my pregnant cat has disappeared

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My Pregnant Cat Has Disappeared. Help!MARCH 30, 2014 BY: THE PAWS AND EFFECT GANG 22 COMMENTS

Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:

My 2-year-old cat was due to have her second litter of kittens any day now, but about fivedays ago she came up missing. The night before she disappeared, she was trying very hardto get me to let her in the house. I have small children and by the time I got everyonesettled for bed I forgot to let her in. The next morning, there was no sign of her. Myhusband and I have a looked for her for hours in every place we can think of. My questionis, how long will a mother cat stay gone after giving birth? And its been extremely cold atnight, would she be able to keep the kittens warm? Its been around 30 degrees at night.

~ Layne

Siouxsie: Okay everyone, beforethe claws come out please behelpful, not judgmental. We knowlots of you humans have strongfeelings about spaying andneutering, and with good reason.But sometimes stuff happens, soplease do your best to leaveconstructive feedback. Dont make

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me get my claws out!

Thomas: Trust me, you dont want Siouxsie to get her claws out.

Bella: Yeah. Im still smarting from my last swat. *sniffle*

Siouxsie: Okay, now that weve got that out of the way a cat about to go into laborstarts seeking a safe place to give birth a few days before the blessed event happens.

Thomas: If she cant find an indoor space, shell look for the warmest, safest place withineasy reach. What that means is she almost certainly hasnt gone far.

Bella: Have you checked with your neighbors or local animal shelters? If someone found aheavily pregnant cat or a mama cat with a newborn litter they may have contactedarea vets and rescue groups for help.

Siouxsie: Thats what happened to my kitty-mom: she was a stray, outside and almostready to give birth to us, when a kind lady let my kitty-mom in and gave her a home whereshe could give birth to my brothers and sister and me.

Thomas: When you and your husband go looking for your cat again, look inside sheds andbarns, under porches or trailer skirting (if you live in a place near mobile homes), insidetruck campers and even in piles of hay like the kittens in the picture above.

Bella: When you do go looking for mom-cat, be ready to pick up the kittens too. Bring a catcarrier with you. And make sure you have a safe place ready for the little family, too!

Siouxsie: That would be a high-sided box lined with towels and newspapers so mom canget in and out but the kittens cant get far, which would be in a room with a door thatcloses. In that room should also be a litter box, and bowls for food and water.

Thomas: If you dont find her, the odds are good she wont come back before the kittensare able to move on their own and that could be a while.

Bella: Little kittens eyes and ears dont even start opening before theyre a week old, andtheir sight and hearing arent fully functional until about 2 weeks. After that, it takes atleast another two weeks before theyre steady enough on their feet to walk any distance.

Siouxsie: Mama cat isnt going to go far from the kittens before this time. In fact, sheprobably wont even leave the nest except to hunt, eat, pee and poop, so if you dont find



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her before then, I wouldnt expect her to show up on your doorstep for at least a month.

Thomas: As to whether she can keep the kittens warm, that depends on where she foundshelter. If she found a dry place thats out of the wind and reasonably sheltered from thecold, she should do all right.

Bella: Of course, how well the kittens do is going to depend on if she can find enough toeat to keep her milk flowing so she can feed them.

Siouxsie: Mother cats have huge nutritional needs because theyre eating for themselvesand their kittens, so if you have a suspicion about where she might be, leave food for her.Trust me, shell find it and eat it!

Thomas: If you do find mom and kittens, check out Catsters guide to kittens, which willtell you all about the kittens stages of development, nutritional needs, veterinaryconsiderations and learning.

Bella: And if, heaven forbid, you find the kittens and no sign of Mama, or if you find thatMamas been fatally injured, you should read up on raising orphaned kittens so you cangive them the best shot at life.

Siouxsie: Once the kittens are weaned, youll want to get mom-cat spayed as soon aspossible. Female cats can go into heat almost immediately after their kittens are weaned,so dont delay!

Thomas: We know spaying is expensive, and were sure that with little kids and a busyfamily, its probably something youve meant to do but havent gotten around to it yet.

Bella: If finances are a factor, there are low-cost spay/neuter clinics all over the U.S., andsome states even offer spay/neuter vouchers for people who meet certain incomeguidelines. The ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States have nationwidedirectories of low-cost spay/neuter programs, and a web search for low-cost spay/neuterresources in your area will probably yield a lot of results.

Siouxsie: Good luck, Layne. We hope you find momma and kittens, and everyone is doingwell.

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Comments

Rumorasit saysMarch 30, 2014 at 6:39 pm

Im sure shell show up as soon as shes able to. Thats been myexperience with our barn cats back in the day. Lots of good tipsfor finding her too.

Reply

alex white saysMarch 31, 2014 at 1:52 am

Initially i got furious for what Layne had done. But then i thenremember the fact that i too have sometimes committedmistakes, though not as big as this one, and her honest feeling ofguilt for her act, brings my anger level down.. please do keep us

posted if you find the mama cat.. hope shes fine

Reply

Laura saysMarch 31, 2014 at 10:00 am

PUrraying for her safe return and safe kittens.

