Expert: Jessica - 10/6/2011

Question
Hello,
Two days ago I rescued a feral pregnant cat. She was social to me then, since I had fed her for 3-4 months now. I do not know for sure how many weeks of pregnancy she has gone through.
I live in a house with two other adult cats. Both sterilized.
The rescued cat was very nervous when rescued. She turned quite agressive during transportation. I have accommodated her in a totally separate room, quiet and warm. She has access to food, water and a sandbox. She is eating, drinking and using the box, though she still is quite scared. We have made sure she has hide-away spots so that she can be without disturbance.
I wanted to know what the best way to treat her in this situation is. Is her pregnancy in risk due to the rescue and the subsequent nervosity? How shall I proceed to have her calm down? What can I do to help her more?
Please help me!
Thank you very much!

Answer
Hi Vanina,

A pregnancy can be at risk due to stress, but it is not common for cats to miscarry because of this. Try to let her have some peace and quiet, and she should cope well with the move. Aggression usually passes within a few days. I would spend some time in the room with her several times a day, trying to make gentle contact with her so that she continues to make progress with the socialization process. If you allow her to go long without close contact, she will soon revert to her feral nature. Use food treats to encourage her to come to you. Chicken works well. Give the treats several times a day, and try to feed them by hand. This is the biggest tool you will have to encourage her to relax in her new surroundings and trust you. I always recommend sitting on the floor and reading a book aloud. Although it sounds funny, this is a good way to get the cat used to your voice and your presence in a non-threatening way, because you are not moving or making eye contact. There isn't too much else to do to help her calm down. It just takes time for a feral to get used to indoor life. But most settle into it a great deal in a few weeks' time.

When the kittens are born, I suggest that you start holding them right from birth. You don't need to hold them for long or take them out of mama's sight unless she becomes very stressed about it. But handle them right away, just for a minute a few times a day. Kittens handled from birth open their eyes sooner and leave the nest earlier, seeking human attention, than kittens who are not handled until they are a couple weeks old. Mom may be nervous about your handling the kittens at first, but she should come to accept this as she sees that you return the babies each time.

Good luck!

Jessica