lipp@mariah.DEC (Nicki Lipp - DTN 522-2320) (02/02/85)
To: teklds!larryg On the first topic, I have had a little problem with odor control but it's not too bad... We have an extra bathroom downstairs in our house, right next to the family room. In there is a shower without a door. That is where the kitty litter box sits, behind a shower curtain. It keeps it out of sight of guests and is right near a toilet, easy to clean every evening. As far as cats in heat and being pregnant... A cat will not go out of heat until 10 days have passed (sometimes a little more) or the cat has become pregnant... I wish you luck if she is expecting. A few facts about cats being pregnant: 1) Don't let the cat outside or near strange cats. At this point she could be very susceptible to viruses. Our cat came into contact with another which had an upper-respiratory virus (highly fatal among young cats). She passed it on to her 7 kittens, it dried up her mammary glands, and killed 6 out of the 7 kittens. We had to feed the kittens from day 2 with cathetars and bottles. 2) The gestation period is about 60 days, so be ready! If you remember the approximate day she went out of heat, count 60 days from there to get a best estimate of when the kittens are due. 3) Get her to a vet ASAP to have her examined. He can give her vitamins, etc., to help her help the kittens thrive while growing. 4) You can tell when the cat is ready to have her kittens. She will get really 'antsy' and start looking for a place to hide. Don't try to pick her up with much force to move her around and don't move her much. Her water could break and make a real mess! Get a large box with a cover and cut a hole large enough for her to get in and out. Put a couple of old blankets (they will get bloody during birth) on the bottom. The box should go somewhere secluded (a closet, for example). The kittens shouldn't be handled for the first week or so, except for an exam by the vet. Good Luck..... Nicki Lipp (decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-mariah!lipp) DEC Engineering Colorado Springs