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Question about nesting and wiggly kitties :)

post #1 of 34
5/4/10 at 7:05pm
Thread Starter 
Hey,

My husband came home with a abandoned cat. Someone left her outside his workplace. I am not a cat person, well I was not until now. My husband is working out of town and I have become quite attached to Mom-E. ( that is what I have been calling her so I guess that is her name now )
Over the past few weeks she has become quite large in her belly, and it has been a week today that I can feel the kitties and see them moving around. I made her a nesting box and she seems to have taken a liking to my tv cabinet so I put some newspapers in there. Anyways she was desperately trying to get behind my sofa earlier and now has settled in to laying in the cabinet on the paper. Again being said that before she came along I never had a cat, just dogs. I am totally clueless. Oh and BTW this is a great site with loads of info. I think I read almost 100 pages so far, but I guess I just want to introduce myself and see what anyone has to say.

Can anyone tell me a guess on if she is nesting if she is sleeping in there and will I be meeting some new kitties anytime soon?
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post #2 of 34
5/4/10 at 7:09pm
Well, you're certainly jumping right in the middle of it! As with all animals, childbirth with cats is a somewhat messy affair, so I'm sure you'll want to try to encourage her to have her kittens in a box with a disposable or washable lining.

Any questions you have, please ask. We won't think it's stupid or foolish, and one thing we love is talking about cats and kittens.
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post #3 of 34
5/4/10 at 7:13pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks so much for the quick response. I just edited my first post because after typing all that I forgot to put the actual question. Oops.

I am just wondering if that would be considered nesting...she was also scratching the paper for about a minute then decided to plop over and rest. And I wonder if I should keep my coffee pot ready the next few nights?
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post #4 of 34
5/4/10 at 8:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cometluv View Post
Thanks so much for the quick response. I just edited my first post because after typing all that I forgot to put the actual question. Oops.

I am just wondering if that would be considered nesting...she was also scratching the paper for about a minute then decided to plop over and rest. And I wonder if I should keep my coffee pot ready the next few nights?
That sounds like some good nesting to me! By the way, welcome to the site it sounds like she should have them within about a week, considering that you've felt them moving for a week. And thank you for taking in this girl and her soon to be babies!
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post #5 of 34
5/4/10 at 8:07pm
How long have you been able to feel the kittens moving? It's around 2 weeks after you start feeling them. My Baby Girl just had her kittens last night. She was around 64 days but you probably don't know her gestation. She would go hours sleeping, then restless for anywhere from 1-2 hours, and back to sleeping the last few days. She didn't do much nesting but I think it's because she already knew where she was having her kittens.
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post #6 of 34
5/4/10 at 8:10pm
Can you post a picture? I grew up with dogs but once I got my first cat I fell head over heels for them.
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post #7 of 34
5/4/10 at 8:18pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks again for the replies. From what I have read about nesting it seemed to me that is what she was doing. Now she is back to grooming her paws on the kitchen floor. I had been following her around and every time she even twitched a bit I would think -- THIS IS IT! She gave me the impression that she was not happy with me doing the following so I pretty much leave her alone unless she comes to me. Now I just hide behind furniture and watch. LOL
I guess I can't be the only one huh
I felt her babies moving exactly a week ago but no telling how long they were moving before then. I was reading how you can feel them so I laid my hand for a while on her tummy and sure enough I felt them and could see them! Really fascinating.
She has been sleeping lots for the past few days too.
Congrats on Baby Girl and her kittens! Hope everything went smoothly.

