Found a cat expecting kittens!

[Paddlinglikehell]

Just posted this in Chat. OH came In with a young cat he found down our (isolated) track. She has had a lot of water and a tiny amount of food, but is now sleeping, absolutely exhausted, she was a little vocal initially and very friendly. I can see and feel the kittens moving around, so she is on a warm bed, next to the radiator and am going to see how she is in the morning.

Anything else I should be doing? Will phone Cats Protection in case she has been lost tomorrow and take her to the vet, but I fear she may have been dumped. I am also a bit worried, because she doesn't seem to have the energy now (she did before) and can hardly raise her head when I go in. She is very young, probably 7 months looking at her teeth..

Any advice appreciated.

[thecatneuterer]

She has almost certainly been dumped. If you can see and feel the kittens she must be just about to give birth. If you have a cardboard box or something similar give her that - preferably with the top shut and with a hole cut in the side for her to get in. They like to be able to hide themselves away somewhere to have them.

Yes take her to the vet. If she still has a couple of weeks to go then an abortion would be best all round, but it sounds as though she's due very soon indeed.

How do you feel about being a kitten fosterer?

[Paddlinglikehell]

I did wonder if they may be due soon, when she was on my lap I could feel them and put my hand on her side, one was moving under it and I could feel its paws, or nose - something bumpy!

I have given her my old cats igloo, with a fleece in in, so it is sort of enclosed. She is just lying stretched out, back end in it, she is zonked, so probably very tired. I don't want to keep disturbing her to check. I have turned the light out now, but she can hear us moving around.

We are happy to have kittens, my dd is 8, and wants to be a vet, so a good experience for her and something we would never have done oursleves. I am sure Cats Protection, will,help find homes, although we will get her spayed and keep her, with possibly a kitten?!

Not sure our collie -10 months, will appreciate her!

[thecatneuterer]

Well that sounds like a very good plan. She's very, very lucky you found her. If she'd had the kittens out in the open they'd have likely been eaten by foxes and of course she'd have struggled to find enough food to enable her to produce enough milk.

Yes it's awful to take all a cat's kittens away. They do get desperately upset. If you can keep her and one kitten that would be lovely. I'm sure your collie will come round.

[Paddlinglikehell]

Took the cat to the vets today, she was still very lethargic this morning, and had been sick. did eat a tiny amount of chicken.

The vet confirmed she was around 7 months :( Very dehydrated and has diarrhoea too, so probably an infection. They have kept her in, on a drip and to give antibiotics, she is pitifully thin, the kittens are still moving.

The vet said the RSPCA will pay the first £60 of any stray treatment and then we have to decide if we want to take her on (along with bills), or she will be passed to RSPCA centre.

I rang a couple of the centres to ask if they go to her, could we maybe keep her here, have the kittens and then they help rehome and spay, but they pay half the vets fees, they both said it may not be them, as have no room, but the RSPCA inspector would ring around and they didn't usually do that sort of thing.

Looks like we have to decide either way and coule be up for some big bills, she will need blood testing too of course.

Do we let her go?

[cozietoesie]

How is the money situation with you? (Being realistic here.)

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Oh, this is a difficult situation, vets bills can really mount up. A few years ago ds found a feral kitten almost dead at the side of the road. He'd become entangled in long grass caught between the claws of a hind leg and got himself thoroughly trapped. We took him to the vet and explained the situation, and the vet offered to treat him at cost, it still added up to over £300 (though that included amputation in the end). Can your vet give any sort of rough idea what the final bill may be? I don't think I could pts a pregnant cat, but if the money's not there... :(

[Paddlinglikehell]

Well we aren't short of a bob or two, if it was £200/300 or so we wouldn't be too worried. If it clocked up more than that we would have to think about it and who knows when you start talking about hospitalisation!?

What happens with testing for FIV now, how long does it take etc.? The vet said the kittens may have suffered there is no guarantee they would be OK, or she would have them naturally! I think we may be taking on an open cheque, although OH at moment is erring towards keeping her. I would like to, but part of me says it may just be easier to let her go now.

