Are these labor signs?

Hi everyone,
I just had a couple of questions about my (almost 3 year old cat, Rose...aka Rosie:-)).
Rosie is a Bengal mix (we got her as a rescue kitten) and is very pregnant. While I caught her in the act a couple of months ago, I didn't think to pinpoint the date.
The past couple of days, her big, low belly dropped even more. Last night I noticed some dried whitish discharge on her fur...a small amount. Today, she is suddenly eating like crazy, the kittens are moving so much it looks like her stomach is boiling, and she is obsessively grooming herself (not her genitalia, but her whole body). I really want to be there for her when she gives birth and I wanted to know if she is showing signs of prelabor. Also, I have a waiting list of wonderful friends who love Rose and want one of her kittens:-).

Thanks in advance,

Melissa

I'm attaching a couple of shots of Rose as a kitten

The short answer is that yes, her behavior can absolutely be a sign of impending labor. However, they could also just be her being well, super pregnant. Without a known date of conception it's just impossible to pinpoint when they will come. A good rule of thumb though is that once the kittens start moving you are usually around two weeks away from delivery. 

Even without knowing the specific date it sounds like she is heavily pregnant which means it's time to make preparations. Hopefully you have a birthing box set up in a quiet room and have your birthing kit all ready. I would highly recommend sleeping in this room with her until the kittens are born so that you don't miss the big event. While 99% of the time Queens know exactly what to do and you aren't needed it is critical that you be there for the delivery just in case (and also to provide her with comfort as it can be a scary experience). I'm attaching some links to articles below that will hopefully help you in your preparations. I would also recommend that you look through older threads and read other people's experiences and the advice they were given. After all, the best defense is a good offense, so try to be prepared for whatever may come before it happens!

While it's great and I commend you that you know people who would like to adopt the kittens remember that back to back pregnancies can be life threatening for the Mom and so you need to take extra precautions until the kittens are old enough that they can all be altered. Remember that Queens can go back into heat anytime after the kittens are born so do whatever is necessary to keep her indoors and away from any intact males! And, even though it's a little early to be discussing I would finally add that when the time does come to adopt them out be sure you still do your research on the homes they are going to. Unfortunately our very best friends and family members sometimes don't make the best pet parents, and it's important that you still screen them carefully to ensure each kitten is going to a good forever home who can properly care for them. 

Vibes for a safe delivery. Hopefully these articles will cover the basics but feel free to ask more specific questions in this thread as you need to. The more specific your questions are the better advice we can give (since we don't know what you have or haven't done yet and don't want to tell you a bunch of things you already know). Best of luck!

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/pregnant-cat-what-to-prepare-for-the-birth

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/80724/all-about-pregnancy-labor-delivery-in-cats

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/249018/...regnant-cats-kitten-care-articles-and-threads (the main link just in case you want to look through the other kitten care articles) 

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cat-pregnancy

Hope she has a safe and rapid recovery.

Thanks, lilypaws:-). The birthing box has been set up for two weeks, and Rosie likes it a lot!
I had a cat a while ago who got out once and had a litter of kittens. I helped her deliver the kittens, but it's been so long since I've been on kitten watch! I know that she wasn't as big as Rose is!
I have all of the necessary supplies ready for the delivery!
The articles were a great help, so thank you!
Today, Rose has been affectionate and standoffish (it changes by the minute:-) )! We've been hanging out all day, and she is basically just sleeping. The kittens are not moving as crazily as last night, and she just seems tired. She isn't eating much, so I think she's pretty close:-)
I'll keep you updated and Thank You again!

Oh, I forgot to add that the kittens are only going to my friends' homes who are cat/animal lovers!!!!! [emoji]10084[/emoji]️[emoji]10084[/emoji]️[emoji]10084[/emoji]️