Pregnant Feral Cat

[feralbasil]

Hello everyone! New to this forum but hoping I can get some advice.

Recently, this sweet kitty has been visiting my porch every day. At first it was at night but since I started feeding her (wet food), she’s been hanging out for a large portion of the day. I very quickly realised she is very pregnant. She’s skittish and won’t let me touch her currently. I can get within a couple feet before she runs off but she lets me sit next to her. I would really like to take her to a TSR but since she is so late in her pregnancy, I’m going to have to wait until she has her kittens.

My current concern with this situation is that I won’t be able to find her and her kittens after they are born. Does anyone have any ideas on what to do in this situation? I’m looking into options of both socialisation and catch and release for both mum and kittens but I don’t want to cause unnecessary stress on them.

I’ve attached an image of her from today. Her babies are kicking like crazy!

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi! Welcome!! What a sweetie - can you obtain a trap and catch her, or see about bringing her inside?

 

[jefferd18]

Try to get a loan trap from your local rescue groups or animal control and see if you can catch her. Why catch and release? She might be very tamable and I know her kittens would be.

 

[feralbasil]

Hi! Welcome!! What a sweetie - can you obtain a trap and catch her, or see about bringing her inside?

Thank you! I’m very fond of her, her coloration is beautiful. I could obtain a trap but I’m worried about how long I’d have to keep her in it and how much that would potentially stress her out since there isn’t any area in the house that would be safe to let her roam. I was thinking of a getting a large enclosure but they are very pricey.

 

[jefferd18]

Thank you! I’m very fond of her, her coloration is beautiful. I could obtain a trap but I’m worried about how long I’d have to keep her in it and how much that would potentially stress her out since there isn’t any area in the house that would be safe to let her roam. I was thinking of a getting a large enclosure but they are very pricey.

There are links on the internet on how to build your own catico. Being an outdoor cat is stressing on these guys- she might actually welcome the stress of being in a safe indoor environment. And her kittens could be easily adopted out.

 

[Furballsmom]

I'm not sure where you are, but could you borrow a big dog cage?

 

[Sarthur2]

If you trap her, do you have a spare room to put her in? You’d be surprised how quickly a pregnant tabby cat might warm up to you.

She is gorgeous, and her coloring is similar to the tabby I took in as a pregnant stray five years ago.

In the meantime, get a large cardboard box and make a nest out of it with a door and a blanket and leave it on the porch for her. She might have her babies in it.

I do hope you will be able to get her inside. It sounds like she is already learning to trust you. Do feed her plenty and leave dry food and water out for her. Keep us posted!