We went through an emotional time with a puppy we rescued at Christmas, that had parvo. Not sure I can cope with the emotional roller coaster!

However, we lost our old cat just prior to Christmas and I do miss having a cat around and on my lap. She is definitely a lap cat!

[Paddlinglikehell]

The vet didn't think she was a PTS case from first look, especially as the kittens were so active. If that was going to be the outcome, I think we would definitely give her the chance.

I was under the impression if we didn't take her on, she would be collected by the RSPCA. Mind you, I have lost a bit of faith in them recently

[thecatneuterer]

I would ask if they can abort the kittens in this situation. That would give her the best chance of recovery and doesn't cost much more than a spay. I don't know why they're testing for FIV. It really makes very little difference indeed to the health and lifespan of cats and FIV cats can live happy, healthy lives and die of old age.

I realise that she is still ill and her treatment may still cost a bit.

Where in the UK are you? Anywhere near London, Essex, Hastings or Liverpool?

[Paddlinglikehell]

I wouldn't like to abort at this stage, the vet didn't think so either.

We are not far from Liverpool. Our vets is in fact a well known referral hospital in the area.

[thecatneuterer]

In that case you could try contacting Freshfields. They're much better than the RSPCA.

[cozietoesie]

If the vet thinks she's saveable, then, I'd go for it. Be thoroughly realistic at any decision point but you'll know you'll have given her (and any kits) a good chance.

Best of luck and let us know how it goes.

[Sparklingbrook]

Oh my. How did I miss this yesterday? Poor little soul. Well done for rescuing her and getting her some help Paddling.

[thecatneuterer]

Yes that's not like you Sparkling. I thought you had some sort of special siren in your house that goes off every time a thread with 'kittens' in the title is posted:)

[Paddlinglikehell]

Have spoken to them, they only help with spaying. Spaying her eventually isn't the issue really, it is the possibility of huge vet bills and maybe getting support with that.

I suppose most places have their own vets, with their own rates, as opposed to a 'commercial' rate.

I will have a chat with the vet later about options. Maybe they will do us cost, having had a thousand out of our insurance earlier in the year!

[Sparklingbrook]

I am slipping thecat. Our local rescue says there has been a 'second wind' of kittens again this year. There are going to be some ready for rehoming in November.....

[Paddlinglikehell]

Not me Sparkling. OH Has this ability to bring everything home! I used to work in rescue for a well known charity (think cross), so I think he thinks I still need the practice!

Bloody animals!

[cozietoesie]

Oh - and Paddling, collies get on fine with cats in my experience. Yours is young so close supervision will be required of course (and if you keep her and she has a litter some good privacy and protection for her because she'll likely be nervy as all get out with new kittens, being just a kit herself.)

[Paddlinglikehell]

cozie, I have always had dogs and cats together, my last dear cat thought she was a dog.

Collie hasn't come across a cat close to before and yesterday was absolutely terrified, shaking, growling, hackles! Very funny. We put a baby gate up to the utility room and she made a den in the igloo bed., but no doubt she would take them off somewhere if we do have her.

Just washing the bedding now, just in case she comes back ;). It has been in the garage since old cat died.

We need to make a decision tonight. I keep think inking hat if she can't feed them, as she is so undernourished, not sure I can do every couple of hours nowadays!

[cozietoesie]

Your call - and a difficult one, I know. Does the vet have any idea how many kits are in there? (I'm guessing not many.)

[Sparklingbrook]

I wouldn't know what to do either.

[Paddlinglikehell]

No idea, impossible to tell, but it felt busy! She is small herself, so maybe only two or three.

[SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots]

Seriously, where do you lot find all these cats and kittens?
I'm obviously not looking hard enough.

[Sparklingbrook]

Me neither Squirted. They never come to my house. I have twice this year returned dead cats to their owners this year, I want some nice cat stuff to do.

[Sparklingbrook]

Too many 'this years' there!