First time pregnant cat... What should i expect?

meggymoo

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So, my cat Meg is pregnant, she has a long story but is a rescue and came to me a few weeks pregnant. She has had 2 vet visits (4 weeks to confirm pregnancy, and 6 weeks to check weight gain) had an ultrasound on 27th jan which dated her just over 6 weeks. This means she would have roughly a week to go. The scan showed 3 healthy kittens, with another possibility to the left hand side of the image (we couldnt get a clearer image due to movement) I have already made 2 nests in the house (one upstairs one downstairs) so far she prefers the downstairs nest. She is on kitten foor, dry and wet, eating well and completely healthy :) What signs should i look out for that labour will be in the next day or two? Ive tried researching online but most advice refers to the hours before labour. Any advice would be very welcome :) i will post her scan image when i figure out how :lol3:
 

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We have a good collection of articles in the Cat Health section which you can access by scrolling up to the brown bar, clicking on Articles,and then choosing the Cat Health section and scrolling through the choices.  To make this super easy for you, I am copying some of the links regarding birth, delivery and newborns for you here.  After reading this information, let us know if you have any more questions.  And good luck with your approaching new arrivals.
 
Birth, Delivery and Newborns

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cat-pregnancy
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/how-do-i-know-when-my-cat-will-give-birth
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/pregnant-cat-what-to-prepare-for-the-birth
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/help-my-cat-is-having-kittens
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/post-birth-complications-in-cats
 

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If your cat was around 6 weeks along on Jan. 27th, she likely will not be full term until the end of next week at least - around the 19th to 20th of this month. Cat pregnancy runs on average about 65 days, so if the ultrasound is accurate, you will not see labor for another couple of weeks.
 
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meggymoo

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Thank you, as far as i was told when i took her in, she had got out on 11th dec. The ultrasound showed she was 6-7 weeks, definately over 6 so time adds up to what i was told when i took her in. She has become ever so affectionate over the last day or two, calling for me and grooming alot more (she is long haired) her appetite is normal though, not decreased at all.
 

Sarthur2

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Oh, if she mated on Dec. 11th, then you are correct. She has about a week to go. She is exhibiting all the signs of being close to her due date as well. [emoji]128522[/emoji]
 
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meggymoo

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Thanks, what else should i look out for? Her nipples are almost impossible to get to, as she is so furry :lol3: i managed to check them this afternoon briefly as she wanted a belly rub, and they looked and felt a little crusty (for want of the right word lol) surely its too early for her to be producing milk yet? Is it normally overnight that cats go into labour or can it vary massively? Xx
 
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meggymoo

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Ok great, just so i can make sure house is lovely and quiet for her x
 

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If she's leaking milk, she's within a week of labor. The crust is dried milk drops. If she's chapped from licking her nipples, put olive or vegetable oil on them. No baby oil.
 
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meggymoo

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Thanks, will try that. Will keep everyone updated on any other signs. No doubt ill be asking more advice when she goes into labour. X
 

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I don't blame her for choosing the downstairs nest. I hated stairs when I was pregnant- stairs, steps, getting off the couch, walking... Pretty much anything to do with moving! Hehe. In all seriousness though, I think it also has to do with being closer to the ground. It seems most momma's prefer downstairs or even basement nests.

It sounds like you have a bombastic vet too! An untrasound! I've never had a vet even offer an untrasound unless there was cause for alarm. That's super cool!

Post pictures of Momma and her nest! I'm sure everyone would love to see. I especially love the belly growth pictures. I'm so nutty for pregnant momma's and their kittens. [emoji]128571[/emoji][emoji]128571[/emoji][emoji]128571[/emoji]
 
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meggymoo

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Oh, the ultrasound was something i paid for privately, the vet was dreadful! Hes always been so good previously though which is why i went back to him. At 4 weeks he confirmed pregnancy and we talked through the options (spay or keep) Meg was underweight, bad teeth decay for her age (18 months) and probably had worms when she came to me the week before. I decided i would let her have this litter and spay her as soon as possible afterwards. He treated her for worms, sent me home with another appt in 2 weeks to re-check her weight. I started her on kitten food, and she improved massively :) two weeks later he checked again and couldnt feel the kittens at all (bearing in mind she was 6-7 weeks) he offered to book her in for an xray, which i wouldnt get to see, and then spay same day if not pregnant. I didnt trust that he wouldnt just spay anyway (as he was very pushy with it at the first appt) so i took her home and arranged a private ultrasound. It was an awful lot cheaper than the vet too. Meg is now doing brilliantly and i have rang him to let him know the score.


