pregnant manx kitty about 4-5 years old first litter..... help me

i need help i am a first timer here and with birthing baby kitties. i have a manx and she is kinda a small kitty cat and was wondering does anyone have any advice to give, she is just about due too she it about one week away and i can feel the babies moving around, but she hasnt started nesting or anything she is still very playful and sleepy at times. any sign tips help me please,,,,,, im worried its going to be when im aleep and wonder if someone should be up with her as well too. if anyone can help i appreciate it

shes such a loving kitty and purrs quite often, ive calculated thats she about 7-8 days away from her due date, i feel the kittens moving around, but she hasnt been nesting.... also how do i know when she will be going into labor i know they usually say discharge and anxious, but she is still pretty playful, and sleepy a lot. i built her her own birthing box and she doesnt want anything to do with it is this normal. as you can tell im a first time baby kitty grandma and i would like to know if anyone has this tyoe of breed of cat and if they were preggers can you tell me how it went. she is a pretty small kitty she aways has been, thats why im worried and i would like to know if i should try to be there for her when she starts going into labor. i have researched this for a while and some people are just crazy wrong on how they say to do things. please help i fear that she might be going into lbor soon and i dont really know how to tell.......

Get some milk replacer, our expert StefanZ recommends KMR, place few nesting boxes varies places anywhere there will be calm and peaceful and let her choose which one she wants to use.

Most of the time cats do fine giving birth on their own without someone there. It still good idea to be with her in case something do happens. Some cats prefer to have their owner with them to comfort them

thanks what is the milk replacer a formula for the babies??? i dont understand what that is? thanks for the quick reply anymore advice on what i should look for ?

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santanakitty said:

 
thanks what is the milk replacer a formula for the babies??? i dont understand what that is? thanks for the quick reply anymore advice on what i should look for ?

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its kitten mothermilk replacement.  Good to have if the mom is late with milk.  Or something happens.  or you want to give them extra nourishment, the kittens or mom.

The brand made by PetAg, called for KMR, in powder, is the best of them.   There are other brands too.  Some good, some so so.

Goat milk is fine too.

Cat moms are often quite uninterested in nest.  Its because they dont want it to become smelly before its real time.

And about signs to watch for?  There are many.  The problem is, none of them is really realiable.  We had forumists with most of the typical signs, and yet, they must wait...

Better wait a couple of days extra, than the kittens are born too early.  Human babies manage good to be born early. But kittens not.

Yes, it is good if you can be near when she delivers.  Cats usually manage to deliver themselves, without problems.  But it happens now and then, our forumites give them necessary help, tx for them being there at the delivery...

Many cats wants to have their human near at delivery.  Especielly if you are best friends.   But some prefer to be alone.

please, come with reports and further questions.

Good luck!  @santanakitty

thanks i will try to see if i can find some kinda broke til pay day right now. if its really exspensive i wont be able to until friday. thanks though

santanakitty said:

 
thanks i will try to see if i can find some kinda broke til pay day right now. if its really exspensive i wont be able to until friday. thanks though

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I would suggest just picking up 1 can of the premixed KMR. I am not big on the premixed as it causes constipation/diarrhea at times but if needed in case of urgency, if mom won't feed or has no milk for instance, then you have something ready for them.

If this does happen, having a can handy will get you through until you can get some of the powdered form, which is not cheap, so the single ready made can is also good because of that.

You will also need a needle-less syringe for feeding in case you need to.

Otherwise you are all set.

Often before delivering mom will go mess up her nesting spot, but if not then for some reason she is not happy with it, likely the location of it and will birth elsewhere.

So be sure to choose a quiet, private place where nobody will disturb her.

shes leaking something becauee its a flaky white substance around her teats, she is about due any day i think, her belly i hard rigtht now and babies are kicking. i didnt say she wasnt producing milk i dont htink i d i, maybe i was just so nervus and worried when i wrote it, yes i agree i dont want to use it if it will cause those symptoms. not risking my babies lives for that if they dont need it. 

santanakitty said:

 
shes leaking something becauee its a flaky white substance around her teats, she is about due any day i think, her belly i hard rigtht now and babies are kicking. i didnt say she wasnt producing milk i dont htink i d i, maybe i was just so nervus and worried when i wrote it, yes i agree i dont want to use it if it will cause those symptoms. not risking my babies lives for that if they dont need it. 

