the terrible cold being chased by wild animals and dogs and cars..and being hungry all the time..lol.

I will keep you up-to-date I'm not sure if I'm supposed to post on this thread when she does have her babies for an update or start a new one the rules say do not start a new thread.

Thanks again!

 

[kittiefoster]

[
Sorry for crazy typos!!

 

[StefanZ]

You can continue here in this thread.

 

[kittiefoster]

Thank you Stefanz!

 

[Sarthur2]

It sounds like she is lonely more than anything. Just spend as much time as you can with her, but it sounds to me like she is yowling to get out of the room. Perhaps you could give her some supervised time in another area of the house for an hour or so a day until the babies come.

 

[kittiefoster]

You're right she is lonely she was doing it again in the middle of the night I think it's when things are really quiet and she doesn't hear other noises to entertain her... I didn't think she would really want me around that much but maybe she is lonely for anyone..
Good news her milk has come in so I'm hoping that means soon!!

Thank you very much for all the replies everyone... I will update with any excitement!! It's going to be so fun having kittens around that I don't have to feed every 2 hours myself and poop and pee them.... Bottle babies are great but so much work it's going to be fun to watch Mama do the work!! I'm so happy that she's adjusting she lets me rub her tummy a lot!!
When she got here I was just worried that I would be ripped to ribbons if I tried to touch her at all! Thanks again!

 

[kittiefoster]

 

[kittiefoster]

Got milk!

 

[vince]

It would seem kittens are imminent. Keep a close watch on her. Got the kitten supplies set up?

 

[kittiefoster]

Vince, yayyy!! Imminent is fantastic! Do you think most of the time it is very soon when there is milk? I was thinking of going to the grocery store but I really want to be here to help her since she's feral and very young... she's just laying around like the pictures lol so she doesn't seem to have any labor symptoms, in case you didn't see my other post she has been meowing at night but that's the only thing, (and we think she's just lonely.)
Yes I do have supplies...!! I have scissors for cutting the cord and dental floss and either paper towel for cleaning/drying babies, and a very small baby suction bulb in case there is too much mucus in the mouth, of course I only do these things if she's not doing it, I have kmr and bottles...... Is there anything else that I need? .Fortunately I know how to feed bottle babies and all types of emergency care for bottle babies, if that happens, but hopefully since she's got milk all will go well! I just don't have a lot of experience with the birthing but I've fostered many many bottle babies.

It is such a special treat to get this experience, and to know that just less than a week ago she was a terrified mom who had never lived in a house or been taken care of... And now she can give birth without fear of the elements etc.( And best of all, she and all her babies will be fixed and break the cycle, (she came from a colony) I'm so excited and anxious to know all goes well!! Thank you all for your support!!
I would love to hear others experiences of how soon their Queens went into labor after showing milk, if possible!! Thanks again!

 

[DreamerRose]

Sounds like you are fixed with supplies. If it all goes well, which it usually does, you won't have to do anything. Mom will cut the cord and eat the afterbirth. She will lick and clean the kitten, and then it will crawl to her belly to nurse. Just praise her and tell her she's doing a good job.

 

[kittiefoster]

Sounds like you are fixed with supplies. If it all goes well, which it usually does, you won't have to do anything. Mom will cut the cord and eat the afterbirth. She will lick and clean the kitten, and then it will crawl to her belly to nurse. Just praise her and tell her she's doing a good job.

 

[kittiefoster]

Okay! Thank you! Dreamrose!

 

[StefanZ]

You probably have access to a source of glucose sugar? In USA its typically white Karo syrup, but glucose sugar proper is even better, if you can find it.

Otherwise it seems you do have all other gears.

 

[Sarthur2]

Milk can come in up to a week before birthing, so you can go to the grocery store.

 

[vince]

You probably have access to a source of glucose sugar? In USA its typically white Karo syrup, but glucose sugar proper is even better, if you can find it.

Otherwise it seems you do have all other gears.

Since you've mentioned glucose syrup frequently in your posts, I looked it up, never having bought it here (USA). It seems it's known as "confectioner's syrup" in this country. Kroger's and Wal-mart's seem to have it. Specialist shops dealing with cake-decorating supplies also carry it.