I'm leaving town for a week and need to take my pregnant cat with me. The thing is, she will be giving birth any day now! The people I am visiting do not want the cat running around their house for various reasons and so I need to keep her in a large cage/kennel for the week. If it were just here I would feel less uneasy about it, but since she is due any day and may have her kittens before I leave/while I am gone, I would like outside advise on if it's okay to keep my cat in the kennel with her babies for a week.

I am not worried about the kittens; they will be immobile for about a week anyway and will be asleep most the time I assume. I'm just worried about Mamma Cat! I plan to let her out in the room once a day to really stretch her legs and get 'fresh air'. Is that good enough considering it will only be a few days?

How big is this kennel? You said you will be gone for a week?

How big is this kennel? You said you will be gone for a week?

It's a pretty big kennel for a cat. It's meant for a dog and all. I mean it's not HUGE; it's about the size of this kennel: http://www.hooverfence.com/kennel/travel-kennel/portable_kennel.jpg

And yes, I will be gone for about seven days.

Seems cruel to fence her in with her babies for that long. Any friend or neighbor to let her out once or twice day? Why use a kennel?

Seems cruel to fence her in with her babies for that long. Any friend or neighbor to let her out once or twice day? Why use a kennel?

Well pet shops keep cats in smaller cages... not saying it's not cruel, just saying that at least she'll have space. The only person I know who could watch her won't be in town either, and we have to keep her in a kennel because the people I am staying with have a dog. She's not vicious but I don't know how she is around cats...

Anyway I was just wondering because if it seemed too wrong I won't go and will stay home with my cat. Thanks for your opinion~

Well pet shops keep cats in smaller cages... not saying it's not cruel, just saying that at least she'll have space. The only person I know who could watch her wont be in town either, and we have to keep her in a kennel because the people I am staying with have a dog. She's not vicious but I don't know how she is around cats...

Anyways I was just wondering because if it seemed too wrong I wont go and will stay home with my cat. Thanks for your opinion~
Isn't there anyone else who can keep the cat? What if she has trouble during labor or delivery? Are you ready for that? Plus, new mother cats need to and want to get away from their brood from time to time. That's why the birthing box is made with sides to keep the babies in as they get bigger, but allow the mom to jump out and potty or eat and hang out elsewhere.

I've had cats for years and don't think this is a good idea. I'll PM our cat expert to ask her to give her advice.

And please get the cat spayed when she is done nursing.