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Surely leaking a bit of milk, dries on her and falls off. No prob with that.

No what I was saying regarding the KMR is, you likely won't even need it at all, but as a 'just in case' then rather then buying an pricey can of powdered, just keep a single premixed can which is cheap.

It's very good, just as good as the powdered, just it seems sometimes when bottle fed babies are on this for a while, it might cause constipation, but it's certainly not going to do that just in the chance one or all might need help, so until you know if you will need to help any out, you will have it there already then can go get the can of powdered.

Sounds like mom will have no problem making enough milk that's for sure!!

Times you might need to supplement with KMR would be for instance, she has a litter of 6 or 7, and 2 or 3 are smaller which happens in larger litters, well the smallest ones will really have to fight for good milk producing nipples, and they don't win over the bigger ones, and eventually fall too far behind to pull through.

This is one of the possibilities I see may happen in your case, but no way to know until they come, so having a can there in case is a good thing.

thanks a bunch i appreciate it. i didnt understand at first but now i do, its all good here she is sleeping and babies are going nuts. i was wondering because when i gentle squeeze the teat i dont get anything out but she had that around them and on the top. i really do appreciate you going into further detail about the kmr. i will ty to get a can soon just to have on hand by my calculations if i am correct we will have babies in about 6 days now, so she is 59 days today, im getting so excited and i will post pics when they come. thanks adrienne

You're very welcome, and looking forward to pics!!

this is my santana everyone shes saying hello. shes so sweet. such a loving baby girl and going to be the best momma i know. shes about 4-5 years old and shes a manx bobtail i believe i rescues her from a horrible place, that said they would put her to sleep the next day because no one wanted a black kitty like her. well i did i have her and shes all mine, i hate people that say mean things like that. she's well worth it a very compasionate cat, her breed is known to be a very theraputic kitty knows when your happy sad mad.etc. i love her sooo much i can't wait to see my little babies when they get here hopefully only 5 more days!!!

Oh, she's a beautiful girl. I have a long haired black bob-tail kitty that looks a lot like her.

I hope everything goes well with her babies. I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures of them when they arrive.

i think we are getting close we are at day 63 today!! almost there and so ready for these little ones. i am noticing that her tummy is getting hard and the babies are kicking harder, but her teats are not filling up i dont think. im not positive i try to gently squeeze them and nothing comes out yet should i be worried i got kmr a can not much i think, maybe it will be okay im a worry wart a lot of the times and scared. 

There is a VERY small female that comes to eat at my house from the neighbors, and she is pregnant with her third litter, usually having only two or three. A lot of animals, including humans and cats, only start to produce milk in any quantity AFTER giving birth, so I think you'll be fine. Just monitor the babies to see if they seem contented and weigh if at all possible. There are a lot of good people here who are very experienced in cat birthing, so keep in touch. All the luck!

okay thank you, i have asked an expert a few things and they explained a lot. 

santanakitty said:

 
okay thank you, i have asked an expert a few things and they explained a lot. 

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Good you do have someone knowleable nearby.  It usually helps a lot.

Some people, like me for example, likes to get and give info in written, but many prefers to get it from an real person being next to them, in talked words.

Can this person come over to you,  and help out,  IF complications would arise?

Good luck!

its the vet who is 10 miles away, from me. so i would imagine or i could go to them. shes sleeping in her box and her belly is huge and hard. her nipples are perky and rosy pink and she keeps meowing everytime her tummy looks like teitching to me but maybe contractions. i am not sure and they couldnt tell me for sure because they have not examined her or done any xrays in the past few weeks. shes cal and been licking her hoo hoo and her butt a lot and licking her belly and teats as well. if you have anymore info it would greatly be apprecited or advice. i have warms towels dental floss bulb suction formula cans and bottles, box sheets , sanitizer. do i really need iodine and alcohol? how do i clean the umbilical cords and what with any examples or notes i just took her temp and it said 99.1? is that good to be going into labor sign? thanks in advance for everyones help and advice i hope we will have kitties soon, if not she WILL be going in to have help. i love her too much to see her not to be able to have these babies. 

