AboutJessica Expertise The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.
Experience I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.
Question A couple of months ago we took in a stray and it became apparent shortly after that she was pregnant. We have four kids and she's been a very tolerant cat, putting up with pulled fur and yanked tails, although she has never been particularly loving meaning she won't come and sit on my lap or come calling for attention unless she wants fed or let out. Two weeks ago she had a litter of 5 kittens under the dining room table and a week ago she tried to move her litter into our sons' bedroom, ages 4 and 6. Needless to say this is not a safe place for her and her kittens, so instead I moved her box to our bedroom that is much quieter and has almost no traffic. However, everyday she tries to move her kittens back into the boy's room, somtimes under the bed, sometimes behind their door. I understand that she must feel uncomfortable with staying in our bedroom and that I shouldn't interfere but I can't help but feel that she's chosen a very bad place to move her kittens. What should I do?
Answer You're right, this is an unsafe place for newborns. Would it be possible to confine her to your room? I realize this would mean moving her food and litter to you bedroom, which is certainly undesirable, but ideally, she shouldn't be allowed access to places that may be dangerous for the kittens.
If necessary, you could see about renting a large dog crate from an animal shelter. Some rent out crates for housebreaking dogs. If you get one large enough for her litter box and food, she can actually be kept in there until the kittens are old enough to go to new homes. I know this isn't ideal, either, but it's common practice with breeders, animal shelters and pet fosters.
