Dillemna - Pregnant cat

Buttonmoons

Hi there, hopefully someone can give me some advice!

My mum lives in a small village outside Aberdeen, there is a cat called Jemima that's always around, it *did* belong to a family further down the street but the girl didn't want it anymore and *gave* it to the two druggies in the bungalow. Now, they do not look after this cat, it doesn't get let inside, it's ALWAYS outside, like seriously - ALWAYS. It's not because it doesn't want to come inside either as I have often sat and stroked her outside my mums house and she trys to barge her way into the house - something my mum will not tolerate (she hates cats)

Anyways, my sister has just texted me (incidentally, hates cats also, cowers in terror when mine saunter past her :rotfl:) and apparently this cat is VERY pregnant, she said she could see things moving in her stomach and whilst Jemima was never a skinny cat, in hindsight her saggytron belly is probably from previous litters! But, her stomach is bulging right now.

Im in two minds, whilst technically this cat isn't mine, nor do I want to keep it (be very unfair since its used to being outside) It WILL give birth outside, and pretty soon Im guessing from the movements in the belly being noticeable.

Where my mum lives is next to the beach where lots of wild animals are, foxes, and people let their dogs off lead, so if Jemima goes anywhere near the paths, those kittens wont last long plus there is always the fact she could abandon them etc.

Im considering going up tomorrow to erm, BORROW jemima, I will return her after the kittens have been weaned (and I've got her neutered) and will find homes for the kittens (and probably keep 1 ) but I'm just not sure of the legality of this, or if I should.....I mean it's not really my problem but Its utterly baltic up here in Aberdeen and I feel so at the prospect of baby kittens dying.

Also there is the element that I have 2 house cats, and they are easily kept apart, (jemima & co in my room) my cats have free roam of rest of the abode.


ARGH I DUNNO WHAT TO DOOOOOOO

murphydog999

I think you do.....

Buttonmoons

You are so right. Im away to ring the ex and get him to take me there with a catbox, and a detour via tescos for a litterbox.....

Nutter I am, commiting myself to this for weeks and weeks. Oh well......I shall go and investigate.

19lottie82

V kind of you OP, I think I'd feel the same if I was in your situation. However...... I think your main problem here is keeping the cat in one room, I don't think it would be too chuffed, it may even be distressed.

Can you not take the cat to a branch of the cats protection league or equiv? they can make sure Jemima and the kittens are cared for and responsibly re home the kittens.
They will have vets on hand should the kittens, or Jemima get ill during or after the birth. do you have the funds to cover this, shoudl anything go wrong?

good luck, please let us know how you get on x

gettingready

Have you seen Lucy's thread?

My daughter took in a pregnant homeless cat and both mum and all babies were happily homed to great homes...

This is the latest but inside the first post you have links to previous threads....

Good luck

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3628905

19lottie82

Buttonmoons wrote: »

I will return her after the kittens have been weaned (and I've got her neutered)

Again, Cats Protection League would rehome her after the birth, doesn't seem fair to chuck her back out in to the cold! (Not that I think for one second you'd have the heart to do that when push came to shove!)

Buttonmoons

Yeah there is the implication of keeping her limited to one room, but it was just intially, I just don't want to freak the other cats out or start WW3, or worse, instigate the male to pizz everywhere :eek:

Its that or they all die, or she could die during labour, as it will 100% happen outside as she doesn't get in.

I will take her here intially and then ring around, there is a pound 5 mins from me, but TBH I don't really like them as they were negligent to my nanas dog and he died about 1 week after leaving them (picked him up covered in sick and diapoopoo)

I am not loaded by any means, and this month is quite tight for me but i do get housing benefit (only since this year cause ex moved out) and I can use the PDSA if anything goes wrong (My cat have pet insurance so I use a private vet for anything rather than using them) but I suppose the PDSA is for things like this? Im sure they would neuter her for their reduced price too which I would pay.

Buttonmoons

19lottie82 wrote: »

Again, Cats Protection League would rehome her after the birth, doesn't seem fair to chuck her back out in to the cold! (Not that I think for one second you'd have the heart to do that when push came to shove!)

Well I was going to see how she settled intitially, as she has always been kicking around there and I do force my mum to leave grub out for her, but no kicking her out in the cold isn't good :rotfl: but yeah rehoming her and the kittens wouldn't be too difficult.....

Gettingready Ive seen your thread, Im not ending up with a house full of animals :rotfl: Im not allowed the 2 I have (hehe)

rising_from_the_ashes

Poor wee mite ...... so glad Jamina's got you to take her & the babes in - they'd really struggle outside in this weather (regardless of the other dangers). She does sound very close to birthing if they're moving around etc and certainly when they're very small I'd say you'd be best to keep them in the one room to save stress for her & your own cats as well.

Please let us know how it goes.....

19lottie82

OP if you think that you can manage it then go for it, but bear in mind it could be very very hard work.

if the kittens don't take to the teat, they have to be bottle fed very often at the early stages (up to once an hour!) and that includes during the night......

I've checked online and there are cats protection leagues in central and outer aberdeen. My mum has got 2 cats from the one near Glasgow and they really are great I'm sure Jemima and her babies would be in great hands.

Check out the website, maybe give them a call. But again, if you think you can handle it, go for it. x

http://www.cats.org.uk/central-aberdeen/contact-us

http://www.cats.org.uk/outeraberdeen

Buttonmoons

Well the ex is just going to finish his dinner, then come pick me up, I have a cat carrier and will just swing by tescos and pick up a ton of cat food + litter box + more wood pellets (needed them anyways ) and I have old scraggy blankets and stuff lying around that I'll make a den for her (going to go clear a space and vaccumn my room now) Actually might just empty out a washing basket and line that and see if she plops them there.

Will look at getting a feliway plug in also for the house to keep things harmonious, as I'm sure they will smell her on me.

I can see my female cat being most put out she isn't getting to kip on my bed anytime soon :rotfl: