So my cat is pregnant and...

sean andrews · Aug 20, 2013

So as the title says my cat is pregnant and tonight she has been really vocal and affectionate which is not like her in the least. Anyways her butt is all wet which she is licking a lot plus she has been licking her um teets as well. Does this mean she is ready to pop? I have no idea never had a pregnant animal before and... I'm kinda nervous lol.

StefanZ · Aug 20, 2013

Seems so! Although the signs arent really firesure. What seems to be just a few hours may become many hours, even some days. So: they come when they come.

There is ONE exception: if you see she is apparently in labor, but the labor is long and fruitless - not good, emergency. Contact your vet asap. Cats deliveries tend to be shorter than humans.

When had you began to feel kittens move? You can usually feel them about 2 weeks before.

Do you know when she can have been mated? About 65 days before...

Anyway, observe, exciting and even lots of fun, and be there ready, if she would need you. Sometimes help is necessary.

Try to read on. There are articles at our forum, other threads, you tube films...

Good luck!

maewkaew · Aug 20, 2013

Sean, it sure does sound like she is very very close! probably within a day or two. but they can sometimes fool us humans!

I would start keeping her in one room or at least block off anywhere that you do NOT want her to have kittens. that would be either somewhere you don't want the mess, or somewhere that you cannot see / get to her & them to help if needed.

Do you have a nest set up that she can use?

Here are some links to check out

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/pregnancy-and-delivery-in-cats

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

http://www.icatcare.org/advice-centre/cat-care/normal-cat-birth

sean andrews · Aug 20, 2013

I am not sure how long she has been pregnant, if I had to make a guess I would say about 2 months give or take a few days ( I am terrible of keeping track of stuff like that..heck I have even forgotten my own birthday from time to time lol )

I do have a huge box set up for her with a big beach towel in it. I had her sitting in the box for a while earlier and sat next to her and petted her for a about a hour while she purred but she decided to get on my bed. As far as feeling kittens moving I don't really know I can feel some lumps and every now and then I'd fell something like a hiccup or burp. She has never really let me touch her belly without biting the crap out of me, tonight was the first time since I have had her where she has let me touch or rub her belly without eating my hand. So I never really bothered to feel to see if I could feel them moving before tonight. She bites hard.

since then she went to her litter box, and is now lying by the door sleeping and seems pretty relaxed, so I myself am trying to relax lol and keep an eye on her.

Through the whole thing though she has been extremely affectionate which is her complete polar opposite.... and she just woke up to lick her self and then flipped over to her other side and went back to sleep.

So I guess nothing to do but wait.

sean andrews · Aug 21, 2013

So an update. She wen't into labour at around 10:55 am. Despite having a nesting area for her set up she decided to do it right in the middle of the room on the floor

so I got some towels under her. She had four kittens and finished roughly around 2:00 - 2:30 pm-ish averaging a kitten every 40 mins give or take. I didn't have to assist or anything and it has been a while so I think she is done. I rubbed her side while she slept with them and felt no more lumps, just feels a little tight which I am assuming is because her muscles are strained from the effort.

All the kittens are pretty much fine. The 3rd kittens back legs just below..um I guess what you would call a knee, looks like the joints bend in the opposite direction than normal. So I got freaked out and hit google and found two sites

http://www.pandecats.com/x/update_on_kittens_born_with_twisted_legs.shtml I can't seem to find the other link.

Anyways this seem to be a normal thing that happens to all breeds and will apparently straighten out on their own with time ( phew ) and not to freak out about it. Both sites however said roughly the same thing. So I'll watch it over the next few weeks and see what happens before I take any drastic measures.

Other then that Mom and her four kittens are fine and sleeping, so maybe I can do the same now without stressing out anymore lol. Just waiting a bit to move Her and the kittens to a box so I can wash them towels. ( Mom seems cool with me touching the kittens so shouldn't be any problems there with that )

Thanks for the help /advice.

StefanZ · Aug 21, 2013

Sean Andrews said:
All the kittens are pretty much fine. The 3rd kittens back legs just below..um I guess what you would call a knee, looks like the joints bend in the opposite direction than normal. So I got freaked out and hit google and found two sites

http://www.pandecats.com/x/update_on_kittens_born_with_twisted_legs.shtml I can't seem to find the other link.

