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What are your experiences with due dates?

post #1 of 99
3/5/09 at 6:17pm
Thread Starter 
My cat was due over 10 days ago according to one vet who we saw on Feb.11, and 5 days ago according to another vet we saw on Feb. 16. I called one of the vets and they said to give her till Monday and they will re-evaluate her.

Otherwise, all the kittens are moving and our cat, Coral, is doing great. My question is, has anyone had a vet tell them a date that far off? I called the vet office and of course they said that the vet isn't usually off by more than a few days. I'm getting very anxious and very tired of waiting.
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post #2 of 99
3/5/09 at 6:36pm
Cats are generally "on time" with their due dates. You need to ask yourself when the first time you felt the babies moving. They start moving at 2 weeks before the due date. It's pretty much very close to that. Vets are people too and are known to be wrong sometimes. I think you're just going to have to wait and see. I waited for signs as well for both my pregnant cats and they were both different in the signs. One had vaginal discharge and one did not. One had milk come in on time, and one did not...so it's hard to predict sometimes unless you know the date of mating. Nesting was very sporadic for both girls too, so I just tried to keep a very watchful eye.
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post #3 of 99
3/5/09 at 7:00pm
Thread Starter 
My cat has had milk for almost a week and other than that, not much has happened. She did start digging at the towels in her box today, but I have learned to not get too excited with everything she does. She has been sleeping a lot today and isn't eating as much, but still eating.
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post #4 of 99
3/5/09 at 7:24pm
Since we don't know the actual date of the breeding, the we have to rely upon physical signs and behavioral changes to guide us. It is extremely difficult for anyone, vets included to just look at a cat and predict a due date.

The normal gestation period for cats is anywhere from 62-68 days, depending on the cat. You have to also keep in mind that cats are individuals. I had one queen who delivered spot on 63 days in each and every litter and then I know others who will drag things out to 65 or 66 days.

If you are feeling a lot of movement in such a way as it appears the kittens are doing the mambo in there, then you are very close. Milk usually comes in 5 to 8 days before delivery and you may or may not see a cat cease eating before delivery. In fact, my queen came out of the delivery crate and ate between delivering kittens! Then she would have a contraction and go running back to the crate ... gotta love 'em!

My guess is that if she is digging around more in her nesting box, shows any signs of being anxious, needy, displays lots of vocalizing and constantly wanting you closeby, then get ready for kittens within about 6 to 12 hours.

Best of luck and please let us know how it goes.
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post #5 of 99
3/5/09 at 7:58pm
Thread Starter 
It eases my mind a bit to hear peoples stories. I can picture Coral doing the same thing with eating. That's so funny! She has been clinging to me a lot, but she's always like that. Today was the first time she dug at the towel in her box, so maybe that's something? We'll see. I will definatly post about the experience. She has been meowing a bit tonight too, which she is not a meower. Lots of signs tonight. Also, do cat's like humans, "drop" in a sense? I notice today that she almost seems like the cats have moved and she doesn't look at big as she has for the past couple of weeks.
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post #6 of 99
3/5/09 at 8:41pm
If you don't know the breeding date it seems like it's as much a guessing game for the vets as it is for us. When I took Goldy in the vet thought she would deliver in 2-3 weeks, probably closer to 2 weeks. It ended up being 4-1/2 weeks! I was a total wreck the last two weeks.

Yes, the babies will move down the uterine horns, or "drop". She'll look slimmer from above but her belly will be hanging down more.

for a good delivery---soon!
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post #7 of 99
3/5/09 at 9:00pm
I had to guess with Coco.
The vet told me July 24th/25th by the ultrasond and she had Aug 1rst.
I would not worry yet.
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post #8 of 99
3/5/09 at 9:15pm
Thread Starter 
Wow, that's even with an ultrasound. I thought that was almost spot-on, but I guess not. Sounds good. I still am hoping for tonight. She has been meowing and following me around like crazy. Why do they do that? I feel like she wants me to sleep in the bathroom with her tonight. I love her lots, but I love my bed too. She usually sleeps in bed with us, but she's staying close to her box tonight. Another reason why I think it's the night.
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post #9 of 99
3/6/09 at 6:12am
If you do not know the exact days that a cat bred, then its harder to predict due dates. Most cats will have them between 63-68 days. My queens went 64-69 days - average 64-66. But we know when they were bred.

