Labor, or trouble?

Exciting. Hmmm. Yup. That's one word for it. The little Pixie Witch is sleeping now. (Her full name before this excitement happened, honest!)

And she's been on kitten food since the day she got here - as I had it on hand for the "male kitten" I thought we were going to adopt. Gotta love my hubby - he always finds new ways to keep my life exciting. Yup, gotta love him. Can't kill him....so gotta love him. Must.....remember.....that.....!

Originally Posted by Shemarie

Exciting. Hmmm. Yup. That's one word for it.

The little Pixie Witch is sleeping now. (Her full name before this excitement happened, honest!)

And she's been on kitten food since the day she got here - as I had it on hand for the "male kitten" I thought we were going to adopt. Gotta love my hubby - he always finds new ways to keep my life exciting. Yup, gotta love him. Can't kill him....so gotta love him. Must.....remember.....that.....!

Click to expand...

That's exactly how mom felt when I bought Molly home pregnant.

Greetings all. Sorry for the delay in updateing. Hubby apparently knocked over the bedside phone sometime last nite, thus knocking it off the hook. He then managed to get up this morning without noticing it, OR stepping on it. He's talented. And he's mine, all mine. Ahem.

So anyway...."no phone line" this morning, then I had to go to work, then I had to figure out why our phone service was out. But now, obviously, I'm back up and running.

Pixie update - no change in status. She's not in any apparent major distress, I am not overly concerned about her over-all state of well-being. (And I'm a "worrier", I am.) I AM extremely confused as to what is going on with her.

If you had met her a month ago, like I did, and saw her belly expanding, and nipples developing, you would say "Pregnant!" If you had never seen her, and met her today, you would say "Shemarie, your cat is in heat."

Is it possible for a pregnant cat to go into heat?
Shouldn't be.

Is it possible for a non-pregnant cat to develop nipples? Cause that's what seems to be going on here.

My options today (and tomorrow) are - take her 30 miles to see a strange vet....or wait. Monday, I can take her to see her "regular" vet. Given that she doesn't seem to be deteriorating, seems otherwise stable, I am going to wait. She continues to eat (tho not much) - she's drinking lots of water. She's still using her litterbox. She's not vomiting, she's not bleeding, she doesn't seem to have any areas of pain when handled.

Seriously - has anyone here ever heard of a non-pregnant, seemingly otherwise healthy cat develping nipples?

Do you see the babies kicking when she lies down?

I don't know whats g9oing on, but I think a vet visit on Monday is a good idea. He should be able to feel for the kittens.

I'm on the edge of my seat here! I can't wait to find out what's up with her

I can't remember when, but sometime recently a member had a cat go into what was seeming like labor, which then stopped and started again like a couple weeks later. Such silly kitties.

I never heard of a cat in heat having a tummy ripple though. Maybe she just isn't that far along. I would definately get her to a vet cause she might be having issues with the pregnancy. I hope everything is ok with her and the babies.

Yeah - the ripples and nipples are what was telling me "pregnant, in labor" - no baby movement, and the entire "in heat" thing was telling me no....not so....!

Going back to my original guess on her due date (last week of December / early January) - I wasn't expecting movement until maybe next week,...and haven't been able to detect any so far. Her belly does feel lumpy now, tho....and didn't before.

A friend of mine was just here. He said that his parents used to have a cat that would do the same thing - definitely be pregnant, but definitely be in heat! Blows my mind - but he swears that cat did it, and so I guess it might be possible. Heck, I've heard of a human that had two uterus's....each separate but healthy....so.....guess anything is possible. Including early / premature / false labor.

So....it's a definite. "Our" vet, Monday, first thing. I've had her four weeks now, three weeks since the last vet trip. Vet should definitely be able to tell me if those "lumps" I'm feeling are babies...and give me some insight on the whole in heat / pregnant thing. If all else fails....there's still the option of taking her to the other town's vet, who has an ultrasound. So hang in here with me folks....I do appreciate the support here! Hopefully come Monday afternoon, I'll know more.

If your vet can do an x-ray it is aparently cheaper. You can see their little skeletons too. And maybe guess at how many there are

Goodness!! Im at the edge of my seat also! I wanna know! NOW!! hehe Good Luck and keep us informed!

O.O im waiting for the next update i want to know if she is in labor or not, it is so excited

Yes it is possible for a non-pregnant cat to develop reddening/a little enlarging of the nipples...they can go through a pseudo (false) pregnancy and have mimic symptoms sometimes.

However judging from the pictures, i would venture to say you do have yourself a pregnant kitty on hand. That being said though- since i haven't examined her personally- i can't be 100%...that's why the vet visit is soo important. You're doing the right thing by taking her in on Monday.

