Penelope and Her Kittens

The other rooms in the house either have my dog or my kids in them. And I really need her to be in the same room as me at night. She never meows and the past 2 night a she has been waking me up and meowing some. I do think she is close, maybe 1 or 2weeks.. Possibly less.

I already posted a ton of pics of her in your threads. I have been here posting for a week or so, just changed my pic and yes I am prepared for labor/birth as much as I can be. I plan on spaying her and the kittens. I rescued her pregnant, this was not my doing, I would never have allowed such a young cat to get pregnant!

Let us know what happens with your kitty, how has she been acting today? Any kittens? The waiting game is just awful!

Stephz, I did not see your response until just now . Not sure why. Thank you. I am not good at palpation at all. I am afraid I'd hurt them so I do even try, I used to be able to actually see movement, without having to touch her

I'm sorry to keep posting! the little movement that I felt was down lower this time. however she is still just as big on her sides, so it doesn't look as though she has "dropped"

If the kittens in fact have slide down to their birthing positions, how long does that last, is it dangerous if they are down there for too long without delivery or if they went in too early? I can't imagine she will have the babies less then a week

Anyway I will call the vet just in case. Not that they can do much if something is wrong.

karagraaf said:

If the kittens in fact have slide down to their birthing positions, how long does that last, is it dangerous if they are down there for too long without delivery

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Logically speaking, one may think  too long pregnancy is almost as dangerous as too short (in humans too short is hardly dangerous at all, while too long may be dangerous).

But. While we know too short pregnacy is disastrous for kittens - they manage being premature very badly - it seems too long pregnancies, even several days, arent dangerous.  The kittens arent even very much bigger.

Our practical statistics arent  not sure at all - most of our forumites dont know exactly when the mating was.

But quite a few had waited way afther their expected time, and there was problems in just a couple cases, seemingly NOT because of extremely large babies..   Also, the forumites whose cats delivered early, usually had premature kittens.  So most forumites does have some sort of feeling.

While most lates did delivered without complications, and the babies not extremely large either.

So that is the only I can say, about if they are too long time, waiting in the "down position".  My guess is its not dangerous as long as it is no extreme.

But Im no vet, and no obstetrician.

I just did followed hundreds of forumites.

Well I took her to the vet for some piece of mind and left still unsure, if not more unsettled and out $50.
He couldn't feel any babies, just a uterus that is full. Also he said he couldn't find any heartbeats, but at one time thought maybe he heard something but couldn't confirm it. Her temp is 100.9, and overall looks like a healthy pregnant cat, he said. if she goes past 3 weeks then I am to bring her in. I knew there was only so much they can do but I was hoping that he would be able to feel babies or hear heartbeats. The technician swears she felt faint movement though. I just don't know what to expect when she delivers but I am preparing myself and not getting too excited for it will be sad to see stillborns, if that happens.
How could her previous owners just move away and leave her there?! And to not even at least spay her first! to think what would happen if I didn't get her and she had these babies during the winter, cold and snow (if they do survive.) I'm so angry at those people.

i can't get mine to the vet, but i read and help my pets in so many ways, i can kinda tell. mine i can feel to kitten paws at work, but she is so tiny, it is hard to tell. i have mine a birthing box, and she only sits on a low couch. i think it will turn out okay.

We'll I'm just a paranoid person this is my second trip to the vet this month. the first time was right after I got her so she could be updated on shots and schedule a spay date and that is when I found out she's pregnant. I wouldn't typically bring her in again but it really worried me that she is so big and I was actually able to SEE movement but after she fell I don't see or feel anything. Maybe she is just too big and there isn't much room for them anymore? Maybe she is further along then I realize. I have 3 birthing boxes and she lays on top of them, lol. She doesn't care for soft cuddly surfaces, I doubt she will use a box.

I'm on the forums a lot. I need to get a life and stop worrying so much about my cat

You are not paranoid, just a good Mama to your kitty
I've never had a cat have kittens-it must be scary, exciting, and nerve wracking all at once. So glad you found this site. There is so much information, especially on pregnancy, and many experienced and helpful members
Thank you for taking in the poor girl. I can't believe how people just dump cats, either. It makes me so angry! Those people are either heartless or stupid, or likely both.

I'll be sending you and your girl vibes for a safe delivery and healthy babies.

So we went to the vet yesterday..He checked her over said she was fine and now this morning her one pupil is dilated! She seems to squint that one eye in brighter light but not so much when it's darker. She is acting normal other then that. What's going on?!

I was with her at midnight last night and she was fine but noticed this at 7:00am. She has been in my bedroom the whole time

I can't tell if she is squinting or if it's swollen??

Normally it is a warning sign.  But I have noticed, sometimes it is without any serious consequences nor reasons.  I see it sometimes on one of my residents, and he is totally healthy, even if become somewhat fatty with age.

keep your watch, but if you dont see any other problems which may be connected with it, dont worry too much.

Good luck!

Thankyou for your reply. After more investigating, I realize I was very wrong. That one eyes seems to be a little better but now her other eye is bothered. And it's not dilated like I once thought but it's her 3rd eyelids showing. I just had no idea there was a 3rd eyelid, so I didn't really know what was going on. And she will just close her eyes all the time. I even saw her rubbing her eye with her paw. Some thing is definitely up

The third eyelid doesnt really mean the problem is with the eye. It can come with say an infection somewhere in the body. Not seldom it is "just" worms.

But here she does seems bothered, so it may be something with the eyes...

Did she get dewormed / got vaccination shots?  It MAY be a reaction to that, and her eyes perhaps sensitive to much light?

Ridiculous it comes the day after your vet visit...   Of course, it is often easier to see a problem when it is fully developed, while it is very difficult to diagnostisize while in the first stadium.   It is one of the reasons doctors so often tell you:" take two Aspirine / Tylenole head ache pills, and come back tomorrow if it goesnt better".

But thus, I think you can just phone the vet and ask, as she is now his paying patient, he cant mind giving these extra advices for free. Even if he usually doesnt gives advices over the phone..

In best case, it is just some quite common reaction to these shots.  Otherwise you will perhaps need to make a revisit.

Good you are watchful!

Good luck!

Just thought I'd update that her eye was better for most of the day on Saturday and all day Sunday, thankfully. I didn't take her in but called and I put saline drops in her eyes. I think she may have had dust in her eyes, and that was all, thankfully!!
Thanks!

I am the same. I just can not relax till she has them! And your cat, during the last 2 weeks of pregnacy, her kittens grow the most. I am not so sure on the fall. Is there any puss on her back end? That would indicate that a kitten or 2 could be dead. My cat is finding the softest places to sleep in, exactly the opposite of yours ! I hope the best for them all

My tubby Penelope..
When I think she can't get bigger, she does!
I am really hoping it happens this week. I was told she has two in there, I'm a bit nervous they are going to be too big for her! She loves going in the basement and laying on the cold hard floor, weirdo!

Any more pictures? She looks like she swallowed a basketball!

Only two?!  Either she's tiny or whoever said that can't be right!

Does she allow you to stroke her tummy?  Mine last year and this year did - and I could feel distinct babies.  Last year, I felt five and there were five - and there was one in particular, the biggest (who turned out to be the ginger tom) that would head bump against my hand, and flail with his tiny paws!  Perhaps it was the heat from my hand?  This year, I could feel three for sure, maybe four, but it turned out there were five (again).  Different cats, different pregnancies, both five kittens, both born on Sunday, both three boys two girls!   Oh, both had one ginger tom.  Weird.

Sweetie! She looks like a little furry Easter Egg.