A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Help - need advice. Kittens to come


Posted: Mar 25, 2011

From my message below you know we have a stray cat.  Today for the first day I held my hand out and she sniffed at the tip of my outstretched fingers.  Think she is finally starting to warm up.  Doesn't run away when we walk out.  Well guess what....she's going to have kittens.  At least we are 99.8% she is.  She was thin when we started to feed a few weeks ago and now she's got a pouch when walking towards us you can see the sides bulging.  Everywhere else is thin.  So....we are going to fix up a couple different areas as we do not know where she will be when she delivers.  We have a feeling she will try to get into the cubby hole we fixed up for her in the winter on our porch, where she sleeps a lot.  My questions.

1.  Can pregnant cats about to deliver climb over a chain link fence (which it does now to get in) or would that injure her.

2.  What type of bedding/shelter would you suggest for this.

3.  Should I keep food and water near where she will be with her kittens.

4.  Does anyone know how long when you see a cat pregnant before they deliiver.

5.  Is there going to be a lot of screaching going on.  That sounds kind of stupid but I remember growing up when our cat had kittens she was panicked, screaching like she was being murdered and panicked and trying to run around everywhere.  The last time I was around a cat that had kittens was our housecat when I was in the 2nd grade (40+ years ago) .  We are trying to set up a couple different areas away from where our indoor cat would be, but I just don't know where the cat will have them and once it happens we don't want to move or touch them as we don't know how the mother would react.   I don't know how to feel about this.  I love cats/kittens and we'd love more, but our indoor cat absolutely detests other cats.  I don't know if cats ever warm up to other ones.  She's fine when she watches her eat outside, but if she starts to get closer to her ours just "expands", hisses, and screaches.  The outside one just looks at her like "what's the problem" :-)

Anyway...any suggestions to prepare for this would be greatly appreciated.

;

Kittens - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
My suggestion would be to call your local animal shelter or a vet for advice, you don't know anything about the mother's health. I'm sure you can also research this on line or get books from the library. This may be someone's lost pet, have you tried to find the owner? It sounds like there's an issue with your indoor cat, be sure you want to take all of this on. The mother needs to be spayed after she gives birth to avoid bringing more strays/unwanted cats into the world. Many households have more than one cat and yes they do warm up to each other and play together, it's actually a good idea if you have to leave them alone, they get bored just like humans.

I would just keep a couple of boxes and some old blankets - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
or towels around just in case she finds her way into one of them. They can have them ANYWHERE and if you try to move them to a safer/better place she might not take to kindly to that. We have had many a pregnant cat around and have never heard them when they are giving birth, just all of a sudden mama shows up slim! What we do is follow her from a safe distance and see where she goes and that's usually where the kittens are. Do keep food and water available too. I'm not sure how long they are pregnant, you can Google that, but they pretty much take care of themselves. And yes, pregnant cats can jump a fence! When ours have been close to delivery they slow down on their eating and meow a lot more and are always looking for somewhere to give birth. Do keep us updated and good luck!

Thank you so much...your post has been very helpful - cat woman

[ In Reply To ..]
Since she has a cubby hole she likes we are creating her an area that is safe and warm, will put up shelter and a solid structure with old blankets and stuff with a covering so if it rains they will not get wet, and just somewhere safe. Also somewhere so our inside cat can go out and not be agitated (got to keep them all happy). We will keep food and water close by so she doesn't have to leave her kittens. I guess all in all we are excited. Can't do anything about it except take care of her and the kittens. She's getting more and more friendly, waits by the door in the morning for me to feed her, and I almost was able to reach out and touch her with my finger on her nose, but still a bit skiddish. I think over time she will warm up to us. We move slowly around her, talk to her and she knows we won't harm her. We will take care of her and the kittens. Actually I'm very excited. I love cats. I always say I'm here to take care of any of natures creatures (except spiders that is).

