Imminent birth...advice please

[GirondeDeb]

Hello lovely Catsey people

Sorry that my first post is a request for help, but it's a bit urgent.

I am looking after a friend's house while she's in the UK this week, and her neighbour's cat has taken up residence in her shed. She is very pregnant, and looks like she intends to give birth in a wine box in their shed. I don't want to take her back to the owners, as I know they'll drown the kittens.

So I am looking for any advice and tips on how to help Gaia before, during and after the birth. I have never had a female cat before, let alone assist with kittening, so assume I know nothing!

Thanks in advance.
Deb

[alexgirl73]

Hello Deb, sounds like mum has already chosen her spot, and if it's secure enough I would leave her be atm tbh. Try and make it as cosy as possible for her ie any draughts plugged up etc. Gaia should manage well enough on her own, I'm guessing it's prob not her first birth! Make sure she has plenty of water and food, preferrably kitten food (moist), something to give her lots of energy. If you can, put some newspaper down in the box with an old towel over the top, something easily discarded. And really, just keep an eye on her :) HTH, and let us know how she gets on.

[GirondeDeb]

Thanks Alexgirl. I'm just off to see her and take her some more food. I'll let you know if there's any news.

You're right, it's not her first litter sadly. I'll be back in a couple of weeks asking for advice about when she can get spayed, and views on the morality of spaying someone else's cat!

[yola]

Bless you for looking after Gaia, Deb. I can't advise on kittening as I've not been in a position to have to do so, but I do hope all goes well.

Many of us here have strong views on neutering animals and I'm sure you'll receive many replies to your dilemma, both passionate and practical.

[angieh]

Hi Deb - Alexgirl's advice is spot on. Sounds as if Gaia has chosen a safer place to have her kittens. Cats are brilliant mothers and if she is feels safe she should manage it all on her own. Food and water for herself is all she will need to start with.

[Elaine]

Hi Deb, just wanted to thank you for caring for this poor puss and her babies. Is it at all possible to make this girl disapear with her kittens, preferably to someone who will have her best interests at heart as well as the kittens?

[GirondeDeb]

No kittens yet...can't believe how big Gaia is, but she's still waddling around in the sunshine.

Thanks for your support. We are determined to get Gaia spayed, and maybe rehomed. Ironically her owners are cat lovers, but just don't see the problem with letting her have kittens every year....most of which end up down the well.

Anyway, first things first...I'll keep giving her food and water and hope she knows what to do!

[GirondeDeb]

Still no kittens. I can't believe she can get any bigger. She is eating twice as much as my two hungry boys put together.

I can't stand the tension.......

[angieh]

Oh the poor cat ..... she'll probably have them during the night and you'll find mum and kittens all snuggled up in the morning! Does she have an old blanket if it gets cold at night?

[Shelley123]

Her owners can't be cat lovers if they throw her Kittens down the well.

[Kim]

Absolutely agree with Shelley, or if they see nothing wrong with her having endless litters for them to be drowned :( I would most definitely make sure she 'disappears' may not be moral, but surely has to be better for her. Bless you for being so caring, thank goodness you are.

[GirondeDeb]

The kittens have arrived at last! I'm so relieved. Gaia seems fine, curled up with the kittens. It's a bit hard to tell as she has made a nest under an old water butt...no-one can get near her, clever girl. I can see two kittens: one grey, one ginger. They are both suckling and shouting, so seem healthy.

Do you think she can have any more, or is that it? It would be great if it is only two to find homes for.

How long will Gaia stay in the birth nest? Will she try and move the kittens or leave them where they are?

[angieh]

Wow! It's very difficult to say whether the two is all she has - let's hope so. She will stay there with her kittens as long as she feels safe. If I were you, I'd disturb her as little as possible, just make sure she has food and water and come and go quietly.

[GirondeDeb]

Wow! It's very difficult to say whether the two is all she has - let's hope so. She will stay there with her kittens as long as she feels safe. If I were you, I'd disturb her as little as possible, just make sure she has food and water and come and go quietly.

Thanks Angie...will do. Gaia seems a lot more chilled about this than I am!!!