Reply



Nellie saysMarch 31, 2014 at 10:50 am

The poor luv. Shell come back, no doubt proud as punch. Keepus posted x

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christine conte saysMarch 31, 2014 at 8:34 pm

I am sorry I am sure this situation brings tears to everyoneseyes.BUT FIX YOUR CATS

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christine conte saysMarch 31, 2014 at 8:36 pm

I am sorry but fix your cat

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Catherine Murdoch saysMarch 31, 2014 at 10:06 pm

Have you thought of putting up notices (preferably with apicture) at the places like local community centres, shoppingcentres, any vets and pet shops? Perhaps also a notice in yourlocal newspaper(s)? My thoughts and prayers are with you and I

hope you find your mama-cat soon.

Reply



susan saysApril 1, 2014 at 6:58 am

ok, have to get the claws out!!! first, you are contributing theoverwhelming cat population by letting your cat outdoors first,not spayed, second, dont you care if something happens to youranimal? there is usually a leash law THAT APPLIES TO CATS!! if

you plan to have animals, then, take care of them regardless of your children!!!!VERY ANGRY!!!

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AnitaB saysApril 1, 2014 at 8:04 am

Hate to repeat this but, yes, FIX UR CAT! Why should this poorbaby go through this constantly when, in this day and age, thereare low-cost spay and neuter alternatives. Better to pay themoney for one spay then to try to house hundredths of future

offspring. Also, she needs to be kept indoors. I cant believe in this day and age westill have people who allow their female cats to run free and get pregnant. Also,those with barn cats need to do the same thing. I work with a TNR colony at mylocal fairground and anytime we find a female we get her spayed. Too manyunwanted cats and kittens in the world. Everyone, wise up!

Reply

Jen saysApril 3, 2014 at 1:23 pm

OMG people HAVE A HEART !!!!!!

she is obviously worried about her cat GIVE HER A BREAK andput your claws away !!!! jeez !!!

i hope your cat comes home soon xxxxxxx

Reply



Holly saysDecember 12, 2014 at 7:23 am

THANK YOU!!! I too commented to help and was soembarrassed and felt horrible for her bc of how peoplewere treating her! Who wants to post questions if this ishow you will be treated? Thanks for you being so respectful

and realistic !

Reply

Multi-Facets saysApril 3, 2014 at 2:17 pm

If all else fails, consult a pet psychic. It might be a long shot, butits something. I recommend Elizabeth Woelfel in Ambler, PA.

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Tommie Ward saysApril 3, 2014 at 5:15 pm

This person should not be able to have a cat!!!!!

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Leslie Gratton saysApril 20, 2014 at 6:17 pm

Has the mama cat come home? And her kittens? I hope that theyare alright.

Reply



The Paws and Effect Gang saysApril 23, 2014 at 10:13 am

We havent heard any updates yet, but as soon as we dowell let you know!

Reply

Holly saysDecember 12, 2014 at 7:19 am

Im sorry this happened to you, but Im even MORE sorry thatthere are so many IGNORANT people on here! I think yourquestion was how long your cat may be gone or help in ideashow to find her? I dont think you asked about how pregnancy

happens or comments about putting the cats needs over your own children! Ifound this website via google bc I also was having an issue with a new mommykitty. But Im not posting my questions for fear of the rude and mean commentsthat wi sure come along with it!! So now answers to your original question. Yourcat is probably very close to the house. She wont go far from her kittens yet shealso would probably try to stay close to her home and food source. And ideacoaching her with food like tuna etc and then Maybe set up a video camera thathas the area around the food so you could see where she is coming from. Thats alittle more involved but desperate times desperate measures. I know this originalpost is old but I wanted to give an answer for anyone like me who stumbles uponit and needed real answers not lectures and rude comments!

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Debbie saysJanuary 30, 2015 at 2:33 pm

Thank you Holly for this comment. I am now having thesame situation. Our cat has been an indoor cat and whenwe moved she decided to be free for a minute and gotpregnant. We always kept her inside afterwards especially

after finding out she was pregnant and about to pop she somehow sneakedher way outside and now we cant find her. We are thinking she is under the



house bc we have heard noise. I was looking for situations like mine andeven thought of posting but not after the other comments. I will try some ofthe suggestions you mentioned and hope we catch her and the babies.

Reply

sara saysJanuary 16, 2015 at 2:36 pm

everyone screaming fix your cat is not helping and just being soirritating and annoying. STFU.

Reply

Nicole saysJanuary 17, 2015 at 7:51 am

my pregnant cat has been missing for over a week now i dontknow what to do please help !!1

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Debbie saysJanuary 30, 2015 at 2:35 pm

I am in the same situation and I found this comment andwill be trying it tonight. So now answers to your originalquestion. Your cat is probably very close to the house. Shewont go far from her kittens yet she also would probably

try to stay close to her home and food source. And idea coaching her withfood like tuna etc and then Maybe set up a video camera that has the areaaround the food so you could see where she is coming from. Thats a littlemore involved but desperate times desperate measures. I know this originalpost is old but I wanted to give an answer for anyone like me who stumblesupon it and needed real answers not lectures and rude comments!



Reply

Nicole saysJanuary 17, 2015 at 7:52 am

she is heavily pregnant and has probably had kittens already imrealy worried

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EUJEAn yu saysMarch 23, 2015 at 3:21 am

Im sure momma and kitties are totally fine. Cats evolved from..bigger cats. They have their ways. :)

Reply

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About the Author: JaneA Kelleyis a punk-rock cat mom, sciencenerd and all-around geek with apassion for bad puns, intelligentconversation, and role-play

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