Vet has me confused!! Help!

Just catching up on your thread- it sounds like you have a good handle on what is to come. 

The only thing I wanted to elaborate on is what OS said early on about Siamese tending to have more difficult labors because of the slender body frame. This article does a great job of outlining what can go wrong and when/how to intervene: http://www.fabcats.org/breeders/infosheets/breeding_from_your_cat/felineparturition.html . If in doubt or an emergency arises call that vet on his cellphone! 

It sounds like she is getting really close. Best of luck for a safe delivery and happy, healthy babies! 

tabbymommy said:

Ok my cat had a good birth and a good pregnancy. It would be kinda difficalt to have complications unless you have a breed that is known for them. I didn't know my car was pregnant and she has a healthy baby boy lol. Its ok to be worried.

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tabbymommy  I know you are just kindly trying to reassure the OP , but  I don't want other people reading this to get the idea there is no need for any concern unless their cat is some breed known for having more complications.

 Most cats do just fine,  but a cat of any breed or regular "domestics" can have complications in birth.  so one shouldn't assume it won't happen.  I have seen way too many posts  on various fora and Q & A sites about someone's regular domestic cat who has trouble having birth ( kitten gets stuck in the birth canal,    uterine inertia,  even uterine prolapse though that is unusual but it happened in a thread on here once   )  and often the person is totally unprepared, has not even read about what is normal and abnormal,  does not have their vet's phone number handy, does not know where the nearest emergency vet is,  has not thought about the potential cost or how they would arrange to pay for a c-section,  etc. )      

 I'm not saying people should be freaked out,  just prepared -  which really can help you not to worry because then at least it's not so much the unknown.  Then you know what you would do in different situations.  .   EB24 posted a link to an excellent article from fabcats.  There's a shorter one more in an outline format ,  of what is normal and what is not, and when to call the vet, on this website:

  http://www.cat-world.com.au/parturition-birth-in-cats

And this one has some of the same info but then goes into more detail about potential difficulties  http://www.cat-world.com.au/dystocia-in-cats

On the positive side, this cat is not super young.   However, as EB24 reminded about OS's comments,   if she is a very slender "modern" type Siamese that may increase the risk,  and there's even more reason in that case to have a vet on call .   The purebred Siamese of the old style (a somewhat more elongated body and legs than the average Western cat,  but not extremely narrow tubular body and fine boning)  doesn't have as much risk,  probably no greater risk than the average cat. (and of course the domestic shorthairs with Siamese coloring from distant ancestors don't have any more risk than another domestic of a different color. )

Ok

Thanks all for the info! She IS normally very slender. Seeing some other pictures of pregnant mommies made me think, at first, that she may only have a couple. But looking at her pictures, she is bigger than I thought. I can definitely see movement in her belly when she lays to the side now...some movements bigger than others. Her appetite has slowed...and she seems to be having trouble getting comfortable. Only sleeps in one spot for 20 min to half hour now. Constantly changing spots....nothing that looks like the average "nesting" area though.

She IS seal point. Still no sighting of this Tom cat but the hubby swears all smokey grey...longer hair :0/ (no offense to those that like em fluffy just not my thing).

I do have my Vets cell number in case we have a problem...I'm trying to read up as much as I can on the subject in case. She is getting distant...likes everyone from a distance and getting sensitive to noise.

Jopefully it is soon

maewkaew said:

Most cats do just fine,  but a cat of any breed or regular "domestics" can have complications in birth.  so one shouldn't assume it won't happen.  I have seen way too many posts  on various fora and Q & A sites about someone's regular domestic cat who has trouble having birth ( kitten gets stuck in the birth canal,    uterine inertia,  even uterine prolapse though that is unusual but it happened in a thread on here once   )  and often the person is totally unprepared, has not even read about what is normal and abnormal,  does not have their vet's phone number handy, does not know where the nearest emergency vet is,  has not thought about the potential cost or how they would arrange to pay for a c-section,  etc. )      

 I'm not saying people should be freaked out,  just prepared -  which really can help you not to worry because then at least it's not so much the unknown.  Then you know what you would do in different situations.  

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I would like to elaborate on this a little more, as I think it may be extremely helpful to you llemonier as you are more likely to find yourself in this situation, but also to all those who are waiting on litters right now. 

My last foster had a very difficult labor back in August and I took the time to write about it. I'm not trying to "plug" my own thread, I just think it gives a good overview of why being prepared is so important. Sometimes reading a personal experience gives more insight than just reading an article does. Everyone waiting on kittens reading this please, take a minute and review: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/247353/aras-babies-a-story-about-preparedness . And, just for fun, baby #3 is the handsome devil in my profile pic. 

If the Dad is indeed a long hair there is a chance you may end up with longhaired kittens (I'm assuming Mom is short). But, the majority should still be short.  

Thanks for the info!!!! Putting together my kit tonight. Just need to get a kitchen scale and Im all set!

Finally! She likes her box! I totally should have expected it from MY princess, but all I had to do was combine the two boxes to make it a double...and add a low heat heating pad. SCORE! Lol. I know it sounds stupid but I was wondering if she was ever going to get it.

She really seemed to understand tonight. Gave me a sort of "thanks mom" when she laid down in it and for the first time let me touch her belly as much as I wanted without getting nervous.

Well I guess maybe just in time? Right about where she was sitting to eat in her box I found a small spot of a yellowish green snot looking substance....?

I think she lost her plugs. I never saw a cat loose a plug.

How is she acting is she in her nesting box?

No...on the bed. Went in a couple times (I locked her in) and she didn't even get up off the bed. Can't tell any movement from the kittens.

