I have 2 pregnant cats on my hands!

[bicentennial_baby]

Short story: My Mom is dying, I moved home to help my family, etc. My family lives in a rural area and Toms come around all the time. I just got here, and I have 2 pregnant girls inside, 3 Toms outdoors, and one boy kitten (about 7 months) indoors.

I plan to spay both once they give birth, neuter the boys. And of course find homes for the babies once they're old enough. :)

But it's been a while since I've overseen kitten arrival and upbringing. About 4 years.

Anything I should keep in mind?

:)

[japple]

1. The mother cats will do most of it for you. Just make sure

they have a safe, warm place to give birth, but be prepared to give help if it's needed. Also, make sure to keep them from having any contact with the toms, whom they may perceive as being a threat to their kittens. Keep your vet's number near the phone if you need it in an emergency. Have clean washcloths handy in case you need to help the mothers clean the kittens after they're born (if she doesn't seem to know what to do). Go online and search for sites that have information about birthing. It's been a long time since I've done this for a cat mother, although I did help my brother's dog with birthing her puppies about 4 years ago.

Good luck to you and the kitties. And blessings to you for taking the responsibility of having them all sterilized. I know they will be grateful and much happier, healthier cats.

[spooky3]

5. good advice - but I want to emphasize OP may have remove sac from the babies so they can breathe

I've fostered a number of pregnant moms and only once had to do this (coincidentally 3 years ago Easter Sunday). Fortunately I had the emergency vet on the phone - they would have died if she hadn't told me how to help, as the mom was quite young and didn't know what to do. Manicure scissors can be used to sever carefully the umbilical cord once each kitten has emerged - don't cut too close to mom or the kitten. The uncut part of the cord will dry up and drop off soon.

When I was young, we had a mom kitty who abandoned the kittens immediately after they were born and of course the kittens died, so OP may need to confine the moms to ensure they feed and keep the kittens warm.

[pretzel4gore]

2. just had 2 moms give birth!

astonishingly, the first set of 2 kits on Feb 28 was total surprise, but that mom had taken refuge in covered littler box (soon after, I was able to put old towel down for comfort)...the next mom was to see vet Sat morn March 7 but escaped the carrier... Cancelled the appt. That afternoon, about 4, I hear racket and both moms on bed (as if 1st mom was encouraging the 2nd!) and when i go near, 1st mom go away while 2nd look up and make strange communi. 'it's starting, please go away' and she slip under bed. I let her alone, but 15 mins. later check and she grooming 3 newborn babies!
Item: NO MESS, no hassle! no bother!
Wow!
Amazing creatures.
The kittens are now running around age, and are a real delight. they go nursing to other mom when their mom not available, and both cats are very watchful of my 2 older cats who, to put plainly, don't like the kittens. We're getting ready to send them to new homes, then will try to fix both the semi-feral moms, so they can be adopted out.

[badgerpup]

3. Think having two moms nursing...

...would make for extra-healthy kittens, would it not?
I mean, they get antibodies and whatnot from mom...and the mother's milk would differ from cat to cat...

[pretzel4gore]

4. it's amazing...

both moms lying nearby each other, with mass of furry eaters on the belly, but both older kittens are with the younger ones' mom, while 2 of hers are with the other! They even play with each other kittens, hug and licks! THis morning awoke to soft cries of older mom, and find ALL the kittens bunched with the younger! (actually, in week 2 of the younger set, the older mom took off for 36 hours- I thought she's got lost. But the 2 older kittens simply piled on the younger mom, who nursed them w/out the least todo...i made sure to remove the older kits so her little ones got plenty. ANyway, older mom came home next night, and everything was ok)
It's going to be hard to give them away...