Wondering when the kittiens are going to make their debut...

So, I am a 21 year old animal lover who happens to live in the neighborhood where many people love to drop off their kitties that they can't take care of or no longer wish to, so I end up feeding and taking care of all of these wild/semi-wild cats. We've fixed probably around 15 cats in the last two years, and I was down to fixing the last female [that I knew of]. She's pretty friendly with me always, but the morning I went to take her to the vet to get her fixed she FREAKED OUT because she's never been in a carrier before and somehow broke her way free, then wouldn't come near me for a few weeks. A few weeks ago I could tell a significant difference in her stomach, looks like she swallowed a little mini football which has been growing and growing since then. About a week ago I could feel little 'bubble popping' movements in her belly which have grown and are becoming much bigger movements. I can't really see the movements just by looking at her, though. Her nipples are pink and the hair around them have receded although there's no milk production that I can tell. She's been overly affectionate, following me around meowing constantly. She'll roll on her back for me to pet her belly, and then after being content for a few minutes she'll snap at me a little like she's in pain. Just trying to get some ideas of when she might possibly have these babies?

can you see if she is leaking any clear discharge at all or is she wet down there

No nothing that I can see right now.

usual a day or the same day the have clear discharge i think my cat is in labour now and she been leaking clear discharge since yesturday more so today and see been very vocal and restless so these are signs to look out for also crying alot

She's been meowing at me constantly, but more for attention and not a cry out like she's hurting. Although i've noticed that as I pet her when I lightly run my hands over her hips she will meow and snap at me.

Here's a picture I just took of her in the area i'm hoping she'll give birth. She's normally so tiny, so I hope there's not too many in there!



She won't stay in there unless i'm petting her though.  She's next to me as I type this meowing at me.

When? It is difficult to say...

There are signs, but does it help to know them? Nope. We do have lotsa treads of this type: yes, it is a sure sign, yes it is near now, etc...  and yet - it still takes days, perhaps even a whole weeks...

It is a waiting game.  

Although you must also look out a little: if the labor HAD started, but goes on without results and the mom just getting tired, they must have help from a vet QUICKLY.  So a phone number to a good vet is highly advisable, etc.

Keep us updated, and continue to participate, here, in the Ferale/rescue forum, and other forums.  

Here is it as it is.

But you being rescuer and caretaker, and TNR.er, you will prob. meet this situation again.

You could do a spay anyway, when you noticed she was preg. Medically speaking, it was no big deal at that time.  Spaying in late pregnancies is more difficult, and ethically not pleasant, but a month earlier?        How was it? You didnt knew, didnt wanted or your vet didnt wanted?

Welcome to the TCS site, our Forums!

Good luck!    *vibes*

Can't help with when she is due, but a more secure carrier sounds like a good idea.  The most secure ones I've seen are wire top loaders, with a metal rod to hold the lid shut.  It's much easier to get a cat in & out than with the average plastic carrier, and there's no way it can accidentally be opened.  The vets in the UK use them as well.  I can't find a non-commercial photo of one so PM me if you want a link.  The one drawback is you have to put something waterproof under them in the car!

BTW quite a few cats are better if you cover the carrier.

Thank you all for the input. I personally wasn't too sure how the procedure would be when she was further along on her to get rid of the babies, plus I know I can find them loving homes so I figured i'll get this last litter over with and she'll be fixed, until the next wild one comes along! But yes, i'm definitely going to look into a higher quality carrier, the plastic one obviously didn't work as she pressed so hard against the top and just broke out the day she was supposed to be spayed. Thank you all for your responses, i'll probably just continue posting on here updates of how she is doing and some pictures once the babies make their arrivals!

Are you able to keep her in with her kittens until they are weaned and she is spayed?  Two reasons - many cats get pregnant while still feeding kittens, and if she has some sort of accident you are left with a litter of kittens missing their mum and needing an awful lot of care and attention, especially if less than 2 weeks old.

Yes, her and the kittens will be staying inside until they are weaned and on kitty food and she is ready to get spayed.

Last night I was loving on her and rubbing her belly and could literally feel what seemed like the length of a kitten along her side, and what felt like the head kept protruding a little further where you could see it sticking out and then going back down. This has to mean she's due SOON right?! Or maybe just filled with lots of babies?