Thanks again for your post. It helped me to know a bit better what to do and expect. I will definite keep you up to date.

cat woman - lucy

[ In Reply To ..]
Cats are smart and have good intuition. Even though she won't let you touch her she knows that you are there and you provide her with food, warmth and comfort. All you are doing is right. She will choose to have her kittens whereever you have provided and she knows that you did so. She may be more responseive once her kittens arrive as she will depend on you to provide help with the care of her babies. Boxes, blankets. towels, etc. to keep her out of cold, wind and have plenty of good and she will come around. Good luck. Have had friends who have done this with her cats. If she has alternatives to jumping a fence she will probably wish to do so if she knows she has comfortable surroundings to birth her babies. Horses are the same - I know that sounds ridiculous, but they prefer a clean, dry stall with good for delivery. A friend used to raise horses. If you try to ride them, they will buck you so need to provide a good place for them to have their colts. Cats are the same way.

Similar Messages:


Aside From Raindrops On Roses And Whiskers On KittensMar 09, 2014
...

When To Start Feeding Kittens Kitten FoodMay 27, 2011
We have kittens :-)  We don't know exactly when they were born but their size is that they sit on the palm of my hand.  We know they are at least 4 weeks old, maybe 5 or 6.  They are running around, bouncing, wrestling with each other and just little balls of energy.  We're are learning which ones are the trouble makers :-)  My question is they are still nursing from the mom.  A couple have shown interest in eating kitten food from a can, which is what we ...

Advice Please!!!!!!!!!!!Mar 28, 2011
Ever since I moved, I get terrible seasonal allergies.  I have a runny nose and am sneezy for weeks and weeks.  My face itches, my ears itch, even my forehead itches!!!  Anyone have any advice on how to help allergies????  ...

Advice PleaseMar 22, 2011
I was bored and decided to tamper with my hair (my favorite fashion accessory).  I spent the weekend bringing it from a deep mahogany to platinum.  Damage was minimal considering it was an at-home job with my husband I the "colorists," lol! I know with this new hair color change I need to amp up the makeup so as not to look faded out.  I've dug out a few of my "bolder" colored lipsticks instead of the nude lip I usually used as a brunette, but was wondering if any other blon ...

AdviceMar 22, 2011
Hi all, I just needed a little advice.  My sister called me last night and asked me to watch my 2yo niece while she and her husband and her 13yo daughter went on a cruise in June.  I told her that I couldnt because the 3 days that she wants me to watch her are days that I work.  Keep in mind, I have a 13yo, a 4yo, and a 16mo myself which I work at home with and it is difficult.  I just dont think that people get how hard it is even though Im at home.  Anyway, so I told ...

Need Some AdviceDec 11, 2009
Good morning...I need some advice and at this point any advice is welcome :-)  I have a 5 year old energetic, funny, sweet little boy who is in kindergarten.  I just had a short meeting with his teacher yesterday who said that she is having some real issues with my son in class.  She says that he is very disruptive and acts silly all day.  She says that he is not mean by any means and is very sweet, but he just simply will not concentrate on the task at hand but would rather ...

Need AdviceJan 15, 2010
I've been living with a guy for 12 years. There are some aspects of his personality/behavior that are positive. However, he has a habit of mocking me at just about every opportunity, belittling, that kind of stuff. When I get upset he says he "was being funny." He likes to contradict me in public when possible and point out negatives - not so much about me specifically but demeaning comments about things like my dog or my hobbies, etc. I ask him to please not do these things in public but i ...

Need Advice - What Would You Do?Jan 19, 2010
I need advice on what you would do in my situation.  I'm so upset about it and my husband says not to do anything and basically dismissing it.  I'll try to make this as short as possible.  My family has been best friends with another family for about ten years.  They're just like family. We do everything together.  This past weekend their 16 year old daughter stayed over because she had a track meet and the rest of the family was going away for the lo ...

Need Some Advice On What To DoAug 27, 2011
I wanted to see if anyone has some advice on what to do on a situation I am having with my ex-husband's girlfriend. This past Monday morning my apartment complex called me and told me that they received a fax the evening before that I wanted to be treated for bedbugs! I told them that I didn't send a fax and didn't have bedbugs, and asked her what number the fax came from. She wouldn't tell me. She then asked me why I didn't leave my phone number on the fax only my addre ...

Need Advice Please....Feb 10, 2010
Ok, here goes.... My husband drives a truck.  When he comes in his dad (who is divorced and lives with his mother who is in her 80s and I guess you would say has no life) comes over.  Well, no problem there except he don't know when to leave.  LOL  He comes around 10 or 11 am and stays until 10 or 11 pm.  Then the next day he is back again unless he is working and then he comes after work.  I don't mind him coming to visit every day when my husband is in ...

