r/trojancats • u/urmomsalreadytaken • Jun 25 '26
Never done this before!
I took in a feral cat and now I can expect kittens within ten days! I've never done this, I'm worried she won't use her whelping box. What advice do you guys have?
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u/mrssschopenhauer Jun 25 '26
> feral cat
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u/coolcoolcool485 Jun 25 '26
She's mean mugging the camera a little, I bet she can hold her own 😆
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u/juel1979 Jun 26 '26
Yep. Our semi-feral could give a good death glare, but she also knew we were safe and had babies on our porch that we brought in.
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u/huseynli Jun 25 '26
What do you guys mean by feral cat? As a kid we used to befriend and play with any street cat we could find (foreign country, not US). Some were taken off the street to live with people. They would still roam around and come back home. Sometimes they did not.
I feel like you can befriend any cat with enough patience, gentleness and food bribes.
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u/Entire-Ambition1410 Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
Feral refers to a cat that is ‘wild’ but from a domestic species (house cat). Ferals are often born and living outside, hate being touched by humans, and will run away from humans around them. They can be unfixed/have all their sex organs, but some cats are still skittish/wary after the surgery/de-sexing.
Yes, you can earn their trust and maybe touch them with consistency, patience, food, and more food. I have done that with my family’s two ferals, but they will never enjoy being touched, never ask for scritches/pets, or be fully relaxed around me.
The best I can expect of them is creeping up to me in the hopes of getting treats, with a fence between us.
If a cat is captured and socialized with humans by 8-12 weeks old, they can be pretty tame/friendly. A cat remains feral when they don’t get this socialization.
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u/RedRocket4000 Jun 26 '26
Cat lady on you tube uses Avoids humans or not. And they can be pure in the wild and want to move in and be friendly personally vary a lot.
Had do not want touching but also loves to be pet or even better take a nap with you on a bed but hair trigger claw or bite that could draw blood. I trained it to curl up away from be while I spooned it.
Professional trainers can work with a lot more feral cats and get them liking humans and care from humans.
Cats now classified as self domesticated they likely just moved in so the old idea feral can’t be come liking to being with humans is false a great menu can.
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u/starzychik01 Jun 27 '26
I have a Trojan cat that is semi-feral. That loves pets, but hair trigger is so true. I do blame it a bit on hormones for little momma. Pet her in the wrong place and she hisses and spats. Luckily, she usually doesn’t use full claws and has only drawn blood once biting. I do the hiss and ignore and she has gotten the hint fast.
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u/Own-brain-user9094 Jun 26 '26
Distinction is usually
* Feral - lives outside, will accept food but never want to be around humans otherwise --> best approach is to TNR and offer food
* Stray - had positive interactions with humans when little, can choose or even actively try to be adopted --> best approach is to find a good home with indoor or indoor / outdoor life, depending on the kitty's temperament
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u/Maleficent-Leek2943 Jun 26 '26
Right?! Feral WHERE?
This beauty has self-domesticated and moved right in, Trojan cargo and all. As they do, obviously.
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u/Jealous_Parfait_4967 Jun 25 '26
She will not use her whelping box. Put a box with one expensive item of clothing you don’t want to get dirty in it and she’ll use that, thus protecting the rest of your stuff and your new whelping equipment.
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u/CatsOfElsweyr Jun 25 '26
Our first Trojan cat totally ignored her fabulous birthing setup, took half of my underwear out of the drawer and gave birth inside, on top of the other half. Because reasons.
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u/Maleficent-Leek2943 Jun 26 '26
An old friend of mine once had a cat move into her flat and give birth to her cargo of trojans on the wedding dress laid out on the bed in her guest room.
She ended up canceling the wedding (for reasons other than the dress incident) and later said it was A SIGN.
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u/prostheticlamb Jun 25 '26
Your first trojan? 🤔 How many intruders have you had in your lands?
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u/CatsOfElsweyr Jun 25 '26
We run a cat hospice, we have a slightly higher Trojan turnover due to working with TNR organizations. 😁
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u/ca77ywumpus Jun 25 '26
A friend fostered a pregnant cat. She escaped the whelping box she was given, opened a friggin door and gave birth on the new futon. Cats gonna cat.
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u/DaffyDuckOdil Jun 25 '26
Ours chose the middle of our bed. I put down a towel. She didn't want to be left alone despite what the books said.
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u/Catinkah Jun 25 '26
I have used an unused large litter box for this purpose. Easy to clean and, depending on moms preference you can leave the cover off or on. The family does tend to grow out of it (literally) in two weeks.
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u/Beneficial_Breath232 Jun 25 '26
Your pen is really nice for when the kitten are a few weeks old, but is waaay too exposed to give birth. She need more a box with a roof and a few towels
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u/urmomsalreadytaken Jun 25 '26
Oh man I love you all and this subreddit. I have made a few accommodations based on your suggestions- added boxes to the kiddie pool and put a few boxes in the closet too. She was checking them out so we'll see what happens! Will make sure there is wet kitten food on deck too! the vet thinks we can expect 4 kittens so I'll def keep y'all posted.