santanakitty said:

 
its the vet who is 10 miles away, from me. so i would imagine or i could go to them. shes sleeping in her box and her belly is huge and hard. her nipples are perky and rosy pink and she keeps meowing everytime her tummy looks like teitching to me but maybe contractions. i am not sure and they couldnt tell me for sure because they have not examined her or done any xrays in the past few weeks. shes cal and been licking her hoo hoo and her butt a lot and licking her belly and teats as well. if you have anymore info it would greatly be apprecited or advice. i have warms towels dental floss bulb suction formula cans and bottles, box sheets , sanitizer. do i really need iodine and alcohol? how do i clean the umbilical cords and what with any examples or notes i just took her temp and it said 99.1? is that good to be going into labor sign? thanks in advance for everyones help and advice i hope we will have kitties soon, if not she WILL be going in to have help. i love her too much to see her not to be able to have these babies. 

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Nay, you really dont need jodine or alcohol.  Moms teeths arent sterile, and in nature they often lay more or less dirty, so as far you have clean hands and clean gears, it should be fine.  The same with the cord.   If you need to cut off the cord, you do have these dental floss, but your nails would be OK too if in need.

Its mostly if you happen to cut yourself, you will need these bacterie-killers.        After all the proverb tells:  The well guarded is protected by God Himself.

If you measure in the behind as most do, 99 sounds like it dropped now.   Its nearing!  Yes, I think she has contractions, or at least, precontractions.

But I understand the vet who is hesitant to give definitive diagnoses over the phone, without examining her.  And perhaps also, without her being his patient for real.

If you measure in the armpit of the foreleg, its the normal temp in there.

One extra advice.  If a kitten born seems stillborne, and isnt visible premature or faulty, you can always try to revive it by warming it up, and massaging it.  Sometimes it suceeds.

If   a kittens seems to have got water inside, you can try and slung it.  You know how to do it?   Although I suppose these "bulb suction" are for that, no?

Last, not least.  If there are more than 4 kittens, its enough momma ates 3-4 placentas.  There is risk for diarrhea if  she ates more.

Good luck!

thats where i measured her temp is in her front arm pit and it was 99.1 just about 30 minutes ago. i watched a few videos on how moms have contarctions and she was acting the same way, i took her in the bathroom in her box and left her for a few hours and she booked out and ran in my kids bedroom i hope she doesnt have them in their anywhere. okay thanks again i wont use the iodine or the alcohol, unless i need to. i have sanitized everything and have clean towels and sheets and bulb suction dental floss, i didnt know that about the placenta i thought itd be better for her to eat them all but i wont let her. she is a patient their i just havent had $$ to take rher back self employed and i dont always get paid like my customers say they will do. its okay i will figure something out if i need to in case of emergency he gave me his number to call him if i have any problems o questions, thanks for the advice. ttyl pics to come when the babies arrive. 

adrienne

santanakitty said:

 
thats where i measured her temp is in her front arm pit and it was 99.1 just about 30 minutes ago. i watched a few videos on how moms have contarctions and she was acting the same way, i took her in the bathroom in her box and left her for a few hours and she booked out and ran in my kids bedroom i hope she doesnt have them in their anywhere. okay thanks again i wont use the iodine or the alcohol, unless i need to. i have sanitized everything and have clean towels and sheets and bulb suction dental floss, i didnt know that about the placenta i thought itd be better for her to eat them all but i wont let her. she is a patient their i just havent had $$ to take rher back self employed and i dont always get paid like my customers say they will do. its okay i will figure something out if i need to in case of emergency he gave me his number to call him if i have any problems o questions, thanks for the advice. ttyl pics to come when the babies arrive. 

adrienne

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That is the normal temp in there, its a little lower than in the rectum/behind.

Good you do have this vet who is willing to give you some opinions, although you arent counted yet as his paying patient.   Its really nice, not all do.

Good luck.