Pregnant Stray Cat Finds A Home With Her Kittens

by Christine
(Rossford, Ohio, USA)

From the left: Spirit (12 wks), Shadow (12 wks) and Jewel (1.5 yrs)

Three weeks ago, my family and I were outside letting our cats play in our backyard when one of my cats disappeared (who just was sitting on our front porch).

We checked the alley behind our house to find two black short-haired cats staring back at us. We at first just closed the gate but they kept trying to get into our yard. So we brought in our cats and left them alone for a while.

After a few hours I went back outside to find one of the kittens just sitting on our sidewalk by the gate. As I approached him he didn't run but let me hold him. He was horribly malnourished that you could count every rib.

My parents were not happy about the kitten so they had me keep him outside. I fed him and gave him water, also made him a bed to sleep him. During the night as he was sleeping his brother snuck up to him and fell asleep (we noticed as we monitored him during the night).

The next day we set up a cage in the basement since outside has now become very cold that the kittens could freeze to death. I set out a trap (from save-a-pet) to catch the other kitten. In the meantime I went to the alley and called out to the mother who ran to me immediately.

I brought the mother and the other kitten into the basement into the cage. I let the mother room free in the basement since the cage didn't give her enough walking space. Later that night I caught the other kitten in the trap and released him into the cage.

Afterwards they had a visit by the doctor got treated for roundworm and tapeworm. Also received medicine for their ear mites. The boy will be neutered soon. As I checked more online because the mother was not gaining any weight by just looking at her I was getting worried and noticed she was sleeping more often and was so loving to me. I realized she must be pregnant. Her stomach is now growing a little and she is having morning sickness. This is her third week.

I am going to carefully monitor her and make sure she gets to a vet and make get some ultrasound pictures. I know it maybe dangerous for her and I will make sure to keep checking with the vet but right now he says she is very healthy other than she is just a little thin, but she is gaining more weight as I fed her more but since the morning sickness she can't eat too much.

The only other thing I noticed was her teats are enlarged. My guess is because she is still a little underweight. So I am going to start feeding her some KMR which I hope will help her with producing milk.

How To Take Care Of Your Pregnant Cat answers all your questions about pregnancy in cats and kitten care.