Is my cat about to go into labor?

So my kitty, Toothless, is about 63 days pregnant. Im pretty sure she lost her mucous plug last night. (about 18 hours ago). Since then, shes been acting normal. Maybe a bit more active and talkative. She isnt producing milk yet though. Her babies are also pretty active, and I can feel them moving around. Should I be expecting kittens tonight or tomorrow?

She also seems a bit small, but she was a small cat to begin with.

toothlessxkitty said:

So my kitty, Toothless, is about 63 days pregnant. Im pretty sure she lost her mucous plug last night. (about 18 hours ago). Since then, shes been acting normal. Maybe a bit more active and talkative. She isnt producing milk yet though. Her babies are also pretty active, and I can feel them moving around. Should I be expecting kittens tonight or tomorrow?

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Its not easy to know. The signs are there, but they arent firesure none of them.  They often get milk quite late.  Althogh not getting milk at all is very rare.

Also, the last day before delivery they usually drop, the kittens coming into postitions.  And there they usually dont move that much as before.  So you dont feel them neigther as much.

So my guess is the delivery isnt immediately forthcoming.

Take the queue ticket you too, and please wait.   

I send our links, but please come with reports and further questions!   Usually here is somebody who will answer, a friendly forumist or somebody from the team.

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"  )  

Fleece or flannel good to use in the bedding for kittens.

Thank you, those links did help. I am still wondering about that discharge. I noticed a bit more about an hour ago. I did some more internet research, and saw many sites that said that once the plug came out, it meant that delivery was only 24-48 hours away. Should I be concerned if she doesnt have them within that timeframe? Or can pregnant cats carry the kittens for longer than that safely without the mucous plug?

toothlessxkitty said:

Thank you, those links did help. I am still wondering about that discharge. I noticed a bit more about an hour ago. I did some more internet research, and saw many sites that said that once the plug came out, it meant that delivery was only 24-48 hours away. Should I be concerned if she doesnt have them within that timeframe? Or can pregnant cats carry the kittens for longer than that safely without the mucous plug?

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Theoretically ist true.  And the plug helps to stop the bacterias intruding.  For cats living outside, its surely important, but seems without big need for inside only cats.

So, as you ask, it isnt unusual they lose the plug even several days before, without negative consequences. 

By the same reason, losing the mucus plug isnt not a reliable sign of immediately nearing delivery.

Its a sign, sure, but not that reliable as theory says.

Good luck!

Okay, thank you!

Toothless just had some pink goopy stuff come out. Im assuming that was part of the mucous plug? Shes also nesting I think. She tested out all three of her boxes by laying in them for a few mins, then jumped out to the next. Kitten activity has been really limited in the past 18 hours or so. I think i felt maybe 2 tiny kicks in that time. Shes been going to her food dish, but hasnt eaten hardly anything. I think she will have kittens soon, but maybe im just being impatient.

toothlessxkitty said:

Toothless just had some pink goopy stuff come out. Im assuming that was part of the mucous plug? Shes also nesting I think. She tested out all three of her boxes by laying in them for a few mins, then jumped out to the next. Kitten activity has been really limited in the past 18 hours or so. I think i felt maybe 2 tiny kicks in that time. Shes been going to her food dish, but hasnt eaten hardly anything. I think she will have kittens soon, but maybe im just being impatient.

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I agree, sounds nearing and very close. But you never know the exact hour!

Holding thumbs!

No kittens yet, but did just notice this discharge. The stuff I was noticing last night was a little bit lighter in color. Is this discharge normal or something to be concerned about?

Update: she started having contractions, but after about 2, they stopped. Its been about an hour since. Nothings come out except for just a bit of that discharge. Is that normal?

toothlessxkitty said:

Update: she started having contractions, but after about 2, they stopped. Its been about an hour since. Nothings come out except for just a bit of that discharge. Is that normal?

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If you are unsure, its best to phone your vet and ask. They know what follow up questions to give.