I just went in one more time and she got up...stretched and went under the bed. Husband is coming home soon w a Braun so I can take her temp. Going to block off the underneath of the bed. It's a very low sitting ikea so getting to her in the middle of things would be impossible. Wants nothing to do with my male. And he WAS acting agitated for a while, very hyper. Now he is calm.

I threw an old sheet down on top of the bed for the moment just in case....

Got two temp readings...didn't feel good about the first...97.4 under the leg. Took it again, in a pretty good spot under the leg and it read 98.1...

llemonier08 said:

Finally! She likes her box! I totally should have expected it from MY princess, but all I had to do was combine the two boxes to make it a double...and add a low heat heating pad. SCORE! Lol. I know it sounds stupid but I was wondering if she was ever going to get it.

She really seemed to understand tonight. Gave me a sort of "thanks mom" when she laid down in it and for the first time let me touch her belly as much as I wanted without getting nervous.

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This is a very common sign that she's finally coming into labor. Many cats show no interest in the birthing box until they get hit with the "must find somewhere to give birth" instinct. My expeinrece has always been once the mission of finding a nesting spot sets in you should have active labor within 24 hours. 

Use caution with the heating pad. The kittens will be plenty warm with Mom's body heat and can easily get burned. If she likes it and you want to keep it in there make sure it only covers a small area of the box so that she can move off of it. But, overall, my advice would be not to use a heating pad at all. If you are concerned about chill use a hot water bottle or a rice sock (a sock filled with uncooked rice heated in the microwave). 

Some cats aren't interested in their babies during active labor. If this is the case then dry each with a towel and use a hot water bottle or rice sock to keep them warm until she is ready for them. If all you have is the heating pad make sure it's wrapped in several layers of towels and check them often that they aren't getting too warm. The water bottle or rice sock is a better choice because it radiates heat out as opposed from underneath. Kittens can't regulate their body temperatures so you risk them being too hot on their bellies but cold on their heads. 

llemonier08 said:

No...on the bed. Went in a couple times (I locked her in) and she didn't even get up off the bed. Can't tell any movement from the kittens.

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Not being able to feel the kittens moving is a good indication that they have dropped into position for delivery. 

Also, blocking off under the bed is a great idea because it's the place she is most going to want to go. If she likes being up on the bed try moving her nesting box up there (I've done that before) and it's a nice compromise. If she's insistent on being on the bed outside her box put down a couple of sheets and blankets so nothing soaks through. 

llemonier08 said:

Got two temp readings...didn't feel good about the first...97.4 under the leg. Took it again, in a pretty good spot under the leg and it read 98.1...

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The drop in her temp is also an indication that labor is coming- likely within the next 24 hours. I know it's tempting to want to monitor her temp but I would really advise against it. She is so close and doesn't need any stressors at all. Even if it's just under the leg fiddling with her isn't helping her. 

At this point I would try putting the box on the bed and see if that helps. Check on her a maximum of every thirty minutes (if you can't be with her all the time) and keep the male out of the room for the time being. Make sure her litterbox and food and water dishes are close by in case she needs them. Have your kit ready and just provide her as much support as you can. She may want you to be hands on for awhile and then want a break- that's all fine and normal. Talk to her, pet her, soothe her. The kittens are for sure coming soon so do whatever you have to do to be present. 

Above all, stay calm. If you get anxious so will she. Most labors go without any problems and you are just there for moral support. Listen to your gut and if you feel something is wrong call your vet. You have done all your research and you are fully prepared to handle this. You are both going to be fine!

I'm sending all my vibes that the kittens come quickly and are happy and healthy. Ask questions if you need to but if in doubt don't wait for a reply- just call the vet. Your are prepared and ready for this and so is she. It's all going to be okay! 

Ok, update. I called the vet. They asked me to bring her in right away. Up 3 more ounces, so weighing in at a whopping (haha) 9lbs 13oz. Temp rectally was 100.3. Doc wanted an xray and utlrasound. Ultrasound showed fetal heartbeats. Xray (that I will be posting shortly) clearly showed two "good sized" kittens in his opinion. Doc says there could be more that he couldnt see, and that the bones were not reaaaalllllyyyy calcified, however it could be tonight....it could be longer. "I just dont know" is what he said. He also said he wasn't alarmed bythe fluid. It could have been her plug but maybe not.

So, in the spirit of enlightening those who are going through the same thing, those who have never seen it, and those of you that are much more experienced than I and know what they are looking at....Im gonna post her Xray pic, it sure cost me a pretty penny so why not share it? Right? Could be educational....so here goes

Can you see them??? :0)

I adjusted it a little to highlight them more...

Sorry I feel like I missed something- did something happen that prompted you to take her in? Believe me, I'm all for erring on the side of caution and I'm not saying this negatively (I'm proud that you did so) I think I just missed the "why." 

Unfortunately, as you have just learned, even veterinary science isn't great at understanding and predicting feline pregnancy. There is at least two....but maybe more. They don't look really calcified (I.e. the bones don't look fully developed) but she could still deliver as early as tonight. UGH it's so frustrating!

The good part is you know that she is healthy and ready to deliver when the time comes. And, that you should expect at least two and if she seems done after that and her belly flattens out then that is likely all. X-rays aren't great for the kittens, but nothing that can be done about that now. And, I've had it done on my fosters before I have taken them in and the count is usually pretty right on and I've never noticed any problems from it. 

No you didn't miss it EB I wasn't real clear about it. I called this morning and told them about the discharge and what not and they recommended I bring her in. I wasn't a fan of the X-ray...especially the bill...but he said its better for us to estimate her pregnancy since we don't know when she got pregnant and to get a count in case I don't have the right # after. It honestly may have ended up saving us money to have it done now. He said if he feels that she has not gone or shown signs of labor within another week...he may want to enduce. The kittens are pretty good sized for how Un calcified their bones were and she is small. One day at a time I guess.