Anyways this seem to be a normal thing that happens to all breeds and will apparently straighten out on their own with time ( phew ) and not to freak out about it. Both sites however said roughly the same thing. So I'll watch it over the next few weeks and see what happens before I take any drastic measures.

Other then that Mom and her four kittens are fine and sleeping, so maybe I can do the same now without stressing out anymore lol. Just waiting a bit to move Her and the kittens to a box so I can wash them towels. ( Mom seems cool with me touching the kittens so shouldn't be any problems there with that )

Thanks for the help /advice.

Congrats! yes, twisted legs usually gets better with time. You can of course help too with some massage and gymnasics, be careful.

If you have access to a vet, you can talk with the vets for more exact advices, and not least - to see if it is really twisted legs, or some other more severe anomaly.

You have right, it is usually no big proble to touching them, like weighing them, or change the bedding. The key is like you do hint: do it where she sees you, and hears the kittens arent protesting.

Good luck!

bettina stepek · Aug 21, 2013

Hi, I don't know where you are but most vets, or local humane societies or animal shelters will take in stray pregnant females. I only recommend this if you cannot take care of them yourself. Now unless the Mama cat is having problems she should be able to deliver her babies without any help! Here is a little info "In general, it may take up to six hours for a queen to give birth to all her kittens. The first kitten should arrive within an hour of the start of active labor, and subsequent kittens will take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. She will rest for 15 minutes or so between kittens, and during this time she should be allowed to nurse and clean the kittens that have been born." go to this website it tells a lot of great info and has links too! http://cats.about.com/od/reproduction/a/birthprocess.htm

She will choose to have them where she feels most safe, I had a Mama cat give birth right on my lap! Until I moved her, but if you have a clean cardboard box with a clean towel or blanket inside put it into a semi-hidden spot like a closet. or behind a couch then gently set her into it she may be very happy for the birth center.

StefanZ · Aug 21, 2013

Welcome Bettina, and tx for the link!

The mom in this here thread had her delivery since the first posts, but your advices, and the link, are useful and I will use your link now and then. Tx again!

Good luck!

Welcome to our Forums!

maewkaew · Aug 21, 2013

Sean, congrats , I'm glad it went pretty smoothly, she had a very typical normal labor , and her instincts kicked in and she knew exactly what to do to take care of her babies.

I'm sure it was startling to see the kitten with the legs looking backwards . but you did some good googling! You found a site that has some very good articles about kittens born with twisted legs --- it's the same link I would have given , and have before.

Basically as you read, it's probably because of the kitten's legs being in an awkward position during gestation. The legs usually self-correct and the kitten ends up growing up to be a totally normal cat. But there are also some things you can do to help- massage, warm compresses, stretching etc. and, if needed, bracing.

So just in case you didn't find these, here are 2 other links from P and E Cats that tell more about the care.

http://www.pandecats.com/x/caring-for-a-kitten-born-with-a-twisted-leg.shtml

http://www.pandecats.com/x/bracing_twisted_hindlegs.shtml

RIght now the main thing is making sure the kitten is nursing well. Newborn kittens will usually push with their back feet to push themselves against their mom to nurse. it would help that the kittens and mom aren't on a surface that makes it hard for the kittens to get a grip with their paws ( for example a fleece blanket would be better than newspaper or cardboard or right on the floor with no padding) Hopefully the mom will cooperate and if you ( in her site) move the kittens to the box, lined with some soft fabric, she will decide that's a good place )

But watch and see if he is having some trouble pressing up to his mom to nurse. if so you may need to help a little, holding him in position to nurse so he doesn't slip away. Or if his legs make it harder to compete with his littermates and he's getting pushed away from a nipple a lot, you may need to referee to make sure he is nursing enough.

I second Stefan's advice about weighing. which is a good idea for kittens in general, but even more so for any kitten with a problem that MIGHT possibly prevent it from nursing so efficiently.

Generally they should put on at least 10 grams a day. but if it doesn't happen one day it is not a cause to panic; it can fluctuate a bit. What you want to see is a steady pattern of growth.

Well done to your cat!

sean andrews · Aug 21, 2013

maewkaew said:
Sean, congrats , I'm glad it went pretty smoothly, she had a very typical normal labor , and her instincts kicked in and she knew exactly what to do to take care of her babies.

