First time with pregnant cat + kittens! HELP!

I'm new here! Hello! I took in a stray who I have been feeding for months 3 weeks ago, and according to the vet she was due in 10-15 days. Today is day 15. I am wondering if their are any other symptoms that aren't listed online. Ya know, the typical ones? Anyone notice anything else that may indicate she is close? Almost all her nipples are out now. She is small and only a year in a half, so I feel like she only has maybe 2 or 3 kittens. Should I cut the hair around her nipples that aren't popped out all the way? She is very big and clearly uncomfortable. These kittens have been kicking her non-stop! You can see them poking out across the room!! I have prepared as much as I could and stocked up on everything I may need! She seems to have been breathing a little heavier than usual. But she has been eating. She keeps changing sides whens he sleeps, but she is still sleeping pretty well. She just can't seem to get comfortable. Always moving from place to place. I am nervous I might sleep through something!! Should I worry yet that she hasn't given birth?? Anything else I can look for or check?  

I am also curious about kitten death. I have read on here and other sites whole litters dying or just one or 2 kittens dying. Is their ANY way to prevent this from happening? I know with a genetic reason their probably isn't - but anything else I can look out for? Our cat we've had for years passed away a few weeks ago, and I'm just not sure I can handle death! I'm in this for the long haul but I'm just curious if their is anything I should do or notice or look out for that can ensure these kittens will live nice long lives! Any advice would be great please!! I am so nervous about this! So anxious! So worried I won't be able to handle it, or I will do something wrong, or god forbid Aurora decides to reject them or be a so-so mother!! I've done so much research but any first hand knowledge would help. Everything on the internet is the same. Ya know? Like everyone just copied and pasted the same article all over the place.

It sounds like you prepared better than most first-timers!

My guess is she has more than just 2-3, as she is so big and heavy. Unless your vet said she had at most 3.

When did you began to feel the movement of the kittens? Anyway, it should be any day now - although exactly when is a game of waiting...  As you surely did read.  There ARE lotsa signs, but none of them is 100 fire-sure...

OK, what to do if there are complications.  Most important, they shouldnt get cold, or too warm. Feks if the mom dont have time for them at once you must keep them warm. But dont overdo heating pads.

If one seems to be born stillborn, although fully developed, you can try and massage it back into life.

Sometimes they are just too cold (peculiar, as they are just coming out from the vomb, but - it happens)

Warmth.  A trick in these emergency cases may be to submerge them in halfwarm water. Works nicely with pigs where this is quite common. May work with kittens, where this is not so common but happens.

If the kitten is becoming alive, you must of course dry it thouroughly although very easy-handed.

The most common reason of healthy kittens dying off is if they got pneumonia because they got water in the lungs at birth. 

So prepare to have something at hand to get out the water out, if you notice such.  Perhaps a drinking straw.   Beware, be careful: Dont inhale too strong - your lungs are much stronger and bigger than the kittens...

Slunging them is another way, but this too is dangerous, if you dont know exactly how to do it.

You use any of these both these methods only in a emergency. Anyway - if are you practically sure they have water in the lungs -  better to take the risk and do it.

But it may be too dangerously to do it for a routine on all kittens.  Some breeders I know slungs them as a routine - they HAD lost kittens this way, and dont want to be there again.   While other experienced breeders dont do this save in emergency.

By the same reason we here on TCS are NOT going out with this as our overall recommendation -  its too risky if you dont know exactly what you are doing..

