Fostering a pregnant cat is one of the premier fostering experiences.  Because we are basically providing a comfortable place for nature to take it’s course, seldom are there the problems we deal with when kittens are orphaned and we try to duplicate the perfect balance their mommy would have provided them.  Our role here is only to protect and enjoy. 

This page will cover housing our lady in waiting.  For information on delivering kittens see midwifery.

It is important to keep in mind that momcat has been uprooted from wherever she used to call home.  She probably had a nest for her family picked out and now her world has been turned upside down.  Plan where you want to house her and try to have it ready so that she can be left alone for a day or so to assess her new situation.  Be very careful that her space is secure because she is likely to want to make a run for it if given an opportunity.  Be careful when handling momcat, she is stressed and apt to defend herself.  When she seems to have relaxed in her surroundings, spend plenty of time with her so that she will be comfortable sharing her impending kittens with you.

 

 

 

 

 

The Nest

At first, she will prefer a small rather den-like box.  A crate (cat-carrier) of appropriate size is usually very acceptable to the cat but it has it’s drawbacks.  It is best if you can observe the kittens without disturbing the family.  This is best done from the top.

Cut the flaps off the top of a cardboard box and tape (packing tape) them together to make a removable top.  A piece of tape across the top of the open box will keep the integrity of the box so that the lid does not cave in. 

A Bedroom

It is important to be able to observe kittens, especially during the first week.  Most cats will choose a place under a bed for a nest and once she has, it is unlikely that you are going to change her mind.  If you are going to house foster cats in a spare room, it is best that there are no hiding places such as a bed.  Ideally, a cage in a spare bedroom, will allow you to have more control of a foster situation.  Fix a den like bed in the cage and close momcat in when you are not with her.  You can do the same thing with a closet if it is big enough for a litterbox, a bed and her food and water (provide her with light).  You need to force her to nest in a place that is accessible to you, where you can contain the kittens as they grow up.  Once momcat has settled in with her litter and you are reasonably sure she won’t move them, you can leave the cage or closet door open to give her freedom to use the rest of the room.  Place the cage over the heater vent.

 

A Bathroom

A bathroom that you seldom use is a good place for a cat to raise her kittens.  A bed made in the bathtub provides an escape proof place for the kittens and allows mom to get away from them when she wants to.  The litterbox and her food can be out in the room and if she’s lucky there will be a window to sit in.

Be sure to remove anything momcat might destroy in an attempt to escape or just for entertainment.  Remove any thing that might harm her, window curtains, shower curtains, towels, knick-knacks, and toilet paper until you assess your foster momcat’s behavior.  Always keep Windows closed, a cat can shred a screen and be gone.  Put a brick on the heater vent, she can pry that up go into the duct!

A Laundry Room

A laundry room is great except that the family needs access to it regularly and the chances for momcat to escape are greater.  If you choose a laundry room, be sure to block all spaces around the washer and dryer so that kittens can’t get behind them.  Never leave the dryer open.  It will look like a great napping spot to a cat or kitten, potentially a horrible disaster.  A cage in a laundry room would work well.

A Cage  See “cage set-up” on the Handy Hints page.

Feed Momcat quality dry KITTEN FOOD (higher protein) free choice.  Also give her the Kitten Recipe (see below) about 1/4 cup three times a day.  Provide her with fresh water at all times. 

If momcat was not wormed at the shelter, worm her when you get her home.  Worm her again in two weeks and again after two weeks (3 wormings).  As soon as she has her kittens, she needs to be vaccinated.  If you are able to do this yourself, pick up vaccine from the shelter or from Judy.  Judy can vaccinate her or you can take her to the shelter, which ever is most convenient for you.  In three weeks, she should be vaccinated again.

Fostering a cat with kittens is usually the easiest and most fun fostering experience.  Seldom are there the problems we deal with when kittens are orphaned and we try to duplicate the perfect balance only their mommy can provide.  Our role here is only to protect and enjoy. 

It is easy to be caught up in the enjoyment of your little foster family and forget to watch the calendar.  Remember, our goal is to return kittens to the shelter while they are the most adoptable.  Kittens are most adoptable when they are little.  Healthy robust kittens can be spayed or neutered when they weigh two pounds.  It is our goal to return them to the shelter as close to two pounds as possible.  Please try to follow the following timeline.

Birth ~ 10 Days    Feed Momcat quality dry KITTEN FOOD (higher protein) free choice.  Also give her the Kitten Recipe (see below) about 1/4 cup three times a day.  Provide her with fresh water at all times.  Kittens must be checked often.  Weigh each kitten once a day to make sure they are gaining equally.  Check their umbilical area, there should be no redness or secretions.  Count the kittens several times a day, making sure none are caught up in the bedding or separated from the litter.  If one kitten is separated from the litter repeatedly, something is wrong.  See DEVELOPMENTAL TIMELINE.

