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	Stray Cat who is Pregnant Q: I recently took in a stray cat and found out from my vet that she is pregnant.He said that she is in her third trimester.I would appreciate any advice you have for me regarding before,during and after care of the mother cat and her kittens.Thank you very much for taking the time to help me,Denise.

A: Dear Denise,
How often this happens ! Someone is good enough to take in a stray cat, only to discover that they are about to become an unexpected auntie !! Luckily cats manage the whole pregnancy/birth procedure much better than dogs and you will probably have to do very little. The most important thing is to make sure that the mum is well fed. Little and often feeding is best of a good quality cat food - one suitable for kittens and pregnant/nursing queens as she needs a lot more energy and protein than a normal cat. You can make her a little nest box someplace quite, but cats are notorious for choosing their own place to give birth and there is very little you can do about it. Some will hide in a wardrobe to do it,others do it on your best duvet, while mine went out into the garden shed ! She may want you there, or may want no-one around at all - let her be the judge of that and just have an odd look if she wants to be left alone. Ordinary moggies rarely have problems giving birth - they may take a while to get the first one out and may take a break for hours in the middle before starting again, but they usually get then out okay without any help. They also instinctively know what to do with the kittens - i.e. tearing open the birth sac and licking their faces to clean them and stimulate breathing. If it is her first litter, she may take a while to get the hang of it, but they normally take to motherhood with incredible speed. If she was struggling really hard for 1/2 hour and could not get a kitten out, or does not tear open the sac, then you might have to help her. It would be worth buying a cheap little book on cats and kittens to have a read through first, so you would have some idea what to do. Also you can always phone your vet for on-the-spot advice any time of the day or night. I have talked people through difficult deliveries with their cats several times ! Often just asking someone what is normal or not is enough to reassure you. Good luck with the impending birth, Maeve Moorcroft MVB MRCVS { PetPlanet Vet }

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