Barn Cat Babies

Horsemom2 · 05-21-2008, 08:31 PM

I am wondering if someone can shed some light on this for me. We had 2 cats that were very definitely pregnant. One of them I haven't seen since Monday. The other one is now very definitely NOT pregnant. She is hanging around with us like always. Comes out of the barn to greet us and follows us everywhere. This just seems odd for a new mama cat. I looked around the hayloft and couldn't find or hear kittens anywhere. If she miscarried, wouldn't there be some evidence of that happening???? Also wouldn't you think that mama cats would stick close to their main food source to have the kittens?? I hope nothing has happened to other mama cat. We have lost 2 kitties to the road this year and I hope that she hasn't gone that route as well. Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated!!!!

BarnBum · 05-21-2008, 08:55 PM

Look at her nipples and see if she has been nursing. Its pretty obvious b/c she will get some balding around each nipple. If so, she probly just had them in the nearby woods, under the house, in the hay...... eventually you will hear them crying !!

kellidahorsegirl · 05-21-2008, 08:57 PM

Momma cats are EXCELLENT at hiding their babies. If they don't want them found....good luck finding them!

When my barn cat had her babies she still followed me around like normal

Clippity-Clop · 05-21-2008, 09:41 PM

We had a stray cat that just showed up here get pregnant and have babies 3 times before we could find them. We figured oppossums or racoons or something was getting them but it turns out our dog was killing them by playing with them. That's how I found them the last time. She was carrying one up the driveway and I ran down thinking it was dead. At first I thought it was a rat or something! I held it and warmed it up and went searching for the rest. Mama cat did not like me having her baby (by this time we have gentled her somewhat. She went right to her babies and hubby captured all the parties and put them in a safe environment away from the idiot dog! If you don't' see teats that pooch a bit with milk or smell any foul odors probably some critter got them.

BabyMay · 05-22-2008, 05:57 AM

If she is a first time mom, she may have abandoned them. They sometimes do that. They are scared of the babies. The one missing , may only be leaving her babies to feed and that may be when no one is around. We have a feral colony of cats at my sons barn. We get new mama cats all the time. We have lost quite a few kittens to racoons. I always try to catch the mamas before they come back into heat and have them spayed. I was getting a leg up on the problem until this year. Had 5 new ones show up very pregnant. Can't find where 4 of them had the babies, and one of the new ones lost all 5 of hers. She was a little friendly , was probaby someones pet until they tired of her. The babies looked healthy, but they all died within 4 days. Ya, I always bury them. But like someone already said, if they don't want anyone to find them, you won't. Try going into the barn or shed and just be very quite and listen. Sometimes you can hear them. If the mama who is there is not nursing, take her in to be spayed. You can tell , because her nipples will be large and bald and warm. If you are not sure, if she has babies, wait awhile, not to long. They bring them out of hiding at about 4-6 weeks. If you do find them , don't be surprised if the next time you go to see them , she has moved them.

DDD · 05-22-2008, 06:14 AM

When you can figure out the near vacinity of where they are, go back after hours........... like 10pm when she is nursing. She will leave them to greet you.
You will hear thier screams of protest at her taking away the bottle.

breburtch · 05-22-2008, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horsemom2

I am wondering if someone can shed some light on this for me. We had 2 cats that were very definitely pregnant. One of them I haven't seen since Monday. The other one is now very definitely NOT pregnant. She is hanging around with us like always. Comes out of the barn to greet us and follows us everywhere. This just seems odd for a new mama cat. I looked around the hayloft and couldn't find or hear kittens anywhere. If she miscarried, wouldn't there be some evidence of that happening???? Also wouldn't you think that mama cats would stick close to their main food source to have the kittens?? I hope nothing has happened to other mama cat. We have lost 2 kitties to the road this year and I hope that she hasn't gone that route as well. Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated!!!!

where the 2 cats very close to eachother? if so its very possible your one is babysitting for the other I've had a few cats do this the first ones were mom and daughter and the other was sisters.