[angieh]

I suppose Gaia is used to people ...... she's not a feral cat is she? The kittens will need to be socialised when they are a big bigger but just now they are best in the loving care of their mum :D

Bless you for taking care of her - I do hope that you will be able to make a miracle for her and her kittens.

[GirondeDeb]

I suppose Gaia is used to people ...... she's not a feral cat is she? The kittens will need to be socialised when they are a big bigger but just now they are best in the loving care of their mum :D

Bless you for taking care of her - I do hope that you will be able to make a miracle for her and her kittens.

Awww, thanks.

Gaia's very friendly. She lives next door to my friend's house, and is well-cared for, ironically. She seems to have moved in to my friend's house for now though.

We're leaving her and the kittens alone, with food and water nearby. The nights are quite warm here now, so they should be OK where they are. I'll have another peer under the water butt tomorrow to see if I can see any more kittens. They're very vocal already.

[Shelley123]

glad the Kittens have arrived safely

[pamela81]

glad to hear kittens have arrived xx

[alexgirl73]

Oh yay :D glad to hear the kittens have arrived safely, and that there are only two!!!

[GirondeDeb]

Spoke too soon...there are at least 4 little chaps. Gaia came out of hiding yesterday for some food and water, so we could get a better look. My friend is back from the UK so there is someone close by most of the time now.

Once we can get cute photos of them I'm confident we can find homes for them with nearby friends.

[Shelley123]

Your doing a great job looking after the little family, thanks for the updates.
Good luck finding homes for the Kittens, maybe Gaia could disappear to, her owners don't deserve cats

[GirondeDeb]

My friend Sue got home this afternoon to find a very distressed Gaia, shouting at her and following her around until she went to where the kittens were. Sue managed to get the kittens out of the nest...she said they were cold and not moving much.

Mother and kittens are now in a warm box in the sitting room, and Gaia is purring away. After a couple of hours, four of them are crawling around, suckling and meowing. There is a fifth little ginger guy who is alive, but very listless. He doesn't seem to have suckled. Is there anything we can do?

[Shelley123]

i have no experience with Kittens, but have you tried putting him near to a teat ?
If he won't feed then you could get some kitten milk and try feeding him with a dropper. I think tiny kittens need feeding every couple of hours. Probably a vet would be able to give the best advice, poor babies, i hope they all make it

[GirondeDeb]

i have no experience with Kittens, but have you tried putting him near to a teat ?
If he won't feed then you could get some kitten milk and try feeding him with a dropper. I think tiny kittens need feeding every couple of hours. Probably a vet would be able to give the best advice, poor babies, i hope they all make it

I tried putting him on a teat, but no interest. We've tried a bit of water with a dropper, but I don't think much went in. Interestingly his mother hasn't chewed off his umbilical cord, but she has with all the others.

[angieh]

That's very sad, but the kitten may have something wrong with it that mother cat senses. He may have an infection from the umbilical cord or something else. He may have reacted to having got cold and not be able to warm up as his siblings have. I would try warming a towel and wrapping him in it and rubbing him very gently.

[pamela81]

aww i do hope the little 1 perks up, thats great news that the Gaia and kittens are now safe and warm

[alexgirl73]

It sounds to me as if mum is rejecting him. You could try getting some cimicat milk and feeding him yourself, but tbh it doesn't sound as if the little fella is going to make it :(

[GirondeDeb]

Just had an update from Sue, and the wee fellow didn't make it through the night. :( At least he died snuggled up with his Mum, poor mite.

Three of the remaining four are very active. They're all cream with dark noses, ears, tails and legs. There's some Siamese in the parentage somewhere, we think, so they should be little beauties.

[Shelley123]

very sorry to hear the little Ginger baby didn't make it

[angieh]

So sorry for little ginger kit. Let's hope all the others thrive.

[pamela81]

awww so sad to hear about the wee ginger kitten, x

[yola]

Sorry to hear about ginger baby. Some things are just not meant to be :( Here's hoping that the remainder continue to thrive and grow and good homes can be found for them.

I also hope you're able to sneak Mumcat off for a much needed neuter at the appropriate time.