I can see 5 days difference but not 10.
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post #10 of 99
3/6/09 at 7:26am
Thread Starter 
I was sure it would be last night. She even climbed on me in the middle of the night and was being really weird. It's good to know that it can happen to someone else too. 11 days off now. It seems like such a long time to be off with such a short gestation. I'm just keeping a close eye on her and am not holding my breath, though I am losing tons of sleep!
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post #11 of 99
3/6/09 at 8:15am
It is called being on "Kitten Watch". Sleep deprivation, anxiety, a feeling of impending doom *smile* You'll get through it and be just fine, I promise.

When those little babies do arrive and start to run hither and yon all through your house, it'll make up for all the sleepless nights you had waiting for them ... unless, of course, they go running through your house at Oh-God-Thirty AM. *LOL*
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post #12 of 99
3/6/09 at 1:06pm
Thread Starter 
He he...thank you for the encouragement. You're so funny! I keep thinking, this is the day, this is the night...every single day and night. I guess it just shows that we care.
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post #13 of 99
3/6/09 at 1:29pm
When I took Patience in, the vet estimated she had 4 weeks until delivery. I was extremely surprised when she delivered 12 days later. =p And she had six kittens, so it wasn't like it was a small litter. A guess is a guess!
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post #14 of 99
3/6/09 at 2:54pm
Awww! I was certain she would have them when you listed all those signs!
Well, it should be soon!!!
Good Luck Coral!
You'll have to show us some pictures when their born!
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post #15 of 99
3/6/09 at 3:51pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I thought so too. I can't believe she hasn't had them yet. I check her every 30 mintues and am planning my daughter's 3rd birthday party, so I was hoping it wouldn't happen this weekend. Now though, I just want it to happen, whenever the time. Last night she was being really anxious, meowing lots, and wouldn't leave my side. Today, she's back to her normal self! Weird.

That's funny that the vet was so off and with so many kittens! That must have been quite the shock having them come so early.

Do you think she's not delivering because she doesn't like the space that I'm giving her? The past few days, when I open the door to the bathroom, she comes bolting out. I only keep her in there when I'm going to be gone for more than 30 minutes or so, so it's not like she's stuck in there all the time. I wonder if I make another set-up as well in our closet, she will maybe like that better?
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post #16 of 99
3/6/09 at 4:06pm
My Coco had on the worse day it cold have been.
She had on moving day so i had to leave her behind until the kittens were weaned.
She was so huge you wold see the kittens kicking her from across the room.
I hope your cat has soon.
I was told it would be three kittens but she had 5.
The last two were dead.
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post #17 of 99
3/6/09 at 4:08pm
Thread Starter 


This is Coral. I feel like she's smaller than she was a few days ago, thus my question about do kittens "drop", or start moving towards the birth canal. I just took this picture. I have one of her from 3 1/2 weeks ago too, but I think it's on my husband's computer, so I'll have to bug him to get that one. but I'd love to compare! Ignore my feel I need a pedicure!
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post #18 of 99
3/6/09 at 4:13pm
They do drop down before they are born.
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post #19 of 99
3/6/09 at 4:13pm
Thread Starter 
That probably means she'll have them during my daughter's party Wouldn't that be entertainment! Ha ha. Yeah, we can see the kittens moving from across the room here too. It's so weird. How far along was she when you could see the kittens moving from across the room?
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post #20 of 99
3/6/09 at 4:26pm
MY cat is acting so strangely today, roaming from room to room. She hasn't been at all affectionate, either. It's like she's avoiding me. I found her in the food pantry at one point and took her to the room where I have the box prepared, but she just bawled and clawed at the door until I let her out.

