Is it normal for cat's belly to still be big?

My poor kitty gave birth to a kitten early this morning as soon as I fell asleep. I haven't slept good in three days because I suspected she was ready to give birth. She woke me up cleaning my face and when I placed my hand on her I knew her stomach felt different so I checked her nesting box and sure enough there was a very small kitten that had passed away. I thought maybe she would have more later because she is still very big but her tummy is soft and there is no movement. I called the vet and he said to give it 24 hours from the first birth and if she doesn't have anymore then she was probably just carrying one. Is it normal for her to still to be big like that? I asked him and he said yes but it just doesn't feel right. Here is a picture of her.

Hi! A few things could be going on and everything is probably normal.

Assuming she's not in distress, either way, at this point there is no reason to be worried.  

1. She may have more kittens, yet.  Your vet is correct that normally this would happen within 24 hours; it sometimes can be a little longer. Also important is that she DOES deliver an afterbirth with each kitten.  If she does not she could get very sick later, so if you do see her giving birth be watching for that.

2.  Her stomach just may still be bigger than usual and that is normal- your vet is correct.

Go see a vet if she starts exhibiting any signs of distress. Otherwise just keep an eye on her.

I'm sorry to hear that the kitten did not make it.

Thank you. If there a no kittens by in the morning I'm going to take her to the vet and let him check.

I am glad you are able to do that- it is always better to be safe than sorry with Queens

Please let us know how it goes!!!

Was the first kitten big or very small? Her belly does seem like there should be more, but we can't know for sure, of course. Does she still seem to be in labor (eg. restless, laying on a certain spot etc)?

Kamalay said:

 
Thank you. If there a no kittens by in the morning I'm going to take her to the vet and let him check.

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As Bianca ask, how was the first one?  Its fully possible the first was premature, and she still have others.  If so, they can come forth even several days after, in their proper time, fully healthy, with any luck.

The key to know, is if she is not in any distress, no visible problems, etc.  If so, you can wait and see.  Be vigilant but you dont need to panic.

Visit the vet as you have such a good cooperation, but dont let him make cesarean or induce labor if he doesnt insist.  And not X-rays if he can use the milder and cheaper ultrasound...

Because she may very well have still living and healthy kittens inside.   Taken out too early, they will be immediately in difficulties - kittens dont manage well to be taken out too early - much worse than human babies.

While they seems to manage OK to being carried a little too long.

Good luck!

Yes the kitten was very small. It's been a very long time since I have had new born kittens around but it didn't seem normal size. Momma seems fine. She's mothering one of my other cats to death though. lol Cleaning him constantly from nose to the tip of his tail. No more kittens were born and her belly is still the same with no movement. Hopefully the vet can tell me for sure today.

Oh my gosh. She just walked up to me and the side of her belly looked weird and when I touched it there is a kitten there. I guess she's not done. I don't know if I should take her to the vet or just wait and see now.

Calling the vet never hurts Though, I think the kitten born was premature and as said above it's possible it can take days more for the rest to be born because her pregnancy isn't done yet. Do you know the date of her romantic moment with the male cat? We can do some math on it if you do so we can determine how much longer she has.

But, if you are really insecure about her, you should go to the vet, even if it's just to sooth yourself. She is your cat after all, and you (and we, of course) don't  want her to get any harm. We just respond on what we hear, but we can not see her and that's what makes it hard for us too.

I really don't know for sure how far along she is. The male was being kept in another part of the house until we could make it to the vet appointment to have him neutered and her spayed. We were going to have it done at the same time. The postal service lost a money order that was our house payment so we ended up having to send another payment because it would be 60 days before USPS would replace it. Then my husband had an emergency health situation and we ended up having to use the money for Dr. and house payment. No big deal, we would just keep them separated until we could have it done. A few weeks ago the female came walking up to me and I noticed her stomach was swelled. Well years ago, when I was a teenager, I had a cat that I thought was pregnant but come to find out she had pyometra and didn't make it. This is the first thing I thought of when I saw her because the two hadn't been in the same room. I was really upset and then my 16 year old confessed that my 12 year old son had brought the male upstairs a few times while I was at work. Of course they couldn't tell me when or if anything happened. The next week, while she was laying in my lap, I felt kitten movement. I assumed she was around 6 to 7 weeks then and would be 9 weeks around this week or next. I don't know. It's really confusing when you don't know exactly when the event happened.

