Pregnant stray cat returned without kittens. When can I take her in?

Talk to the veterinarian you would take her to for spay. Ask how long she would need to be there before she could be released back to any possible kittens. They may be able to guide you best about how soon to trap her. But if she isn't eating well or acts sick it could be possible she has retained, dead kittens still in her in which case the sooner the better for her to get surgery. If she is hanging around a lot and not eating well, I would err on the side of taking her in as soon as possible in case she didn't deliver all kittens. Good luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is certainly possible depending on her behavior towards you. If she is friendly then yes it should be ok. I would highly recommend that you take her to your veterinarian to check her pregnancy status and also at least run some general labwork to check on her general condition. They can also start her on preventative care. Best of luck!

It is possible that she is just taking care of her young for now. There are possible complication after birth like imbalance hormones, a kitten not born causing infection, or even eclampsia (low calcium). If you know where she could be hiding, I would try to find her and take food to her. If not, all you can do is wait. She will likely come out when she is ready. I am sorry that she is worrying you and I wish there was more we could do. I hope this helps and you find her soon!

How lovely of you to look after these kitties, and to take them with you! I would take them both into a vet for a health check to make sure everything is ok with them. The vet can also confirm if the other cat is pregnant. Once they give birth, you can have them spayed after the kittens are weaned, and you can get their vaccines. To keep them safe, I would move them indoors. I hope this helps!

It's likely the kittens will be here within the next 1-2 weeks. Here is a helpful link: https://www.petcoach.co/article/pregnancy-diagnosis-caring-for-a-pregnant-cat/ Here is information regarding kitten care: https://www.petcoach.co/article/queening-giving-birth-in-cats/ Lastly, I recommend to have Ring Tail spayed when the kittens are 10 weeks old. A single female cat can produce up to 28 kittens in a year and the female kittens can start breeding at 6 months old. This can quickly lead a population explosion which can lead to viral and parasite outbreaks, some of which can affect humans. many humane societies will offer spay programs for stray cats. https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-is-trap-neuter-return/ I hope this helps.

It might really stress her out to be inside if she's never been inside, so I would just leave out food for her, and set up a shelter for her and her kittens. I would try to catch her after the kittens have weaned, and have her spayed. If she will allow it, I would try to handle the kittens to tame them so you can find them homes. I hope this helps!

She needs food, water and a litter box or a place to go to the bathroom for basic care. As far as giving birth goes, provide her a comfortable resting place. Motherly instincts will kick in when it is time and she will take care of the babies for you. If she has a problem delivering them, then you will need to call a vet or find a shelter than can help you with her care. Birth is messy so make sure you have towels and blankets to change out so they stay clean and dry.