Good news, and now we wait.

[fimbrethil]

Gushies, our pregnant feral cat, tested negative for both FIV and feline leukemia. So, I have cleaned the master bathroom and put two snuggly boxes in there with her and now we wait. I've never had a pregnant cat in the house before. Fingers crossed that she has a small but healthy litter.

Comments

[erin_c_1978]

Yay! I hope all will be well with her birth.

[fimbrethil]

Thank you.

[redstapler]

I will keep my fingers crossed for healthy kittoms!

I am inexperienced in the ways of both pregnant kitties and FIV and feline leukemia.

What is the likelihood of transmitting those diseases to the kittens?

[fimbrethil]

If she had had either, it was highly likely the kittens would be born sick. In the past, I've had the unfortunate task of putting down a pregnant feral momma because she was infected with both. I felt like a murderer but the kittens would have been sickly and I couldn't have released the mon back into the wild.

[redstapler]

:(

Also, I need to not comment on LJ when it is very late and I am tired. I misread the mama's FIV/FEL status.

[fimbrethil]

Exactly. The thing is, the colony, and there is a colony here, would become more infected if I didn't. I don't think she will acclimate to indoor life, so I plan to spay and release her. She'll be much less likely to contact either once she is spayed and won't add any new kittens to the colony. I'm hoping when I do release her, she stays local and doesn't search out new territory because I'm pretty fond of her. The vets will mark one ear to let animal control and feral colony workers know she's been spayed.

No worries, I've done that plenty.

[roadnotes]

I shall hope for the best. The one time I lived with a pregnant cat, she gave birth in the middle of the queen-sized bed I shared with my sister, at 2:15am. (I was about eight at the time, and the memory has stayed vivid.)

[fimbrethil]

Hence, one of the reasons she is in the bathroom. Plus, if I let her wander, she'll bolt out the door. But she had been in a medium sized dog crate while we were away, so now she can walk about and look out the window. She has a cat bed and a large container lined with a blanket and I hope she decides those are birth worthy.

I have never seen a cat give birth. I'm hoping she does it while I'm awake or in the house. When I aksed our vet how far along she was, he advised us to go out and buy cigars immediately. :)

[fimbrethil]

Indeed.

Yes, bubblegum cigars all around! :)

[fimbrethil]

Throws confetti

[eithnepdb]

I shall remember her to St. Francis - she can't do wrong with a midwife like you on hand ;) - and in cat related news - I adopted out my first feral cat today - she's wonderful and went to a wonderful home with two small kids who adore her - thank you St. Francis!

[fimbrethil]

I'm really hoping that in the 2-3 months time she's here, Gushies will become adoptable.

I'm glad you found your feral a home. It's always good when it works out that way.