When will my cat give birth? Is she overdue?

ph0ebe

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
12
Purraise
3
Hi!  I've been fostering a pregnant cat for over a week now (since the friday before last), and I can't tell if she's overdue or not.  When we got her the shelter told us she was at least half way done, so had under 4 1/2 weeks left.  We've been able to feel her kittens moving and kicking since we got her and a few days ago her breasts seemed to fill with milk, but none will come out.  She has been in her nesting box only a few times, but is sitting in it now. I'm starting to wonder if she's not getting milk but fat, as she was really skinny when we got her and are fattening her up. The kittens haven't been kicking as much for the past few days and I'm getting the feeling it's because they're too squished.  She's a really small cat; this is her 5th litter and she's only 4 years old so her growth was probably stunted when she got pregnant the first time, so she looks like her belly is going to explode.  Most places I've looked have said that the mother cat should get colostrum at least 24 hours before labor, so I was wondering if it's possible for her to get the milk closer to birth.  I'm going to be gone during parts of the day and don't want to miss her birth because I assume that she's not close to delivery because there's no milk. I've fostered a few other pregnant cats before and it's always been clear when they're going to have birth and when they're in labor, but I've had so many false alarms with this cat because her behavior is unusual, but not so unusual that it's strange.
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,997
Purraise
10,644
Location
Sweden
 
Hi!  I've been fostering a pregnant cat for over a week now (since the friday before last), and I can't tell if she's overdue or not.  When we got her the shelter told us she was at least half way done, so had under 4 1/2 weeks left.  We've been able to feel her kittens moving and kicking since we got her and a few days ago her breasts seemed to fill with milk, but none will come out.  She has been in her nesting box only a few times, but is sitting in it now. I'm starting to wonder if she's not getting milk but fat, as she was really skinny when we got her and are fattening her up. The kittens haven't been kicking as much for the past few days and I'm getting the feeling it's because they're too squished.  She's a really small cat; this is her 5th litter and she's only 4 years old so her growth was probably stunted when she got pregnant the first time, so she looks like her belly is going to explode.  Most places I've looked have said that the mother cat should get colostrum at least 24 hours before labor, so I was wondering if it's possible for her to get the milk closer to birth.  I'm going to be gone during parts of the day and don't want to miss her birth because I assume that she's not close to delivery because there's no milk. I've fostered a few other pregnant cats before and it's always been clear when they're going to have birth and when they're in labor, but I've had so many false alarms with this cat because her behavior is unusual, but not so unusual that it's strange.
Some cats get in their milk quite lately, maybe even after the delivery.  As luck is, its very rare they never get it.   A wise caretaker knows of course where to get kmr or goat milk, or even has some at home.

As you know, you can feel the kittens moving about two weeks before the delivery, sometimes almost three weeks.  You being decently experienced, can palpitate etc, so you will be one of those who can feel longer than two weeks.  Your trouble is of course, they can have been moving already before she come to you, so this starting point is unreliable.

She being experienced, lets hope she will manage alone, if she gives birth when you are away.    Some cats prefer to give birth alone, while others want to have company of their caretaker /Mom.  And in some degree they can manipulate the time of the exact birth moment.  So being there is good, but it may be wise to give her opportunity to give birth when she is alone...  :)

Last, but not least.   Cats do seem manage being overdue better than humans.   But the kittens manage prematury deliveries much worse than human babies.  So this is something to think if you are thinking on perhaps a Cesarean...   With humans its no big business and often the safest to do, but it has its dangers with cats.  The mom will be saved, all right, but the kittens may be doomed.   so, in 99% its just to joing The Waiting Game.     :)     (but have the phone number to your vet handy, just if ).

Good luck!
 

dinahsmum

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jan 4, 2015
Messages
8
Purraise
1
Hi,

My cat gave birth yesterday late afternoon/early evening and her colostrum wasn't in at all before birth. However, she is now successfully feeding 4 content kittens.

As StefanZ said, offer her the opportunity to birth alone. We have a busy house and despite my cat and I having a great bond, she went off to do this alone even while I was home. I found her and the kittens when it was all over (with a great outcome, she had taken care of everything). I had read that lots of cats prefer under beds or in wardrobes, so I tried to recreate the darkest, private cocooned area I could for her, and that's where she chose.

I didn't record the date when my cat mated so wasn't sure of dates. It's a long wait, when you're unsure, isn't it. Good luck when the time comes.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

ph0ebe

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
12
Purraise
3
Thank you for all the fast replies!  It's relieving to know she can go into labor without milk.  I have kmr on hand and she's been spending time in her dark, enclosed birthing box and rearranging the towels in there, so I think the kittens should be coming soon.  Now just waiting will be the hardest part :-)
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
They will nest, rearranging towels etc up to 2 weeks prior to delivery.

Having so many litters is tough on mom you know.

Are you going to get her spayed after this litter hopefully?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

ph0ebe

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
12
Purraise
3
 
They will nest, rearranging towels etc up to 2 weeks prior to delivery.

Having so many litters is tough on mom you know.

Are you going to get her spayed after this litter hopefully?
Yeah she's part of a program at our shelter where the owners give their pregnant cat to the shelter and the shelter returns them a while later spayed and kitten-free.  Fosters like me keep the pregnant cat and kittens until they're old enough and then give them back to the shelter where they're spayed/neutered and the kittens are adopted out and the mom is returned.  I'm pretty sure all of this is free :-)  I live in an area with a lot of shelters and a lot of pro-spay/neuter people.
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
 
Yeah she's part of a program at our shelter where the owners give their pregnant cat to the shelter and the shelter returns them a while later spayed and kitten-free.  Fosters like me keep the pregnant cat and kittens until they're old enough and then give them back to the shelter where they're spayed/neutered and the kittens are adopted out and the mom is returned.  I'm pretty sure all of this is free :-)  I live in an area with a lot of shelters and a lot of pro-spay/neuter people.
Yaay!! That is great news to know!

What a cool thing the shelter does too, we don't have a program like that here, maybe because there would be just way too many, who knows.....good to hear though, poor girl needs to stop making babies!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

ph0ebe

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
12
Purraise
3
She gave birth to six kittens between 10:30 last night and 1:30 this morning!  No complications - all the kittens are healthy although 3 came out backwards.  It's clear their mama is experienced!
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
 
She gave birth to six kittens between 10:30 last night and 1:30 this morning!  No complications - all the kittens are healthy although 3 came out backwards.  It's clear their mama is experienced!
Oh nice! All went smoothly too, yeah I would say she's an old pro! Not that we want her to be that experienced right??!   

Good deal, congrats :)

Let us know how things are going.
 

dinahsmum

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jan 4, 2015
Messages
8
Purraise
1
CONGRATULATIONS!!! A great outcome, what a lucky cat and kittens to find themselves in such a fab foster programme.

Any pics to share?
 
Top