I don't want to get my hopes up, but I've had her for 50 days now, I've been able to see kittens kicking around in her belly for like two weeks. It's so frustrating!
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post #21 of 99
3/6/09 at 4:37pm
Thread Starter 
Yep, I share your pain. It seems like every single thing make me think that she's going to have them. I joke with my family. Everytime she looks at us or moves, I say, "I read on-line that her looking at you like that means that she's going to have her babies tonight". Now we joke about it all the time. I'm hoping that yours has her's soon too!
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post #22 of 99
3/7/09 at 5:35am
My breeder friend's cat had her first babies on 67th day, but I'm almost 100% sure about the exact time when the 'successful' mating happened which would make it more like 66 days (cats were bred at my place).
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post #23 of 99
3/7/09 at 7:25am
Thread Starter 
I'm guessing, because we didn't know the mating date, that the vet just was off. It will be interesting if I take her in to the vet on Monday and they say she's still one week or so away. When she tried to sit down, her back legs go up a little because her belly is so close to the ground. She's full of energy this morning though. She slept really good last night and only got up when I did. We'll see. Her kittens may have the same birthday as my daughter, if they're born today!
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post #24 of 99
3/7/09 at 8:12am
Hahaha! Wow, that would be a hilarious thing to happen at a three year olds party...."mommy, i saw kittens born today..." hahaha, just kidding
She's a very pretty cat, by the way!

Go Coral!
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post #25 of 99
3/7/09 at 8:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tinahaj View Post
Her kittens may have the same birthday as my daughter, if they're born today!
Ohmygosh! My son's birthday is tomorrow, that would be so great if the kittens were born then, too.

Good luck, I hope they are for you, and happy birthday to your daughter!!!!
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post #26 of 99
3/7/09 at 12:19pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, that would be the party everyone remembered. Happy birthday to your son tomorrow. How old is her turning? He may share his birthday with some very cute kittens! Does anyone know an answer to this? Coral just got a bag stuck around her body and was running around like crazy to get it off. She was really freaked out. I had to hold her down, very gently though, to get the bag off. Does stress cause cats to go in labor? I know that a stressful event can do that to humans, car accidents, falling down stairs, those sorts of things. She was so freaked out and now I feel really bad and hope it didn't hurt her kittens
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post #27 of 99
3/7/09 at 12:41pm
He'll be 5 tomorrow. He has autism, hence the reason I adopted an adult cat. He's not aggressive, but he's clumsy and hyper, he literally bounces off of walls at times. I'm worried I'm going to have to horde these kittens for safety until they are ready to be adopted out.

Can you still feel the kittens moving? I'm sure she'll be okay, don't worry.

And about the stress thing; I was wondering if stress might actually hinder labor. I'm starting to worry my cat is holding back because my son is so hyper. He's very gentle with her, but she watches him like a hawk now. She's been nesting all over our place the last few days.
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post #28 of 99
3/7/09 at 4:16pm
Thread Starter 
I bet they have a mutual understanding with eachother that we would never understand. She is good therapy for him I bet. Yeah, but at night she should have a chance to unwind right? That will be hard for you to keep them shut away, but I always think of cats in the pound. They're confined to such small areas, so a bathroom or laundry room must seem like a mansion. You could let her out with the kittens while you're supervising at least. Don't feel bad about confining them though. They're lucky to have a safe place to call home. You sound like a good mommy. Patience must be key to having an autistic child. My son is 1 1/2 and he's all over the place and doesn't listen to a word I say. He'll start laughing when I tell him no. Oh, the challenges I'm sure he'll give me. We make it through and gain amazing things through it though, huh?

Sorry, I got off on a tangent. I just have lots of respect for people who are great enough to give their children and animals such great lives.
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post #29 of 99
3/7/09 at 4:23pm
Thread Starter 
Oh yeah, I put a towel on our bed and Coral won't even leave it. She was acting weird and meowing alot this afternoon. I'm thinking kittens tonight maybe. I've said it so many times, but she was also licking her hind area, which she never does. I keep going into our bedroom and checking on her. I'm wondering if my daughter's birthday dinner maybe delayed till next week. We'll see. Dinner is going to be in an hour, so lots will have to happen to make us cancel on our daughter (like seeing some heads).
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post #30 of 99
3/7/09 at 6:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tinahaj View Post
Oh yeah, I put a towel on our bed and Coral won't even leave it. She was acting weird and meowing alot this afternoon. I'm thinking kittens tonight maybe. I've said it so many times, but she was also licking her hind area, which she never does. I keep going into our bedroom and checking on her. I'm wondering if my daughter's birthday dinner maybe delayed till next week. We'll see. Dinner is going to be in an hour, so lots will have to happen to make us cancel on our daughter (like seeing some heads).
Oh I crossing my fingers for you!! Birthday and kitties! Heres more for you!
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