It's important that mum and kittens stay together. If mum and/or the kittens seem to be sick or injured, phoning a local vet for advice is the best and quickest way to help.They may talk to you about giving a helping hand by providing food, water and outside shelter to help protect mum and kittens from extreme weather. If you can't find them and you think mum is a stray, call your local animal rescue for advice. You can follow our advice above to try to find the cat's owner.

If mum and kittens appear to be healthy and are in a safe area, it's best to leave them alone - don't move them unless they're at risk.After a few days, she'll move them anyway once she realises you know where they are. If anyone tries to move them, the mother may reject or even kill the kittens. If a stray cat has just had kittens, it may be best to leave them for a few days.If you see any of these signs or if mum is at risk because she's near a busy road or building, please call a local vet, animal rescue centre or contact us.If she seems lethargic, has passed an unpleasant discharge or is bleeding heavily from her vulva (green, brown or red discharge while the kittens are being born is normal).The mother seems to be noticeably distressed.If between 30 and 60 minutes of intense straining she doesn't produce a kitten or a kitten seems to be stuck.Many cats give birth without needing any help at all, but signs she may be having difficulty include Keep an eye on her to check she's doing ok, but avoid disturbing her as it could cause unnecessary problems for the kittens.Place some shelter nearby - depending upon the weather, placing some shelter nearby could help keep her shaded from the sun and sheltered from cold winds and rain.Placing a shallow bowl of water nearby - this should be done with minimal disturbance, keep a good distance.If you can't find the owner, please call a local animal rescue centre for advice on what to do when the kittens arrive. Try to locate her owner - post on local social media groups or speak to neighbours to see if anybody knows her.

If you've found a pregnant cat who you think is in labour

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