OH MY!! She is licking her tummy!! This is going to make me nuts... should I make coffee or a vodka on the rocks???
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post #8 of 34
5/4/10 at 8:19pm
Thread Starter 
I will try to post a picture. How do I do it?
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post #9 of 34
5/4/10 at 9:03pm
Thread Starter 
O.k. I made a photobucket account and posted two links. One is a picture of her resting on the kitchen floor and you can see her belly but I took it with my camera phone so it is not the best pictures. Hope it worked.
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post #10 of 34
5/4/10 at 10:19pm
I'd go with the vodka, lol. The waiting is horrible, the delivery is really something else, but the kittens are well worth it all. And believe me, I was peeking too. I was convinced Baby Girl was going to have hers this past Thursday but she didn't. Yesterday morning the only signs was that she kept moving from one spot to another, like she just wasn't comfertable. I figured out she was in labor when I rested my hand on her belly to feel the kittens move.
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post #11 of 34
5/4/10 at 10:27pm
Thread Starter 
I know what you mean... the waiting is horrible. I just checked her nipples and there is some white crust. Milk maybe? She is looking at me like " When this is over you can hand me the phone and I WILL MAKE THE APPOINTMENT TO GET SPAYED! You just will not let it go huh???"
Poor baby, I can't help myself.
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post #12 of 34
5/4/10 at 10:49pm
Not sure what the crusty stuff was but Baby Girl had it, too. But it would seem like you should have kittens within a week, maybe a little more. The only thing you can do is watch, wait, and try to interpret the signs. This is the worst part, the not knowing. Lol.
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post #13 of 34
5/5/10 at 6:55am
Has she been seen by a vet? If not, I'd get her in ASAP just to make sure everything's going well and to have a contact in case needed during or shortly after delivery.

Congrats on your new mom cat, too! I was totally a dog person until I fell in love with my Callie-girl who adopted me and my back porch 11 years ago.
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post #14 of 34
5/5/10 at 10:28am
Thread Starter 
I called the vet a little while ago. The same one that my dog sees. I explained to him the situation and that we really do not have a ton of money to spend. He told me that I can take her in tomorrow morning and he will work something out with me. I am also going to make an appointment to get her spayed while I am there ( if that is possible so far out... I did not ask him ) I do not want to see her have to go through another litter of kittens. As cute as she is and I am sure her babies will be adorable, she does not look comfortable at all and now that I am reading so much about it I have come to realize there really is a problem with overpopulation. Really sad.
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post #15 of 34
5/5/10 at 10:31am
Aren't her kittens almost due? You are going to abort a litter of kittens because she seems uncomfortable? I think it's a personal decision if the pregnancy is early but at this stage, I personally don't agree with it. If you are worried about overpopulation, take them to the low cost spay/neuter place before you place them in homes.
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post #16 of 34
5/5/10 at 10:58am
Thread Starter 
Oh gosh no... I am not aborting the kittens. I meant that I was making an appointment while I was phyically there for her to get spayed whenever she can be after the kittens are born. I was not sure if I can make the appointment so far in advance I should have said. Sorry about the confusion.
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post #17 of 34
5/5/10 at 11:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cometluv View Post
Oh gosh no... I am not aborting the kittens. I meant that I was making an appointment while I was phyically there for her to get spayed whenever she can be after the kittens are born. I was not sure if I can make the appointment so far in advance I should have said. Sorry about the confusion.
OHH good! I thought that you were getting her spayed while she was still this far along pregnant. Some people do it. I personally couldn't do it but that's just me.
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post #18 of 34
5/5/10 at 11:53am
Thread Starter 
My bad. I type like I talk .. I guess I should have read it over before I posted.
She has been sleeping lots again today but last night -- WOW-- she would run fast from room to room and stop and play with anything she could get her paws on. I have not seen her move that fast before. It was cute but the first time she took off I did not know what to think. Guess she was just in a good mood. It was almost like she would "peel out" then take off running... her back legs were scrambling in place for a few seconds. LOL
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post #19 of 34
5/5/10 at 12:01pm
Cats are an endless source of entertainment. Just wait until the kittens arrive!!

I had to laugh when you described how she wanted the phone to call and get spayed. Good for both of you!!
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post #20 of 34
5/5/10 at 12:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cometluv View Post
My bad. I type like I talk .. I guess I should have read it over before I posted.
She has been sleeping lots again today but last night -- WOW-- she would run fast from room to room and stop and play with anything she could get her paws on. I have not seen her move that fast before. It was cute but the first time she took off I did not know what to think. Guess she was just in a good mood. It was almost like she would "peel out" then take off running... her back legs were scrambling in place for a few seconds. LOL
Mine is close to having her kittens too and lately she has been very playful and very silly with plastic bags and cat toys. Before this she pretty much wanted affection, food, or sleep. I haven't had Carly long so to see her act like a silly kitten with her big round belly is funny. I wonder if it has anything to do with impending birth?
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post #21 of 34
5/5/10 at 12:35pm
Thread Starter 
I know.. I can't wait for the kittens to arrive. My house will never be the same. I already have two friends waiting to adopt her babies so I know that I can still visit and see them grow.