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

thank you so much! yeah I'm trying to be prepared - stocked up on kitten food dry and wet - I'm feeding her the dry now - extra litter boxes low enough for the kittens, the non clump litter, food dishes that are low, wee wee pads to put in there bed and there's also one above the paper in her birthing box - she keeps marking that box up so I'm hoping she gets what it is for. I also covered it with a towel - she likes to be under something - she likes it dark - she will sneak under my blankets sometimes - so cute - I'm assuming it's habit from being outside - but right now she is on the floor - she sleeps with me once I fall asleep - weird - I dont know - maybe it's the tv light she doesn't like - which is off when I sleep - but she has been moving around constantly - the babies have been kicking since I took her in a few weeks ago - the vet never said how many he thinks she has - I have been guessing - I think 3 or 4 - sometimes I think 2 or 3 - just keep trying to guess lol as I am anxious - i also got toys for the kittens and a bed for them - the only thing I am lacking is a play pen or crate - I plan on ordering one i saw on amazon that was cute for 40 dollars - or getting a big box and making it all nice myself - one that can fit a little litter and toys - I know to keep my eye on them with the water - and the litter just in case - I will be home all day for the next month probably until I get a job - im 23 so I'm looking now for a "real" job!

That word you kept using? Sling or slang? is that where you put them in your hand and lift them up and down? I was thinking about getting a suction thing - is that neccessary? How soon after the babies are born should they get the first milk? Like after how many minutes should I just put a kitten on her nipple to drink? How long should they be in the sac before the mother breaks it? I saw a few videos on youtube where the queen doesn't really notice right away she


 has another one or doesn't get to it right away - how long should I let that happen before I intervene? Putting in a few pictures of her and her belly! She has been verrrrry lazy - she doesn't want to move - sometimes she almost seems clumsy with that belly - I feel so bad! Just hoping it is soon!! My room has no AC - I'm in NJ so it's the 80's - even at night it's still warm in this warm - I have a personal fan - but is that still too cold for the kittens? Should I be covering them up more? Or is it too hot and I should put a fan on them? My room isn't really really hot - but it's also not too cool either! Thank you for your quick response - anything else you have to offer advice wise would be great! 

From what I understand the kittens won't move right away - so a box similar to the birthing one is ok for them for the first week right? Or should they be confined in that too?! I am so confused! Some things just aren't answering my questions specifically enough. Thanks for any help. I also have an e-mail [email protected] -- thank you! Just trying to round up a few contacts just in case something happens or I freak - met some nice animal shelter helpers and alley cat advocates also who I have been e-mailing - thank you for any help! She means the world to me! As you can see she is beautiful! You would NEVER know she was a stray - she loves everyone - so kind - never scared - she had friends even out there! Other cats she was always with - sweet sweet girl!

Her sweetenes didnt helped her when she become preg - was prob dumped then....  

If you felt them kits all three weeks so she must be near...

What you really lack as you didnt mentioned it, is something to weigh them with, a kitchen scale, in grams or 1/10 ounce.  There are cheap ones, so it is really no cost.. Weigh them every day at the same time.

If it is warm in the room, you dont need to overdo with heating. If it is verry warm, a fan is useful, but NOT straight on the kittens. It is enough to fan aside, so there is some air circulation in the room.

Yes, to slung is to do this movement you mentioned. Not really difficult but if you dont know how, or careless - dangerous.  A suction device may be useful. Make sure it is not too strong. Here in Sweden we use sometimes small gum balls, who are otherwise used for rinsing through ears and wash ear-wax solution...  I dont know if you do have such in US.

If necessary? No, but as said, good to be prepared if you notice they apparently, or even probably, got water in lungs. Not so unusual, and if so gives them often pneumonia, which is killing them off. You go to sleep, them all healthy, in the morning that kitten is apparently fading away, or even - is no more.

The first one or even two weeks they dont need no elaborated pen, as you yourself think.

One thing more. If you must help them and sear the cord, use your nails. Dont use sharp scissors!

Although blunt scissors may be OK.  The cord seals off by itself if seared by something not so sharp.

Wait a little till it is not pulsing any more, and sear off as long from the kitten you can get.

Lets hope others will fill in!

