Mamma Kitty behavior

Hi All-

I am new to this forum, but have been reading for awhile. I have a very sweet stray that showed up at my house, a very pregnant (or so I thought) mama kitty, about 2 weeks ago now. After I cleaned her up, I checked her out and found her to be very rotund, somewhat swollen nipples, and I could feel the movement of the babies inside her. I think she is very young, by the looks of her teeth. I have fostered many times before, but never a pregnant mother. So, I'm thinking at the time, she will have them any minute now. Not so, because its been two weeks and no sign of babies. Her nipples are definitely larger than an un-pregnant cats, but are not super swollen or dripping with milk, or bright pink like I've heard them described. She isn't doing any nesting behavior that I have noticed, besides ripping up edges of her nesting box and leaving the bits of cardboard everywhere (but then, that could just be her using it as a scratching post). She is not licking herself incessantly, because each time she tries to lick she falls back down and gives up. She is HUGE, in my opinion. I am so confused by her. Within the last 2 days, she has become somewhat aggressive and tried to bite me twice, not broken skin or anything, but definitely seems annoyed by me. She also has been eating like a horse pretty much since the second day here.

Does this all sound "normal"? Given these symptoms and her size, how long???? I know, the magic question...I could take her into the vet, but it was so traumatic for her when I first put her in the carrier when I caught her (she peed everywhere and cowered) that I have been hesitant to do so. I thought I would have such a short time to do it anyway before she popped, but so far I'm wrong about that. I don't know any vets around my area that do house visits, but that would be ideal...and admittedly, I don't have tons of money to spend. So...any help is appreciated. Here is a photo of her, and it doesn't even really do justice to her size. Her back legs practically bend when she walks, and she has been particularly restless the last 2-3 days.

Sorry, crappy cell phone pic:

Welcome to the site! Your mommy cat is adorable!
By the sounds of it, she should have them in the next few days. It's not usually too much longer than 2 weeks after you first feel them. I have a mom cat too right now who I have been thinking was going to have her kittens any day for a week...
So yes, this all sounds normal- as long as you can still feel them moving, it's not necessary for her to see a vet at this poin . Keep us updated on her progress!

Some cats get aggresive before delivery. Seeing as she is a stray and the restlessness it sounds like she's getting ready to go into labor. The nipples turn bubble gum pink at 3 weeks but they don't always stay that way. My cats nipples are a little pink but nothing like they were around 3 weeks (Baby Girl is 61-65 days pregnant today).

Well mama kitty seems to be having some issues. She had loose stool all over her litterbox and outside, but she let me clean her up. The babies are wriggling about, she is twitching her tail abd skin and crouching down. She ate a little of the food I gave her. I think we are close??

I do! Does she have any milk in yet? That's a good sign, but only some mothers get that before I'm also awaiting a delivery any day, so I know the anticipation!

It's like pregnant women when it comes to nipples and milk and everything to do with the chest. When I was pregnant I went from a C cup to a DDD which doesn't happen very often, especially considering I wasn't leaking milk. I didn't produce anything until my son came out while(and when my milk came in 3 days later my breast were so engorged my breasts felt like rocks) some women start lactating in their second trimester(and never have the horrid engorgement that I did. I had no morning sickness I have friends who puked morning noon and night the entire 9 months they were pregnant.

Just like every human pregnancy is different so is every cat pregnancy. It sounds like she is going to deliver soon, sometime aggression is a sign of imminent labor because they feel the need to protect their babies and they see you as a 'threat.' I don't know about diarrhea in cats but I know in human pregnancy it can also be a sign of labor or that you are in labor. I never had diarrhea but I remember pooping my brains out while in labor and having the nurse screaming at me that I really didn't have to poop and it was the baby she was convinced I was going to have my son in the toilet, she was frantic. Uh no, I really did need to poop(you just checked me and said I was at a 4, I highly doubt I went to a 10 in less than 5 minutes(and if I did I think I would really be hurting due to dilating 6 centimeters in less than 5 minutes) and I did poop and it was looser than usual.( the baby coming down and out feel like you need to poop and you use the same muscles to poop as you do to have the baby) I knew if it didn't come out then it would when I delivered, a lot of women poop on the table while having babies(I don't know if I did and I don't want to know.)

I don't think you have long to wait. I can't wait to hear about the babies. It sounds like anytime now you'll have babies.

Taryn

She did-4 may day babies I posted in the delivery thread they are beautiful. Pics to come!

That's so great to hear! What colours are they?

Yeah for May babies! I can't wait to see them.

Sorry its taken me so long to post these guys, I have been super busy. These were taken when they were about 3 days old. 2 black and white, 1 tabby and 1 all black with faint stripes. Mama kitty is doing a great job, they are all so darling...I saw that Zoey and Baby Girl had their kittens-congrats!! I can't BELIEVE how big Zoe's kits are, my guys aren't even that big and they are over a week old! At least they are healthy, thats what counts Enjoy!

Aww, how cute!!! Zoe's are big, but I think she had them quite late- it was a difficult delivery for her though

There is nothing cuter than a kitty pile

Originally Posted by CuteKittenKat

Aww, how cute!!!

Zoe's are big, but I think she had them quite late- it was a difficult delivery for her though

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I agree, I would be willing to bet Zoe went over 70 days.

The kittens are adorable.

If I`m not wrong, I think I might even see their eyes starting to open! that would put them a week over-develloped!

Originally Posted by CuteKittenKat

If I`m not wrong, I think I might even see their eyes starting to open! that would put them a week over-develloped!

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Well, honestly look how big their heads are and how much hair they already have. She might have held them in because she was in a new environment. I've heard that they can do that.

Maybe...but she did seem to settle in pretty quick...

You will have to show us when their eyes open. I am hoping the orangies have blue eyes.

Originally Posted by Carlysmom

You will have to show us when their eyes open. I am hoping the orangies have blue eyes.

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That would be incredible looking! Of course, they all have blue eyes at first, but I won't use the flash for a little while after, so in the pics it'll probably just look dark...but blue eyes would be awesome! They'd have to get that from their daddy though, because Zoe has green eyes...