1st time kittygrandma

Hey guys! I came here today because my BABY is having babies. I am so excited yet nervous and cannot wait! I have done so much research and I have raised kittens from 4+ weeks but I figured talking to some other cat owners would help my nerves & also pass the time. Today is Wednesday Sept 3rd. I believe my Rosie got pregnant on the 4th of July so she should be due any day now !!! She has always been a very very vocal and affectionate cat so Im wondering if shes going to let me know when she is ready to give birth. She has had a very strong appetite throughout the whole pregnancy until yesterday when she only ate a little bit of wet food. Today she had both wet & dry. We have a "walking jacket" harness to take her outside, she is an indoor cat so I leash trained her. We have had to adjust the straps to make them bigger as her belly grew. Today I put it on and it was SO loose on her so I think that means her belly dropped??? I know there is no real way to know when exactly she is going to go into labor but do any of you think it will be soon? I REALLY hope I am home when it happens, I think my biggest fear is her giving birth to 1 baby & no afterbirth and I wont be home to know if it happened. I have never seen anyone (human or animal) give birth in front of me, and I have never seen newborn babies up close either! 

ANY advice or stories would be greatly appreciated <3 

susieq521 said:

 
Hey guys! I came here today because my BABY is having babies. I am so excited yet nervous and cannot wait! I have done so much research and I have raised kittens from 4+ weeks but I figured talking to some other cat owners would help my nerves & also pass the time. Today is Wednesday Sept 3rd. I believe my Rosie got pregnant on the 4th of July so she should be due any day now !!! She has always been a very very vocal and affectionate cat so Im wondering if shes going to let me know when she is ready to give birth. She has had a very strong appetite throughout the whole pregnancy until yesterday when she only ate a little bit of wet food. Today she had both wet & dry. We have a "walking jacket" harness to take her outside, she is an indoor cat so I leash trained her. We have had to adjust the straps to make them bigger as her belly grew. Today I put it on and it was SO loose on her so I think that means her belly dropped??? I know there is no real way to know when exactly she is going to go into labor but do any of you think it will be soon? I REALLY hope I am home when it happens, I think my biggest fear is her giving birth to 1 baby & no afterbirth and I wont be home to know if it happened. I have never seen anyone (human or animal) give birth in front of me, and I have never seen newborn babies up close either! 

ANY advice or stories would be greatly appreciated <3 

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Yay for babies. When my queen was pregnant I was so worried that she would give birth outside (she is an inside/outside cat) but no she gave birth on my bed. She had the first one and then woke me up. She waited until I was up and petting before she gave birth two the other two. Have you felt the babies moving lower down her stomach? Does she want you to pert her stomach? If she does then do it it helps with the labor. She definitely sounds close to the due date. Good luck! 

Thank you I have never felt any babies move, tho my boyfriend claims he has felt a baby "kick". She normally loves her belly rubbed but today she doesnt really want it touched. 

I have nests ready but I have a feeling she will want to give birth on my bed too !! I'm imagining it very messy ?? 

If he has felt a baby kick then she is around 7 weeks. It is kind of messy. There isn't a lot of blood but there is some. If you are going to watch then be forewarned she will eat the placentas as she should. It can look kind of gross, but it is a really great experience. 

Well if she is pregnant shes gotta be at least 8 weeks. I just figured I cant feel them because maybe there arent a lot of them. She is 2 years old, smallllll little cat. Half bengal. If I can find good pics I will post. She does look pregnant, but she isnt HUGE like I thought she was going to get, but if you see how she was before then you can really tell the difference. 

actually she does look pretty big here 

her "before" picture

susieq521 said:

 
Well if she is pregnant shes gotta be at least 8 weeks. I just figured I cant feel them because maybe there arent a lot of them. She is 2 years old, smallllll little cat. Half bengal. If I can find good pics I will post. She does look pregnant, but she isnt HUGE like I thought she was going to get, but if you see how she was before then you can really tell the difference. 

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She could have a small litter. But she could also have a big litter. You also might be catching them when they are sleeping. 

I actually just had my first litter 3 days ago. I too was so worried about it. But it went totally fine!

The day before it happened, I noticed she started looking for a spot and digged in it, then moved to a new spot and digged again etc. She ate less and seemed a little restless. The day it happened she was extremely restless, moved around every 3 minutes, and I just felt it was going to happen. When you notice she picked a spot, you can feel her tummy to see if it started. One moment it'll feel soft and you might feel the kittens move, the next moment it's as hard as a rock. These are the first contractions. She'll most likely also stop eating and might even vomit (don't worry, it's normal as long as it's just once or twice). Before you know it she'll start licking her behind a lot or make attemts to.

