Pregnant Mama doesn't want to be confined!

We brought home a stray that about 5 weeks ago, about  week and a half ago we realized that she was pregnant.  She is an outdoor cat and LOVES her freedom.  We actually have no idea where she sleeps, just that she is always back in the morning for breakfast. we have been working very hard to make our detatched laundry room a place where she feels safe and comfortable. There are 5 boxes of various sizes with different cat like attractions (one low and dark, one large and soft, one very hidden etc) in the laundry room and we are hoping that she can find one of them suitable for the kittens' arrival. We can't bring her inside the house because she fights with our indoor only cat.

Over the past few days we have been fairly certain (from what we have read on the internet) that she will have the kittens very soon. Her nipples are pink and elongated with little crusty bits at the end (dried milk from what we have read) she just seems to move very laboriously (just like me when I am 9 months pregnant), we have felt the kittens move,  she was eating ravenously over that past 2 weeks  but seems to be eating a normal cat's portion now.

 2 nights ago we shut her in for the night and she escaped from the locked cat door twice and after that we let her go.  Last night she didn't escape because we took measures but she really tried very hard to get out.  She meows pathetically when we look in on her through the window and tries to run out the door when we open it.  I hate to see her unhappy but we are just so very worried that she will have the kittens outside and they will not be safe and/or we will never find them.  We don't have any idea how old mama is or if this is her first litter or not.  But I also am concerned that the stress of not being able to get out is bad for her and the kittens.  

I would love advice on how to care for mama cat while we are waiting for the kittens and what do do to keep her in after the kittens arrive before it is safe to spay her.  I would not like to have to do this all over again in 10 weeks

This will be our first litter too.

This is tough. You either leave the cat door unlocked so she can come and go, and risk not knowing where the kittens are, or you leave her locked in for good.

She is accustomed to her freedom, but the safest bet is to leave her locked in until she can be spayed after the kittens are weaned. She will calm down eventually.

I had a similar situation...once she has her kittens and realizes they are safe with you she will not be asking to go out.  She is nervous her kittens will not be safe with you.

No kittens yet. She has stopped trying to escape and meowing pathetically. Last night she was super affectionate and was breathing pretty fast. Today she is affectionate but breathing normally. she seems to want my company but nothing happens when I hang out. Is there a timeline for kittens that I can reasonably expect? I haven't really been able to make any plans becaus I am on kitten watch.

Not really. Sounds like maybe she was having a little pre-labor. Probably next day or two from your description. I'm glad she has accepted being an indoor cat now!

Thanks for the reply!

Since I posted  last she has retreated to the back of the pet carrier (one of the places we prepared) and doesn't come out when I come to visit (very unusual) so maybe she has found her spot.

Sending positive labor & delivery thoughts to you & your soon to be mama kitty. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

She may be ready to give birth.  any kittens yet?

here is an article that you may want to read.  It's an overview of the process.

 [article="29720"]Pregnancy And Delivery In Cats​[/article]  

Let us know as things progress!

No kittens yet.  When we go visit her in the laundry room she is super   affectionate, otherwise she seems like a normal sleepy cat.  I wish I knew if she wants me to hang around or would rather privacy.

I think she'll let you know as she begins labor if she wants you around. It sounds as though she is content for now to be in a safe environment.

I am getting so discouraged.  Maybe I was reading the signs wrong?  For the past 2 days she has been very affectionate but in every other respect she seems like a normal cat.  I hate to think that we locked her up weeks before the kittens arrive but she really does have grey-ish crusty things on the tip of her nipples which are elongated. And she looks very big and uncomfortable.  She is a small boned cat (compared to our inside cat) though, maybe she just LOOKS bigger than she is?

It sounds like she's close, and being inside is much safer than outside. It's always hard to know when a cat will deliver. She really is getting there. You're doing the right thing .

Also, if she has milk crusted on her nipples she is probably within a couple of days of giving birth.

I first noticed the milk on Thursday.

Getting milk in is a sign she's very close, but it can come in early. Some cats get no milk until after they deliver. Clearly your cat got her milk early.

Have you noticed any discharge or if her vulva is dilating?

No discharge that I have seen, Saturday evening we could see her vulva but today I can't.  She doesn't really appreciate me looking either

here is her belly

She's big alright! Cats usually lick away the discharge pretty quickly. I feel certain she will go into labor fairly soon since she has her milk.

Still no kittens.