‘My cat gave birth and we
became friends again’

Tina’s cat Sage seemed not to like kittens, and became aggressive when she became pregnant. But it all changed when she got her litter ...

My cat, Sage, had her first litter 4 days ago. Sage was a strictly indoor cat until I took in another stray pregnant cat (my soft spot).

Sage being the one and only took offense to this and started darting out open doors. She came into her first heat, and sure enough had a male caller, he seemed to linger around the entire week before hand as if trying to soften her up.

The first month we let her come and go, she seemed to disown me since the other arrivals. This last month I forced her to stay inside, and the last 2 weeks I made her stay in my end of the house, limited to my bathroom bedroom and hallway.

I have new kittens come and go regularly since we moved here a few months ago, I catch strays, tame them and find good homes for them. Sage despises them all, and me too I thought. She would sit everyday on my washer and hiss at them, would not even use the same litter box or food dishes as them.

I knew her date was getting close, but could not figure a bedding situation. The other end of my house is inhabitated by dogs. So I gave her a laundry basket she seemed fond of and kept it on the shelf above the dryer where she slept when she wasn't harassing the stray kittens.

For 3 months she would not even let me touch her, when she became pregnant I quit trying as she became more aggressive. I am 4 months pregnant as well, so I felt I understood.

I must not have. I was taking a nap when she went into labor. I woke up to find the pillow I was cuddled to was wet, and her staring in my face. When I realized what was happening I decided to leave her on my bed where she must have felt safe.

I went to get a drink and she followed me, to check the mail, she did the same. She would not let me out of her sight.

Finally, I gave in and sat on the bed with her. She returned to the pillow and within 10 minutes there was the first of 4 babies.

I was amazed, over the years I have taken in many pregnant or new mothers, but this was the first birth I ever witnessed. After 30 minutes and one more kitten I thought she had it under control and I could leave, no, she still tried to follow.

So I stayed, and every time one came she pushed her body against mine and stiffened her neck. I was in pain just watching.

After 4 long hours the last one was here, and I had her permission to stand up. I moved them to the laundry basket with her newly claimed pillow to the end of my bed with a spray bottle the other kittens saw as a sign to stay away.

She no longer despises them, or harasses them. However the stray mother cat has decided this is not her home. Sage, who always passively threatened her, chased her all across the house until the old mother finally escaped through my dryer vent.

For her first litter she seems to be doing surprisingly well. She only has 3 now. The second night Sage still seemed very tired, we watched her carefully. But while feeding my son she seemed to have smothered one. I was sad to bury one so soon, but she did not look for it. She does seem much more careful about how she rolls around though.

At last I am very pleased to have rekindled my bond with my favorite companion, next to my husband of course. I was so sure she would never forgive me, only to find that the place she felt the most comfortable and safe was right by my side.

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