Preparing 2 nesting homes

So my cat is pregnant for the second time, and the first time she was pregnant things went fine, except from the fact that one kitten died and one got lost. This time we want to be a bit more prepared. The first time we just had one box where she both fed and gave birth to the kittens in them, and one or two towels were in the box. Anyway, my cat is due any week now and I've already crafted the two cardboard boxes, it's just I'm not sure what to put in the one where she's to give birth. I read some articles on google but there weren't that clear. Would I be fine just putting some newspaper in or would i have to put a bit more in. I know what to put into the box where she'll be nursing them. Also I read that once she gives birth to the first kitten I must move it into the nursing box, but the first time she gave birth it took over 24 hours before she gave birth to her second kitten, so I don't want her to temporarily move into the nursing birth after I move the first kitten in there and then she ends up giving birth to her other kittens in there. Is there anyway how I can let her know one is for her to give birth in and one is for her to nurse them? And what should I put into the boxes?

First, please get your cat spayed as soon as you can after she has this litter. The benefits of spaying are enormous.  In addition to not needing to deal with unwanted litters (and eventually, if you allow her to keep mating, they will be unwanted) there are many health benefits for your cat. Spaying  prevents tumors and infections of the ovaries and uterus, greatly decrease the risk for mammary cancer, and will help you avoid the inevitable hassle of a female cat in heat. As you may already have figured out unspayed cats can and usually do go into heat every few weeks if not allowed to mate.  It is also generally not healthy for a cat to have litter after litter.  it lowers their life expectancy. 

You should also know that this site is extremely pro spay/neuter.  You are unlikely to get much support here for allowing your cat to repeatedly mate.

That said, it is definitely not normal for it to take more than 24 hours for a cat to give birth to a second kitten.  If this happens again, please see a vet. It should usually take only 30 to 60 minutes between the birth of each kitten. While longer breaks than 60 minutes can be harmless, a break of 24 hours is VERY long and (at least to my knowledge) unusual. I think you were very lucky last time that nothing was wrong.

In terms of having 2 'nests' I've never really heard of this? A lot of people use a 'holding box' for while the other kittens are being born, but this is optional and lots of people don't do it (and sometimes mom strongly objects when it is done).  If you do this, make sure there is a heating pad. Make sure to also move them head down to allow fluid to drain out of the lungs.  However, most people kind of just return the kittens to mom at the first possible moment- either when birth is complete or before.  It is unusual, in my experience, to have two separate places set up for mom- mom usually just nests in one place. 

Hopefully others can chime in.  I have a lot of experience with kittens and their moms after borth because I foster but usually mom has already given birth before I receive her and the kittens and my resident cats have always been spayed/neutered. 

Good luck!

I agree, I wish you had had her spayed before the first litter, or as soon as you got her if she was a rescue.  I also find the idea of 'losing' a kitten very distressing.  Poor mite.

I have had a foster take a rest of 8 hours, it was obvious there was a kitten left but she was happy and relaxed so I left her be, and my own pedigree cat waited until I went out at least 3 hours after the delivery of the first 4 kittens to have the last 2.  It's common enough that cats take breaks between kittens for it to be considered normal.

What isn't normal and needs urgent vet attention is a cat actively pushing for more than 30 minutes with no kitten being born - that is an emergency and needs a phone call followed by an immediate vet visit.

shunra said:

 
I agree, I wish you had had her spayed before the first litter, or as soon as you got her if she was a rescue.  I also find the idea of 'losing' a kitten very distressing.  Poor mite.

I have had a foster take a rest of 8 hours, it was obvious there was a kitten left but she was happy and relaxed so I left her be, and my own pedigree cat waited until I went out at least 3 hours after the delivery of the first 4 kittens to have the last 2.  It's common enough that cats take breaks between kittens for it to be considered normal.

What isn't normal and needs urgent vet attention is a cat actively pushing for more than 30 minutes with no kitten being born - that is an emergency and needs a phone call followed by an immediate vet visit.

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I guess I was a bit too general- a break can be normal, and I know there are recorded cases of cats taking multiple days to have litters and being fine.  I personally would not be comfortable with there being a break of 24 full hours though, and would  have seen a vet, and I do think this is good advice that I stand by.  I think it is best to err on the side of caution with queens, and I also don't think a break of 24 full  hours is normal even if a break can  be. At that point the chances of the cat needing assistance (and/or the kittens being still born, not alive, something else being wrong, etc) are high enough that I definitely would see a vet and would advise anyone else to do the same.

