Katy came across a stray cat in front of a daycare in northeast Philadelphia late last month. As a volunteer for her local rescue, Stray Cat Relief, she couldn’t leave without checking on the feline.
“I was working that day and when I pulled up, she was just walking down the street. I didn’t have a trap or carrier or even any food, but I knew she needed help,” Katy told Love Meow.
The cat who had a large belly, turned to Katy and sauntered up to her, as soon as she noticed her presence. “I crouched down, offered my hand, and she came right to me for pets.”
The cat was very friendly and appeared to be pregnant, so Katy reached out to Stray Cat Relief and a TNR (trap-neuter-return) rescuer for assistance.
The dilute tortie seemed very pleased to get some attention from her newly acquainted friend. “She would not let me pick her up, but I managed to keep her occupied for over an hour while we waited for help.”
The cat, named Priscilla, was safely taken off the streets and brought into foster care. She ravenously scarfed down the food as if she hadn’t eaten for days. That night, she was able to relax and rest comfortably in her new, warm bed, making up for lost sleep.
“The next day, I noticed that she wasn’t eating much. She was also restless and howling. My gut was saying she was going into labor,” Katy shared with Love Meow.
“I informed the rescue and built her a nesting box. I spent as much time trying to comfort her as I could until I had to go to bed.”
Around 1:30AM, Katy got up thinking about Priscilla, and went to check on her. Within 30 minutes, the cat mama delivered her first two babies. By early morning, six kittens made it through birth and were lined up on their doting mom, nursing away.
“When I checked on her around 7:30AM, she immediately flipped onto her back as if she was showing me her babies.”
Katy provided supplemental feedings for the smaller ones of the litter while Priscilla tirelessly tended to their every need. When the cat mom forgot to eat, Katy placed food in front of her and encouraged her to focus on her own needs.