Carlysmom--- I am not sure if it has anything to do with the kittens being so close to making the grand entrance but she really had a blast last night. Fun to watch. Kind of got my mind off of stalking her every move to see if labor has started.
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post #22 of 34
5/5/10 at 12:41pm
Kittens really turn your house up-side down!
I just wanted to add that you may want consider confining her to one room since they'll be coming anytime, and it's better for her to have them in a box than under a bed
Agggg, I too am waiting for kittens, and it's nearly been 2 weeks since I felt them moving! She's gotta pop soon!!
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post #23 of 34
5/5/10 at 12:46pm
If you haven't read this tidbit, just want to give you a warning. Some mom cats get highly protective of their young when they are first born. Protective to the point of attacking anyone that comes near them. Even though she may seem really friendly and playful right now, read her very carefully during and after her delivery and give her some space if she tells you she doesn't want you close at first. You haven't had her that long and she may decide you are more of a threat than a friend. Chances are I am wrong on this point, but you really don't want to be scratched or bitten if this happens.
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post #24 of 34
5/5/10 at 1:10pm
I have read that when the kittens start moving back it "lightens" the load and they can become playful. Baby Girl didn't do this.

I have had Baby Girl since she was 5 weeks old and after she delivered she has been very protevtive of her babies. I only pick them up to weigh them because she gets so upset. She will let us pet her and the kittens in their box, so we do. Other then that we leave them alone alot and just check on them off and on.
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post #25 of 34
5/5/10 at 1:43pm
Thread Starter 
My kitchen and my den are all open together so I have her in here. We keep the bedroom doors closed that way she can't go hide somewhere in there where we would have a hard time getting to her if she needs us. I set up a box in the den and left the bathroom door open with old towels. Also she seems to like my TV cabinet so I cleared that out for her and put some newspaper in there. Only problem is she also keeps wanting to go behind the sofa and I don't want her back there either so I have stuffed pillows behind there and chairs and anything else to block her from getting back there. It looks crazy but whatever works.
I am sure she will probably be protective over her babies because sometimes while I pet her, if I get too close to her tummy she will swat at me. This just started. She used to love her tummy rubbed...not so much anymore. So I give her space then she is fine. I am trying to take cues from her. I wish she could talk... would make this so much easier.
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post #26 of 34
5/5/10 at 2:08pm
Well, it sounds like you're set!
About the swatting, that's a little thing called "tortitude" Tortoishells are very famous for their big attitudes
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post #27 of 34
5/5/10 at 5:09pm
Thread Starter 
Tortitude.. I like that. LOL
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post #28 of 34
5/5/10 at 6:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cometluv View Post
Tortitude.. I like that. LOL
LOL ya, when I first had that I laughed- my first torti was...well let's just say she had quite the temper for her size!
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post #29 of 34
5/6/10 at 7:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cometluv View Post
I called the vet a little while ago. The same one that my dog sees. I explained to him the situation and that we really do not have a ton of money to spend. He told me that I can take her in tomorrow morning and he will work something out with me. I am also going to make an appointment to get her spayed while I am there ( if that is possible so far out... I did not ask him ) I do not want to see her have to go through another litter of kittens. As cute as she is and I am sure her babies will be adorable, she does not look comfortable at all and now that I am reading so much about it I have come to realize there really is a problem with overpopulation. Really sad.
Good for you! Sounds like she's doing great, but it always helps to have a vet "in the know" when it comes time. They'll probably schedule the spay for a couple of months away.
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post #30 of 34
5/7/10 at 2:27pm
This has to be the funniest thread I have ever read!

My cat is pregnant at the moment, we think about 60 days gone and i have honestly turned into a paranoid nutter. Her stomach twitches like mad and everytime it does I start shouting at my husband "THIS IS IT, THIS IS IT..... THERE ON THEIR WAY"

He is not impressed! Says I am driving him mad! I am just so excited!

Keep us all informed of her progress and I think you truely are a lovely person and so is your husband for taking her in and giving her a loving home xxx
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