I think my cat is right near the end of her pregnancy but..

I have a pregnant cat and from what I have figured up, she was at 62 days on June 10th. She is huge, the kittens are moving a lot because I can feel them and her belly changes shape. I haven't taken her temperature because she hates it and I ran out of jelly. her nipples are pink, but the ones at the bottom, like the bottom 4 or very pink and full and big. and like little white balls on the ends but under the skin like milk. Nothing has leaked. When I gently squeezed one, Some leaked then but not on its own. I'm just wondering what will happen before she gives birth and if there will any signs that labor will be starting soon or in the next few days. She is still playing and eating and acting pretty normal beside the fact that she can't lay or bathe like she used to since shes big. I haven't noticed and discharge or nesting habits. I've had a bed set up for her for about 3 weeks now and she doesn't really go in it. Just once every few days. Just trying to find out when she will have these babies! I'm excited and since I'm not too sure when shes due or anything I don't want anything to be wrong and then its too late to save her or the kittens and take them to the vet. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated. Any experiences to share too!

@Red Top Rescue  can you post the links she needs.  Haven't figured it out yet.

bellaNbuster said:

 
I have a poregnant cat and from what I have figured up, she was at 62 days on June 10th. She is huge, the kittens are moving a lot because I can feel them and her belly changes shape. I haven't taken her temperature because she hates it and I ran out of jelly. her nipples are pink, but the ones at the bottom, like the bottom 4 or very pink and full and big. and like little white balls on the ends but under the skin like milk. Nothing has leaked. When I gently squeezed one, Some leaked then but not on its own. I'm just wondering what will happen before she gives birth and if there will any signs that labor will be starting soon or in the next few days. She is still playing and eating and acting pretty normal beside the fact that she can't lay or bathe like she used to since shes big. I haven't noticed and discharge or nesting habits. I've had a bed set up for her for about 3 weeks now and she doesn't really go in it. Just once every few days. Just trying to find out when she will have these babies! I'm excited and since I'm not too sure when shes due or anything I don't want anything to be wrong and then its too late to save her or the kittens and take them to the vet. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated. Any experiences to share too!

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As luck is, cats usually manage a little too long pregnancy better than humans.   What is the real danger, is too short pregnancy, alike a cesarean done too early.  Unlike humans.

So, yes, its often a dilemma this way.  With humans, when in doubt, its just to take the cesarean, the only problem is it costs if you dont have a good insurance.

With cats you must compare the risks to each other.

They take the nest often very late or even after delivery, in the wild they dont want it to become smelly or fleas infested too early.  But every sign sounds normal, and its nearing.  Had she dropped yet?

If taking the temp is improtant, you can either use such a modern ear termometre,  OR take measurement in armpit of the foreleg, and pretend its a new merry game to play.

The temp in the armpit is lower, a full Celsius grade, or 3F grades, and perhaps not so exact as in rectum, but you get fairly enough good.

Im sending my links.

Good luck!

Many 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.thecatsite.com/a/kitten-development-stages-illustrated-guide

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"  )  

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/hand-rearing-kittens

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/
http://www.kittenrescue.org/index.php/cat-care/kitten-care-handbook/
http://www.hdw-inc.com/glop.htm

Observe Goat milk is OK to use, if necessary, better than most glops.

Observe, if an orphan is much bloated, gas-filled, bloated, have colic, simethicone (google on it) may help.  1-2 drop in the bottle.

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

Thank you so much. Her kittens started moving around 5-7 days ago. So I may have mis calculated the time she got pregnant. I thought she dropped but she used to be wide and stick out on the sides and then it switches to being a little more narrow and he belly being low to ground. And then back wide. So I guess it's the kittens moving and changing the shape. I'm not sure what dropped would look like otherwise.

bellaNbuster said:

Thank you so much. Her kittens started moving around 5-7 days ago. So I may have mis calculated the time she got pregnant. I thought she dropped but she used to be wide and stick out on the sides and then it switches to being a little more narrow and he belly being low to ground. And then back wide. So I guess it's the kittens moving and changing the shape. I'm not sure what dropped would look like otherwise.

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Typically, she looks suddenly noticeably smaller...   Also, you dont feel the kittens move as much, and they are further down, between her back legs.

I still have no kittens!

Be patient! It's not time yet. You will know.

@bellaNbuster   do you have kittens yet?

Not yet. But they are moving a lot. I'm just so impatient.. I want to see them!

Good luck! Hoping everything goes well with the mother and kits!

Born this afternoon. Bella did great only had to help one time. She's eating and drinking now but she keeps crying. Her babies are fine so I'm not sure why she is.

Beautiful cat family!

She might need a bigger box.   She doesn't look too comfortable.  She'll need to stretch out whil feeding.

She may be having after pains, which are not pleasant. Also, she may feel overwhelmed. A cat's hormones are wacky after giving birth just like a woman's. Try to comfort her and give her attention. Do you have any kitten formula she could drink?

When she's hungry, mix a beaten raw egg into her wet food for extra protein.

She'll likely feel better tomorrow. Her kittens are beautiful!

Thank you! And I don't really have anything bigger. Any suggestions on what to use or get? She doesn't seem to want to stay with her babies. She feeds them but then she leaves and just walks around and meows. She loves for me to pet her and she's eating and drinking. She's peed but hasn't pooped yet but didn't eat much before birth so I'm not sure what's up. I guess she's just trying to handle it all.

I'm so excited they are finally here. I didn't say but there were 5, 2 black with little white chests and 3 orange. It's hard to tell in the picture. Lol

Are you in the states? If so, hit up Walmart for a big plastic bin for her and her kittens - without the lid, of course. The slits in the laundry basket present hazards for little kitten paws and heads, and with five, and how fast they grow, you will need more space.

Also grab a can of KMR at Walmart or the pet store for mom to drink. Kittens will drink it too when weaning.

Just encourage her to be with her kittens as much as possible. They need to nurse very frequently right now, even if you have to sit with her. She will likely settle in soon. New moms sometimes need a day or so to accept their new reality. And she will go poop when she needs to.

So cute!

How precious! Did you find a different nesting box? Is mama kitty staying with the kittens more now? They look good!