So I decided to adopt a Flame Point Siamese mix three weeks ago. Her previous owners had not gotten her fixed or had any of her shots done. So I made her an appointment with our vet to get her shots done and do an exam before scheduling to have her spayed. While the vet was doing the exam she told me that she could feel at least 3 kittens and that her best guess was that she was a couple weeks away from giving birth. When I woke up today she was very restless and cleaning herself alot. She has lost all interest in playing and is staying in her box except to come out and drink or use the litter box. Is she possibly in the early stages of labor? Is there anyway to tell how long before she has her kittens? This is the first pregnant cat I have ever had so I am a little inexperienced. Any help/ advice is greatly appreciated.
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Pregnant Cat Help!!
- Thread starter sassybrat
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- Jun 11, 2013
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The cat we brought in 5 or 6 weeks ago had a litter of kittens that are fast approaching their fourth week in this world. She had six kittens so she was very big towards the end. Some things I noticed when the time was getting close was that she spent a lot of time looking for good places to nest, she would be in and out of boxes, drawers and bins. A few days before she started staying close to her litter box and lied on her side a lot more than normal. The day before I noticed the area around her teats was swelling and she started licking her downstairs every once in a while. The same day she had discharge and some fluid, I was lucky enough to see the mucous plug as well so that was a big sign that the time was almost among us. She didn't go into active labor until I was with her the next morning and it took her between 6 and 7 hours to deliver all 6 kittens. She only pushed a few minutes with each baby and when they came out she jumped because it hurt so I was careful to keep her confined because she tried to take off with the first one dangling behind her from it's cord.
Here is a good link my vet and many members here suggested to me and others
http://www.kittenrescue.org/index.php/cat-care/kitten-care-handbook/
I was able to experience the whole process with Hina and had to help with cutting some umbilical cords as she was not doing it to a few of them, I waited and try to keep count of the placentas which didn't always come out with the kitten and cord. Don't be alarmed if a placenta doesn't come out at the same time as a kitten, now if you have 4 kittens and you are sure there was only 3 placentas then call your vet asap so they can take steps to get that taken care of. I didn't see one placenta but I was away for a few minutes getting some extra gloves, I called my vet and she told me to keep an eye on her. The moms tend to eat the placenta and really fast to, it took a few seconds for Hina to eat one so I had to keep eyes on her just to make sure.
I kept supplies nearby that I might need and had some little hand towels to dry them in or keep them warm in case momma didn't clean them or get them warmed up. The first kitten was cold because Hina was constantly moving and wasn't keeping it warm so I held it in a a little towel until it dried and warmed up. Hina didn't concentrate on feeding them much until she was done with labor, she was to busy cleaning them all off as they popped out.
I weigh them everyday so I can hopefully catch any problems asap, I use a food scale and weigh them in grams. I used a big box for a nest and put a thick blanket folded in the bottom and covered it with a big piece of fleece fabric I picked up at a craft store that way I could change out the top portion of the bedding daily and switch it with another piece of fleece. I always tucked the top fleece in good so the kittens couldn't get wrapped in it. i used a heating pad under the box because the nest is in our basement and it's a bit cool.
If someones not gaining as well as the others try to place that kitten on one of the teats closest to her tail as they seem to be the best, Hinas front two don't produce milk so they fight for the back ones lol. It's important to weigh them at the same time each day. If something seems off call the vet just in case. I called mine a few times and she was very helpful.
I started feeding Hina kitten food as soon as I got her inside, she has a bowl of dry kitten food 24/7 and goes through around two cans of wet a day plus I give her some kmr twice a day so she'll get more fluids. That's just what I do because she was so thin when she found us.
Sorry this is a long response, I just remember how much I stressed over the whole experience it being my first time taking care of a pregnant cat. Very best of luck to you, keep us posted on how things go. I bet those are going to be some cute kittens
Here is a good link my vet and many members here suggested to me and others
http://www.kittenrescue.org/index.php/cat-care/kitten-care-handbook/
I was able to experience the whole process with Hina and had to help with cutting some umbilical cords as she was not doing it to a few of them, I waited and try to keep count of the placentas which didn't always come out with the kitten and cord. Don't be alarmed if a placenta doesn't come out at the same time as a kitten, now if you have 4 kittens and you are sure there was only 3 placentas then call your vet asap so they can take steps to get that taken care of. I didn't see one placenta but I was away for a few minutes getting some extra gloves, I called my vet and she told me to keep an eye on her. The moms tend to eat the placenta and really fast to, it took a few seconds for Hina to eat one so I had to keep eyes on her just to make sure.