The vet I talked to yesterday is not my regular vet. I talked to my regular vet today and the the lady I talked to was being so rude! I was trying to tell her what was going on and she was cutting me off every time I tried to speak. Told me it was best to just watch her and the only thing they could do was take an x-ray and that would cost a big chunk of money. Unless I was willing to invest that kind of money on a cat then to just watch her. I was so mad I just hung up.

Kamalay said:

 
The vet I talked to yesterday is not my regular vet. I talked to my regular vet today and the the lady I talked to was being so rude! I was trying to tell her what was going on and she was cutting me off every time I tried to speak. Told me it was best to just watch her and the only thing they could do was take an x-ray and that would cost a big chunk of money. Unless I was willing to invest that kind of money on a cat then to just watch her. I was so mad I just hung up.

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It sounds like you should plan to find another vet, For example this you talked with yesterday.

What is point with X-rays? it must be to see if there are more.  This can they see with the cheaper ultrasound - which also shows if they do move = are alive, and even old fashioned palpitation should be enough here...

Nay, switch vet if you can.   I mean being somewhat rude may be explanined they were in hurry, many waiting in queue,or she needy to run to bathroom or something. But not being able to do a friendly check up to their paying patient...

But it may also be possible you talked with a new employed assistant, who didnt knew very much, knew just they used to take X-rays because they could.  And not being vet herself, felt it was no big point with hearing all your explanations...  Perhaps.

So follow their advice "if you dont afford  / want the X-ray done, wait and see".   Which is a major alternative for you as long as the mom isnt in any distress.

Good luck!

She just gave birth to two at the same time. Premature and deceased. She is still trying deliver. The are both out but attached. This is so scarey

You can cut off the cords with your nails if you want.  Or even scissor, because they ARE deceased and you dont need to be as careful as usual.

The only is try to get the mothercake, the afterbirth out... You can draw in the cord carefully, preferably when you notice she is pushing simultaneously.

First of all, look for another vet. Your regular one sounds really unsupportive and you need a vet you can trust and call when you need to. You have vets to help you and your cat, not to judge you and tell you what to do.

Now onto your cat. I'm so sorry to hear about the deceased kittens I can imagine you looked forward to taking care of sweet cute kittens and now this happens. Do not blame yourself, this can happen to anyone, but it's never fun to go through. Keep a good eye on her, if it takes longer than around 1 hour, while she is having push-contractions you need to go to a vet asap (I personally would already call one so they know what's going on and you can go to them as soon as it's needed). It's possible a kitten is stuck in the birth canal and needs help being removed. It's really hard for a cat to give birth to a dead kitten, so this can cause problems. Also make sure the afterbirth comes out as well (1 for each kitten). 

It wasn't just two kittens, it was three all at the same time. At first I thought they were deformed but no they just came out at the same time. Poor things. They were definitely premature. I hope all the after birth was delivered. She is still breathing hard so I'm keeping a close eye on her. I knew something wasn't right.

Just gave birth to baby number 4. This is so sad. I don't understand why this has happened.

Kamalay said:

 
Just gave birth to baby number 4. This is so sad. I don't understand why this has happened.

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We probably cant know the exact reasons.  But such happens now and then.  Sometimes its a bacterial infection of sorts.  Sometimes a genetical reason.

For a breeder is such important to know, so they know if to keep their  queen or to retire her and spay her.

Lets hope for a positive continuing, your girl coming healthy out of this.

Theoretically, there may still be alive kitten inside, but the probability is falling drastically now, as all the first are delivered dead.   I begin to suspect it is one of the cases when they died already inside her.  As you didnt felt  them moving the last days?

*vibes!*

Correct. There was no movement. I can't tell if she's done yet. She's walking around meowing. Thank you all for responding to me.

Kamalay said:

 
Correct. There was no movement. I can't tell if she's done yet. She's walking around meowing. Thank you all for responding to me.

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So plan on a vet check up as soon you can practically manage it. Take this second vet of yesterday.   If they were dead inside, she may need some antibiotica treatment.  Its common cats and Mother Nature manage themselves such situations - for example the dead foetuses get incrusted in calcium.   But who wants to take risks now when we KNOW the situation isnt good.

Good luck!

I will. Thank you!