Question for Cat Owners -- 2 Cats, 1 is Pregnant.

[Hatalles]

Hello -- I know there are plenty of cat owners around here, so I was hoping someone could answer a question.

I have two cats -- one is a male, fixed; the other is a tiny young female who's been pregnant over a month now. They've always gotten along pretty well for the most part (other than the occasional hiss and chase). Both were strays originally, and the young female had actually followed the male cat into our garage a few days after he had "moved in" with us... wasn't long until his younger female friend started living with us, as well. She's grown up quite a bit since then, and the two usually go about most of their day separately now. We usually keep them both in the garage during the nights. They have plenty of blankets, baskets, boxes, and comfy spots.

My question is when the younger female gives birth, is it safe to have the older cat around? He's pretty mellow for the most part; however, he's been known to bring home things in his mouth before, like a tiny mouse or small lizard. I'm just concerned he might freak out with the coming kittens and do something unexpected.

Anyone with experience with this sort of thing?

Thanks in advance!

[Robeson]

1. You might want to post this in the Pets Group, too...

...if you haven't already. We have five cats, but I have no experience with your type of situation.

[blogslut]

2. Cats tend to attack litters when they're stressed

If your boy has plenty of food, love and a special hiding place, then I wouldn't worry too much.

The best way to solve the issue is to buy a spacious cat cage and put mommy in there for the birthing. Bonus because, when given the choice, mother cats ALWAYS pick the most godawful places to birth their litters.

[HopeHoops]

3. Even a fixed male will sometimes kill kittens.

[Roon]

14. I knew a couple that had a black, fixed, tomcat.

He lived with them a couple of years when they decided to get another kitten. They showed the cat the kitten and he snatched it,ran to the bathtub and killed it before they even knew what was going on! :cry:

[barb162]

15. Yeah, the adult cats can look at kittens as a real threat.

[kaiden]

4. On the other hand, we had a fixed tom who nursed kittens

until his nipples bled.

[Arugula Latte]

5. Please fix mama and (eventually) the babies

Thanks for caring for them. :hi:

[Hatalles]

11. Will definitely do that.

[flvegan]

6. You could spay her now, and avoid any problems.

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[Inchworm]

10. Sadly... -signed

:(

That was my reflex answer.

[dysfunctional press]

18. we did that with a preganant stray that we took in...

and it WAS a lot easier.

[Blue Diadem]

7. I'd make sure Momma cat has a safe birthing place for her and her babies,

away from the male cat for the first few weeks. It's not something you want to experience, believe me. I saw the aftermath as a child, it's something I won't forget.

[yellowdogintexas]

8. our adult fixed male cat was totally disinterested in the kittens that were

born here. He sort of sniffed them after they were starting to crawl about. He had accepted their mother as a tiny cat and I guess they smelled like her so he didn't care. SHE thought he was King of the World, and as the kittens grew, they saw him as the Giant Cat. After about 18 months he was the small cat and they were the Big Guys but they never figured out he was smaller than they were.

He never tried to harm them in any way. Ever .


Years ago, we adopted a stray pregnant cat, and we had a (different) neutered male who had been with us a long time. He was totally oblivious to the kittens. Like your male and like the other male we had, he was a very laid back cat.

Good luck, by the way

[Hatalles]

9. The far majority of stories I've been hearing over the past couple days...

... are pretty positive. Consensus seems to be not to worry about it too much, but take cues from the mother. I'll probably try and keep them separate for the most part, allowing the male to take a peek now and then.

Also asked this guy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEKbVYOKQy4) the same question (he has a male walk in during his video) and he had a positive experience as well.

Thanks everyone!

[Richard Steele]

12. In my experience: if he's fixed (and a good-natured dude), you shouldn't worry.

He'll be curious about the new kittens, your momma cat will
define LIMITS as to how curious he's allowed to be, and
he'll eventually be like a "Cool Uncle" to the new arrivals.

The fact that he's "mellow" means more than the fact that he's fixed, IMHO.
I've known cats who had been fixed for years who still mounted
every female in heat they came across...
And I'm currently residing with the most MELLOW fully-equipped tomcat
I've ever met: his attitude toward the young females in heat is
a big "Yeah, whatever...been there, done that."

[Critters2]

13. Having once seen the aftermath of a tom farm cat's rampage

I personally wouldn't leave any male cat unattended around kittens, at least for the first two or three weeks. I'd just give the mama and kittens their own space, and slowly introduce the male over time, under supervision.

Maybe neutered males wouldn't do what intact toms will, but I wouldn't take a chance. I helped a parishioner in Iowa deal with a kitten massacre. Not something I'll soon forget. :scared:

[barb162]

16. I'd agree with you. I have seen indoor neutered cats try to kill kittens

and that is long -time indoor cats. They see kittens as a threat. I'd maybe keep the female in a bathroom or family room or someplace on the quieter side like that the next few weeks before and after the birth and get her a nice cardboard box with a lot of clean towels. A box maybe a foot high where she can get in and out easily but the kittens can't.

[Roon]

17. If they are in the garage, be wary of this..

if there is a feral tomcat running around spraying and crying and wanted to get to the queen, she might freak out if you enter the garage suddenly.

My friends had this happen to them once and MaMa went NUTS!! She was like the Tasmanian devil on EVERYONE!! She bit through her owners thumb all the way. Another guy got his ball sack pierced. They all came running back to my apartment looking like war wounded. It was ugly.

Don't want to scare you, but I saw the victims in my living room bloody and freaking out over this little mama cat.