little advice please newcomer

hi all, bella is 8 to 9 weeks and expecting between 3-5 we think, she is sleeping all the time, if I try and stroke her past her head she just goes for me, she is having a very grumpy pregnancy as you can tell from the pic :-), I took her to the vets on the 30th april coz she had decided to stop eating they took bloods and gave her an ultrasound said that the kittens were fine and they didn't think she would go much over 10 days from then she is now eating although her food intake has gone down in the last couple of days, the thing im worrying about is she hasn't cleared any of the fur round her nipples and is not showing any signs of wanting too they are a rosey pink colour and she is generally fine in herself now, am hoping its all going to happen for her soon am so excited as this is her first litter she just doesn't seem to be happy with it at all and am hoping when they get here she will perk up 

Talking about perking up, try to get home dextrose sugar *glucose sugar*, good in many emergencies.

Do you have a mail kitchen scale.

I suppose you are doing all reading on you can!

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

 I do know a lot of cats have no changes in their nipples, and get no signs of milk until after the kittens are born, so she's most likely noraml there. As for her disposition, they are like human mothers, some are 'glowing' and happy and some are grouchy and irritable.Cats have the kittens in 62 or 63 days usually. Please watch her, a lot of preventable things can go wrong, like umbilical cords wrapped around limbs or necks, etc, be prepared to step in. She needs a 'nesting box too, in a out of the way place. Good luck!

hi thanks for the replies, she has had a nesting box set up since early last week its next too her bed in the kitchen as I have nowhere else I can put it that isn't in a draft or used constantly she seems to like having the choice and is using both, thought it would help for when they get here and I need to clean them out to have her used to one and the other.

I think I have exhausted google looking up all different kinds of things about cat pregnancy and watching videos on youtube about cat labour but have found this site so helpful actually having someone to talk to who has first hand experence and not just reading the same thing over and over, I will see if I can find some glucose sugar, have got things like scissors dental floss gloves towels ect, although I couldn't get iodine anywhere I tried so not sure on that one, the vets number is in the phone ready for if there is a problem and payments put aside so I don't get stung by vets bills   

Sounds like you are ready! All of us are scared the first time. You'll do fine, you're more prepared then I was! Once again, good luck vibes:

well Friday (the day the vet thought the kittens would be here) has come and gone, I have moved my daughter in with her brothers so bella can have a room of her own for a while, she was in the kitchen but the kids who are 4 3 and 2 just wouldn't stay out which I couldn't really expect them to understand that bella needed some space and privacy so rather than keep her in there and pray that the kids didn't bombard her once the kittens were here I have moved her she has settled well only cried a little when I shut her in so she could get used to the room, im sat with her now and she has slept all day, her fur from round her nipples has slowly started coming away and they are looking a lot more like the pics what people post of there cats, she keeps looking like she has a tennis ball sticking out her side when she is laying on her side its so sweet, she is just so content today which is so different to how  she has been lately so hopefully not too much longer to go, she hasn't eaten today so I will be keeping an eye on that and that's all really will keep you all updated as it progress as it seems it will just be a waiting game now.

Good for you for making it so Bella can have the privacy that she needs as she prepares for the kittens and then once they get here. I'm sure she is forever grateful!

It's very hard to pinpoint a due date unless you know for sure the date of conception so I wouldn't be too concerned that she seems to be going "over". You are just stuck in the waiting game and can't do anything to make them come any faster, though I think her new private digs will help tremendously once it is time. Just make sure you are checking on her every few hours so that you don't miss it!

I have asked a mod to incorporate this thread with your other one. We have several people waiting on kittens and it gets super confusing on who is who when there are multiple threads by the same person pre-labor. Having them combined ensures people know your backstory and that you aren't getting repetitive advice. Also, there are people following your story who won't get the notice that you have updated it unless it's in the same thread! 

Finally, remember that Bella can go back into heat quickly after giving birth so until she has been spayed she needs to stay indoors and away from any intact males. Giving her her own oasis room takes away the risk that she will just "sneak out" and is much easier to kitten proof when the time comes. So, make it nice and comfy for her because she's going to be in there the next few months! 

Best of luck to you and Bella- hopefully those babies come soon! 

hi, thanks for incorporating threads for me, bella will be getting done asap after the kittens are here and the little girl (if she has one) which we will be keeping, she is still going, the kittens have been kicking her and moving about like crazy today, keep thinking it will happen tonight every night, am worse than when I had my kids lol one of my neighbours is having a baby any day and she seems to be in a race with now and always asks if they are here yet lol

Haha yes the waiting game is by far the most stressful part of all of it! And, of course as soon as you decide they aren't coming is when she will go into labor. Darn cats!

I'm so pleased to hear you say you plan on having her spayed ASAP. Just remember it's best to wait until the kittens are weaned to do it. Since you plan on keeping one just schedule their surgeries for the same day. You don't want to spay her too early as it will mess with her hormones and stop milk production and you want her to raise those babies so you don't have to! 

Kittens can be altered as soon as they are 8 weeks and weigh a minimum of 2 pounds. Most kittens are closer to the 10 week mark before they are ready, and this is the most common age that people have it done at. If you can, plan on keeping the kittens until they are 12 weeks so that they get the maximum amount of benefits from being with Mom. If you can get the whole litter altered it is by far the best gift you can give them, and many vets will offer a discount. It's also perfectly fine to ask the future families to pay for the cost of the surgery (as well as the cost of their deworming and first vaccinations). My feeling is that any good family will want their kitten to be up to date on vet care and will happily pay to recoup those costs. If they don't want to pay for it upfront why would they spend the money to do it themselves later? Anyone who doesn't want to pay to have their kitten healthy is not deserving of one of yours! 

Keep us posted on when they come- hopefully you beat your neighbor! 

well we are still here and are having no signs as of yet :-( but it does look to me like her belly is dropping?

I did buy her a new scratch box this morning to cheer her up, it seems to be working, am I right in thinking its ok for her to have catnip while she is pregnant, she is loving it

So long as the 'nip doesn't make her aggressive I think it's fine. Whatever joy she can have in such a miserable state I say give it to her! The new scratch pad is also a great idea. The more attention you can shower her with the more bonded and comfortable she is going to be with you, which is only going to make your life easier. 

It's ssssooo hard to tell in pics of her belly has dropped or not (hell, it's hard to tell in person)! You just gotta keep suffering through the waiting game. 

I love the nesting box BTW- looks cozy! Can you make me one? 

hi all, well were still here waiting lol, think she is going to be the last to pop and is doing it to whined me up now lol, she is now that big that she cannot fit through the stair gates when she comes down stairs, the kits are all still moving and feel massive and just as proof that she is playing silly madam with me she done this face for a pic the other day loool