I'm sure it was startling to see the kitten with the legs looking backwards . but you did some good googling! You found a site that has some very good articles about kittens born with twisted legs --- it's the same link I would have given , and have before.

Basically as you read, it's probably because of the kitten's legs being in an awkward position during gestation. The legs usually self-correct and the kitten ends up growing up to be a totally normal cat. But there are also some things you can do to help- massage, warm compresses, stretching etc. and, if needed, bracing.

So just in case you didn't find these, here are 2 other links from P and E Cats that tell more about the care.

http://www.pandecats.com/x/caring-for-a-kitten-born-with-a-twisted-leg.shtml

http://www.pandecats.com/x/bracing_twisted_hindlegs.shtml

RIght now the main thing is making sure the kitten is nursing well. Newborn kittens will usually push with their back feet to push themselves against their mom to nurse. it would help that the kittens and mom aren't on a surface that makes it hard for the kittens to get a grip with their paws ( for example a fleece blanket would be better than newspaper or cardboard or right on the floor with no padding) Hopefully the mom will cooperate and if you ( in her site) move the kittens to the box, lined with some soft fabric, she will decide that's a good place )

But watch and see if he is having some trouble pressing up to his mom to nurse. if so you may need to help a little, holding him in position to nurse so he doesn't slip away. Or if his legs make it harder to compete with his littermates and he's getting pushed away from a nipple a lot, you may need to referee to make sure he is nursing enough.

I second Stefan's advice about weighing. which is a good idea for kittens in general, but even more so for any kitten with a problem that MIGHT possibly prevent it from nursing so efficiently.

Generally they should put on at least 10 grams a day. but if it doesn't happen one day it is not a cause to panic; it can fluctuate a bit. What you want to see is a steady pattern of growth.

Well done to your cat!

Thank you. Yes it scared the crap out of me when I finally noticed the twisted back legs, but keep in mind I have sat awake with her since her water broke last night and all through the day up till now to watch over her.. I'm exhausted lol. I waited a few hours after the forth one was born and figured there were going to be no more so moved Sushi err mom and kittens to the box I had set up, and yes I have like a fleece blanket in there so they should have no problems finding a grip.

As far as Hawking goes (that is what I have nick named the kitten with the twisted back legs) it is the biggest of the bunch and seems more than capable to move around when it wants to, so I don't think I have anything to worry about there. I plan on doing the massages and warm compresses thing but am likely gonna wait a few days first. The kittens seem so fragile right now and I am a pretty big guy

My best friend and his wife both grew up on farms and have dealt with all sorts of stuff when it comes to animals and birth so they are going swing by at the end of the week on the way home from their camping trip to take a look and help or whatever.

Sushi.. err mom seems to have no problem with me handling them though I have been trying to keep it to a minimum.... but they're so darn fuzzy!!!

Sushi is sort of in and out of the box now, she slept a lot today during in between kittens and after. So she seems like she needs a stretch, and is lying down else wheres at the moment. It's weird seeing her back to her normal size again.

Thanks for all the help and info.

maewkaew · Aug 22, 2013

Sean , it sounds like you are doing the right things. I think it's fine to give Hawking (great name!) a chance to spend a few days just nursing and getting bigger and stronger before starting his physiotherapy.

Normally it is best to not handle them a lot in the first 2 weeks of life. All that needs to be done is to each day take a few minutes to have a look at them and weigh them and give them back to mom . With Hawking's problem, you'll have to start doing more than the usual, but you could start with a little and then work up to more as he gets bigger. It's good she obviously trusts you.

Otherwise, basically you take care of Sushi so she can take care of the kittens.

It's fine for her to get up and stretch her legs. If she starts spending much time out of the nest, you may need to put in a heating pad turned on low and wrapped in a towel then put in a pillow case, put it just on part of the next so if they get too warm they can crawl away from it. Or else you can fill plastic bottles with hot/ warm water, wrap them up and put round the sides of the box.

Basically you want the temp right inside there around the kittens to be about 85 F. That doesn't mean the whole room has to be ( but I know it's August so maybe it's that warm anyway

Kittens this young can't maintain their body heat. so if mom is leaving them for more than half an hour I would put something warm.

So my cat is pregnant and...

sean andrews

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StefanZ

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maewkaew

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sean andrews

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sean andrews

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StefanZ

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bettina stepek

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