Hello,

About a month ago i noticed a cat was living in our garden, she was there day and night and living on the decking attached to our shed. As a cat lover and already owning 2 indoor cats, i decided to go and make friends with this cat in the garden. Initially, every time i went out she would run away, although i managed to get her to come to me and now feed her and provide her with water. We made a bed for her on the decking and shes always there, day and night, except for the occasional wander. Shes very friendly and very affectionate and follows us everywhere in the garden.
However, yesterday, we were sat outside and i noticed how prominent her nipples were and a slight swell to her stomach. Initially we had said to ourselves that we would feed this cat and look after her that way but not pay any vet bills or take her in as we already have 2 cats, a persian and siamese. However having read the symptoms of cat pregnancy, im convinced shes pregnant, so we are now gong to take her to the vet to get her checked over, my worry is if she is pregnant, what should i do for the best?

Its going to be really hard to take her in and keep her seperate from our other 2 cats. But i would really find it hard not to take her in somehow

Has anyone got any advice on the best thing to do? Sorry for the long post.

Various options - you can take her in, keep her, and rehome the kittens when weaned (and of course have her neutered). Or take her in, then rehome her and the kittens after weaning. Or you could ring Cats Protection/Blue Cross or other local animal shelter today (forget the RSPCA, they will not be interested) and ask them to take her asap and do all the work for you. But it is coming up to main kitten season so rescue centres will be inundated, so they would probably be very grateful if you could look after her. You sound quite fond of her, and presumably your cats have met her in the garden and have not sent her packing, which is a good start.

It is great you are taking an interest in her - if she is not subsequently neutered this will happen all over again, with the kittens all reproducing too. Your vet and/or Cats Protection should be happy to give you any detailed advice you need.

The poor little mite. I guess it is all natural but once a cat starts breeding they don't usually stop unless we intervene. As you probably know pregnant feral cats can get very sick so need to be monitored very closely and you are obviously a very good cat owner and lover as you want to do the right thing by her.

The Cat charities have too many kittens needing homes and it is becoming very messy as so many cats do not get neutered, although Cats Protection do sterling work in poor communities where cats breed more often and charge a cheaper rate for neutering.

Best option would be to get in contact with your nearest branch of Cats Protection. You can find them through the national website http://www.cats.org.uk/. They will try and make as many allowances as possible to take her into care as queens are high priority and they will also spay her when the milk from the kittens has dried up

Let us know how you get on! We have 8 newborn kittens at our local branch right now and it's great getting to see them develop

Do you have a spare room you could keep her...and the kittens in? It would be a very kind act to 'foster' her in this way. Also....seeing kittens born and develop really is one of the most marvellous experiences.
If you take this route, CPL or another local charity may be able to re-home her and kittens direct from you rather than via a rescue centre.

Thank you for your replies. For the time being, we have put a cat flap in our shed, and made her a nice cosy sheep skin bed with plenty food and water. We will take her to the vets in the next couple of days and take things from there, make sure im right and she is actually pregnant and see what we can do from there. Im very maternal and have become very fond of her so dont want to contact rescue centres. I would rather look after her and her kittens, rehome the kittens to good owners and then have the cat neutered and continue to look after her, we are more than happy to let her live in a nice bed in our shed and keep her fed and watered.

I feel quite nervous about the whole thing. Its typical of me to get involved in something like this. Was planning on a few days away at beginning of July but already scrapped that so i can look after the kittens! haha

You're a kind person, good luck !

Well done, redlippy. People like you restore my faith in the human animal.

I second that.
It's a lovely thing you have decided to do. Good luck with it all. Be sure to keep us updated, please.

That is lovely redlippy - she certainly turned up in the right garden

Are you sure you will be able to find good homes for the kittens? You need to start looking as soon as they are born - and also bear in mind that some people will be very enthusiastic but are all talk and no do (unlike you!)