Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Every week, we share a story from one of our cat-loving Catsters. This week is about Isabel and her sassy rescue, Milly.

Helping Milly bring new life into this world was probably one of the most stressful and beautiful experiences I’ve had in all my years of being a cat owner. And having 5 adorable, energetic little furballs around while on a nationwide lockdown during the COVID-19 global pandemic turned out to be an absolute life-saver!

I’m a firm believer in “everything happens for a reason.” Although Milly’s pregnancy was totally unexpected and definitely unplanned, it turned out to be such an incredible chapter of our lives. One I cannot imagine not having.

Now let me tell you a bit more about the night Milly became a teen mom and I became a grandmother to Tommy, Shelby, Alfie, Basil, and Miley.

As you can see, it’s very hard to guess what series I watched, the foods I ate, and the music I listened to back then!

Accidental Impregnation

“So, how did Milly get pregnant?” you ask. Well, it was right after I graduated from University and Milly and I moved back home with my family to Johannesburg at the end of 2019. Milly came with me when I visited home as a student, so she was used to the space and knew everyone, including our 7 other cats, Chicky, Winsey, Smokle, Lulie, Nibby, Pumy, and Mimi. All of whom were spayed or neutered.

That December, I went to visit my fiance who was visiting his parents in Stellenbosch, Cape Town. Milly was around 9 months old at the time and still a little baby in my eyes. I knew a lot about cats at the time, but I definitely wasn’t the cat expert I am today. I wasn’t fully aware of how early you should spay or neuter cats. Ideally, one can start spaying female cats between 5 and 6 months of age.

I had just finished college, moved back home, and was planning on going on a well-deserved vacation. So, I just didn’t think of spaying her at that time. I told myself that I’d take her for a check-up and book the sterilization in the new year once I came back from holiday.

Too little, too late.

Sometime during that December, she snuck out (all our cats were outdoor/indoor cats, including her) and went and got herself pregnant with an unknown gentleman in the area. Most likely a stray cat. My parents live very close to a shopping center and there are apparently stray cats living in or around the parking lot.

A week or two later, my sister called and said Milly was acting unusually loveable and affectionate and they did see her come running across the street from the shopping center’s side a couple of nights. We obviously knew it was risky allowing her to roam freely while intact, so we did worry that she might have gotten pregnant, but I just really didn’t think she’d be that determined and eager to get pregnant within 2 weeks of being home and while not spayed.

Nonetheless, it was totally my fault. I should’ve been a more responsible cat owner in that scenario and should’ve spayed her much sooner. However, everything worked out fine in the end. No use in crying over spilled milk!

The Pregnant Cat Experience

So, after my sister phoned me, we were about 60% sure she might be pregnant. By the time I got home from holiday, we were certain. Milly was definitely pregnant.

It was hard to be sad or worried because she was the cutest little pregnant gal there ever was! Almost like she was on a pregnancy high. Her belly started to show and it looked so adorable. And her nipples were more prominent and pink. You could easily tell she was in her nesting era. She was so chilled and lovable. Milly isn’t the most affectionate cat, so it was such a blessing to have her be super cuddly and cutesy.

She also had an increased appetite and thirst and lower energy levels than usual, and she played less with all the other cats and wanted to be by my side the whole time. You don’t need to know me very well to know that it was a dream for me! And she looked really happy and healthy as well.

As you’ll see in the video, nearing the 3rd trimester, fetal movements were clearly visible and you could see the kittens moving and pawing around in her belly. We began to get really excited to bring mini-Millys into the world!

As time went on, she started looking for cozy spots around the house. She inspected every cupboard and drawer in every room in search of the perfect spot to have her babies. I helped her browse. My motherly instincts also went into overdrive seeing my little girl all pregnant and motherly. I wanted to make her as comfortable and content as possible! I think she definitely knew and realized quickly that she could rely on us to help her do this thing and we were going to be there for her every step of the way.

Getting Ready to Pop

Around mid-February 2020, many things were about to change. Milly was very pregnant at this point, I had to decide between getting a job or continuing my studies to become a clinical psychologist, and panic started spreading across the world about the coronavirus outbreak and a possible global pandemic looming.

We had a bet going and everyone guessed the due dates. I think I said 19 February if I remember correctly. I missed it by one day. On the 20th of February 2020, Milly went into labor in the afternoon. I knew because she was acting differently. She went from super pregnant and lazy to a girl on a mission real quick. She was pacing and focused and I just had a feeling that today was the day.

Naturally, I was in a much bigger tizzy than anyone else in the house, including Milly, the pregnant queen herself. I was pacing up and down, too. Looking for boxes, blankets, towels, and other supplies that we were going to need to ensure a smooth home birth.

My sister and I were self-appointed midwives and we took our job very seriously, although neither of us had ever helped a cat give birth, nor seen any cats give birth, so this was very new to both of us. Luckily, my dad is a dentist with a military medicine background, so having someone around with medical knowledge made us feel a little bit more at ease.