Good luck!

jenelleaurora12 said:

I'm new here! Hello! I took in a stray who I have been feeding for months 3 weeks ago, and according to the vet she was due in 10-15 days. Today is day 15. I am wondering if their are any other symptoms that aren't listed online. Ya know, the typical ones? Anyone notice anything else that may indicate she is close? Almost all her nipples are out now. She is small and only a year in a half, so I feel like she only has maybe 2 or 3 kittens. Should I cut the hair around her nipples that aren't popped out all the way? She is very big and clearly uncomfortable. These kittens have been kicking her non-stop! You can see them poking out across the room!! I have prepared as much as I could and stocked up on everything I may need! She seems to have been breathing a little heavier than usual. But she has been eating. She keeps changing sides whens he sleeps, but she is still sleeping pretty well. She just can't seem to get comfortable. Always moving from place to place. I am nervous I might sleep through something!! Should I worry yet that she hasn't given birth?? Anything else I can look for or check?  

I am also curious about kitten death. I have read on here and other sites whole litters dying or just one or 2 kittens dying. Is their ANY way to prevent this from happening? I know with a genetic reason their probably isn't - but anything else I can look out for? Our cat we've had for years passed away a few weeks ago, and I'm just not sure I can handle death! I'm in this for the long haul but I'm just curious if their is anything I should do or notice or look out for that can ensure these kittens will live nice long lives! Any advice would be great please!! I am so nervous about this! So anxious! So worried I won't be able to handle it, or I will do something wrong, or god forbid Aurora decides to reject them or be a so-so mother!! I've done so much research but any first hand knowledge would help. Everything on the internet is the same. Ya know? Like everyone just copied and pasted the same article all over the place.

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i am looking after a kitten that was pregnant for my local spca n i had the same concerns as you have i was told by mt vet that she was due in next 3 to 4 wks n she had them 4 wks later but i noticed something different about her before i went to bed she came into my bedroom which she doesnt really like to do n she jumped up on my bed which she doesnt do at all then the following day she was like clinging to me wont leave my side at all so i phoned my vet n he told me she would properly give birth in the next 3 to 4 hrs so i put her in a crate and shut the door n kept an eye on her checking her every 30 mins as advised by my vet and she gave birth to 4 kittens i believe as she couldnt escape from the crate she felt she had to feed them so therefore feed them as soon as they were born i didnt actually see the 1st 3 births but i had a feeling she was still giving birth or trying as she kept licking herself there and after bout 10 mins she gave birth to the 4th kitten they are all doing well and are now 3wks old but if u think one might be dead have a warm blanket/towel ready and gently remove it using sterile rubber gloves n wrap it in the blanket DONT PUT IT IN WARM WATER then gently rub it on its tummy by its chest like u would rub a baby with regards wind just do it on its tummy/chest area as this can be a form of massaging n start its heart again dont worry bout cutting the hair around the nipple it will eventually go once she has given birth my kittens hair around her nipple didnt go away till she gave birth also alot of the internet sights say she wont eat by kitten eat that morning but was just very clingy

thank you both so much for advice! I am so anxious about it! I'm hoping I'm just hyping things up and everything goes smoothly. My poor baby is so big and so ready I just wish it happened now just for her sake. I am not in a huge room or apartment- I made plenty of play space for Aurora and the kittens so they are fine that way - just very nervous - want to give them all the best start of life any kitten can have LOL - but thanks again for your help - and hopefully it happens soon - she seems normal today like usual. Just laying around and flipping sides. She ate - not a whole lot but I leave dry food in her bowl over night and that was eaten when I woke up so maybe she is just full. Ahhh I guess we will see! Thank you!!

jenelleaurora12 said:

thank you both so much for advice! I am so anxious about it! I'm hoping I'm just hyping things up and everything goes smoothly. My poor baby is so big and so ready I just wish it happened now just for her sake. I am not in a huge room or apartment- I made plenty of play space for Aurora and the kittens so they are fine that way - just very nervous - want to give them all the best start of life any kitten can have LOL - but thanks again for your help - and hopefully it happens soon - she seems normal today like usual. Just laying around and flipping sides. She ate - not a whole lot but I leave dry food in her bowl over night and that was eaten when I woke up so maybe she is just full. Ahhh I guess we will see! Thank you!!

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