Picture of her on the left, and her litter mates. Born to a feral momma last year on 4/20/11 under a neighbors porch- then when they were about 8 weeks old the feral momma came through my cat door at midnight one night with the first one in her mouth. Then the other 3 one by one. Found the grey and orange one's loving homes, the tabby and calico girl never found homes and [obviously] live at my house. They're mostly outside cats although they usually come through the cat door inside to sleep at night. Kind of skittish, although little girl is obviously more comfortable with me now that she's pregnant.

Well she's literally doubling in size daily it seems. Meowing and following my boyfriend and I around for attention everywhere, can feel the kittens kick hard and can sometimes feel an entire kitten sticking up when she lays on one side. I'm anxious and waiting, really wanting to be here to see her give birth and help her if she needs any. Going to by some of the replacement milk tomorrow just in case her milk does not come in before they come, there's no sign of the milk yet but I know sometimes it doesn't even show up until the day of birth. I've had a previous feral momma who had her kittens in my shed lose two of the four kittens before I realized what was happening and was able to save the others. I just want to be prepared this time, get them old enough to find some responsible people to care for them and get her fixed. Then I can start focusing my efforts on fixing some of the males in this neighborhood until another wild girl shows up in my driveway.

She's still doing great! Getting bigger every day, she's normally such a TINY cat- the smallest we've had, and she's weighing 8.2 lbs now! I can feel the kittens so distinctly inside her now, they feel quite large i'm assuming she's going to have 3 or 4 big ones, but who knows really. Had a big storm tonight and had quite a few cats taking refuge in the house, poor things were so scared of lightning and thunder hiding under couches and beds. Happy to be able to give them a shelter though

I was wondering, around when do they get their colostrum in? And how soon after that does the actual milk follow?

She's still doing good. It looks like the kittens are moving lower towards her pelvis then sitting high like they have been. She also got into the nesting box I made for her on her own twice today, which she hasn't done at all yet so i'm taking this as a sign that the kittens will be here within the next week hopefully!

Here's some pictures of her sleeping today. Sleeping TONS, all day basically for the past week or so.

And I figured i'd post some pictures of my other kitties/rescues. And yes, ALL of these cuties are fixed with money from my pocket. Someone's gotta love 'em <3

- Orange long haired is Wild Thing. She showed up in our driveway about 8 months ago and never left. I think she's quite a few years older than all of the others.

- Grey/Orange/White Calico is Stella. I've had her since a babe.

- Black and White is Onyx. She is Stella's littermate. She's a dork and likes to hide in everything, pots, boxes, blinds.

- Long haired tabby is Indy. He is Tiva's littermate.









NOT PICTURED: Luna- a 3 year old grey and white striped.

Muffin- a black white and orange calico who mothered Stella, Onyx, Tiva, and Indy under houses and in my shed until we finally were able to catch her last spring and get her fixed. She hasn't came near me since

Obie- an all black male who showed up to my house about 3 months ago. He appears for a day and then disappears for a few weeks and shows back up. I don't think he's fixed and have yet to catch him. He also looks like he has some sort of skin issue? His tail is missing a ring of fur around the base of it and it has a couple of scabs on it. Anyone know what this could be? I'll try to take pictures of it.

What a wonderful thing you are doing for this beautiful mama & her unborn babes. All of your other rescues are GORGEOUS by the way! Love the kitty in the pot!

All of the signs are there and where she is sleeping a lot with lots of kitten movement, you'll probably see kittens within the next 48 hours or so. Milk usually comes in within 24-48 hours of birth but not always, and sometimes doesn't come in until labor. All kitties are different. Sending vibes for a problem free birth and that mama & babes will be nice and healthy! Good luck!

P.S. - We're on kitten watch as well with a pregnant foster who is ready to go anytime. Nothing more exciting, but we've been through this numerous times in our years of fostering and usually foster 4-6 pregnant moms/moms with kittens per year at least. It never ends...

UPDATE!!!!! She's having contractions I can literally see her vulva dilating during contractions and her back legs shaking. I called into work, and i'll continue updating

I just saw your thread.  How exciting!!  Please keep us updated, what's happening?

I am also on kitten watch with a semi/feral mom.

You're such a good mom