Pregnant Cat Advice Please

Hello,
My cat is between 8 and 9 weeks pregnant. Her kittens were bulging on her sides and very active. I noticed today that she looks thinner and the kittens are not as active. 

I could not find the kittens on her sides. So I was gently feeling around for them and they seem to have moved into her belly. I was wondering does that mean she is going to have them soon? Thanks

Yes, she has apparently dropped, and its very near now.  3 days at most?

Good luck!

Some links:

 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.thecatsite.com/a/pregnancy-and-delivery-in-cats

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"  )  

Lovelife said:

 
Hello,
My cat is between 8 and 9 weeks pregnant. Her kittens were bulging on her sides and very active. I noticed today that she looks thinner and the kittens are not as active. 

I could not find the kittens on her sides. So I was gently feeling around for them and they seem to have moved into her belly. I was wondering does that mean she is going to have them soon? Thanks

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Wow thank you for all the information! I will read through it before the babies arrive. I do need advice about something else my Mama cat is doing that is a bit odd.

She has been nesting for a week or so. I came home from work today and went to check on Mama cat. I found her in her nest. She has my younger cat in the nest with her NURSING on her nipples. I gently took him off of her nipples and Mama cat put out her paw and pulled him back and actually growled at me. She has never growled before. She is always loving and affectionate. Obviously she was acting like I was taking her "baby" from her, even though she hasn't had her kittens yet.I have no idea how long he was nursing on her. 

What should I do? I  know her babies will need that early milk. Why is she doing that? Is that something they do before their babies come? 

Lots of pregnant mama cats want a younger cat to nurse them when they are getting close to birthing. How old is the younger cat? Is mama cat's milk in yet?

If mama wants this cat with her now it's okay. However, it will not be okay after the kittens are born.

My younger cat is 9 months old and my mama cat has been close to her since the day I brought her home. Yes her milk is in and she was actively nursing off of the mama cat. 

Her milk came in a few days ago and since then her nipples went from full and pink to very full and dark pink (almost red). 

There isn't any discharge yet, but I did notice earlier that her crotch area is bigger than it was yesterday. Not swollen like before they birth, just bigger. Tummy is kind of hard and tight feeling. Kittens seem to be lower in her belly than they were. 

It certainly sounds like her body is getting very close to going into labor. The suckling may help stimulate her labor. Like I said, the 9-month-old may offer comfort to her now, but should not nurse once the babies arrive.

Let us know how things go!

Still no kittens! We are playing the waiting game. Mama cat has more tired than usual today. I figure she is gearing up. She spent most of the day sleeping in her nest box and nibbling her food. Not as much as in the past few weeks, but still quite a bit.  For now I am letting the younger cat nurse on her, as long as Mama is ok with it. 

While she was laying on her side, I was able to really see how full her nipples are. She has milk leaking out, I can see why she has been encouraging my younger cat to nurse. Expressing that milk probably is making her more comfortable. I have had pregnant cats before, but have never seen one with milk like this before the babies arrived. 

Question do cats do things to try to go into labor? I am asking because my cat is doing things that make me thing she is trying to get things started, the way a woman does when her baby is due. 

Since 6 am this morning, my Mama cat has been running, climbing her cat tree, getting the younger cat to nurse a LOT, did I mention running? From one end of the house to the other like a mad man? This is very odd behavior for her to begin with. She has never been a cat that zooms around the house like that.. 

Lovelife said:

 
Question do cats do things to try to go into labor? I am asking because my cat is doing things that make me thing she is trying to get things started, the way a woman does when her baby is due. 

Since 6 am this morning, my Mama cat has been running, climbing her cat tree, getting the younger cat to nurse a LOT, did I mention running? From one end of the house to the other like a mad man? This is very odd behavior for her to begin with. She has never been a cat that zooms around the house like that.. 

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Interesting. But this may be differerent "funny" feelings.  For example, when our younger boy has some problems with stomach, some constipation, he is running around, there is an air of being desperate even...

It may be somehting alike that.

If she allows rubbing of tummy, do so.  Its nice for them, and it helps somewhat to get the hormones flowing.

I have been taking your advice and rubbing her tummy a bit. Is it normal for her milk to be fully in before her kittens are even born? As I was rubbing her tummy, milk was leaking out of every nipple and they are overly full. When she was eating a bit ago, she left behind small puddles of milk from where it was leaking out of her nipples while she was eating. Is this something that should concern me at this point? 

Yes, that's normal.

Please also be aware that your cat can get pregnant again quite soon after delivery - even a week. Don't allow her outside or near any intact makes until the kittens are weaned at 8 weeks. She can be spayed then.

talkingpeanut said:

Yes, that's normal.

Please also be aware that your cat can get pregnant again quite soon after delivery - even a week. Don't allow her outside or near any intact makes until the kittens are weaned at 8 weeks. She can be spayed then.

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Thank you! She has had milk for a few days, just not leaking out like that. Yes we are planning to have her spayed once her kittens are weaned. She doesn't go outside, and my boys are neutered. 

So I came home from work and my husband told me that when he fed the cats he noticed Mama cat had something off-white on her private area. When asked he said it looked like mucus, an off white color that he noticed because she walked by him with her tail in the air - the way she does at mealtime. Unfortunately he did not think to further look to see how much or what it really was. I checked Mama cat and there is no discharge at all. (It was several hours ago that he saw the discharge) 

Does that sound like the mucus plug? 

Probably.

Advice please - is this labor???? Ok now I checked her again, she is nursing my younger cat AND she has mucus coming out of her. She isn't licking it, etc. she is just laying on her side contentedly nursing my younger cat. My husband said that is what he saw earlier. I can't tell if she is dialating or not.  I don't know whether to stay up or go to bed. I am afraid if I go to bed that she will go into active labor without me there. 

As long as she isnt in active fruitless labor, I guess its just to observe and wait...  Such can take long time.

Visible distress, and fruitless long active labor are alarming.  As now it seems OK.   

Lovelife said:

 
Advice please - is this labor???? Ok now I checked her again, she is nursing my younger cat AND she has mucus coming out of her. She isn't licking it, etc. she is just laying on her side contentedly nursing my younger cat. My husband said that is what he saw earlier. I can't tell if she is dialating or not.  I don't know whether to stay up or go to bed. I am afraid if I go to bed that she will go into active labor without me there. 

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Still no kittens yet! My vet said the same thing  That it can take a few days after losing the plug. Some discharge, but not active labor yet. 

Its baby time! Mama is in labor. So excited, but nervous

Help please - Mama cat had a kitten an hour or so ago. She is being a great Mom so far! How do I know if she is done?

After the 1 kitten came she has cleaned him up, nursed him, got fresh bedding from me. She got up out of the nest and drank

half a bowl of water, ate some dry food, went to the bathroom and is back in the nest. She is purring, content and happy. Actually just

got up again and is now drinking more water. 

I cannot tell if she has more kittens or not. How do I know if she is done? What do I feel for? 

@talkingpeanut   you seem to know a lot about cats having kittens can you look at my question above and give me some input please? 
Thank you so much!!