We were ready.

Milly Giving Birth: The Wildest Experience of My Life

Around 18:00, Milly was restless. Eventually, we found her in one of the several nesting spots we made for her. It was in my sister’s home office, so we decided to close it off, especially since the other cats were curious and we didn’t want anything to stress Milly out. It went from home office to feline birthing ward within the hour.

Between me and my sister talking, overthinking, worrying, asking hundreds of unanswered questions, and faffing over Milly’s comfort, and Milly pacing from one nest to the next, I’m sure no other person would have been able to be in that room with us. It was controlled chaos. Me, the most dramatic person in the family, my sister, basically a calmer but equally passionate version of me, and my teen mom-cat giving birth on a Friday night.

Around 20:00 she was having contractions, and that’s when things got a little intense. Milly is a small cat in general and she was still young. She looked at us like, “I don’t know what I’m doing here, please help!” but we weren’t sure how much she wanted us to intervene or when helping turns into disrupting. It’s a natural process driven by instincts and we didn’t want to overwhelm, distract, or annoy her, so that made things hard because she did look like she really wasn’t sure what to do or how to do it. Of course, to no one’s surprise, I was in full panic mode.

1 Kitten… 2 Kittens… 5 Kittens?!

After about 15 minutes of Milly having contractions and looking quite uncomfortable, we noticed a little cat paw sticking out of her. We were expecting them to be delivered head-first so we were a little worried, but turns out it’s quite normal. However, this was still a hectic start to the birthing process because it took a little long, and Milly paced up and down and vocalized while pushing the first kitten out, so emotions were high. We were worried and Milly was stressed. Still, we didn’t interfere too much or touch her, until we were forced to.

After another 15-20min, Milly was still struggling to get the first kitten out. The way she looked at us, I think she wanted us to help. With a clean glove on, my sister gently pulled Shelby out of the birth canal and into the world. Perfect, healthy, and cute as a button.

Another 20 minutes later came Tommy. Milly was also pacing around while delivering him, and she looked a little bit strained, but she pulled through and he was born. The placenta chewing was unusual to see but Milly didn’t have any problem with it; she did it like she knew exactly what must happen. I was like, “Wow, girl, how do you know how to do that?”

At this point we were like, okay, maybe there’s just two? Nope. Along came Alfie; he was a big boy. But by now Milly understood the assignment. She popped him out in the nesting cupboard this time (the first two were outside the cupboard, on the floor). Then some more time went by and Basil and Miley came out directly after each other. We like to think that they’re twins.

We waited another 30-40 minutes to see if there were more kittens coming, but thankfully, 5 was the lucky number. Milly delivered five beautiful, healthy kittens, and I was the proudest cat grandma ever. It truly was an unforgettable experience and I’m happy my sister and I shared it with Milly. So special!

Tips for Helping a Cat with a Home Birth

Prepare a Comfortable Birthing Area

• Set up a quiet, warm, and private space where your cat feels safe
• Use a large box, crate, or cupboard lined with lots of soft blankets or towels
• Set it up away from loud noises, other pets, and excessive foot traffic

Know the Signs of Labor

• Nesting behavior (your cat may start seeking out a spot of her own)
• Increased affection or withdrawal from people
• Restlessness, pacing, or excessive grooming, especially around the belly
• Decreased appetite and possible vomiting
• Visible contractions and panting

Support Without Interfering As Far As You Can

• Cats are instinctive mothers and usually don’t need help, but be nearby in case of complications
• Speak in a calm, reassuring voice and avoid excessive handling
• If a kitten is stuck, you can gently assist by grasping it with a clean towel or glove and pulling very gently in the direction of delivery

Watch for Normal Birth Patterns

• Kittens usually arrive within 20-40 minutes of each other.
• Mom will break the amniotic sac, clean the kittens, and eat the placenta and umbilical cord
• If she doesn’t, you may need to step in by gently breaking the sac and rubbing the kitten with a warm towel

Be Ready for Emergencies

• If over 40 minutes pass between kittens or she struggles for more than 10 minutes to pass one kitten, call your veterinarian
• Excessive bleeding, severe distress, or unresponsiveness in the mother requires urgent attention
• If a kitten isn’t breathing, try rubbing it gently with a warm towel to stimulate breathing

Post-Birth Care

• Ensure all kittens are nursing within the first couple of hours
• Keep the nesting area warm (around 85°F/29°C for the first few days)
• Watch for any signs of illness in mom or kittens (lethargy, refusal to eat, abnormal discharge, bleeding, etc.)

Tune in next time as I share a little bit more about the wild and wonderful journey of raising kittens during lockdown, watching Milly be the cutest mom, the difficult decision of putting two kittens up for adoption (together), and going through the heart-breaking experience of losing Tommy at the hands of a reckless driver when he was about 2 years old.

Till then,

Cheers vir eers!

(Cheers for now)