Neighborhood cat going to give birth in our garage... advice?

[Aimeedyan]

DH noticed a neighborhood cat (I believe she does have an owner across the street) coming and going from our detached garage. We are in an old rental house, and the landlord just has those 2 big wooden doors on it that we just lock with a lock... there is space where the doors don't meet for animals to come and go.

Doesn't bother me really, I don't see cats as destructive... I think she just goes in to escape the heat and sun, and I did figure she was going to give birth, soon...

Spotted her yesterday, and she's going to give birth anytime now, from what it appears. I'm sure she's made a place somewhere in our garage for the occasion...

Is there something we should do? Should I try to find out who she belongs to and let her owners know where she's chosen? We don't want to move her, if that's where she feels comfy, just want to be prepared if I should do anything...

Thoughts? What would you do?

 

[TennVolTony]

Park in the driveway.

 

[chesirechik]

I think they can pretty much take care of everything without human assistance. Why don't you call a local vet or humane society and explain the situation and ask for advice?

 

[catsrule]

Let the owners know, if you know who they are. Then adopted a kitten or 2.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I would LOVE to adopt one or two, but DH says NO. =(

 

[JESW]

That's kind of you to be concerned. Let the neighbors know and then let nature take its course. Cats can do all that on their own and when she is ready to share her family she will bring them out. After she gives birth it might be nice to have some food and water out there for her - I know I appreciated it after I had MY kids!

Jill

 

[Amberle3]

Your DH might change his mind after the kittens are born! They're so hard to say no to

I've found cats to be very particular about where they birth. They may not choose the nicest or prettiest places, but they'll choose places where they feel safe.

Poke your head in from time to time to check on her and see how she's doing. Make sure she's got some food and water close by so she doesn't have to too far from her kitties. Also the more familiar with you she is, the more relaxed she'll be with you around the kittens.

Way back when I was a kid, when having pets "fixed" wasn't the norm, we had a cat that had several litters of kittens. I always knew when she was about to give birth, because she didn't like to be alone during the birth. She'd come upstairs and meow incessantly until I followed her downstairs and stayed with her. She'd always give birth out in the open, but move the kittens to her chosen spot not long afterward. She always picked spots that were up high for some reason. One time she picked a box of christmas garlands!