When will she go in to labour? Eden and her Kittens

Hey there...
I have just reached a pregnant stray that was living under a tree at work for the last month...
I was originally told by a vet that she was probably only 3 weeks pregnant so was going to have her spayed but then a few days before the procedure I started feeling the kittens move in her belly soni couldn't go through with it.
It has now been 2 weeks since I felt them move... Her belly is pretty big, still movement from the kittens although that's decreased now that they've gotten bigger... From everything I've read she should pretty much be having the kittens now-ish... But I've seen no nesting behaviour, no milk, no mucus plug... Nothing to indicate she is anywhere near having them.
I wouldn't be concerned but I have to go away for work on Thursday until Monday and am worried she is going to have them while I'm gone...mainly because she seems off her food and even before then seems to only eat if I'm actually in the room with her...
When is she gonna give birth already?!
Is it bad for her and the kittens do me to put her through the stress of taking her to work with me for those 4 days?
What if she gives birth by herself when I'm away then doesn't eat cos I'm not there?
I've arranged for a friend to come each day to check on her etc but my protective mama bear instincts are kicking in.
Advice appreciated... And yes... She and the kittens are being desexed ASAP

GardenofEden said:

Hey there...
I have just reached a pregnant stray that was living under a tree at work for the last month...
I was originally told by a vet that she was probably only 3 weeks pregnant so was going to have her spayed but then a few days before the procedure I started feeling the kittens move in her belly soni couldn't go through with it.
It has now been 2 weeks since I felt them move... Her belly is pretty big, still movement from the kittens although that's decreased now that they've gotten bigger... From everything I've read she should pretty much be having the kittens now-ish... But I've seen no nesting behaviour, no milk, no mucus plug... Nothing to indicate she is anywhere near having them.
I wouldn't be concerned but I have to go away for work on Thursday until Monday and am worried she is going to have them while I'm gone...mainly because she seems off her food and even before then seems to only eat if I'm actually in the room with her...
When is she gonna give birth already?!
Is it bad for her and the kittens do me to put her through the stress of taking her to work with me for those 4 days?
What if she gives birth by herself when I'm away then doesn't eat cos I'm not there?
I've arranged for a friend to come each day to check on her etc but my protective mama bear instincts are kicking in.
Advice appreciated... And yes... She and the kittens are being desexed ASAP

Yes,

Click to expand...

Yes, the kittens should come during this week...  Many cats nest and gets milks afterwards, so this is no sure thing.

Cats dont want to have their nest smelly and flea infested too early, so its common they deliver at some provisorical nest, and move to their permanent nest later on. The milk not coming in at all is unusual, but coming late or even after birth, isnt unusual...

Has she dropped? it looks alike she suddenly gets less big. Typically the kitten being in the birthing canal, dont move as much.

If she wishes for tummy rubs, do so!

Take her to the job or let a friend visit. it depends on.  I suspect the best is to have this friend come.  After all, she was homeless so long, so she isnt expecting human help. She is happy to deliver her children somewhere sheltered, with food and water, and no predators nearby.

Let the friend come and visit her already now, let the friend prepare.

Let the friend be member here in this forum, so shehe can ask for help online...

Do  you need links?  I understand you have already searched and read some?

Tx for helping this little sis of ours!

Good luck!

Ok so still no sign of babies!
Eden has gotten much bigger while I was away and the kittens are still moving lots... She still hasn't removed the hair from her nipples, started nesting or anything however she now Alamos feels like she has a "six pack" on the underside of her belly... It's not her kittens I don't think... They look well and truly suck to her sides still... Is this her milk coming in?
I have to go back to work for 3 days again in 36 hours... Losing hope that I'll be here for her during labour... But also feeing like its never going to happen! Haha
So much more nerve wracking than either of my pregnancies!

If you took her to work with you would you be able to spend more time with her? Keep her in a safe room with a nest, food, water, litter box, etc? It might actually be a good alternative.

My rescue cat just had her kittens... I came home from work to discover she had decided to have them in my shower on a towel. I made a nearing box for her in the wardrobe however when I tried to move the kittens in there she growled then bit one of them... Not sure if she was grabbing it to take it back to the shower, I quickly picked up all the kittens and put hem back in the shower on the towel. Now I'm worried that because I touched them and moved them she might kill them... Also worried they will die if they crawl on to the cold tiles. What should I do?

Can you put the nest in the shower and put the kittens in it?

Do you have another shower, or just the one?
If there's another one you can use, I'd just leave her where she wants to be.

GardenofEden said:

My rescue cat just had her kittens... I came home from work to discover she had decided to have them in my shower on a towel. I made a nearing box for her in the wardrobe however when I tried to move the kittens in there she growled then bit one of them... Not sure if she was grabbing it to take it back to the shower, I quickly picked up all the kittens and put hem back in the shower on the towel. Now I'm worried that because I touched them and moved them she might kill them... Also worried they will die if they crawl on to the cold tiles. What should I do?

Click to expand...

Nay, there is no danger for it.   If mom is stressed into extremis, she may kill them, but not because you toched them.  After all, most breeders and rescuers do weigh their kittens.

You can perhaps lay out more towels around, if you dont manage to move thim into a nest.

You've gotten good advice from others. It is safe to handle kittens and it won't impact mom's feelings toward them, but it's best whenyou handle them to do it slowly and in full view of mom to avoid her stressing out.

If it's not doing any harm to you I'd leave them there, but if it's the only shower and you need it, it should be okay to move them, but I'd follow the same general idea- slowly and in full view of mom. 

Regarding the cold tiles, kittens and mom understand to stay close to one another, and if kittens wander mom will generally retrieve them. Also, at this age kittens literally can't move pretty much, so chances of their 'wandering away' right now are nonexistent. However, if you are really concerned about this adding more towels or a blanket are a good idea like was also suggested above.

Hi there,

My cat had kittens two days ago and so far everything I've read says the kittens should gain 7-10 grams per day...
In the last two days the smallest has gained 17 grams and the biggest has gained 36! That seems like a lot to me!
Mama cat seems to be getting sick of the constant feeding and has started walking off and laying on the tiles or trying to get outside. She will leave for over ten minutes at a time. She goes back to them if they call out but then either sits ON them or lays quite away from them and just watches them squirm and squeal. Due to their gains I'm not worried about their eating... More about mama not regulating their temperature... Although it is 40 degrees Celsius here at the moment so maybe I don't need to worry about that?
I can also feel hard lumpiness on mama's side... Almost feels like there's another small kitten in there... Is that possible or is that what the uterus feels like afterwards?
Mama seems otherwise ok... Not sick seeming really... Other than a bigger than usual, slightly runnier than usual poo... Some spot bleeding and I also found a wet patch underneath her and the kittens but to me it didn't smell like wee... Oh and she seems to be breathing a bit faster and deeper than normal... But not open mouthed and still purring?
I have never dealt with pregnant cats before and have only had mama for a couple of weeks so not sure of her "usual" behaviour or if this is her first litter...
When... If at all... Should I step in?

The weight gain is fine.  The only reason to worry about weight is if it's less than it should be.  Really 7-15 grams a day is what I would say is normal but I don't see why you should be concerned if it's more. Are you weighing them at the same time every day? this is important if you want to be really accurate.

Moms usually know pretty well what they are doing. It is normal for them to leave for short periods (10 minutes is fine) and in nature they would do so to hunt. If it is really 40 celcius  I don't think it's  actually possible that these breaks will have a bad effect on the kittens. Going back when they call out is also normal, sitting on them can be normal too though usually this is sort of accidental.  If she hurts the kittens by doing so they will make a sound which she'll understand and move.

Basically you are right that weight gain and heat are most important and it sounds like there really isn't a problem on these two fronts.

It is harder to tell about mama cat from what you describe, The stomach normally should not feel very hard after birth though some swelling is normal. It can be possible for a cat to give birth to another kitten after the others though. Usually this would happen within a day but it can take a few days and this isn't impossible. I think the main question to ask yourself is does she seems distressed, in trouble, panting or whatever? If so contact a vet.   Does she seems content, happy with the situation, calmly busying herself with the kittens, etc? Then I'd keep observing carefully, but you can probably wait. If i doubt though I'd take her to a vet- it can be hard for us to tell from behind a computer how minor or major something really is, and a vet would have a much better chance of knowing.

Good luck

Your cat may have another kitten to deliver, or she may be having after pains. Keep us updated on her situation. You received good advice from Tulosai.