MIL AdviceOct 25, 2010
Our family was planning a trip to Disney World this summer and then I decided that maybe we should go to California (where we are from) and go to Disneyland, that way grandparents can come.  Since then, my MIL has taken it upon herself to plan out ourentire vacation, starting with trying to make our motel reservations on the drive there and ending with making them on the way back.  If she were just being nice, it would be completely different, but really, she is just being controlling. ...

Need AdviceJul 22, 2011
I'll try not to make this too long, but I have an 18-year-old, soon to be 19-year-old son who just told me a couple months ago that he is gay.  I was shocked, but not totally, as I had suspicions before because he never really showed much interest in girls.  Anyway, I told him I love him no matter what and that did not matter to me.  it took me a couple months to get over the heartache of it, though.  His dad doesn't know yet, nor his younger brother, as I told him ...

Need Some AdviceJul 18, 2011
I am having some issues with my boyfriend.  He has not been working for a while now and I have been paying rent/bills/groceries all on my own.  No big deal, it has to be done, but what I am having a problem with is his bi-weekly "allowance".  He needs his own money to spend, and I understand that, but no matter how much money I tell him I am going to give him, it is never enough.  He is never happy with what I give him (usually a couple hundred dollars).  I never sp ...

Need AdviceApr 05, 2011
I need some advice about my sister-in-law.  We are going to her house next week for three days.   Well, she wanted my husband to help her buy some power tools and teach her how to use them and put up a trellis.   So that was the plan for Friday.   I was okay with that – didn’t feel too left out.  Now she has made other plans for Saturday that I don't want to do.   How do I politely tell her I’m not into spend ...

A Little Advice Here PleaseAug 18, 2016
Just got on line to check bank account held jointly with fiance.  I see a charge on a credit card that I don't recognize (plus a service fee charge).  Questioned him about it  a couple of days ago and got vague answer (s).  Today, I called the 1-800 number and asked what kind of businesses they billed for.  I was told a wide array of different things.  One of which could be porn videos.  Not happy at all as I do NOT want this in my house.  Why can ...

Advice, PleaseSep 02, 2016
Asking advice here. My mom is in a nursing home.  They provide great, compassionate care, and there's a waiting list to get in.  I'm grateful that she's in a place we can afford, and it's only 3 miles from my home. When the need arose, I got her a wheelchair, which Medicare is still paying for.  It was a brand-new chair that was fitted to her petite frame, and she was able to propel herself with her feet.  About 6 weeks ago, I noticed that the chair in h ...

How Do You: Advice PleaseJun 13, 2010
I am separated from my husband and soon divorcing which is actually a  very good thing for my son and me.  We were under a lot of stress, pressure and difficulties with living in his house.  But my son grew up with his kids and he has not told them anything about us never coming back.  I tried to get him to go to counseling, and despite many of my friends warnings even went to our pastor which just made things worse, b/c my husband works under this guy as a pastor too.  ...

Cat Advice?Jul 25, 2012
Cat people, should I take in a neighbor's cat? In a nutshell: We thought this "stray" was hanging around our yard last year. I talked to her and she let me pet her. Nasty winter weather came. We couldn't take her in because we have an old blind cat who tries to fight her off sometimes. So I went door to door with her picture, looking for her home so we wouldn't have to take her to a shelter. Bingo. She "lives" a couple houses away. The woman there was very nice, has a sec ...

Advice PleaseNov 17, 2012
Hi all, I have been offered a position in the front office of a medical facility.  I am probably going to take it.  While my problem will not weigh into my not taking it, I need some advice on how to handle something. Way back when I worked in a large office, there was ALWAYS something going on where they wanted everyone to chip in financially for something.  Somebody is having a baby, somebody's somebody is having a baby, somebody is having a birthday, somebody is retiring ...