I personally would consult a vet via phone if a break lasted longer than 2 hours, and would bring a cat in if a break lasted longer than 6 hours. Again, though, I admit both that I don't have much experience with this and so might be overzealous and that I err on the side of extreme caution with queens. 

I wouldn't be on the phone for a break of 2 hours, if the queen is happy and relaxed and feeding the kittens she have.  If she's unhappy or  distressed I wouldn't be waiting that long. 

We did See a vet because for the first one it had been an hour and the kitten had come out but the placenta was still inside the mother, so we rushed her to the vest, bear in mind this was at half 1 in the morning and they said that if she doesn't give birth by the next day, take her back to them, but just as we was about to take her to the vets she ended u giving birth to the second. I think it was just she starting going into labour a bit too early. And we were going to get her spayed after the first litter, but the kittens she gave birth to were some of the nicest kittens we'd ever seen, but we will definitely get her spayed after this one, as well as our male cat. Not only this but she is a small cat so it could be very dangerous for her to give birth. She's a natural mother, bit reckless at the start but after the first 2 or 3 days instincts kicked in.

Anyways, this is our first female cat to have kittens, the others we ended up giving away because relatives loved them so much. But I'm not sure if every female cat doesn't like mating, but this one hates it she'll hiss and scratch at the male cat if he gets anywhere near her whilst in her heat. We saw the male cat trying to get on top of her dozens of times, and we didn't think he actually managed to properly mate with her. And going back to the topic, you're saying that I don't need two places for her, so she can give birth in the same box that she'll be feeding them in for over a month?

You can use the same box; but, obviously to need to provide fresh, clean bedding for her and the kittens. Replace bedding every week, or more if needed.

As far as her not wanting to mate...
Mating for females is VERY painful. Males have barbs on their penis that causes the egg to releaset. No, I do not know ANY female that "enjoys" mating.

 You can use the same box   but of course you'll need to change the bedding after the birth.    (Well,  I guess it depends on what type of box and how messy it gets. If it's cardboard and soaked ,  then yes a new box would be a good idea.)    

Some shredded or crumpled  paper would be fine in the kittening box. or else old cloths / sheets etc.

 I don't think there is  any way to tell a queen who is giving birth which box to use to give birth and which one to "save" for nursing!     They will give birth wherever they feel like it.   Be glad  if she uses the box at all rather than has them in the middle of your bed -- or under the bed!.   or like my Siamese girl, at the last minute decides to pull the bedspread off the bed and make her own nest. 

 I do think it is a good idea to at least be prepared with an extra  small 'holding box' with some heat source ,  in case it's needed -- if the queen is moving around a lot and very occupied with her labor and giving birth to the next kitten,  and not really occupied with caring for the newborns at that time anyway and might accidentally hurt them.      This is something you have to play by ear depending on how the births progress and on the reaction of the queen.

 If she is a small cat and you think it's dangerous for her,  I don't understand why you bred her again.    Hopefully she will be fine but you should definitely have  either have a 24 hour vet hospital that you can take her to if needed,  or have your vet's phone number where you can call him/her at any time for help.   And of course know directions to the hospital and have the money situation sorted out that you could pay for a c-section if needed.  

I myself would not call a vet for just a few hours between births IF the queen seems pretty relaxed..   I would call if it went over 24 hours,  though I know of cases of 36 hours and the rest of the kittens were fine.  I think that's quite unusual.   And as Shunra says,  if she is in active labor and straining hard for 30+ minutes , it is time to get her to a vet.

One thing I definitely do advise, so that you don't lose  kittens,  is keep the mom and  kittens in one kitten-proofed room , with the door closed.  Block off anything like holes in the wall or floor ,  and it's a good idea to even block them off from getting under furniture where you can't reach or see .  Like if needed tape cardboard or drywall all around the bed,  taping it to the floor and to the bed frame.  Do not let the kittens wander all over the house when they are first starting to walk.  and don't let the mom carry them out and all over the house.     Have the mom's food, water and litter box set up in that room.  You can let her out sometimes to  run around a bit ,  but I would not let her just come and go unsupervised if there is any chance she may start hiding kittens here and there around the house.

Keep in mind,  the male will need to be kept separate from her or she could get pregnant again,  it has happened even within days of birth and that is not healthy for her or the kittens.   It would make sense to  go ahead and have him neutered.    A male cat can still be fertile for up to 7 weeks after neutering.  so even after he is neutered,  you'll need to keep them separated .

I think my cat princess is going to have her kittens soon. Like the next day or so . She wont sit still shes clingy and keeps hiding. We have comfy spot with a soft pillow and blanket blocked off for her to have privacy .