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Emily94 · Apr 28, 2011, 07:26 AM

All right, this is kind of a long story (and could get a little confusing).
Anyway, I have a friend (more of an acquaintance) who had this cat, well he went to jail and had left the cat in his apartment. I just found out about this yesterday from another mutual friend so we tracked down the landlord and told him the story, and he allowed us to enter the apartment, sure enough the cat was there. He went to jail the beginning of April (and won't be getting out for at least a year, so no, we didn't just "steal" the cat, the landlord also didn't know he was gone as he had paid aprils rent)so the cat has been alone since then, were not sure what she was eating if anything at all, because she is kind of thin. We also realized she is pregnant, her belly looks like she decided to eat a whole watermelon, but she also has bones showing.

So now we need help. We have found an awsome person who is going to take her in and care for her, but were all sort of stuck on what to do. We have been feeding her as much wet food as she can eat and encouraging her to drink a lot of water. She has already purked up in the 24 hours we have had her and noticed that the kittens seem to be moving more (you can see them poking every once in awhile).

Can some one gives us tips on this? About labour, the kittens, how to get her nice and healthy for the kittens/milk (were already prepared to bottle feed since she isn't in to good of health and might need some help)...

Thanks!

Lucky098 · Apr 28, 2011, 11:06 AM

Let nature takes its course. The only time you should interfere with her pregnancy and labor is if there are any complications.

If you want to spend the money, get an x-ray. You will know how many kittens are in there and therefore will know how many to expect. Cats typically go into labor very early morning and will hide. She will make a nest out of site and have them. That is really all you can do and should do.

Give her kitten food. Just like dogs, everything you feed her goes to babies. Her babies are probably very healthy. She gave all she could to them. She will gain weight after she gives birth to them. Just keep out plenty of dry food and fresh water. Supplement her with a high quality kitten canned food. Do NOT give milk. That is a human thing. Cats don't need milk. They are carnivores. Milk has no calories or nutritional values that cats need. She will create milk a few days before or the day of. There is typically never a lot of milk at first. The Colostrum is what the kittens need first and foremost, so don't rip them away from her and start bottle feeding. She may be thin, but she will still be able to feed them. She might get thinner before she gets weight back. Just keep food out for her. She will eat, and she will eat heartly!

Do as little as possible unless you need to. Get the x-ray done and leave her be.

Emily94 · Apr 28, 2011, 11:09 AM

Thank you. We were thinking about getting an X-ray done, but decided not to. Will her small size (and malnurished body) cause more complications? Should we be watching extremely close during labour?

Lucky098 · Apr 28, 2011, 07:38 PM

Always pay attention to her while she is giving birth, but until you see a problem, there really isn't anything you can do. Without x-rays you won't know how many kittens are inside there, so you won't be able to tell if she has a kitten still in her after she is done with babies.

I have seen some scary thin mama dogs give birth to fat, healthy pups. She is malnurished because she gave up all her fat and nutrients to ensure the survival of her kittens.

Mother Nature is pretty good at taking care of her critters. If you are lucky, you may be able to see the birth. Don't disrupt her and be patient.

JudyKayTee · Apr 29, 2011, 02:41 PM

Emily, I don't know but I am SO GLAD to see you back and posting!

Good to see your name. I've been watching for you.

paleophlatus · Apr 29, 2011, 04:55 PM

If she will eat kitten food, that has more nutrients than adult cat food. Dry may be better... it's at least less expensive. When it's time, and you can see movement easily, I suspect you have a week, give or take. One problem may be where she decides is the right spot... you may not agree, and changing it will upset her, will likely upset her delivery schedule, and she probably will still like her original spot best.
Remember, you are still basically a stranger to her, just because you have been feeding her, means only that you 'mean ' food to her, not that she can trust you with her babies.
Here is a link that is pretty helpful on just what you are going in to..

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/giving_birth_to_kittens.html

Best wishes

Emily94 · Apr 29, 2011, 05:25 PM

Thank you paleophlatus! She is allowed anywhere in the house to have the babies, the lady who has offered to take her in is very caring and will allow her to do what she pleases (mostly because she is just to cute to say no to).

And judyKayTee, I have been super busy, I volunteer at the shelter a lot, I've uped the dogs walking time two 3 hours and 2 hours at the puppy park (they were driving me nut with there crazyness), and I work part time again. But I needed to make time because I knew someone on here would help us out with our new kitty!

Emily94 · May 9, 2011, 05:39 AM

Just an update, "Precious" had 5 beautiful babies last Monday. There all doing great. Mom was rushed to the vet Monday night as she was vomitting and not feeding the babies, but after a few tests they decided nothing was wrong and thankfully she starting feeding the kittens and stopped vomitting. I haven't been out to see them, but when I do I'll post pictures.