My cat Is in labor. Need some help!

My cat Arty is in labor. She started labor last night at about 10:30pm. She didn't start having good contractions until around 3:30. She had her first kitten this afternoon at about 12:15 pm. Unfortunately, she was a stillborn. It's now three hours later and she hasn't had another kitten. She's not contracting or acting as if she's in any pain or discomfort. She's laying in her kittenish area, cleaning herself, napping on and off and sleeping. She's even purring rather loudly. Should I be concerned that's she's not had anymore kittens?

She still hasn't had anymore kittens. She's eating and drinking and still laying around a lot but she's purring and happy and comes to me when I walk in the room. So she doesn't seem to be in distress. I don't know what to do. Should I just wait it out until she seems I'll or has more kittens?

If she is calm and not distressed, everything seems OK, she is either pausing or done.  Continue to observe, but you dont need to panic.

Such is common enough, and if there is more kittens, they will come forward when they come forward.

The first was perhaps premature, and with any luck, the rest will come in their correct time, hours or even days later.

But if she is in distress, panting, long fruitless labor, fever, anything - keep close watch, contact your vet (phone at first), be ready to rush in.

As said, long fruitless labor is what we want to avoid.   Vet help necessary.

Fever or other signs on internal infection is also not so unusual, demanding quick vet help.

Continue to report and ask!

Good luck!

ps.  Purring is not always they are happy. Purring is sometimes their way to calm themselves, to calm their pains...  So it depends.

If you do have access to a reliable vet, it is wise to phone and ask.  This IS the book answer.

The first kitten born was pretty big and had fur but its head seemed a tad small for a kitten. Perhaps it was just the type if kitten or I'm remembering the last litter of newborns I've seen incorrectly. I didn't see her start the birthing if the first kitten. I came into check and the head was already out and clear of the amniotic sac but I didn't see it move or breath at that time. I was thinking maybe she wasn't pushing adequately and she had been in the birth canal too long. I can't be sure but as I came in Arty walked over and equalled at me so I laid her down and pet her and she began to push again.

We are at the five hour mark and she's eating. A lot I might add. And napping. No contractions, no pushing. Breathing is slightly faster than normal and she's a bit restless. Switching from laying on one side to the other.

I have two young kittens in the house already and when she hears them meow she seems a bit anxious. She looks around like she's looking for her kitten. I don't know what to do about that either.

Sorry about the novel. I'm just nervous that she or any babies she might have left in her could be in trouble.

I called the vet and they said she may only have one kitten and to give her some time and if she seems distressed to bring her in or has contractions for more than an hour to come in.
I've just never heard if a cat having one kitten. She wasn't exceptionally big but surely there wasn't just one in there.

one kitten litters arent that unusual.  so it may be so.

Although, of your description, im not at all sure everything is over.  So its good you are continuing to watch and be ready, as you do.    There can come more, in hours or days, as said.

If you can have the other kittens longer far away so she doesnt hear them, it would prob be good, so she isnt stressed by them and sounds from them.

(If they are best friends, sometimes it is better to let the friends be together, if they are helping her.

But if not - separate them and keep the mom non stressed).

Good luck!

ps.  Palpating the tummy doesnt always help if you arent experienced: it is often difficult to feel if there is one more, or just some swellings inside.

If there are several more, you can usually feel it, though.

She did stretch out all the way when I pet her stomach and I gently rubbed it. The was two "lumps" on her stomach last night that became very visible during contractions. Now, however, only one of them is there. She won't hold still long enough for me to feel if it is moving or not.

   From the description it sounds like she probably does have another kitten. 

I agree with Stefan and your vet that for now I would just watch.  sometimes cats can take a break in the middle of labor and it's quite normal.    So just watch and see and follow the instructions about when to take her to the vet.    (and if she starts contractions again and then is straining hard trying to push out a kitten with no success,  don't let her go on like that for an hour.   at least phone the vet after 20 minutes of intense straining and let them know you are bringing her in.  ) 

 Here is an article that has a list of when to take the cat to the vet if there are problems with birth.  

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

   Also if another day goes by and no more kittens ,  I think it is time to get her to the vet.  One concern is she may have another dead kitten inside that would make her very ill.      If that other kitten had been obviously premature I might suggest waiting more days  but it doesn't sound like it was premature,  just that something else was wrong.  

An update on Arty: she didn't have anymore kittens so I took her to the vet and they checked her out and confirmed that she wasn't pregnant anymore and set a day to get her spayed.
Since giving birth to the stillborn she has been very clingy to one of the other rescue kittens who is about 10 weeks old. Before she HATED the kittens. Would growl and hiss if it got close or was getting attention where sh could see it. And now she lays with/on the kitten and cleans her. She's in general become much more affection and loving. As she was very skittish and weary of people other than me being around her it's been a change for the better. She allows people to pet her now. I don't know if any of you have experienced such a dramatic personality change in your postpartum females. It's strange but beneficial. Haha. Thanks for the advice and help. I greatly appreciate it.