I kept supplies nearby that I might need and had some little hand towels to dry them in or keep them warm in case momma didn't clean them or get them warmed up. The first kitten was cold because Hina was constantly moving and wasn't keeping it warm so I held it in a a little towel until it dried and warmed up. Hina didn't concentrate on feeding them much until she was done with labor, she was to busy cleaning them all off as they popped out.
I weigh them everyday so I can hopefully catch any problems asap, I use a food scale and weigh them in grams. I used a big box for a nest and put a thick blanket folded in the bottom and covered it with a big piece of fleece fabric I picked up at a craft store that way I could change out the top portion of the bedding daily and switch it with another piece of fleece. I always tucked the top fleece in good so the kittens couldn't get wrapped in it. i used a heating pad under the box because the nest is in our basement and it's a bit cool.
If someones not gaining as well as the others try to place that kitten on one of the teats closest to her tail as they seem to be the best, Hinas front two don't produce milk so they fight for the back ones lol. It's important to weigh them at the same time each day. If something seems off call the vet just in case. I called mine a few times and she was very helpful.
I started feeding Hina kitten food as soon as I got her inside, she has a bowl of dry kitten food 24/7 and goes through around two cans of wet a day plus I give her some kmr twice a day so she'll get more fluids. That's just what I do because she was so thin when she found us.
Sorry this is a long response, I just remember how much I stressed over the whole experience it being my first time taking care of a pregnant cat. Very best of luck to you, keep us posted on how things go. I bet those are going to be some cute kittens
Yes, I think it is. It COULD be some precontractions, but as she is already over the time the vet though (I guess the vet felt them move a little) - my guess now she is going now.
How long? We cant know exactly. But cats labor is typically shorter than humans labor.
So what you must look up with, if you notice she is in active labor, and it seems prolonged and fruitless, contact your vet asap.
Use the time left to read on here in our forum, and to ready yourself!
Good luck!
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- #4
Per vets advice she already eating innova kitten food. Thank you for the link I have it bookmarked. I will keep you updated. She seems pretty restless and uncomfortable tonight. She looks like she ate a small ball. I think this is her first litter but the people that had her before met me in a parking lot to meet her, handed her to me, and told me they had things to do. I wasn't even sure I was going to take her but after witnessing that I felt so bad for her that there was no way I was going to send her back home with them to end up god knows where with people that wouldn't give her the love and care she deserves.
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- #5
Yeah the vet said it was just a best guess and that the only way to tell for sure was an xray and that she didn't want to do that unless necessary since I had only had her for two days and she was already scared and stressed out.
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- #6
Still no kittens. I am starting to worry a little bit I can definately see and feel the kittens moving so I am sure all is fine with them just want to make sure that all is well with mama. gonna call the vet tomorrow morning.
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She is probably fine... they can give some false alarms and drive us crazy! and you don't know a real due date, and the vet could only give a general estimate. so it may be she wasn't quite as far along as thought . Plus it is not that uncommon for them to go 68 days. and they can go 70.
but it certainly can't hurt to call the vet.
And here is a good link about cat birth that I would recommend you read in advance. "When to Wait and When to Worry" http://www.icatcare.org/advice-centre/cat-care/cat-birth-–-when-wait-and-when-worry
but it certainly can't hurt to call the vet.
And here is a good link about cat birth that I would recommend you read in advance. "When to Wait and When to Worry" http://www.icatcare.org/advice-centre/cat-care/cat-birth-–-when-wait-and-when-worry
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #9
Took her in to the vet today, they said she is ready any day just have to play the waiting game now. I really appreciate everyone's help. She is such a sweet cat. I am getting kind of excited to see what the kittens will be like.
