Help - pregnant cat problem?

I have a pregnant cat and it will be her first litter. The other day she came up to me and started really giving me an abnormal amount of attention. I had this happen with my other female cat a fe years ago so I knoew the signs. She seemed she was in labour and wanted me to notice. I made her a nice box in a quiet part of the house and placed towels in it. She got in right away and layed down. She also kept licking herself so I took a good look. There was something slightly poking out of her, but just a few millimeters. So I tohught she was in labour and layed beside her and fell asleep. When I awoke she was still laying there and I had to go to work. All day at work I thought I would come home to kittens. When I got home she was walking around the house like nothing happened. No kittens and still this thing poking from her that looked like placenta or something along those lines. How come she isn't in labour and what is that coming out of her? I hope nothing is wrong. My worst fear is she is ready and won't go into labour. Another thing that bothers me is she is not very big. My other cats in labour were much larger, so I hope they are not premature. It's her first litter so isn't usually the first a small one, and that could explain her small sized belly? Sorry for all the questions I am just really worried. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Tommaso

i have replied in your other thread which covers most of this.
it could be prem labour or she may only have 1-2 kittens in their which is why she isnt big. are you sure it isnt discharge? if its the sac and its been all this time then the kitten sounds stuck and needs help from a vet!! im sorry to say but if the kitten has been stuck in the birth cannal for all this time then i dont think he will be alive when born. your girl needs a vet ASAP or she can die if there is a kitten stuck and just left. please keep us updated and i hope everything is ok.

I have had other cats and am pretty familiar with birth and I can say in certainty it is not the sac from a kitten and it is not discharge. It seems to be a fleshy red colour, almost like the placenta. She is not in pain and not in labour, although I though she was ealier from her licking so much. She is walking around and doing nothing out of the ordinary. The only thing that is out of the ordinary is this fleshy substance. It is a very small amount and just peaking out. She seems to have forgotten about it which I find weird. What could it be? Could it be she is going into labour very soon, but not quite yet?

Anyways, let me know what I should do. If I need to my father has told me he would cover the charge at the vet - so I am very happy with that. I would rather use the money for the kittens when they are born, but if you think this is an emegency please let me know. She seems perrfectly fine right now - i'm so confused. Thanks for the help and the very quick reply earlier and on the other thread.

Tom

Sorry to post agina - I just wanted to say I took a look at her behind again and it is gone. I guess it could have been discharge, I never touched it to see if it was liquid or hard. It all sounds pretty sick so I am glad it's gone. Don't know if that makes it all better but she seems happy as ever and just ate a whole lot. I'll keep you all posted. THaks again!

Tommaso