Is my cat going into labor?

So, my Calico cat was bred on the 10th of May, and I believe she`s showing signs of labor.

1. She`s purring for no reason.

2. She keeps licking her abdomen.

3. Her belly is low to the ground.

4. She keeps moving around.

5. You can see and feel the kittens moving around.

6. It looks like the kittens are moving closer to her butt.

However, this is what makes me doubt  that she`s going into labor.

She`s hungry. Even hungrier than she was when she wasn`t this far along. I`ve heard that cats` appetites will drop dramatically 1-2 days before labor. Is this true? And she is 2 years old. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The exact hour is not easy to know,as the "signs" can vary somewhat.   And how long before they appear.   But it sounds close!

Here are some links,  hope you find in there something useful for you and your girl.

Good luck!

Most of these links have been readied by our forumist  Red Top Rescue:

We have a good collection of articles in the Cat Health section which you can access by scrolling up to the brown bar, clicking on Articles,and then choosing the Cat Health section and scrolling through the choices.  To make this super easy for you, I am copying the links regarding birth, delivery and newborns for you here.  After reading this information, let us know if you have any more questions.  And good luck with your approaching new arrivals.

Birth, Delivery and Newborns

How to Tell if My Cat is Pregnant?

Cat Pregnancy

How Do I Know When My Cat Will Give Birth?

Pregnant Cat? What to Prepare For the Birth

Help! My Cat is Having Kittens!

Premature Kittens

Post-Birth Complications in Cats

And also:

http://www.icatcare.org/advice/my-cat-having-kittens     ( This is a link to a group of articles on cat pregnancy, birth and kittens.   Read the ones on normal cat birth and on " when to wait and when to worry"  )  

Well, I took her temperature. It`s 99.6 degrees. So I`m really nervous. But she is still eating. So, I don`t know what to think about that. And thank you for the links!

Sounds about right... Now that she's got you good and wound up, she'll make you wait for sure!!!

Okay, now I`m worried..... Sarah (The Queen/Cat), went to her water bowl and drank ALOT of water. She just sat there for about 4-5 minutes licking up water. When she was done, she started scratching our couch, then, she went into her little cat house and laid there for about 15 minutes (Still there now) before I went to check on her. When I checked on her, she was purring REALLY loudly and her eyes were dilated. Not just a little, but a lot. Is this normal? Goodness, I`m a mess. 

I suppose something is happing, labor beginning or at least, precontractions.   Purring and the dilated eyes are good signs.

Theoretically, it could be something much worse, but according to Ockhams razor-knife - of several theoretically possible solutions, lets pick up the most probable.

She is due, no visible health problems, no visible troubles - thus: the labor has began.

Good luck!  @MissAddy

ps.  I presume as Im writing this, its already done.

Please report!

Nope, she is still drinking a lot more, but she is eating too. Her belly got even lower to the ground. I`m not even sure how that is possible. She`s still purring and her eyes are dilated, not like the slits I`m used to. She`s going to be one of the cats that make me play the waiting game, I stayed up till 4 in the morning last night/this morning. Sigh.

Okay, so my Calico cat, just had a contraction. It was only one, but she had a few yesterday. I think this is labor but I`m not sure. I don`t know if they have contractions right before labor, or a few days before labor. Arrgg! This is confusing! But, is it a sign of labor?

They can have precontractions, its quite common.  I believe its somewhat a nature way to prepare them, to gymnasticize up the muscles...

Good luck!

So does that mean she`s gonna have them soon?

Are you sure it was a contraction and not just the babies kicking ?

Contractions in cats are actually really difficult to see, even when they are in the middle of labour and pushing

I think it was a contraction. Her stomach tightened up, almost like she was about to vomit, and she released a big meow.

My cat is due any time now and woke me today at 5 am doing the exact same thing. Eating and drinking like crazy, meowing, belly low, etc. I'm guessing your kitty had her kittens? How much longer after that episode did she go?

No, still waiting. Now the fat (no offense to the cat) is no longer on her sides, but all of it has seemed to drop to the bottom of her stomach. I thought she had a miscarriage, but then I saw how low her stomach was and how the kittens were kicking.

Wow. I thought for sure yours would be here by now. This waiting is excruciating. My cat is being very dependent and does not want me to leave her alone or even walk around the room.

Sometimes cats will hold off going into labor if they don't feel they have a good birthing area to have the kittens or if the location is not what they want.
It sounds like she's due very soon. Do you have a birthing box set up for her? They prefer a quiet room that's dark also.
I often watch for the mucus plug. You can't always see it when it passes but if you're watching her close you may catch it. Once that passes you should have kittens within 24-48 hrs.
I have been breeding for 4 yrs and I have had cats really fool me sometimes. I'd think this was labor for sure and then they'd go another week before having the kittens. The only real sign will be her pushing. And you will know when she's pushing!!
As hard as it is, the best thing to do is just make the birthing place available and wait. She'll call you if she needs you. Just peek in on her and be there when she needs/wants you.
The birthing is such an exciting time! I pray all goes well for mommy and the babies.
Keep us posted.
Dyan

Thank you for responding! I'm a beginning Siamese breeder, second litter with a different female.

About the location, that's the tough part. Last week I confined her to my bedroom, as I have a house with a lot of rooms and a basement, as well as other cats and a dog. I set up nesting boxes and crates, three altogether. Originally I blocked off the under-the-bed space but she was determined to get in. So I moved the bed out so I could get access from all sides and put blankets underneath. She pops in and out of the boxes and crates, but she doesn't seem ready to pick one. I hope I'm giving her what she wants. The alternative is letting her have the run of the house, which doesn't seem right either. How can you know if they're not happy with the space, versus just not ready to deliver?

I`ve been breeding for two years, I have two adult female cats. Umm, if a cat doesn`t like the box, or the nesting area, she won`t go in it and stay in it. And she`ll try to find/make one of her own. But I`m still waiting.

I`ll see if I can get a picture on here. Of her nipples.

Some cats are more difficult than others. I have had some that would go in the box from the beginning and claw away until the box was ripped up in the bottom weeks before she had her babies. I've had others that will not stay in the box for anything but when the time came to "push" she went for the box.
My guess is she's a first time mom? And just really confused as to what all is going on with her body. She's staying moving to help endure the discomfort. When the time comes she will pick a place and start pushing.
I do not recommend letting her run the house at all! So good call there. I would keep her in the room you've prepared but limit the activity level in the room. No constant opening and closing of the door even by a worried mom
If/when she starts pushing, if she is not in a box you've set up for her, move her to it then. Once the first kitten is born she's not going to leave it so if you get her into the box after it's born then you're good to go.
I had one mom that refused the box and had them on the floor. I just moved the bedding to the floor but once they were born I put her and them in the box and she stayed in it after that.
I've had others that would only stay in the box if I stayed right beside them giving them my undivided and constant attention. Hard to do with a house full of kids but that's what she wanted so she got it.
Hope this helps.