also cats are very good at hinding there babies she could possibly have had hers not even on property and just sneaks of every so oftern to care for them. as for sticking to there main food source thats not always the case especially if there food source is in a high traffic area.

pregnant cats are easier for wild animals to catch but hopefully thats not the case with her hopefully she's just off caring for the kids

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05-21-2008, 08:31 PM
Horsemom2 Weanling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 452	Barn Cat Babies I am wondering if someone can shed some light on this for me. We had 2 cats that were very definitely pregnant. One of them I haven't seen since Monday. The other one is now very definitely NOT pregnant. She is hanging around with us like always. Comes out of the barn to greet us and follows us everywhere. This just seems odd for a new mama cat. I looked around the hayloft and couldn't find or hear kittens anywhere. If she miscarried, wouldn't there be some evidence of that happening???? Also wouldn't you think that mama cats would stick close to their main food source to have the kittens?? I hope nothing has happened to other mama cat. We have lost 2 kitties to the road this year and I hope that she hasn't gone that route as well. Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated!!!!

05-21-2008, 08:55 PM
BarnBum Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 3,872	Look at her nipples and see if she has been nursing. Its pretty obvious b/c she will get some balding around each nipple. If so, she probly just had them in the nearby woods, under the house, in the hay...... eventually you will hear them crying !! __________________ Murphys Horse Law - A horse's misbehavior will be in direct proportion to the number of people who are watching !!

05-21-2008, 08:57 PM
kellidahorsegirl Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Nebraska Posts: 355	Momma cats are EXCELLENT at hiding their babies. If they don't want them found....good luck finding them! When my barn cat had her babies she still followed me around like normal __________________ Kelli I'm not so good at the advice... Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?

05-21-2008, 09:41 PM
Clippity-Clop Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,262	We had a stray cat that just showed up here get pregnant and have babies 3 times before we could find them. We figured oppossums or racoons or something was getting them but it turns out our dog was killing them by playing with them. That's how I found them the last time. She was carrying one up the driveway and I ran down thinking it was dead. At first I thought it was a rat or something! I held it and warmed it up and went searching for the rest. Mama cat did not like me having her baby (by this time we have gentled her somewhat. She went right to her babies and hubby captured all the parties and put them in a safe environment away from the idiot dog! If you don't' see teats that pooch a bit with milk or smell any foul odors probably some critter got them. __________________ Crooked Creek Ranch & Cattle Company http://www.crookedcreekrcc.com/

05-22-2008, 05:57 AM
BabyMay Started Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,168	If she is a first time mom, she may have abandoned them. They sometimes do that. They are scared of the babies. The one missing , may only be leaving her babies to feed and that may be when no one is around. We have a feral colony of cats at my sons barn. We get new mama cats all the time. We have lost quite a few kittens to racoons. I always try to catch the mamas before they come back into heat and have them spayed. I was getting a leg up on the problem until this year. Had 5 new ones show up very pregnant. Can't find where 4 of them had the babies, and one of the new ones lost all 5 of hers. She was a little friendly , was probaby someones pet until they tired of her. The babies looked healthy, but they all died within 4 days. Ya, I always bury them. But like someone already said, if they don't want anyone to find them, you won't. Try going into the barn or shed and just be very quite and listen. Sometimes you can hear them. If the mama who is there is not nursing, take her in to be spayed. You can tell , because her nipples will be large and bald and warm. If you are not sure, if she has babies, wait awhile, not to long. They bring them out of hiding at about 4-6 weeks. If you do find them , don't be surprised if the next time you go to see them , she has moved them.

05-22-2008, 06:14 AM
DDD Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Land of 10,000 Lakes Posts: 850	When you can figure out the near vacinity of where they are, go back after hours........... like 10pm when she is nursing. She will leave them to greet you. You will hear thier screams of protest at her taking away the bottle. __________________ Come visit me at www.tripledstable.com http://www.neigh.com/PeggyD Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down & beat you with experience.