10 days ~ 4 weeks  Feed momcat same as above.  Kittens eyes and ears should be open. Mom will be providing their food and toileting.  Clip the kittens claws.  This is very important.  Kittens can not retract their claws until they are about 4 weeks old.  Their sharp claws inflict serious damage if they come in contact with their siblings eyes.  Use your fingernail clippers to remove the tip of each claw, front and back paws.  Do this once a week until you take them back to the shelter. 

5 weeks  It is time to start the weaning process.  Partial Separation: Separate mom from the kittens each morning.  She can be where they see each other but can not nurse.  Return her to the kittens just before you go to bed each night.  This gradual weaning will stimulate the kittens to eat solid food.  This process also helps momcat dry up her milk more gradually and comfortably than if she is taken away from them all at once.  She should still get dry kitten food free choice but limit the extras.

Offer Kitten Recipe to kittens around noon.  Scroll down to “Starting the weaning process” on the Handy Hints page.  If you can’t do this, feed them before you leave and again as soon as you get home (leaving dry food available, free choice).  Feed them in the evening before return to momcat.

4 weeks    Give dewormer (Anthelban) and Ponazuril now.  Momcat’s food remains the same.  Provide quality dry kitten food and water for the kittens, free choice. Start introducing “Kitten Recipe” once a day.  Most canned kitten food is too rich and will cause diarrhea.  Use the “Kitten Recipe” below, pureed or mashed with a little water added.  They can choke on chunks, so for now make a pablum of the Recipe.  See chart below for an estimated guideline.  Most kittens show little interest at first, tending to walk through and wear more than they eat.  Separate two kittens at a time from mom and the siblings.  The best place to feed them is in your shower or bathtub so they don’t make a mess of their living quarters.  Let momcat eat the food they leave and wash the mess down the drain.  Scroll down to “Starting the weaning process” on the Handy Hints page.

 

Introduce a litterbox for the kittens.  See “Litterbox Wisdom” on the Poop page.  Put free choice water out for the kittens.  Don’t just leave a bowl in their living quarters.  Scroll down on the Equipment  page to see how food and water bowls are secured in a cage.  If using a room, put the food and water bowl in a box, cutting down one side so they can’t dump the bowls.

6 weeks  Give kittens 1st Vaccination, dewormer (Anthelban) and Ponazuril now.  It is time to remove momcat from kittens permanently.  She needs to be in a separate part of the house where she can not hear her kittens.  If this is not do-able for you, call Judy and we will make arrangements for her to spend the next couple of weeks in another foster home.  Change momcats diet to a quality adult cat food,  Restrict her food (to help her dry up) to the recommended amount on the label.  Momcat should be vaccinated again, three weeks after her first vaccination.

Kittens should be eating the dry food and looking forward to their ration of Kitten Recipe.  If they are eating all their Kitten Recipe in 5 minutes, increase the amount a little at the next feeding.  Use your best judgment, keeping them just slightly on the hungry side.

Two Pound Kittens  Spend a lot of time socializing kittens to be accepting of strangers, dogs, other cats, kids and loud household noises.  When they reach two pounds, return them to the shelter.  See Taking Them Back.  All kittens do not have to go back together, take the two pound kitten back and keep the smaller kittens until they are ready. 

Vaccinate her three weeks after her first vaccination.   Spend time with her, let her be out in the household with the family while her kittens are sequestered in a separate part of the house.  Palpate her tummy every day.  For the first week, she will be engorged with milk.  You can relieve this some with warm moist towels and gentle massaging.  Her breasts will be exceptionally hot (warm is okay) if she has mastitis and she will run a fever.  If you have any doubt, take her temperature.  If she has a fever, call Judy. 

She does not have to be completely dried up to go back to the shelter but her breasts must be flaccid before she can be spayed.  Call the shelter a few days before taking her back to be sure there is room for her and so that she can be placed on the surgery schedule.  See Taking Them Back. 

Scroll down to CARING FOR MOMCAT AFTER WEANING

Some cats walk away from their kittens and never look back.  Others mourn their kittens and will sometimes be destructive trying to get back to them.  Given her choice, most momcats would gradually wean her kittens over another month or more.  We hurry the process in order to get the kittens placed while they are most adoptable.

Do her a big favor by restricting her food to the recommended amount on the package of a quality adult dry cat food.  The kitten food she was eating while nursing her kittens is now too high in protein and will hinder the drying up of her milk.  No snacks.

CARING FOR MOMCAT AFTER WEANING