Foster In Labor

The sweetie I'm looking after this year has just gone into labor in the last few minutes.  Yesterday and today she peed and pooped enough for a houseful of cats, while eating very little - I suppose clearing things out.  This is just the beginning, she's been leaking a little fluid, and mewing a tiny hurt sound, not a proper miaow.  She's been with me nearly two weeks, has been totally trusting of me.  Has been having "contractions" all that time - her tummy would go hard and rigid.  There's something similar (I'm assuming) for pregnant women, who very often have "Braxton-Hicks" (painless) contractions in the last months.

Meanwhile, after an interruption for some fuss and reassurance, this cat is wandering about and sitting every-blinking-where!  I missed last year's, which must have been born very early morning (again, a Sunday).  Ah, now she's cone in her den.

First baby just arrived less thatn 10 mins ago, I heard it protesting  Had to stop the cat from having them behind a chair.another one is wailing its head off now!  (she's in her den)   I won't disturb her to look at them, took her long enough to settle..

How is it going?  Pity you cant observe them directly. This way, its difficult to help them if there is need for help...

Do you have a scale prepared to weigh them every day?

Good luck!

Thanks Stefan, it's going fine.  She had five beautiful healthy kittens.  Two wheat-blond (is that color called champagne in cats? -  I recall an elderly neighbor from years ago describing hers that way).  One bright ginger stripey, one tuxedo and another I thought was so until I saw a little ginger splotch on one rear paw and one right between her eyes!  While she clearly was finding the early stage labor painful, she had them completely silently, only their newborn wails told me they were here!  And don't those sound like a squeakier version of a human newborn!

This is my second go-round on having kittens - I looked after a cat last year, using and valuing the advice on the site, had a thread when two of those five wouldn't wean.

I'm using the same fab den for this one - it's at least 3rd hand originally a large indoor cage for either a chinchilla or house-rabbit, so its 3ft by 2ft, solid plastic base 3in high, doors on top, at one end, and in one long side - that's the one mama uses to go in and out - and I've draped it so there's only a little light going in.  She likes it, spent a lot of time going in and out when she had twinges over tthe past week.  Now she's had them, her food dish is just outside her door on an old chopping board.  I noticed last years mama wanted to be able to see them right by her for the first few days. 

Oops, forgot to say yes, I do have a scale, but haven't been allowed to handle them yet, except for a little stroke while she watches!  They all seem to be a decent size, and vigorous, so I'm not overly worried.  I'll keep a keen eye on them, and weigh them (in grammes) as soon as she let's me!

Kittens are eleven days old now, and growing so fast its crazy!  All eyes open, rattly little purrs started up yesterday. 

However, this morning, their mama threw her guts up completely (conveniently in a place easy to clean).  She has since eaten, and seems no worse for wear, but what should I look out for, just in case anything untoward is going on?

Raise in temp - they have usually about 38,5 Celsius or 102 Fahrenheit, measured in their behind.

Measured in armpit under foreleg it will be lower, perhaps 37,4 Celsius, about 99 F.

More throwing...  (occasional throwing happens).

Diarrhea...

Seems extra tired...

Keep watching, but dont worry as yet.

If much throwing / diarrhea  she can get dehydrated and loses electrolytes.  extra Common water  maybe not enough, but must have some sort of pedialyte.

Good luck!

Thanks Stefan,  I'll keep my eyes peeled!  At the moment, she's carrying on as if it never happened, there's no sign of diarrhea, she has everything just where she likes it, babies nursing with no problems, etc.  Fingers crossed it's just a 'blip'.

As said, occasional throwing happens, doesnt mean much by itself.  

But as the proverb says:  the vigilante is protected by God.

Good luck!

Several hours on now, and there hasn't been any recurrence.  She's eaten several times, but not demanded any of the usual supplementals (kitten food won't do for her, she dislikes it, so I normally make sure she has a bit of chicken, or tuna to up the protein, and she generally likes a treat of a small piece of ham) just 'plain' food, and one little dab of butter from the back of a teaspoon is the only other demand she made!  It doesn't look like this is going to be a problem, phew!

 Congrats on your foster 's litter . Glad to hear they're healthy and that the  mom has not vomited again. 

The color you asked about is called Cream.   It is the dilute version of Red ( aka orange/ ginger ) .    

CFA has a color called  "Champagne" in  Burmese,  but it is a quite different kind of color that actually doesn't look much like champagne.   LOL.  it is more brown  but not the super super dark brown of Sable Burmese.  

Thank you, maewkaew.  Since they were born, I have looked around on the web, and I did find a site describing the champagne Burmese, as well as one explaining the diluted red gene.  It seems also that the colour name has been 'adopted' for the cream cats, as it turns up a lot as their description in images I and family and friends have googled!

I'll have to be particularly careful when they start running around, as they almost blend into my carpets!