Fostering a Pregnant Cat

sgrtx88

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Ok so I am fostering a pregnant cat. I do not know how far along she is but she is definitely showing. Anyway, I made her a nesting box - I cut the top half off a box and filled it with clean bed sheets. I put it in my bathtub and closed the curtain. Well I saw her jump into it and start digging so I thought maybe she knew it was her nest, maybe she was getting ready for the kittens. Well I peeked and found her urinating in it, then she "covered it up" like she would in a litter box. It must not have been the first time because I saw two big urine spots on it. I don't see how she could confuse it for a litter box because all that's in it are sheets. The actual litter box is on the floor by the bathtub. So is there something I am doing wrong? Should I put something else in the box? Or make a whole different nest for her altogether? I made her a second one in the cabinet in the living room. Also any tips as to how I should know she is getting close to giving birth would be great. I have been gently feeling her belly to try and find out how many kittens there are. I definitely feel at least one on each side but sometimes I can feel two on the left side. I'm not totally clueless about this since I work at an animal hospital but any helpful words of advice are appreciated. Thanks
 

mollismama

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I by no means am an expert, my Molli is having her first litter of kittens if that tells you anything. Have you tried putting he littler box by the nesting box? Maybe that would help out having it in sight.
 

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sgrtx88

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Mollismama - so I moved the litter box next to the nesting box. She still urinated on the bed sheets so I replaced them with a dark blanket. So far she hasn't urinated on that. Maybe it was something to do with the sheets.

Missymotus - I did try moving her nest to the living room. But it's a little more "public" and I am taking care of a dog this weekend who wouldn't keep her nose out of there. Also I have two cats of my own and I'm afraid Nimby the pregnant cat would not like having them near her nest. So even though it is "cold" I set up everything for her in the bathroom. There is a rug and I put a cat bed next to the nesting box. At night I close the door and turn on a night light.

I am so anxious waiting for the kittens to come! I have been resting my hand on her belly and they have been kicking like crazy! But sometimes she gets testy when I touch her so I hope that means they are coming soon. She still loves to be scratched on the head and purrs a lot. But for a day or so she has gotten irritated when I try to feel the babies move. I called a place to get a quote on x-rays so I could find out how many she is having. I told the lady the babies were kicking a lot and she said they should come within one week. But it is just driving me nuts not knowing when they will be here! Her lady "area" seems more swollen than usual and she has been licking her belly.

I am hoping her babies will look like her but I'm not sure since the male she mated with was a black domestic medium-haired cat. I believe she is at least half Siamese judging by her eyes and ears but someone told me (rudely) that she was not. They basically said she was a domestic short-haired mutt. Take a look at her picture and tell me what you think?

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/822/photo98q.jpg/
 

StefanZ

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Dont do X-rays unless absolutely necessary to save life!  If you want to see how many they are, a good manual search by a good vet is more then enough. Or  ultra-sound is  OK, and cheaper than X-ray.

X-ray costs, rather dangerous, and really dont gives extra info. They come when they come.   :)

Good luck!
 
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sgrtx88

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Thanks... No worries though, I am not getting the x-rays done. I'm just very impatient! Lol.
 

StefanZ

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Count on she is a common domestic, short hair. "moggie" "mutt", like 95% of cats.     :)
 

missymotus

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Dont do X-rays unless absolutely necessary to save life!  If you want to see how many they are, a good manual search by a good vet is more then enough. Or  ultra-sound is  OK, and cheaper than X-ray.

X-ray costs, rather dangerous, and really dont gives extra info. They come when they come.   :)

Good luck!
Agree, x-rays should not be done on a pregnant cat. Many countries will not even consider it, ultra sound or palpitation being used instead.  Though it should be noted all methods are not very accurate for kitten counts, aside from palpitating at 28 days by an experienced in pregnancy vet.

There also isn't any need to stress a pregnant cat with an unnecessary vet trip, she will have them when ready as Stefan said.

She is of no breed, a domestic shorthair, blue tortie point in colour & pattern.  Many domestics carry the pointed gene, it is not breed related. To get pointed kittens the sire will also need to carry the point gene.

You should get kittens in black, red and black tortie. If he also carries the dilute gene you can get blue, cream and blue tortie as well. If he carries for points you can get those colours in both points and solids. 
 
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sgrtx88

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DON'T WORRY, GUYS... I am not doing the x-rays! Lol! And as far as her breed goes... shows you how much I know. I thought blue eyes were breed-specific. I have seen Siamese mixes with blue eyes but didn't know plain old domestics could have them. Well, anyway... I think she's gorgeous and I'm sure her babies will be too.
 
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sgrtx88

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Ok so right now she is hiding inside the box spring of my bed. She has never done that before. I really hope she doesn't have the kittens in there. They'd be hard to get out.
 

missymotus

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Don't allow her to get into any spaces where it will be dangerous or you can't reach the kittens. 
 
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sgrtx88

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I got her to come out from under the bed last night. I think she is just being curious. I read that at a certain point in the pregnancy they stop jumping up on things. But she is still jumping up on counters. I try not to pick her up too much so I don't squash her belly. Her mammaries seem more swollen and full of milk so I hope the kittens are coming very soon. 
 
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missymotus

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I read that at a certain point in the pregnancy they stop jumping up on things.
No they don't, they'll still run, jump, climb and play the entire pregnancy. I always liken my kittens to growing up inside a tumble dryer as I have a very active breed and the girls never stop racing around. 
 
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sgrtx88

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Good to know. I just don't want her to hurt herself lol. She jumped into the bathtub the other day and slipped a little.
 
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sgrtx88

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Help - Nimby is having red-tinged thick discharge from her lady area. She was sort of licking there but for the most part didn't notice it was there. I wiped her with a baby wipe. I went and got a baby thermometer and lubricant to take her temperature. I got the thermometer in but she was NOT having it. It read up to 98 and then it came out. Right now she is under the bed AGAIN and I'm trying to coax her out so I can get her to her nest area. Help?
 

missymotus

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Sounds like the start of labour, though red can indicate issues, don't ever stress a pregnant cat by taking their temperature - especially if you're not trained to do so. Taking the temp does nothing, she's either in labour or she's not.
 
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sgrtx88

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Alright. I have been trained to take rectal temperatures.. I have worked at a vet clinic for almost three years. But I agree - I should not be stressing her. I got her to come to her nesting area and I'm going to keep an eye on her.
 

StefanZ

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If 98 F is the correct temp, so it has dropped. Ie sign for oncoming delivery...

Good luck!
 
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sgrtx88

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We have kittens! I went to sleep around 12:30 am, got up a little after 9 am and found mama and four kittens under my bathroom sink! They are all doing great. Thanks for your help everyone
 

missymotus

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What a shame you missed it, hope all placentas passed, and that they're all doing well
 
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