Your daily cat and kitten news

[miss direct]

There's a cat in my garden who often sits on the kitchen window sill peering inside. I thought it was a boy and that he was ill as he always drooled, looked dirty (doesn't groom properly) and had a strange swollen stomach. It's only today that I realised that "he" is a she and is heavily pregnant.

I already put out food and water and have made a cat house. She hasn't been using the cat house for the last week (perhaps she can't get in it/can't jump up to it) so tonight I put another box out which she is now inside. She keeps trying to get inside every time I open the door. I don't want a cat inside and besides, I go away for work a lot so can't be responsible for an indoor cat. The weather's cold (ok, not UK cold - it's about 14 degrees in the day and 8 at night) - snow is due later in the month. Any ideas how I can make her more comfortable (without taking her in?)

Please bear in mind that I'm in Turkey, where there's a huge population of street cats - I already feed all the cats in the garden - no RSPCA and everyone who wants a cat already has one...

 

[donkyboy]

hmm. there must be someone who knows a rescue centre or a vet you can see once the kittens are born?

 

[miss direct]

There aren't any rescue centres here. There's a council run shelter but it is full of disease and the cats are better off in the neighbourhood than at the shelter.

No sign of kittens today - Mum cat is comfortable in a cushioned box but not really eating (apparently that's a sign of impending labour!)

 

[stavros]

You know the telephone noise they make, mostly when jumping up onto something? Well, do we know if it's involuntary with excitement, or a conscious announcement, with the subtext, "Stop everything you're doing (including sleeping), I'm here"?

 

[izz]

You know the telephone noise they make, mostly when jumping up onto something? Well, do we know if it's involuntary with excitement, or a conscious announcement, with the subtext, "Stop everything you're doing (including sleeping), I'm here"?

It is a brilliant noise, I believe it's a greeting, "oh hai !"

 

[Chz]

You know the telephone noise they make, mostly when jumping up onto something? Well, do we know if it's involuntary with excitement, or a conscious announcement, with the subtext, "Stop everything you're doing (including sleeping), I'm here"?

Mine almost never meows. Just trills. Unless he's hungry, that's worthy of a meow. It gets silly when we start talking back to the cat...

Brrrr!
BrrrRRR?
Brrrrr...
RRR?
Brrrr!

 

[miss direct]

Any idea how pregnant this cat is?

 

[trabuquera]

Really very pregnant - they usually don't stick out at the sides like that until they're nearly ready to pop (like within a week or so)

 

[High Voltage]

What if they look like that and are boy cats?

Asking for a friend

 

[trabuquera]

Then it's either a very fat cat (but they'll be tubby all over, unlike this one) ... or ... sorry ... if rest of cat is not fat, it can be either a "blockage" (just eaten a bird, see if the lump shifts in a few days) or an intestinal tumour of varying degrees of seriousness. That's what finished my old loancat off - he ended up fur & bones but still with an enlarged pot belly.

 

[miss direct]

Oooh er. I'm away for work for the whole of next week so hope it's either before or after that!

 

[miss direct]

I thought this cat was a boy...(s)he has something that looks like balls but it's hard to tell. Confused. Does look obviously pregnant though.

 

[trabuquera]

Might also be worms, of course (eurgh) - but I think pregnant.

 

[stavros]

It is a brilliant noise, I believe it's a greeting, "oh hai !"

I think it might be involuntary, as I've often stroked Missy as she's been asleep and it's her immediate reaction. On the other hand, it might be both. On the third, possibly fictional hand, maybe it's just another weapon in their assault on our emotions.

 

[Me76]

Ozzie has the nick name pigeon because of how much she makes that noise.


We are watching Big Cats on BBC. Ozzie is enjoying it too.

 

[stavros]

We are watching Big Cats on BBC. Ozzie is enjoying it too.

It's interesting you say that, because the other day a trailer came on for that and Missy looked up from some important sleeping and stared transfixed at the telly, which I've not seen her do before.

 

[smmudge]

Dylan looks to be back to his usual self, here he is being a corner

 

[donkyboy]

the girls up in the girl cave. Strictly no boys allowed.

 

[trabuquera]

smmudge your cat really is the best silly sleeper in the business. "yep, might not look it, but yes I *am* comfortable"

 

[Whagwan]

Mine almost never meows. Just trills. Unless he's hungry, that's worthy of a meow. It gets silly when we start talking back to the cat...

Brrrr!
BrrrRRR?
Brrrrr...
RRR?
Brrrr!

The chirrup sound is usually how they greet other cats, miaowing is saved for humans...

 

[xsunnysuex]

Crazy the things you see dumped on the street. Toby toes seems to like it.

 

[sojourner]

Treated my two old ladies to some new toys, in an attempt to stop them fighting and stealing fucking cheese

Got them these Silvervine Balls 2 pack Cat Toy | Pets At Home and I've never seen them react the same way to any other toy before. Tossing them around with their claws, kangaroo kicking them, then doing that weird open mouth mashed look

 

[sojourner]

The chirrup sound is usually how they greet other cats, miaowing is saved for humans...

One of my cats chirrups at me, but then she's obsessed with me. She's a Russian Blue and I think that's typical behaviour for them, attaching strongly to one person.

 

[SheilaNaGig]

I thought this cat was a boy...(s)he has something that looks like balls but it's hard to tell. Confused. Does look obviously pregnant though.

If it’s a she, and if she’s close to labour her nipples will be bald.

 

[Ms T]

Ex-stray Carpet has now been with us for two years yesterday and he’s a changed cat. Bigger, much fluffierand a lot more chilled out. Now demands cuddles in the morning and purrs audibly. Still never miaows though.

In other news, there appears to be another stray hanging about. Much caterwauling at night.

 

[xsunnysuex]

What is it with cats n bags!!

 

[donkyboy]

Crazy the things you see dumped on the street. Toby toes seems to like it.

View attachment 125154

I would be reluctant to take such items in. It could have fleas.

 

[xsunnysuex]

I would be reluctant to take such items in. It could have fleas.

Hmm. My daughter said exactly the same thing.

 

[purenarcotic]

I would be reluctant to take such items in. It could have fleas.

I was thinking that too. Urgh.

 

[stavros]

The chirrup sound is usually how they greet other cats, miaowing is saved for humans...

I'm not sure about that. Missy does it constantly to me, whereas other cats, when I've experienced her meeting them, are usually greeted with cold silence, with the possibility of hissing and screeching if required.