Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: lornab on January 26, 2011, 21:09:38 PM
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I am fostering my first pregnant cat for the cats protection league, 'Socks' arrived on Saturday and has settled in nicely, I have only ever witnessed one cat birth over 20 years ago so am a bit rusty to say the least!
Jacky from the cats protection league thought she had about 3 weeks to go, however she seems very big and I can feel her kittens moving inside her, It's difficult to pinpoint changes in her behaviour as we don't really know her very well, but today I noticed her nipples have become swollen and she is licking herself 'down below' a lot, though she is showing no signs of looking for a place to nest.
Since she arrived she has been quite shy and hides when there is any noise or anyone moving around, however today she is seeking out our company and is content to lie on the sofa with the family.
Does anyone have any tips for me to help her or any idea how far along she might be?
Thanks,
Lorna.
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Sorry I dont know a thing but Angie and her helpers at Cov Cat group will be able to advise...............along with loads of others
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I don't believe it, I have been getting a box ready for her and when i went back in the lounge she was giving birth on the sofa! I thought she was supposed to go somewhere quiet and dark!!!!!!
First baby is looking ok she is washing it now. :rofl:
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Wow! So much for the estimated 3 weeks to go lol!
Hope Socks has a smooth labour and all babies are ok.
Do you have emergency vets number to hand just in or if you need any advice?
Good luck :)
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Only really know from reading stuff on here but I was going to say the licking thing sounded like it might be soon!
Hope the rest of her labour goes OK, keep us posted on how she's doing ;D
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Thats cats for you. :rofl: I hope everything is goes well for her, the babies, you ....... and your sofa.
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Still only one kitten so far, and its a beautiful little tabby, she has finally eaten the placenta and is having contractions again so watch this space, hope she dosn't drag it out all night but theres no way i'm going to bed and missing this :Luv2:
I hope she doen't mind being moved when she's done, I can't really leave her on the sofa - what if the kittens fall off, thank goodness its ancient and has removeable covers lol.
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:1st place:
I wonder if you could pop an old towel by her and hope she'll wriggle onto it so that she can have the birth smells transferred to her new den. I've read that a high sided cardboard box (maybe with a cut out so Mum can get out easily) is a good makeshift den.
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Kitten number 2 has just arrived, the sofa is not looking too good, I keep trying to shove a towel under her but she keeps moving off it :P will but towel and kittens in the box I was getting ready for her when she decided to start without me :Luv2:
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Wow 2 kittens, sounds like she is doing really well :hug: :hug: :hug:
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Number 3 has just arrived....
It is a bit sad really as Socks has chosen to give birth in exactly the same spot where we said goodbye to our beautiful girl Teycha just over a year ago at the grand old age of 20.
Our sofa has seen it all..........
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I think Teycha has led her to that spot cos she knows its a good one and provides comfort :hug: :hug:
3 kittens, thats wonderful and this is my second live birth on Purrs ;D
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Aw I can understand your sadness but maybe Teycha had a hand in chosing the birth site and its her way of letting you know that she approves of your decision to foster. :hug:
Great minds think alike Gill
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Number 4 was a bit of a struggle, it got its head stuck coming out and was a minute or two before it started breathing, socks was too busy eating the placenta so i rubbed it with a towel and fingers crossed it will be OK.
Please stop now Socks 4 is enough its way past my bedtime and I still haven't worked out how exactly i'm going to get you into your box........ :hug:
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Good luck - it sounds like all is well :hug:
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I have decided to leave her where she is and have enclosed her with big cushions so that nobody falls out, off for a quick bath now and will check on her before I go to bed, her tummy is much slimmer no and no signs of any more contractions.....please :rofl:
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Maybe she is getting tired anf 4 is a nice number :hug: :hug:
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This morning all 4 kittens and mum are doing well :Luv2: , the makeshift sleeping arrangements worked fine and nobady fell out of bed, I am going to try and tempt Socks away with some food and see if I can't persuade her into the box I nearly got ready for her.
She lapped some water when I held the bowl in front of her last night but I expect she is hungry.
I have taken some pictures and will post later, in the meantime can anyone recommend a good detergent for my sofa cushions? :rofl:
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(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k202/hazelwoodlops/SAM_0603.jpg)
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k202/hazelwoodlops/SAM_0606.jpg)
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k202/hazelwoodlops/SAM_0610.jpg)
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k202/hazelwoodlops/SAM_0609.jpg)
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Well done Socks (even if you did deliver on your foster mum's sofa) and well done you - think those babies are going to be just gorgeous. :Luv2:
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:Luv2:
Normal biological powder should do the job :evillaugh: (at 60 wash might be good if the fabric will take it :shify: )
Is mum eating kitten food as it is supposed to be better for lactating cats?
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No she is just having the normal tins of whiskas that the rescue gave me, we thought she had ages to go yet so she has caught me on the hop. I was supposed to be decorating today but I can't drag myself away from kitty watching :rofl:
Jacky said not to give her milk, i'm not sure why though, you'd think the extra calcium wold be a good thing.
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:1st place: Socks - four beautiful babies :Luv: :Luv: :Luv: :Luv:
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Well done all!
See who needs advice lol!
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:Luv2:
Is mum eating kitten food as it is supposed to be better for lactating cats?
kitten food arrived this afternoon, mum and babies doing well :Luv2:
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Awwwwwwwwww what a wonderful way to start the day with those totally gorgeous babies. :Luv2:
Are they all little tabbies? They look very well and you did a great job getting the last baby breathing. Now that one owes it's life to you I think so you have to keep it :Luv:
I can't wait to see these little ones grow up and develop. Look at those wee pointy tails xxx
Congratulations and well done Socks :)
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Havin probs with posts and my post gone walkies...............Sigh
Well done Socks and she is beautiful as are the kittens ;D
Some cats are lactose intollerant so lilk could make her ill.
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Awwwwwwwwww what a wonderful way to start the day with those totally gorgeous babies. :Luv2:
Are they all little tabbies? They look very well and you did a great job getting the last baby breathing. Now that one owes it's life to you I think so you have to keep it :Luv:
I can't wait to see these little ones grow up and develop. Look at those wee pointy tails xxx
Congratulations and well done Socks :)
Yes, all 4 are tabbies, but much darker than Socks, 3 of them have white socks like mum too, the only one that doesn't is the last one that was nearly a gonner, I think that one has to be named Lucky.
Before I met Socks I don't think I ever saw two different colours of tabby on the same cat she has a ginger/white tabby face and a bit on her bum too, the rest of her (apart from her socks) is ginger/black I think, she's very pretty. :Luv2:
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What a lovely thread :) Stunning mom and beautiful babies :Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2:
She must trust you very much and feel very protected to give birth in plain view like that :)
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She is a very nice natured girl, she had only been with me for 4 days prior to 'bearing her all' on my sofa, she must sense we are cat lovers here.
I actually spoke to the lady who gave her up yesterday, it turns out that she had just found out she was pregnant herself and felt she couldn't cope with Socks and her babies, whilst I don't agree that is OK to turf out our pets, as taking on a pet is a long term commitment, it was nice to hear a little about her history, she is only about 7 or 8 months old herself and does appear well cared for.
What I thought was a bit odd though was that the lady said she had had her since she was 6 weeks old and was told she had already been neutered, surely no-one would possibly believe a six week old kitten could have been neutered?
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I know there's alot of ignorance out there but difficult to believe anyone could be quite that
dim err um .... no I do mean dim.
Our Groucho was so tiny when he arrived fully weaned at 8 weeks. How anyone could believe an even smaller kitten could have been neutered :shocked: