Possibly Pregnant?

biscuitandwe

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Hello! I sorta need help.
Across my driveway there is an abandoned garage with 6 (including the female I think is pregnant) cats. Two are already confirmed males. I am assuming she is the one of the few females in the colony, if not the only. She is very friendly to certain humans and will swat at the males if he eats near her or, I assume, rubs against her too much?
On March 12, 2021, unfortunately I saw her mating with one of the males. If she’s actually pregnant, she will be due around May 14th, 2021. Her abdomen doesn’t seem normal, nor too thick at the same time. All her nipples protrude. One side is rosier than the other.
She gets fed once a week with cat food and gets all the scraps of my food I can get out to her (due to my current money situations and her being a stray). Occasionally I will buy her a ham or steak. Lately I have been able to feed her more, though.
She doesn’t seem to have ticks nor fleas. But, things that worry me is a scar that is underneath her ear, and she rolls on the pavement a lot. I have put out a nesting area just in case. I cannot spay her yet but I am saving up money just for her.
Also, she seems more tired lately. And possibly a bit more affectionate. I will try to call her over today and snap some photos if possible.
I can’t think of anything else.
 

Willowy

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Are there any TNR groups or low-cost spay/neuter clinics in your area? Try calling all the animal rescue places in town and also post on the local pet Facebook pages, hopefully someone can find something to help you out.

The kittens need to be raised indoors. The mortality rate for outdoor kittens is incredibly high, plus you don't want them to be skittish around humans, so they can find good homes. If you can't bring her inside, perhaps there will be a group that has a foster home that can take her until the babies are weaned.
 
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biscuitandwe

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Thanks for the advice! I will try to catch her before she can give birth, and somehow get money to try to either spay her or help raise the kittens. I can't decide between the two. But either way, I'll try to get some help from family and friends
Thanks again ^^
 

Sarthur2

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Why not call an organization to help TNR all those male cats? It would solve a big problem if they could set traps and neuter and release them back.

Also, the pregnant female really needs to begin a daily diet of wet and dry cat food for a healthy pregnancy.

Thank you for caring about her!
 

Sarthur2

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If you are planning to spay/terminate, you should ideally do it before the halfway point in the pregnancy. Spaying a pregnant cat is usually about $10 to $25 more than a routine spay.
 
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di and bob

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Just don't get to the point where you are getting 20-30 kittens a year out of those cats. that is a very real scenario and quickly becomes impossible to find homes and even buy food for them all. Cats can have three litters a year, and then those kittens start having babies. Go to a local Walmart or Dollar store if you have one and get some cheap canned food and dry food, it is much cheaper than human food and they need much more food than once a week to get the vitamins, etc, that cat food gives them. All the luck, please keep us posted.
 

Norachan

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biscuitandwe biscuitandwe I strongly suggest that you get her spayed as soon as you can. Kittens born outdoors are very vulnerable and unfortunately a lot of them get sick and die.

I've posted a few links here that might help you. There seems to be quite a lot of TNR groups in your area and some clinics offer cheap or even free spay surgery to people on a reduced income. I suggest you e-mail as many groups as you can find and ask what help is available.

Trap-Neuter-Return | Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Spay & Neuter | Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Resources
 
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biscuitandwe

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Why not call an organization to help TNR all those male cats? It would solve a big problem if they could set traps and neuter and release them back.

Also, the pregnant female really needs to begin a daily diet of wet and dry cat food for a healthy pregnancy.
I probably will, thank you :)
Also, I did get a very large supply of wet kitten food recently, and I have been feeding that to her daily. All I need to buy is dry cat food, and then I'm alright.
I'm letting her live in my garage with old blankets and towels with multiple nesting spots.
 
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biscuitandwe

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Just don't get to the point where you are getting 20-30 kittens a year out of those cats. that is a very real scenario and quickly becomes impossible to find homes and even buy food for them all. Cats can have three litters a year, and then those kittens start having babies. Go to a local Walmart or Dollar store if you have one and get some cheap canned food and dry food, it is much cheaper than human food and they need much more food than once a week to get the vitamins, etc, that cat food gives them. All the luck, please keep us posted.
Hello! I did get a bunch more wet kitten food, and will get dry cat food as soon as possible. I will spay her as soon as she is able to be spayed after she has her kittens.
Plus, I think the mama is the only female out of all the strays, so I'm hopeful that there will be no more repopulating.
 
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biscuitandwe

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If you are planning to spay/terminate, you should ideally do it before the halfway point in the pregnancy. Spaying a pregnant cat is usually about $10 to $25 more than a routine spay.
Unfortunately, she is six weeks into pregnancy already. But I'm thankful I have it under control now, now that I have more food for her and the colony, including her future kittens.
 
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