How long til my foster cat gives birth

I've been fostering a pregnant stray for a week now. I took her to the Vet who couldn't guage how far along she is, he just said she was in her last few weeks. She looks like she has swallowed a rugby ball sideways, no mistaking she is quite pregnant. She putrs like crazy whenever I go into the rokm and loves to roll onto her back and let me stroke her belly. Her nipples look like they have swelled during the week, the hair around the nipples has fallen out and they look more pink now than they did before. She ley me touch her nipples last week but is not keen on me touching them now. the kittens can be felt, although they are not moving around very much which concerns me. She is not eating as much as I expected. Any ideas as to when she might deliver? Thanks

Cats usually deliver 2-3 weeks after you first see the kittens moving.  There are not many signs after that until a day or two before she delivers.  Here are some articles that  will help you figure out what to look for.
[article="31496"]How Do I Know When My Cat Will Give Birth  [/article][article="31379"]Pregnant Cat What To Prepare For The Birth  [/article][article="29720"]Pregnancy And Delivery In Cats  [/article]
Keep using this thread for any questions you may have.

Thanks I will have a look. Just had a read through. Some great advice there, thanks. I'm guessing nothing will be happening tonight so I'm off to bed. Tomorrow is another day.

Ohhhhhhhhh I should add that the Vet said she is about 4 years old and has had multi pregnancies. She has 11 nipples. Does this mean I should expect a large litter. Definitely going to bed now lol. Momma has had me running her belly for almost 2 hours!!!

Are you planning on getting her spayed when the kittens are old enough?

I'm not keeping her, I'm just fostering her. I have found a good home for her and the new owners have promised to have her neutered. I'm now looking for homes for her kittens. Thankfully I have found 1 home. I'm having mom micro chipped with the new owners details and the new owner will repay me the £10. Also the kittens will be fully vaccinated and chipped. Again I will present the new owner with the records and receipt and ask that they reimburse me. I am used to fostering cats and kittens but pregnant queens are pretty new to me. I'm like a cat in a hot tin roof waiting for her big day. As I've only recently had her I don't know how far gone she is or anything about her. She is such a beautiful cat and so loving I'm desperate to make sure everything goes smoothly for her. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Just to say that I have 3 cats already all of which are rescues and neutered, I just can't keep them all but will never turn a cat away and will always try to find a new home. Any injured or poorly cats I take straight to the RSPCA which are based 10 min from my house. I just wish people would be more responsible and considerate about their moggys.

The only way to tell how far along she is would be an x-ray at the vet. Otherwise, just make a nest for her, feed her wet and dry food, and be patient.

The number of nipples is not indicative of the size of the litter. Litter size depends on how many times a cat mates during a heat cycle.

If she's had multiple litters (poor gal), she's very experienced and will likely do fine.

Why don't you have her spayed when you have her chipped, before re-homing her, then ask for both fees back from the new owner? Then you can be sure that she will never have to go through pregnancy again, and the new owners will not have to arrange her spay.

Sounds like you have a very kind heart for strays - bless you!

Thank you sarthur2 such a nice comment and a really good idea. I will give my Vet a call tomorrow and explain that although she is not mine I am taking responsibility if her prior to rehoming. I think I'm fussing more because I don't know her too well so its hard for me to guage how she is feeling. She seems very happy and relaxed , she purrs whenever I go into the room and comes to greet me. I feel awful keeping her in a separate rokm but I have 3 cats of my own and want to keep them apart. I keep thinking "that's another day gone, here comes tomorrow." The Vet did say that cats Cope better with being overdue than humans. I think I'm trying to overcompensate because she's had just a tough time. Although i can feel movement it has dropped off abit lately. I really cannot wait for the kittens arrive so I know they are all safe and healthy.any advice will always be welcomed. Thank you

Don't feel bad for keeping her separate.  She will not want any other animals near her or her kittens for the first 3 or 4 weeks.  She will be very protective and attack the other animals.  It will also stress her out and you don't want that.

Ok so ive just gotten home and moggy was lay on the floor and didnt purr at me me as usual. So gave her the kitten wet food as normal and she ate half then lay back down. I noticed her brrathing sounded heavy and she didnt come to me for fuss, and still no purring. Then she suddenly got up and went and sat in the nest and hasnt come out since. Its been about 15 min now and she is still sat quietly in the nest. Coukd this but it?

This could be the start of something

Keep the updates coming! Sending positive labor vibes to mama kitty

She may want you nearby.  She could have been waiting for you to come home before giving birth.

Well it been more than half an hour and moggy is still in the nest, which is unheard of for this little fuss pot. She had her head at the entrance to the nest so i began stroking her ears and she began to purr. The she rolled onto her back so i reached further in and began stroking her belly. Ohhhh, she has just come out for a nibble on some dry food and is purring at me again. Now i am really confused. Just waiting to see what she does next .........(at this rate i think i might be sleeping in here tonight just in case) well she has had a wee and is now lay by my feet. Looks like its still the waiting game. But i will keep you posted.

Yep im still sat here with moggy. She is now sat in here bed )which is separate from her nest) and is grooming her belly. Whenever i bend down to stroke her she stops grooming and gives me some lovely purring but once i take my hand away she starts grooming again. She will be one very clean cat today i can tell you. Her breathing still seems noisier than normal, but only slightly. She is not panting or showing any signs of being in pain. Ive felt the kittens move this evening which is reassuring. Its almost 8pm here in the uk so i may be in for a long night. I will probably stay with her tonight simply because of the change in her behaviour.

She is acting like a cat who is either in early labor or preparing to go into labor soon.

Thanks youve been fab sarthur2. I guess i am excited but more than that due to the fact that i know nothing of her history and that she has been living as a stray im worried about her and her kittens. I will be so relieved when they finally arrive and god willing they are all safe and well. On a positive note I've spoken to my vet and she will be spayed before rehoming and the adopting owners are happy to reimburse me.

That's great news on the pre-adoption spay plan and reimbursement!

It is very difficult when you do not know a cat's history. Most likely the kittens will be healthy, though I know you'll be relieved to know for sure!