So does anyone know of a way I can get the cat to have her kittens in a place where I want her to have them--say a lovely bin which I emptied of my things and filled with nice, soft, yet old sheets that can be tossed out after the kitties are done with them, rather than places I don't want as her nesting grounds---say the dryer, or the laundry pile or behind the refrigerator....
Cause she's a stubborn animal, but really, I may want fluffly kitties, but not spun dry ones.
She won't go anywhere she thinks you want her to go. I'd empty a lower dresser drawer and put some old towels in it and leave it open a bit, as if by mistake. Leave the lights out and door opened only a crack. If you're lucky, she'll 'sneak' in.
And the dryer's no joke - I lost a good cat that way. I thought the thumping noise was my tennis shoes - until it dawned on me that I was still wearing them.
Posted by: MarkT at December 26, 2005 09:38 PMI would restrict where you allow the cat to go, so that the area you have for her is the most appealing.
The only way I could keep my cat out of areas was to put down double sided sticky tape (they make it for this purpose, so that it won't harm furniture). Cats hate this.
Of course, the only time I had a kitten birth, it was in my roommate's closet, so I'm obviously no expert.
Posted by: julia at December 28, 2005 11:01 AMMy cats have never had kittens (they don't have that part of their anatomy anymore), but I've watched enough episodes of "That's My Baby" on Animal Planet to be able to offer an opinion. I think it's much like Julia said as when it gets closer, restrict the areas she's allowed to go. Some of the people got big boxes, lined them with sheeds, etc, put a little bowl of water/food nearby and basically kept an eye on them so that when it looked like they were in labor, they'd drag the cat to the cardboard box (her not spending much time there is probably important) so she's intrigued enough by it to maybe stay there but have it in the bathroom or something. Don't have any mats or anything else that might be comfortable so she's pretty much able to figure out that that's where she should go. OR you can get a dog sized crate and lock her in there (with the food and water) when it starts to happen? Or maybe in the bathtub? Whatever you're in the mood for. But those are a couple of ideas. Or did I just ramble? ;)
Posted by: esther at December 30, 2005 04:42 AM