If the labor is interrupted for real, and she seems OK,  my guess is, its no panic, you can wait and see, being vigilant.

But you dont want active labor where nothing happens.  This is definitely to contact your vet asap, and be ready to rush in!

Some discharges are quite common, but not living fresh blood, not more than a few droplets in any case.

Good luck!

She was still in stage 1 of labor. This morning around 8am, she gave birth to a stillborn =(. It was a breech birth, and it was rough. The kitten looked as though it hadnt quite fully developed. It was missing three legs. They weren't torn off, they were just missing.. The placenta came after it, and she ate it.Toothless is being very clingy, and still seems a bit restless. I think she still has at least one left in her. My fiancee ended up going in to work late so she could see the first kitten. Im thinking that maybe toothless is holding up labor until both of us are here? Will the other kitten(s) most likely be easier for her to deliver?

toothlessxkitty said:

She was still in stage 1 of labor. This morning around 8am, she gave birth to a stillborn =(. It was a breech birth, and it was rough. The kitten looked as though it hadnt quite fully developed. It was missing three legs. They weren't torn off, they were just missing.. The placenta came after it, and she ate it.Toothless is being very clingy, and still seems a bit restless. I think she still has at least one left in her. My fiancee ended up going in to work late so she could see the first kitten. Im thinking that maybe toothless is holding up labor until both of us are here? Will the other kitten(s) most likely be easier for her to deliver?

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Lets hope so.  And lets hope it will be healthy.

They can have breaks in labor, possibly waiting for your fiancee, as you think.   If she seems OK, you can wait and see.

But dont let her be in a prolonged labor - the second labor shall be shorter than the first...

Deformed kittens happens now and then.  Not common, but not totally unique.   As late as yesterdey it was one forumite who told about a litter full of deformed kittens he got...

Good luck!

Hope all was ok.

toothlessxkitty said:

She was still in stage 1 of labor. This morning around 8am, she gave birth to a stillborn =(. It was a breech birth, and it was rough. The kitten looked as though it hadnt quite fully developed. It was missing three legs. They weren't torn off, they were just missing.. The placenta came after it, and she ate it.Toothless is being very clingy, and still seems a bit restless. I think she still has at least one left in her. My fiancee ended up going in to work late so she could see the first kitten. Im thinking that maybe toothless is holding up labor until both of us are here? Will the other kitten(s) most likely be easier for her to deliver?

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How is it going, Toothless?

No more kittens yet. No discharge. She's very talkative,and quite active. Shes still eating and drinking. I talked to a vet yesterday afternoon that said some cats delay their labor for days, and to keep a close eye on her. The only thing different is this shaking. I attached a link for the video. My fianceé thinks it might be mini contractions. Any thoughts? If she doesn't have them soon, I think we will take Her in to the vet

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]

Excuse the tv in the background, I was watching The Middle haha

toothlessxkitty said:

Excuse the tv in the background, I was watching The Middle haha

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I will write more later on during the day.  Its still night here, and i want to go back to bed.  

I see one week ago you though it was the day 63.   Are you sure?  so this is now about day 70.  Cats manage a little too long pregnancies well, but we are sure the kittens had done their time, there isnt not any risk of being premature, if you hasten on the things...

And at least one was alive, as you felt movements.   Im not sure this deformed could be alive and moving this frisky, not much in any case.  But if Im wrong, it COULD be just this one.

Do you feel any movements inside?

Anyways, I think a visit to the vet is wise, to get sure knowledge if there is still another inside, alive or not.

If provoke a delivery / do a cesarean, you can take your stand from that sure knowledge, also having the vet to confere with, after he has checked up her personally.

Good luck!

I can feel a kitten, but haven't felt movement in a couple days =(. She has me pretty worried. Her appetite hasnt changed, but shes still very vocal. She has also been cleaning herself a lot since last night. Its been about 3 days. I might end up calling in to work and taking her to the vet today. Either that, or for sure tomorrow morning.