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A heavily pregnant stray cat rescued just over a week ago has surprised shelter staff by giving birth to a litter of 10 kittens. Donatella’s caregivers say she and her then-unborn babies are very lucky a member of the public found them and made sure they got into care.
The good Samaritan who found Donatella had been feeding the stray kitty but handed her in to the local branch of Cats Protection in Bridgend, South Wales, UK upon realizing that she was very pregnant.
Cats Protection, Bridgend Adoption Centre has shared Donatella and her kittens with Facebook fans since an initial post at the Cats Protection Bridgend Adoption Centre Facebook page on December 15 that said: “Meet our newest arrival Donatella – she is heavily pregnant and due to have her kittens any day now.”
Further posts and photos announced the births, showed Mama and her babies, and gave updates.
The centre announced the births on December 21, saying: “Donatella has given birth to 10 kittens! This is the largest litter we have ever had born at the centre, she is going to have lots of TLC to help her cope with such a large litter! ”
Donatella was carrying 11 babies, but one was stillborn. A litter of 10 live births is unusual, with most litters being much smaller. Donatella is estimated to be about a year old and may have had an earlier litter. She will be spayed before she is placed for adoption.
The kittens are doing well, but the two weakest feeders have been placed in foster care to make sure they get proper nourishment.
Members of the public have already shown interest in adopting Donatella and her babies, but the center will not take applications until the kittens are weaned and their mama is spayed.
Cats Protection’s Clinical Veterinary Officer Beth Skillings said: “The large litter is in itself unusual, but for so many to survive the birth is exceptional.
“Late pregnancy is very draining even for cats in good health, so for an underweight stray like Donatella it would have been particularly gruelling.
“First time mums usually have smaller litters, so it’s possible Donatella may already have had a litter, despite being so young herself.
“It’s hard not to find Donatella’s story heart-warming, especially at this time of year.
“But it’s important to remember this is not a fairytale – Donatella was a stray who has been through quite an ordeal to carry and give birth to so many kittens.
“She is lucky that someone noticed her and handed her into us as it is likely that many more of her kittens would have perished otherwise.”
The kittens have been named Sugar, Spice, Angelica, Berry, Brandy, Satsuma, Sultana, Sprout, Chestnut and Cinnamon.
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