Barn cats and how quick do they "mature"

[Elmochook]

Let me preface this with this... These are not my cats, they are my mothers, i do believe that outside cats should be spayed and have shots but as of now my moms cats dont have either.

So my mom found these 2 kittens in our trees and started feeding and loving on them. ( i dont like to touch feral cats, ive gotten ring worm that way before) they have been around a few months but im not sure how long... Well one of them has always been more reliant on the food and the other was a hunter. Well the black one has started getting slower and doesnt climb and play the same, her belly feels super bloated. I dont have a good pic of it because i can feel it better than see it. I've been tellin mom they need to get fixed but she is on fixed income waiting on her disability to start.

I guess what im asking is do cats get pregnant really young. I googled and it says they can at 4 months?! Please say that's wrong and i just have a fat cat??

 

[staceyj]

If they are unneutered and around six months of age, the female is certainly pregnant.

 

[MrsMistyReal]

Yes I believe they do. If you don't want these cats. Call your local shelter/ vet to help you. Feral cats are dangerous, they carry alot of disease, in their claws. Not only that they carry feline aids .We had a problem with feral cats, a few years back. It was in our news, nearly killed a man. He was a big man

 

[MrsMistyReal]

Tried to rid the feral cats got scratched by morning nearly dead, luckily he was takin to hospital. My advice get rid of them

 

[PirateGirl]

My vet would not spay or neuter until at least 4lbs of weight, which translates to 4-5 months of age. This is also about the time of maturity and it was clear the male's balls had dropped by then and he was ready for action.

 

[Star and eclipsa]

Take them to a vet, have the vet check them out for diseases and to see if the one is pregnant then let the cats go again. Also get the one that isn't pregnant spayed/neutered. I think that's the best thing you can do.

 

[Elmochook]

Ok let me correct feral... They are from my cousins last batch of kittens down the road... But i suppose no shots translates the same since ive seen the rats and moles they catch and eat.

Once again though these are not my cats, they are my disabled mothers cats. I wont get rid of them but i will rehome kittens come kitten time...

What can i do to make sure that she chooses a safe place to have the kittens and not like inside a truck or something? Should i build they a wooden cat house?

 

[Elmochook]

Vets and shots cant happen until we have the money to cover that though so probably not until after she ends up having them and im sure mom will get them both spayed and shots then.

 

[MrsMistyReal]

Ahh you I understand. You could make her something, see where she goes to rest or a favorite spot. Try starting there, to make her comfy blankets, etc

 

[Elmochook]

Also i dont want to get rid of them because i have never seen 2 fiercer hunters! They get mice in the coops and pull moles out of the ground.

Ive talked to mom and we will get them both fixed in the spring