Need some advice -- new kitty

[Kookaburra]

A new kitty showed up on my patio. That I can tell, she doesn't have a home (at least no one has answered by flyers yet), so I guess she's mine. Question: how can I tell if she's pregnant and not just a little pudgy?

Thanks in advance.

[emilyg]

1. My pudgy stray blessed me

with 6 babies. Check her nipples and see if they're very prominent and full.

[Kookaburra]

5. No -- belly is just sort of round, but nothing protruding

in the nipple area. Thanks for the suggestion. Six kittens. yikes. they're cute as can be, but how will I ever find homes for six kittens

[david13]

2. I don't know about the kitten business, when the time comes they

start acting funny. A urine test?
It may likely be worms. Look for evidence, then take tabby in for a cure. The clinics have a low cost cure.
But the worms and the fleas will continue unless tabby is kept indoors.
Generally a stray is not pudgy, so it's either worms or kittens.
dc

[meow2u3]

3. My local SPCA has deworming shots for about $8-9

Take the kitty you found to the local shelter or other low-cost clinic for a deworming. If she is pregnant, chances are the kittens may or may not be born with worms, which will start affecting them when they're weaned. Then you'll have to take the kittens to be dewormed when they're old enough for their shots.

[Kookaburra]

4. Will do.

She's a cute little thing -- and sweet as can be. I'm going to have to get her checked out anyway if I plan on keeping her, and it looks more like she's planning on keeping me.

[Warpy]

7. She chose you above all the other people she saw

and that's quite a compliment.

Do take her to the vet, though. You'll want to kill internal and external parasites and you'll need to know if she's getting ready to present you with offspring before you do it.

[badgerpup]

8. Worms...ewww..

My little Finnegan came to me with roundworms at 6 weeks old. My Sainted Vet informed me that roundworms can be transmitted to baby kitty through mama kitty's milk (don't ask me how, I did not inquire about the process).
:hide:
He also either had or very soon afterward acquired a tapeworm. There were little white bits (tapeworm segments) caught in the fur around his butt, and my Sainted Vet informed me that the vermifuge he'd been given was specific only for the roundworms he'd had. Tapeworms were a whole 'nother can of...well, you know.

Treating kitties that young for any kind worms is tricky, as the medicine is calibrated by weight.
Finnegan was well under the two pounds he was supposed to have been before moving his traps next door to my house.

Still...it's probably just as well he joined us when he did. He is now covered by a 'single payer (said single payer being me)' health care system, and he had nothing before. :shrug:

Shots...Kitten needs to weigh at least 2 lbs before starting shots, which should happen at right around 8 weeks or so.
The booster should be given at 12 weeks. Some vets recommend a third booster at 16 weeks...especially if they're going to be getting an anti-leukemia serum.

DO NOT try to get too many things "over with" all at once (e.g., worming, spay/neuter, distemper and rabies shots); this strains their fragile little immune systems and opens them up to the all-too-likely possibility of Feline Intestinal Peritonitis (it is 100% fatal). :cry:
DO ask your vet about spacing for these procedures so Kitty's immune system has a chance to stabilize (it's being strengthened in the long run, but right now, there's a LOT being thrown at it). :yoiks:

For the DIY folks:hi:...
A 4-way distemper shot (panleukopenia, chlamydia, rhinotracheitis and psittaci) at 8 wks...
then (only if they've tested negative for fe-leuk) a 4-way booster + FeLv serum at 12 weeks...repeat at 16 weeks.
After that, they will require only a single booster (4-way + FeLv) annually.
This is if you choose to give them the anti-leukemia serum...
I use Eclipse 4+FeLv...but it's also available without the leukemia serum.

Good luck with your new kitty!

Possible TMI:
Why are you damned obsessed about the leukemia serum? :wtf:
In a word, GUILT.
I lost a cat who was one of the World's 100 Coolest Cats when he was only 4 yrs old to leukemia...and I could have prevented it by having him vaccinated against it.
He deserved better care from me, which would have given him a much longer life...so I've got the "Never Again!" syndrome on this one.
He's part of the reason I'm so careful (read: such a paranoid worry-wart) now...I'm doing everything in my power to give my monsters long, healthy, happy lives.

[Kookaburra]

6. If she sticks around much longer

I'm going to take her to the vet and get her checked out. Thanks for the suggestion.

[spooky3]

9. For help with the (possible) kittens, contact your local SPCA or other rescue orgs. now

If you contact them now, they may be able to help get you a discount with a vet, since you have rescued this poor kitty. If you can foster the kittens (I strongly suspect she is pregnant, from your description) they may be able to help with that as well.

Good on ya for your good heart.

[Kookaburra]

10. Update on kitty

We named her Twilabelle (we had just watched Twilight when she came to live with us). She is most definitly preggars -- the vet saw 5 babies on the xray, and a possible 6th. So I guess I'm going to be a cat Nanna.

Oh, and our vet was so sweet -- she offered to help us find homes for them and to put us in touch with a rescue group who will let us show them on their site as well. Hooray!!! Can't wait to see the little guys. As near as we can figure, they'll be born around Valentine's Day.

[ginnyinWI]

11. I know we'd all love to see pictures when the kittens arrive! n/t

[Kookaburra]

13. Definitley -- I'll be a proud Nanna

[emilyg]

12. Name one Cupid.

[Kookaburra]

14. That's what we were thinking

Giving them all Valentine names. I want to name one Godiva.

[Sanity Claws]

15. Great idea

But can you come up with so many Valentine names? If you can't think of any more, maybe you can name a kitty Lincoln or George. Both Presidents have birthdays this month.

[Kookaburra]

16. We came up with a bunch of them

Cupid, Rose, Aphrodite, Venus, Godiva, Al (Capone), Romeo, Juliette, and Tony (my first boyfriend).

We had a bigger list, but I can't remember the rest of them.

[ginnyinWI]

17. how about Val?

also: Pinky, Bon-Bon, Lovey, Sweetie, and Red (for a male kitten).

[Kookaburra]

19. Excellent suggestions

We'll add them to the list. I'm so excited about the babies.
:bounce:

[japple]

18. Good on you for taking in the little waif. Sounds like you have

a great plan and a great vet! BTW, you are required to post pictures of the little family.

[Kookaburra]

20. Most definitely

There will be lots of photos.

[japple]

21. Many years ago, there was a DUer who had a cat that had

kittens and he/she made frequent posts on their progress, with pictures. It was so much fun and everyone felt like they had a hand in raising those kittens. Would be nice to have something like that again.

[Kookaburra]

22. That sounds like fun

[ginnyinWI]

23. how is Kitty doing?

Any sign of kittens yet?