Advice On New JobAug 11, 2016
Well, I went to a job fair yesterday, had to go back and my daughter went with me and we both got jobs! Problem with mine is it's only seasonal till Feb. Of course, if the job continues and I've done well through the training and the actual job till Feb., I could possibly still have a job. Better pay right off the bat and $1.00 for EVERY HOUR worked till Feb. bonus in Feb.!!! I need my high school diploma or transcripts and can't find them anywhere! My transcripts are with m ...

Advice About DadNov 01, 2013
I need some opinions about whether or not to try to contact my father who I have not seen in about 30 years. My dad left when I was nine and moved out of state. I think I saw him one time not long after that. The last time I even spoke to him on the phone was right before I graduated high school. He had wrote me letters and sent cards for a few years after he left asking me to come visit, which I never agreed to do. We didn't have a very close relationship even when we lived in the ...

Need Some Advice Jan 13, 2014
I would appreciate any advice on how to sell Hummel figurines, etc.  My stepfather wants to start clearing out a lot of things in preparation for the future, and in the event I would move in with him at some point.  My mother died four years ago, and during her lifetime she bought a lot of this sort of thing, along with the colored glass in yellow, green and blue.  I have never sold anything on eBay, and don't know how to go about getting a decent price for these items.  ...

Advice PleaseJun 21, 2014
I don't know if I need advice or just want to vent. My husband and I enjoy having close friends over, going out to dinner with them, doing get togethers and other such things. Out of 4 couples, 2 of the couples are so dysfunctional that it makes me crazy. No alcohol is involved here, so we can't even blame that. I don't claim to know what goes on behind closed doors, but when we're all together, it's the women who fly off the handle at their husbands for the stupi ...

Need Cat AdviceJan 27, 2015
My cat is hiding underneath my neighbor's shrubs and will not come home. He is afraid I will keep him inside so he doesn't trust me anymore. He stayed out all night last night and I finally saw him this morning. I tried coaxing him, bribing him with food, and he just ran away to find a safer hiding spot. He got into a cat fight on Friday and got a small puncture wound. I kept him in on Sunday to keep an eye on the wound and he was not happy about it. That's why he doesn' ...

Need Some Advice PleaseJan 30, 2015
I have a problem with my ear. When my pneumonia started, one day I had what I thought was the starting of an earache. Then that went away and I ended up sick just with the pneumonia. Okay it has been 28 days since my first day in the hospital. My ear has been stopped up since then and I have tried Claritin, Auralgan and Cortisporin Otic drops. Nothing is working. What could be wrong with it? I never have problems popping my ears after a cold or getting water in them. I didn't g ...

Need AdviceMar 17, 2017
Need some advice.   Here's what happened (by the way, I'm a 25-year MT veteran, which is why I'm posting here). I was unwell at work about 3 weeks ago, and it was determined that I should be admitted.  Treatment lasted 8 days, and I feel great now!  My doctor said I should apply for FMLA (famliy medical leave) since I took off more time than my employer's policy allows and may have further absences in the future.  My doctor completed the form and signed ...

Hi, Need Some AdviceMar 30, 2017
I had a severe dental infection and was given clindamycin.  I was hesitant to take it, but did so with a probiotic.  Now I am starting to have diarrhea.  Does anyone have any advice on treating this OTC?  I'm recently retired and have no insurance at present.  Thanks in advance.   ...

Advice For A New E-Bay Seller?Feb 28, 2012
I  have created an exceptional product that I want to list on e-Bay to make some extra money. Are there any experienced e-Bay sellers here who can give me some advice/tips/suggestions? Thanks! ...

Any Advice For Sleeping Better?Mar 28, 2011
Never been a great sleeper, but now I sleep about 1 hour at a time.  I try to sleep about 6-1/2 to 7 hours, but am exhausted.  Fall asleep fairly quickly, but can't stay asleep.  Don't think am apneic.  Tried Lunesta without much help.  Tried Benadryl, again not much help.  So tired.  Makes typing misery to be so sleepy.  ...

Advice To The GirlsNov 03, 2009
Don't imagine you can change a man - unless he's in diapers. What do you do if you boyfriend walks out?  You shut the door. If they put a man on the moon - they should be able to put them all up there. Go for the younger man - you might as well, they never mature anyway. Men are all the same - they just have different faces so we can tell them apart. Best way to get a man to do something is to suggest he is too old for it. Love is blind, but marriage is a real eye-opener. T ...