Trapping FAQs
Should I trap a pregnant cat?
Whenever possible, we recommend trapping and spaying pregnant cats (spay/abort) to reduce of the extreme cat overpopulation problem, which is responsible for more deaths than all feline diseases combined. The world does not need any more unwanted kittens. Those who procrastinate will find the females from the litter may start to mate as young as 4 months of age, and the queens may start to mate again about 8-10 weeks after delivery.
If a cat is bulging profusely at her sides, or you know she is due within one week, there are risks involved with spay/abortion but it can be done. Some veterinarians who offer low-cost spay/neuter for feral cats will do late-term spay/abortions; please check with each provider about their policies.
Other options include:
- Trap the expectant mother and keep her indoors, in a safe,
quiet place while she delivers and nurses her kittens. If the cat is
semi-feral, and trusts you somewhat, this might be an option if she is due
within a week. Keep in mind if you go this route with a truly
feral cat, trapping and confinement may cause her an extreme amount of stress
which could lead to complications with labor & delivery. We have had
people procrastinate because they wanted their children to see kittens being
born (rent a video!), despite our protestations, and later spent hundreds of
dollars in emergency veterinary bills for sick & dying kittens. There is
always a risk the mother cat will die during delivery. Think about what
you would do in that case. Also consider if you're up to bottle-feeding
kittens every 2 hours, around the clock, if the queen rejects them. Even
with the best intentions and most vigilant care, the kittens still may die.
We've seen it time and time again.
- Wait for the cat to have her kittens outdoors, providing her the best possible care and protection. She may not go into a special shelter you have provided though -- but try to keep an eye on where she is and ensure her safety however possible without letting her know you've discovered her site. When the kittens are 4-6 weeks old, take them in and spay the mom cat two weeks after she has stopped feeding kittens. Veterinarians will not spay a cat whose body is still lactating -- producing milk. Check with the veterinarian you will visit. Some will spay after 1 week of weaning kittens, other require 2 weeks. In all likelihood, the mom will move her kittens before you take them away, so be prepared for a lot of detective work.