The best is to just let her be. Stay in the room, but don't interfear with her. If she calls out for you, like my cat did, just sit close so she can see you. But don't touch her (unless she begs you for it). Nature can handle things just fine. If you distract her too much, the process might stop and she'll need a vet if it doesn't start again.

For afterbirths, if she has a large litter only make her eat 3. If she eats too many she'll might get diarrhea. If she ate more afterall, don't worry, it happens.

So, the best you can do is not to stress (she'll know and get stressed too), and just let nature take it's course. The chances of it going wrong are small, so just expect it to go smoothly and just fine. If not, feel free to contact me, I have many breeder friends who I can console with questions. And I am also learning from my own litter now.

Lots of luck, and enjoy the kittens!

Thank you !!! Today she has been crying non stop for the last few hours. I have to have my hand on her or she cries. Poor girl, I really hope its time soon ! I was afraid but now Im so ready for these babies & I think shes over this pregnancy too

OKay she hassss to be in labor or going into labor very very soon. Shes vocal to begin with but this meowing is a little different. She wants me next to her always. Shes breathing heavier and panting !!! In & out of her box or climbing on me. Always wants her belly rubbed ...... baby time soon Id say ... 

susieq521 said:

 
OKay she hassss to be in labor or going into labor very very soon. Shes vocal to begin with but this meowing is a little different. She wants me next to her always. Shes breathing heavier and panting !!! In & out of her box or climbing on me. Always wants her belly rubbed ...... baby time soon Id say ... 

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I'd say the same! Good luck to both you and your cat, let us know how it went! And don't be shy to share a picture of the new borns haha!

thanks !!!!! i will definitely post pictures & updates

Good luck! Yes post pictures! Lots of pictures!

Ok so far still no kitties. Just meowing and panting for hours. She really will not let me leave her at all, couldnt even go to  the bathroom without her screaming bloody murder outside of the door. She has calmed down a little bit & doesnt seem as anxious. She likes cuddling in my arms like a person which she normally doesnt do. & I have seen a smalllllllllllll amount of some sticky mucus like discharge so I guess that would be the plug coming out soon.   

susieq521 said:

 
Ok so far still no kitties. Just meowing and panting for hours. She really will not let me leave her at all, couldnt even go to  the bathroom without her screaming bloody murder outside of the door. She has calmed down a little bit & doesnt seem as anxious. She likes cuddling in my arms like a person which she normally doesnt do. & I have seen a smalllllllllllll amount of some sticky mucus like discharge so I guess that would be the plug coming out soon. 

 

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It definitely sounds like she will be giving birth very soon. Try rubbing her belly. She might like it right around now.

Im getting a little worried. She hasn't been licking her bottom really. Still a little mucus but it definitely didn't all come out. She still breathing a little heavy and panting a little.. Less than yesterday. Is it normal for the heavy breathing and meowing to last 24 hours before anything else happens

Does she seem like she is in distress? If not than there isn't a really a need to worry. Can you feel her contractions? If she is in labor you will be able to feel and or see the contractions. If you can and it has been more than 12 hours then yes take her to a vet ASAP. Otherwise you don't need to worry. 

susieq521 said:

Im getting a little worried. She hasn't been licking her bottom really. Still a little mucus but it definitely didn't all come out. She still breathing a little heavy and panting a little.. Less than yesterday. Is it normal for the heavy breathing and meowing to last 24 hours before anything else happens

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Not every cat acts the same, though most cats lick their bottom, maybe yours just doesnt. The panting and heavy breathing is a sign of being in labor, though if you feel it takes too long, I suggest calling the vet and ask them what to do. Calling doesn't cost anything and I'm sure they can offer you comfort and maybe even some help. It could be (COULD, not to stress you out) that the kitten is too large and is stuck in the birth canal. Did you see her having contractions? It's quite obvious, she "shakes" around 3 times, then stops, then 3 again. So the contractions should come with 3 at the time, followed by a short break. Those are the push contractions.

I know from people that cat birth can take up to 48 hours, so as long as she isn't having the push contractions, it's probably fine. If the push contractions start, and take longer than 1 hour and still nothing comes out, call the vet, because then a kitten is most likely stuck. 

Hey @susieq521, I just wanted to check on your kitty. How is she doing? Any babies?