Also-it is not uncommon for a cat to mate several times and have resulting litters from several donors in the same litter. So yes, a newly pregnant kitty can go into heat and mate again (usually around the same time frame- of within the same day or two), so while not unheard of, it is possible. Since she is likely further along though- she is most likely not in heat of any type- she is most likely exhibiting "nesting" symptoms. Sometimes, close to the birth of the kittens..the momma will become clingy (or sometimes standoffish), display their belly, demand attention, purrr loudly, experience reddening of the nipples, discharge/etc....that would be my guess as to what is going on at the moment.

Good luck! Let us know what the vet says on Monday! If you can opt for an ultrasound- that's the way to go- so you know how many little ones to expect!

I am also thinking that maybe she IS pregnant with two litters. I think Ziggy was. One of the kittens (Diego) was really massive and she had a hard time getting him out.

Prehaps she went into a false labour because there are kitties in there that want to be born NOW, but a real labour will not come on because there are others that are not ready?

This is just a guess but I'm sure it can happen.

If this is the case, then be prepared to help with birth, luckily I didn't need to with Ziggy but I was all ready for it. Diego was the last one. If she has some BIG kittens, then she may hav some trouble birthing them.

Well, ok...false statement, that. I know I can have her spayed now, kittens or not - and I continue to choose not to. But yeesh - I've had four days (and nights) now of reminders why all other female cats I've had I did get spayed! The good news is, so far I've only lost one pair of drapes. Curtains in all other windows are open, so she can see out. But of course the most handsomest tom EVER must have been outside this OTHER window, cause I can't see out of it - so those curtains are coming down NNNNNOOOOOOWWWW.

Prancing the hind quarters....tail held to the side....oh yeah. Pregnant or not, she's definitely in heat. And I know I haven't mentioned that petting kitty is now a shocking experience - as it's cold and dry outside,....so kinda dry inside....and she's been rolling all over the carpeting....static shock city here, folks!

The other good news is that other than the usual distress I am associating with the in-heat thing...she still seems to be fine. No signs of advanced labor. I still see an occasional ripple along the back....but not nearly as often as before. As for checking for baby movement, that's impossible at this point. She's so into constant rumbling / chirrupping that she practically vibrates.

Definitely vet tomorrow. I gotta get some answers one way or another about all this - the mystery is killing me!

For those who might come into this late - Pixie was a foundling that hubby brought home a month ago. At that point all we knew was that she had been hanging around an area for about three months, and no one local was claiming her, and the owner of the land didn't want her around due to his dogs. We didn't immediately have her spayed due to the belief that she might all ready be pregnant....so I and the vet decided to hold off on her vaccinations and spaying until we knew for certain. A month later...and I still don't know. But hopefully I'll get some answers tomorrow!

Man, I CANNOT wait until tommorrow to hear the continuing Pixie saga, babies? No babies? In heat?
Can't wait to read the update tommorrow!

Hehe, I kinda hope she is pregnant as you seem to want kittens and I think you would do good with them! I love kittens!! Isn't that "in heat" thing weird though, I always wonder when I see a cat in heat what really causes all the fuss! Well Im at the end of my seat anticipating tomarrow, SO DONT HOLD BACK!!!

If she isn't pregnant and you do want the experience of kittens, you could check with a local rescue group or shelter and foster a pregnant cat.

Ok, appointment set for 3:30 pm local time - (EST). Hopefully we'll all know something at that time,....and I'll be sure to update as soon as I get back home.

My personal preference? That she is not pregnant. Hubby and I were looking to adopt a kitten (originally) simply because that way there would be (hopefully) less behavioral issues to deal with than if we went to adopt an adult cat. I was also counting on the cuteness factor to help win hubby over, as he was somewhat reluctantly agreeing to getting a pet to begin with.

He's fallen in love with Pixie, tho, so that's not a problem. And yes, anticipating kittens was / is exciting....but given my "druthers" - I'd rather not have to take on the expense of shots and spaying / neutering a whole litter - which is a responsibility I WILL be taking on if she IS pregnant. Not to mention finding suitable homes for the babies when they're ready,...or keeping the ones I can't find good homes for. (Good homes as defined by me,....and I'm picky.)

So...bottom line...if Pixie isn't pregnant, she's getting spayed, ASAP. If she is pregnant....the babies will be born, and will be vaccinated / spayed / neutered / loved & spoiled rotten by me, and remain with me until / unless I find a suitable home for them with someone I know. Which at this point is,....I have a good home for two of them. And what hubby doesn't need to know is....the longer I have them....the harder it will be to let them go.

A few more hours.....surely I'll have some answers one way or the other in just a few more hours.....

Shemarie

Not sure how many hours behind me you are, but I think that it isn't vet time yet? I would guess maybe 7 hours behind? 3 hours to go then? I will be waiting..... I'm on tender hooks!!!

she is in the same time zone as me so vet appt in about 1/2 hr. hehee