What do I do with a pregnant cat?

I’m a little suspicious of someone being able to look at a cat and determine that she’s pregnant and when she’s due. That said, if she is pregnant, she needs to be on a high quality kitten food – not cat food! You should create a nesting area for her – a quiet, out of the way spot that she feels comfortable in and supply lots of warm, soft bedding (they usually ignore the lovely bed that you’ve created for them and have the babies wherever they want to, but it’s a nice thought).

Beyond that, let nature work the way it’s supposed to. Most people want to “help” and wind up interfering and stressing out the queen. Leave her alone and check on her periodically when she’s having the kittens. If she is in hard labor for more than 30–45 minutes without producing a kitten, you need to contact a local emergency clinic.

Please, please, please try your best to convince your friends to spay their cat! I work in emergency medicine and I can tell you that unaltered animals face many more difficulties and health issues in their lives. If you look at the number of animals destroyed in this country on a daily basis, there is no excuse for having an intact animal. If money is an issue, most areas have low-cost spay and neuter programs.

Call a vet, on behalf of your friend, and get this unfortunate cat spayed as soon as feasible after she delivers.

@ syz: my friend that informed us of her being pregnancy used to breed cats, and has volunteered with the spca. we had suspected something when we got her, but was neverreally sure, and when our friend was over we mentioned it and she checked it out.
thanks for the response

As owner of a cat that went through pregnancies (and we usually had a waiting list for her kittens), I found that doing nothing was the right thing. She had her kittens where she felt she was safe—and that was in places that we would not normally know about. Once, though, she had kittens in my daughter’s closet, and my daughter saw her deliver. But the mama cat needs to be able to take care of her kittens in peace. Also, I would allow her to nurse her kittens for a long time—that way, the kittens she has will be lovely and well adjusted. Not nervous, and biting their paws, etc. It’s amazing the difference if the kittens get that time with their mother. Think there might be an analogy for the human species?

@skfinkel Thanks a whole bunch! and i think your proabably right.

I have to disagree with cwilbur.

Certainly call a vet and find out what to do, then do it to the best of your abilities.

But you also need to call the owner(s) of this cat and apprise them of this discovery, and what steps you plan to take. Ask them how they want the kittens dispersed. It is likely the kittens may not be ready to leave their mother before your friends get their apartment, in which case it will their decision and responsibility on how to disperse the kittens.

However, because you are not the owner of this cat, you do not have the right to get her spayed. Whether her pregnancy was accidental or intentional, her fertility is the responsibility, and the right, of your friends to address. They will not appreciate it if you have her spayed without their knowledge or consent. That could not only kill your friendship with them, you may be left holding the bag – cat and kittens to boot, not to mention the bill.

So, above all, call them. Discuss this with them. You may want to get their consent in writing, just to cover your butt if they change their minds later on. This is a situation fraught with potential unpleasantness. Walk very carefully here.

@ grcross, we have talked to the owners of the cat, and we would never go ahead and do something that drastic without their knowing or consent.
thanks for the level headedness and concern!