Help- the cat I rehomed on thursday is pregnant!

walshc

I was looking for a cat and saw an ad on Gumtree offering a 1 year old cat. As I live near a main road, the charities would not give me a cat. The cat being offered on Gumtree is an indoor cat, so I thought it would be perfect.
I visited the cat, and asked (as I thought) all th right questions and took the cat home a few days later once I had bought all the relevant kit. The cat immediately hid under the kitchen sink and only came out this evening (after 5 days). She came out and was immediately very friendly, which is when I noticed she has a very large belly with some lumps in it, and swollen nipples, so I guessing she is pregnant (is there any other explanation?)
I am going to take her to the vet tomorrow to see.
So, my moral dilemma if she is pregnant...
Do I keep her and raise the kittens. I would have to rehome the kittens as I cannot look after multiple cats.
Do I bring her back to the family who gave her to me (they must have known she was pregnant)
Any other options?

Another question...how pregnant is she likely to be if I can feel lumps?

Thanks for any opinions

cazziebo

Can't answer the specific question - but I'd guess very!

I took in a "stray" cat a few years ago. The local CPL asked me to look after it for the night and they would sort it out next day. Of course, by that time the DDs had fallen in love with her so we asked to keep her.

Same thing happened. She had 4 kittens about 4 weeks later, although the CPL took responsibility for rehoming them. I got her spayed and then, about 4 weeks later, she disappeared. After we gave up searching, we spotted her looking happy and healthy and not disposed at all to coming home with us.... Never managed to trace where she lived, but we did see her regularly.

Not sure what I'd do in your situation - possibly get in touch with the family and let them know she's pregnant? Although if they wanted to rehome one cat then they wouldn't be up for taking on several...

MrsTinks

Pretty pregnant... if her nipples start showing any discharge or sign of milk kittens will likely arrive in the next 24 to 48 hours...
As for taking her back... if they were willing to give her up I'd say they'd be willing to drown the kittens or leave them without proper help if something went wrong... If you're happy with that as an outcome then hand her back.
Otherwise can you keep the kittens till they are 8 weeks and ask a local rescue to rehome them? Kittens usually find homes fairly easily and through a rescue at least you'd know they'd go to homes that had been "checked".
Ofcourse you could hand the mummy cat over to the rescue too... thus ensuring you don't get any of the hassle or expense that kittens often are... If you're willing to help the mum cat and keep her then start feeding her kitten food now - or check with your vet what food he'd recommend and how far along she is...

UKTigerlily

I'm sure the RSPCA or charities could help, kittens probably get snapped up like lightening, please please don't let her go back to her old home, they must have known as they would have known she wasn't spayed. Luckily cats normally have very easy & uncomplicated births & can be left to get on with it without intervention, just keep an eye on her. I really hope somewhere can advise you, i'd bet the old owners would take them, to them 4 kittens x whatever cost is more money. Please try Cat Protection too, they have fosterers that may well be able to take her in while she has her kittens?

MrsTinks

Oh and stop trying to feel the lumps... you could be inadvertently damaging the kittens. Only vets or people who have some training should be feeling round her tummy to check the kittens...

foreign_correspondent

Personally, if she is in the late stages I would ring a local rescue or cats protection league and ask if they could help with rehoming the kittens (home checks, rescue back up in case new homes dont work out etc).

I would not try to return the cat to the owner, I would not be surprised of they knew already and thats why they were getting rid. They might just end up drowned in a bucket of water or abandoned.

notlongnow_2

Not much of an 'indoor cat' then? previous owners must have known about it. I wouldnt contact them.

walshc

Thanks for the prompt replies. I always think if you rehome a cat you do so in the knowledge that things crop up, I guess I just didn't expect them this quickly!
I do think that if the family gave away the cat under false impressions, they are unlikely to be particularily caring if I did send her back (and therefore I am very very unlikely to send her back).

frankie55

You are going to have a lovely fun time at Christmas with those kittens just the right age to climb the Christmas tree and have great fun in the discarded wrapping papet etc. Many years ago the same thing happened to me and I had three cats, seven kittens and a dog over Christmas time and it was lovely, all the kittens went to new homes in the New Year and Poppy the cat went to the Vets! and lived until she was 23 when she passed away lying in the sunshine in the Garden havinhg had a wonderful life, she was my best friend and I never regretted taking her in.

Savvy_Sue

Y'know, this is just one reason why any attempts to rehome pets via this site are discouraged!

looby-loo_2

I rehomed a cat through this site but I think I was lucky. She produced kittens 8 days later. They are hard work and should not be encouraged. And I was lucky she didn't need a vet. Quite expensive too as mum cat eats for three at least! I rehomed them to friends, two of whom offered a donation which went towards getting mum to the vet ASAP. She is now a happy health cat and here to stay!

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=773143