Help cat people!!! I have adopted a pregnant mama kitty!

[KyndCulture]

I am a kitty mama from way back... However, I've never dealt with newborn babies.

I adopted a sweetheart of a calico, and to my chagrin she is very preggers. She's already part of the family and now I need some serious advice.

I think she's about 4 weeks or 5 weeks pregnant.. Seems to me we are gonna have babies around here in a few weeks.

I have NO IDEA what I should do with a mommy and delivery. Can anybody help???

I need some advice.

[IndyOp]

1. Lisa0825 just went through this -

All went well for her... :-)

My foster babies escaped!

Momma Michelle came to my door this morning!!!

Sweet wittle noses and wittle toeses!! (The kittens have arrived!)

How do I handle a momma cat who doesn't want me near her babies?

Kitten Update

Well It Appears the Boys are Girls!

[KyndCulture]

2. Great threads... I guess I'm not the only kitty mama!

The babies are definitely coming in a few weeks and I'm just nervous as can be over doing the right thing!

[okasha]

3. Unless there's an emergency in delivery, there's very little

you need to do. Between now and the babies' arrival, feed mama a high-quality diet and a vitamin supplement. Find a basket or a box, line it with something soft--old blanket, flannel shirt, whatever--that you're willing to throw away after delivery. Also find soft something to replace it with. Put the basket/box in a secluded, preferably dark, place away from household traffic patterns, loud noises, drafts, other disturbances and familiarize mama with it. You'll know a day or so before she goes into labor because she'll start looking for a hiding place. She may go to the basket on her own; if she doesn't, put her in it.

At this point, she should handle the rest on her own and voila--you'll be a happy grandma! Just change out the bloody basket liner when she's done and put food and water where they'll be easily available, sit back and admire.

[KyndCulture]

4. That makes total sense with my new baby.

I will not interfere unless mommy needs me... I am grandma kitty though and I just wanna make sure she is ok.

[demnan]

5. Take plenty of pictures

And be willing to network online, especially if you want to find good homes for the new arrivals once they're weaned.

[bluethruandthru]

6. Congratulations!

How exciting! I haven't had the joy of being around brand new baby kittens since I was a kid! Back in the olden days no one spayed or neutered. Please post lots of pictures so the rest of us crazy cat people can enjoy! Good luck!

[Lisa0825]

7. Congratulations!:-)

The hardest part is NOT BEING ABLE to do anything!LOL! Just make sure she has a place to have her privacy. Do you have other animals? If so, do you have a room she can have all to herself when the time draws near?

What drove me crazy the most was not knowing when it was going to happen. But one thing I read somewhere ended up being very accurate! If you notice any mucus around her back end, she is preparing to give birth. My mommacat was having trouble cleaning her behind because she was so chubby. I noticed she had some mess on her behind, so I tried to wipe it off for her, and when I did, I found mucus too. She gave birth sometime within the next several hours while I was at work. In addition, that morning, I could tell that she was ramping up milk production. Her belly suddenly felt very squishy!

Mostly, she took care of everything herself. Since she was a stray, she didn't want me near her babies, but I just made sure I spent time in the room with her everyday, even though I didn't venture into the closet where she kept them. Eventually, the babies came out of the closet (he he), and momma did OK with having me pick them up and play with them. She still swatted at me, but didn't attack.

The babies are 5.5 weeks old now, and I think I will be opening up their room now, so they can come out and explore! I opened the door and they rubbed noses with Jennings and Chance this morning, but I didn't want to have them roaming for the first time while I was away at work. Momma Michelle and Jennings hiss at each other a lot. I hope that will pass.

[KyndCulture]

9. Hey Lisa I saw your babies on the other thread.

That calico in the front looks EXACTLY like the mama kitty I have. Something I didn't know about calicos that the vet tech told me is that almost ALL calicos are female and male tricolored calicos are 99% sterile.

[Beaverhausen]

8. One more thing to remember

besides posting lots of pic for us - is that mom any move the babies within the first couple of days. It's just instinct to hide them from "predators."

I adopted a pregnant mom years back and two nights after the babies were born (in a box in a quiet, warm room downstairs) I woke up with them all in my bed with me. So we moved the box we had made for her up to my bedroom and she was happy to keep them in there.

Good luck!!!