Pregnant Cat still not going into Labor, Help Please

islandcalico

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Hi there,

So my husband and I rescued a beautiful calico kitten about 9 months old, that had been abandoned, we rescued her about 2 months ago, we had suspected she was pregnant when we got her, well, she is definitely pregnant, you can see the kittens popping around inside her, she is a lovely girl and we plan to have her spayed and kittens re-homed. Anyways, now to the troubles, I took her into the vet at 4pm yesterday, at this time her temp had dropped to 37.6, I was told she would go into labor, she obviously didn't, I thought last night for sure because she became very vocal, trying to get outside, which she never does, then it all stopped, she's started up for a while again tonight with the vocals, she would call to me and purr loudly, and have me follow her to her nesting box, she would lay down in her nesting box and purr loudly, then she stopped, I left the room because I had to get a glass of water and turned around and she was right behind me, this happened another 5 or 6 times, I finally got up and am now writing this on my computer, she is right beside me. She has always been very clingy and that's fine with me, so I'm not judging the clingyness as a sign of impending labor at this point, today her milk came in and it's very noticeable, the kittens are still very active and she is cleaning herself, the hair around her nipples is gone, she has no discharge that I have seen and she looks very peaceful, I can't get her temp because she refuses to let me (don't really blame her), I am worried she may need a cesarean which is 1200 as most of you already know I'm sure, this is a HUGE amount of money for me, and honestly I really don't have it, I can pull it out of my butt if I need to but I would rather her have a smooth non-invasive pregnancy at home (obviously). Has anyone had a cat take a little longer than 60 something days to give birth before? Do any of her signs point to an impending labor soon? She is currently just laying peacefully on the couch, I don't know what to do *sigh*. I love my fur friend and I feel very helpless right now....

Cheers

Fawn
 

StefanZ

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Hi there,

So my husband and I rescued a beautiful calico kitten about 9 months old, that had been abandoned, we rescued her about 2 months ago, we had suspected she was pregnant when we got her, well, she is definitely pregnant, you can see the kittens popping around inside her, she is a lovely girl and we plan to have her spayed and kittens re-homed. Anyways, now to the troubles, I took her into the vet at 4pm yesterday, at this time her temp had dropped to 37.6, I was told she would go into labor, she obviously didn't, I thought last night for sure because she became very vocal, trying to get outside, which she never does, then it all stopped, she's started up for a while again tonight with the vocals, she would call to me and purr loudly, and have me follow her to her nesting box, she would lay down in her nesting box and purr loudly, then she stopped, I left the room because I had to get a glass of water and turned around and she was right behind me, this happened another 5 or 6 times, I finally got up and am now writing this on my computer, she is right beside me. She has always been very clingy and that's fine with me, so I'm not judging the clingyness as a sign of impending labor at this point, today her milk came in and it's very noticeable, the kittens are still very active and she is cleaning herself, the hair around her nipples is gone, she has no discharge that I have seen and she looks very peaceful, I can't get her temp because she refuses to let me (don't really blame her), I am worried she may need a cesarean which is 1200 as most of you already know I'm sure, this is a HUGE amount of money for me, and honestly I really don't have it, I can pull it out of my butt if I need to but I would rather her have a smooth non-invasive pregnancy at home (obviously). Has anyone had a cat take a little longer than 60 something days to give birth before? Do any of her signs point to an impending labor soon? She is currently just laying peacefully on the couch, I don't know what to do *sigh*. I love my fur friend and I feel very helpless right now....

Cheers

Fawn
Yes, its common it takes longer then the prescribed 65 days.  Cats seems to manage a little too long pregnancie better than a too short - kittens manage badly to being premature.  And thus, a cesarean, unless in real emergency for mom, is dangerous for the kittens.  Unlike with humans.

Here, she doesnt seem to be in any active labor, no?  So observe, but you can surely calmly wait.

Rub her tummy if she so wants.  it helps!

But if you suspected she WAS in labor, and a kitten got stuck - than its a hurry...

Here, her spells of purring, I think its some sort of precontractions.  Quite common.  But as I understand, its not really an active labor as yet.

Also, if the kittens are very active, they had probably not gone into the birthing position yet, so its not sure the delivery is immenently close.

You can take her temp in the armpit of foreleg.  The temp in there is typically a full Celsius grade lower, and is not as exact as in the behind, but you will still get the idea.
 

di and bob

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I agree, as long as she isn't in distress and not crying out in pain, she should be fine. I've had cats that I thought went WAY over the amount of time needed,they were SO uncomfortable and I felt so sorry for them, and they were fine. But at least your little one can be watched and taken in if she runs into trouble. I would bet she will do just fine, all the luck, and keep us posted! 
 

Sarthur2

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She was probably experiencing some early contractions that stopped. There is no need to panic. She sounds like the typical pregnant cat who will deliver normally fairly soon. Be patient.
 
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islandcalico

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Thank you all for the replies, I really appreciate them! At 4:19 this morning Sugar the cat woke me up and had three beautiful healthy kittens, they are calico, grey blue and white and orange and white! I will post some pictures when they are up and about, and will not be using flash as to not hurt their eyes. (:
 
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