Having Kittens

[2long]

A local 'stray' is getting fat and just about lives with us.I reckon she's been preggars for a month or 6 weeks, so when is she likely to pop? I know I could Google this info, but my other question was what sort of 'nest' would she like? It'll be outside and sheltered from the rain, but do they prefer a low ceiling (she sleeps under the car) or more 'walls'?

Hope it all makes sense.

Thanx

[elfe]

well it would be nice if you would provide her a box with bedding to give birth to her babies. maybe in a garage or other shelter if you don't want to bring her inside your house.

[Priceless]

A local 'stray' is getting fat and just about lives with us.I reckon she's been preggars for a month or 6 weeks, so when is she likely to pop? I know I could Google this info, but my other question was what sort of 'nest' would she like? It'll be outside and sheltered from the rain, but do they prefer a low ceiling (she sleeps under the car) or more 'walls'?

Hope it all makes sense.

Thanx

A female cat is normally pregnant for 65 days (+/- 2 or so), which would give her another 3 weeks or so to go.

She will probably want some kind of place with both "walls" and a "roof". When we were breeding cats, before moving to Thailand, we had a special box that I had built for delivery and the kittens' first few weeks. It looked like this:

(The brown (darker) cat is the mother, the lighter one is her daughter from a previous litter.) You wouldn't go to those lengths for a single litter, so a cardboard box like one you would get a TV in would do nicely. Make a cutout so that the mother, but not the kittens, can get in and out. Prepare it a week or two before the delivery so that she has time to get used to it. Otherwise she may choose another place that you might not really approve of

Good luck and remember that when you have kittens, you don't need a TV!

/ Priceless

[2long]

Thank you both.

I DON'T need kittens and the pregnant mother is only a baby herself. We reckon 6 months old! She's going for the snip as soon as the wee ones are off the milk.

All of the survivingkitties will be off to new homes (anyone interested?)

The mum is a grey tabby of wonderful markings, health, appearance and character.

[raro]

when they come close to the delivery (about 2 or 3 days before), they will look around for a suitable place. The aforementioned cardboard box with some old towels is a perfect location, if the lid is half-closed even better.

Our cat had not better place in mind than our bed - 10 cm in front of my nose to be more precise - at 4 in the morning...I woke up and saw something black dangling from her rear and my first thought was she's having a crap...grapped the cat and threw her out of the bed room...only then realising what was going on....

[Mosha]

With ours she starts looking about 1 week before. We lay an old towel down and have a few in hand. She too prefers our bed, and succeeded once. Keep all doors shut where you don't want her to deliver. She will want to move them after a couple of days, which is where the extra bedding comes in. I don't know if our cat is exceptional, but she also easily adopts abandoned kittens. She even lets her young adult offspring suckle.

My sister in law's cat was completely different. As soon as the kittens were eating she lost interest. Didn't even bring prey items for them. As you may now be aware of, dogs have owners, cats have staff.

Edited April 28, 2008 by Mosha

[Sheryl]

Examine her nipples, if they are prominent then indeed, kittens are imminent. If they aren't, she may just have worms, in which case...to the vet for deworming and spaying.

[2long]

Oh she's pregnant! The box is in place and has a nice hole in it.

I reckon we're a week or two away and they will be born and have to stay outside.

[Sheryl]

Post some pics when the little angels arrive!

[2long]

Will do!