Kitty and Cat people I need some serious advice about birth.

[KyndCulture]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=243x17007


I have adopted into the family a beautiful sweetheart calico, but she is 4 or 5 weeks pregnant ('d say 4 weeks) . I am a great kitty mama but I have no earthly clue about brand new babies and delivery!!

Can any one give some advice? The babies are coming and I need some help!

[LeftyMom]

1. Dark quiet space and some sort of bedding you aren't too attatched to

A couple of towels in a closet inside a box with a little door cut out works nicely, but mama kitty may have another spot in mind (I had one give birth on my laundry hamper once.)

Once that's done, just wait- mama kitty knows what to do and will almost certainly want to be left alone.

[KyndCulture]

3. So I should make sure she has a dark quiet place?

She has taken to sleeping in the shelf in my closet... maybe I should just provide some bedding for her little spot... it's very dark and quiet.

[LeftyMom]

5. I'd try offering but she may not take it.

Is it a low shelf where she'll be able to get while hugely pregnant and get kittens in and out? If not, she'll get a different spot.
But yeah, if you can get her to take a towel or thin blanket it will make for much easier clean up.

[LeftyMom]

9. One more thing I forgot

If you haven't already, get malnourished mama on kitten kibble, it'll fatten her up faster. The best thing you can do for the kittens to make sure they're born healthy and thrive is to be sure that mama kitty is nourished enough to handle the birth and nursing.

[KyndCulture]

10. The vet tech suggested that..

I've been feeding her kitten chow and some milk daily... her fur is looking way more smoother and she's sleeping peacefully.

I think that was def. the right thing to do.

[flvegan]

2. Take her to the vet and get her spayed now.

This ought to be an unpopular post, but there are way too many cats in this world without homes. If you have a trap/neuter/release program in your area, they'll possibly do it for free. Humane Society, too.

[KyndCulture]

4. Actually I called about this.

One I don't have the cash for an abortion and spaying for her... And two I have several people who would take the babies..

She was starving in my garage... I took her in because she looked so unhealthy... I did take her to vet and she's ok, cept for some malnutrion.

I can't afford to abort the babies though. That's more than I have. So the babies are coming, no matter what. I am just looking for some guidance on a mama kitty.

[flvegan]

8. In that case, what LeftyMom said.

[SOteric]

6. Don't worry, she'll take care of things.

Keep her well fed and healthy. Keep an eye out for any abnormalties. More than likely she'll handle it fine, she'll feed the babies and keep them hidden from the family for a few days. Make sure she doesn't have to go far from the little ones to get her food and water.

Wait a week or so before trying to handle the little kittens. You might send a PM to SoCalDem. She's had more than a few litters bless her home over the years and is something of an expert.

:hi:

[LaurenG]

7. Mine sat on my lap until it was time

We then went into her room with all the soft towels and she had her baby kitties with me as onlooker. I just talked to her and she did just fine.

[Jazz2006]

11. Most likely,

she will take care of things herself as others have said above.

However, when my two cats were born (brother and sister), Mama didn't know what to do at first - i.e. she didn't break the sac or anything when the first kitten came out. I called a veterinarian friend who told me to break the sac and rub the kitten BRISKLY with a towel to get it breathing.

When the second one came along, and Mama still didn't make any effort to break the sac, I just nudged it toward her face and she took over after that.

When the third one came along, Mama did everything perfectly fine on her own.

[KyndCulture]

12. So I might need to encourage her just a bit.

That sounds like good advice.

[Jazz2006]

13. Good luck!

Yes, she may need a little encouragement, but 99 times out of 100, Mama cat will do it all on her own and you'll just discover the little bundles of cuteness after the fact - in a closet, under a bed, on your bed, in a hamper, or under a couch (if she decides not to use the spot you've picked out for her).

:)

[KyndCulture]

14. She's a little rebel..

I'm thinking on my bed is gonna be the spot. She fit right into our family.... We're just here for her at this point.

[CelticWinter]

15. Just keep an eye on her

and watch for any changes in her behavior...we just had 2 litters here and my girls get all wide eyed and start nesting on everything. Ebby started nesting in the cat bed and so I put her in her birthing bed and she started having babies within 5 minutes. Sometimes with my girls if the kits are coming fast I have to help them with the sacks and after birth, if u have to help just rip the sack in front of the babies mouth and nose so they can start breathing and if u have to help with the after birth never cut the cord with scissors rip it with your fingers about 1.5 inches from the kittens belly. I found that using the blue pads that hospitals use on beds great when the mother is birthing---just toss them when their done. I also use old white sheets or white towels when the babies are little, someone told me along time ago that the dye in cloth was bad for the kits.
Good luck and post some pics.
~~Celtic

[KyndCulture]

16. Thank you!

I have some of those chucks pads from the hospital.

I have a feeling I am gonna have major pics of cuteness!! This lil kitty mama is the sweetest thing ever and I really wanted a new baby for our family... so I'm all a puddle.. It was a perfect match.

[CelticWinter]

17. Amazing how these lil cuties seem to adopt

certain people----they know a good human when they see one.

Celtic

[KyndCulture]

18. Oh yeah.. she did.

She knew I needed some new family members and just sucked up to me....

So she's sleeping on my pillow right now and very pregnant.


and I am fine with that.

[kedrys]

19. Mama cat should know what to do

She may or may not want you around, so pay attention :) . My Ms Marble (first and only litter) insisted on having someone close by, and she fortunately picked the spot I made for her in the closet (a nice cardboard box with old, extra-soft flannel jammies). That said, she handled everything by herself, and was a wonderful mom.

Thanks for taking care of momcat, and thanks for finding her babies good home! :loveya:

[CelticWinter]

20. I agree they will let u know

my girls like having me rub their belly and talk softly to them when they have their babies. This time is especially special since this will be their last litters, once all the babies are born and weened my girls are being spayed and relaxing the rest of their lifes on their kitty sofas with a can of pounce watching animal planet :-)

Celtic

[KyndCulture]

22. Oh she will be spayed after this... I just came in at the last minute.

And didn't have the dollars to stop it.

[KyndCulture]

21. Well what else is there to do with a beautiful mama like this!!

She has been so sweet and adorable and I was truly kinda lonely for a new baby....

So we adopted each other...and my friends came to the rescue about adopting a new baby too...

I just am trying to make sure I do the right things for her when she gives birth.

[FooFootheSnoo]

23. I was in the same situation a little over a year ago

I had a birthing bed ready in our spare bathroom. I was afraid she'd hide and have them in the linen closet (eek!!) or somewhere else where things would get ruined. She came to me right after her water broke(I'm pretty sure it was her first litter). My daughter, stepdaughter and I were able to corral her into the spare bathroom. It had a shower that she could very easily get in and out of. Cleanup was a snap. So, if you have a spare bathroom I would try to encourage her to give birth in there. We kept the door closed while the kittens were very little. After about a month I set up another area for her and the kittens in my bedroom. Don't be too nervous! She knows what she's doing. I don't know if you can afford it or not, but try to get some frontline on her before the kittens are born. I didn't and the little kittens got fleas! I had to hand pick the fleas off the kittens. Not a fun job.

[Kali]

24. Plenty of good advice

mainly trust the cat - they generally have intact instinct for these things. And now my story. Mamakitty decided to have her litter inside the boxspring under my mattress under ME in the middle of the night. She clawed the cover open and crawled up inside and proceeded to give birth to the first of 5 little ones. It woke me up and I had to tear the room appart to get them out. The kitten was covered with whatever kind of cottony fluff they use and I had to clean it off so she wouldn't ingest it. I put her in the travel crate she had been getting used to and the rest went fine. Almost more work than my own births!

edit for the usual and to add: enjoy - they may be hard to part with!

[yellowdogintexas]

25. our preggers cat was determined my husband was to be

the midwife. We had fixed her a nice spot in a closet in a room that could be closed off from the rest of the cats, but noo, she was going to have them on the sofa or else, so he made a thick layer of trasbh bags to protect the sofa and then put several old towels on top of that. She didn'tquite know what to do with the first one but then she was quite fine after that. We moved her into an open box with one side cut out and padding on the bottom after they were all born and mewing, right in front of the hearth, since she wanted to be in the middle of everything. After a day or two she let us move them into the original room, and she stayed in there, with her own box and food.

We handled the kittens from the get go, they were as used to our scent and voices as they were hers. Very sweet loving cats they are too. We ended up with three of them ..they are almost 3 years old now.

The correct statement is they WILL be hard to give up. LOL.

[KyndCulture]

26. I am just scared of her babies...

This should look like a good plan though.