Hey guys, I took in a pregnant cat yesterday that I knew from my garden. I set up a room for her with a box lined with towels, which she nested in right away. I should’ve known she was about to pop! I came back from dinner to find a litter of 4 kittens. Now it’s been 24 hours since the birth, and I have a few questions. When should I change the dirty towels in the box? They’re soaked with birth fluids. I also noticed the mom won’t leave the box and only eats or drinks if I place the bowls inside. Will she adjust if I move them outside the box? And she hasn’t used the litter box yet—when should I introduce it? Sorry for the long post, just trying to be thorough. Any help would be appreciated!
Congrats on the new kittens! For the towels, it’s best to wait until after a few days. The mom will want to keep them close for now.
Paxton said:
Congrats on the new kittens! For the towels, it’s best to wait until after a few days. The mom will want to keep them close for now.
Thanks for the tip! I wasn’t sure how long to wait.
I’d keep the food and water in the box for now. She might be too nervous to leave the kittens.
Bright said:
I’d keep the food and water in the box for now. She might be too nervous to leave the kittens.
That makes sense! I just wanted to give her options.
You could try gently introducing her to the litter box. Sometimes they just need a little encouragement.