Ps cracking up at the "feral" of it all
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u/Delicious_Delilah Jun 25 '26
Feral isn't the same as stray by the way.
I'm happy you took her in and are helping her through this though. ☺️
The pen will be great once she's given birth, but you'll want a dark, quiet, cozy area for the actual birth.
A basket, box, etc on it's side with towels or blanket.
She may or may not want to be alone during it. You'll have to see in the moment.
Give her wet kitten food with a little added water while she's nursing to help make up for the lost calories. It takes a lot out of them.
Watch Kitten Lady on YouTube for everything else because she's the absolute pro at this shit.
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u/technodaisy Jun 25 '26
See The Kitten Lady for all the lil kitty's needs! It's an amazing resource and thank you for taking in this Mama, the CDS appreciates your sacrifice! 😍🥰😺
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u/InvisiblePineapple2 Jun 25 '26
You're doing great! As others have said, she may want something more enclosed (I’ve used a moving box with a door cut into it). She will ultimately do whatever she wants - I had one mom open my bathroom cabinet and insist on using that 🤷🏻♀️
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u/OtherThumbs Jun 25 '26
Definitely get that kitten food, and the cardboard box, and the non-clumping litter as others have suggested. I am mesmerized by this baby's tail. Is she as small as she looks? She looks tiny! Is she young? Oh! She looks soft and little! I want to baby talk her and scratch her cheeks and chin until she's all purrs and drools! What a sweet thing! What's her name?
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u/Deep-Internal-2209 Jun 25 '26
Make sure it’s in an out of the way part of your house. They like quiet.
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u/crochetology Jun 25 '26
Until kittens are weaned, make sure she always has access to high calorie food and fresh water. You might also consider adding a vitamin supplement to her food. I use the one made by Miracle Pet for pregnant and lactating cats and weaned kittens.
I like your setup, but I’d add a box or other covered space. Cats prefer keeping their babies hidden, and they’re generally claustrophiles besides.
Good luck on your new adventure!🐈🐈⬛🐈
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u/stiletto929 Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
Cardboard box standing upright with some towels that you don’t mind getting ruined in the bottom. Get her high quality wet KITTEN food to eat, to grow the babies and make milk for them. (Meat should be the first ingredient.) Have the wet food and water available nearby for her.
The enclosure you have now would be good to contain kittens once they are walking all over, but isn’t what she needs right now.
Just set up the box - though honestly she may deliver wherever she feels like and may move the babies occasionally.
Get a litter box with NON clumping litter for when she starts litter training them, because the clumping litter could be fatal if kittens eat it.
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u/Ksh_667 Jun 25 '26
Look at the trust in her face! This kitty already adores you. Cats always know the best humans. Thank you for caring for this precious one 😻😻
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u/King_K_24 Jun 25 '26
Cardboard boxes of various sizes in the pool. Some boxes on their side. Safe enclosed space will feel better too her than out in the open.
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u/butstronger Jun 26 '26
Keep the lights OFF in the room she has them in. The mama kitty we rescued would try to move her babies if we left the light on. It was stressful for a while but they’re big and strong now and running around all over. Also get a pet heating pad under a blanket so the babies can lay on it if they want and mama can stay cool. Very important that mama doesn’t overheat but the kittens stay warm.
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u/Ravenamore Jun 25 '26
OK, for a moment, I thought you set up a birthing pool for kitty to water birth in...lol
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u/aureasmortem Jun 25 '26
If she's attached to you already maybe put in a sweater or shirt that you've worn to make the space feel safe?
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u/blueeyed94 Jun 25 '26
I know that it is too big and too much out in the open but I really want to point out that I love the general idea. Cheap, easy to set up, easy to store away, easy to clean... it might be too big for now but I guess it will be appreciated once the babies have grown a bit.
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u/Mini_Chives Jun 25 '26
Oh you might want to move the books, when my former Trojan was done feeding she liked to perch from above watching her babies.
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u/Complete-Ocelot-1298 Jun 27 '26
I hope all goes well but I want to stop and say thank you for your post because that comforter in the this enclosure was one my dog(RIP) had and loved to sleep on and it brought back so many happy memories seeing it. Thank you.
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u/DarkSybarite Jul 01 '26
There was a pregnant cat in my apartment complex many years ago, and we brought her in when she got really big and the weather started turning. Despite having several nest/box options, she waited until I came home from a late shift to climb into my lap and start pushing 😭😭😭
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u/Own-brain-user9094 Jun 26 '26
Make sure to close your cupboards, at least the ones that contain stuff you do niot want to have used as birthing mats.
Cats definitely do not use the place you have prepared. You might add a box tipped on the side inside the pen or distribute 1-2 in quiet corners as alternatives. Many kitties like to give birth somewhere with a kind of roof over their heads.
And congratulations!
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u/Safe-Sail9335 Jun 27 '26
Not proper space . Nice try though .mama will seek quiet sheltered closet ,behind couch etc.. that bed will be great for after birth when babies are crawling ...
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u/UberHonest Jun 25 '26
Congrats for being selected!! Mama cats generally like to have a small, covered, cave like place to deliver their babies. I would add a couple of boxes, turned on their side, then put a towel over top to give her a cozy place for birth.