I will try to get a good picture of meg in her nest downstairs, although today she hasnt stayed still for long at all. Tossing and turning and up and down bless her.

She is very long haired so a pic from the top and side really doesnt do her any justice haha! I do have this one though, which was taken last week and makes me giggle. This is her undignified, pregnant cat/beach whale pose. Xx
 

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Oh, the ultrasound was something i paid for privately, the vet was dreadful! Hes always been so good previously though which is why i went back to him. At 4 weeks he confirmed pregnancy and we talked through the options (spay or keep) Meg was underweight, bad teeth decay for her age (18 months) and probably had worms when she came to me the week before. I decided i would let her have this litter and spay her as soon as possible afterwards. He treated her for worms, sent me home with another appt in 2 weeks to re-check her weight. I started her on kitten food, and she improved massively :) two weeks later he checked again and couldnt feel the kittens at all (bearing in mind she was 6-7 weeks) he offered to book her in for an xray, which i wouldnt get to see, and then spay same day if not pregnant. I didnt trust that he wouldnt just spay anyway (as he was very pushy with it at the first appt) so i took her home and arranged a private ultrasound. It was an awful lot cheaper than the vet too. Meg is now doing brilliantly and i have rang him to let him know the score.


I will try to get a good picture of meg in her nest downstairs, although today she hasnt stayed still for long at all. Tossing and turning and up and down bless her.

She is very long haired so a pic from the top and side really doesnt do her any justice haha! I do have this one though, which was taken last week and makes me giggle. This is her undignified, pregnant cat/beach whale pose. Xx
Aw, that's sad that he was a pain, bug if she was in bad health, I can understand him being pushy out of personal concern, but all doctors, even vets, especially if men, have a certain way of being push that really upsets me. I've had a lot of bad experience with doctors, though, so I'm probably being biased, even if it seems the general consensus. I'm glad he wormed her though! Having worms on top of being pregnant would have sucked something fierce.

If she's pacing and tossing and turning, check her breathing and watch for signs of precontactions. She might be starting the first phase of labour. Sounds like she's pretty close if not right up on it!
 
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meggymoo

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Meg in her downstairs nest

Side view (she just looks like her legs have shrunk, shes very petite anyway)

Top view (hard to get as she hasnt be moving around much this afternoon, just sitting and sleeping)

See what i mean about her being all fur?! Im also wondering what a mix of colours/ fur length her kittens will be haha. Dad is a grey bengal. With only 3 legs (shes not discriminitive [emoji]128514[/emoji])

Went out and bought KMR today and bottles to have on standby. In the UK so got beaphar, heard it mentioned in a positive light on here a couple of times x
 

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She is so fluffy and cuddly looking! You made very good decisions regarding the private ultrasound versus the private vet. Excellent head on your shoulders. Give mom a daily dish of the KMR. She needs the extra calcium. Keep us posted!
 

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She may be fluffy, but I see the bump! It's hard to tell under that fur, but it looks like the kittens are also shifting towards the birth canal or already there! Just keep watching for her rear to get super wet or even goopey. That'll let you know if her plug has or is passing.

I really love that beached whale pose she is in! Petting her belly, if she'll let you, when she's posed like that will help her along, and gentle play, if she's interested, can help get the blood flowing and the hormones going.
 
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meggymoo

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She loves having her belly petted, lies for hours of an evening on the sofa with me. Havent noticed any wetness but she is constantly cleaning herself. She isnt due till the weekend (by my counting) so we could be in for a long wait [emoji]128532[/emoji] hope not though. Im too excited haha! Will the kittens all be long haired like mum or a mix? Can you tell straight away or does it take a few weeks? Xx
 

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Oh, I reread the rest of the thread again. Yeah, you may have a long wait still. Dang! I'm excited too!

Still, the cleaning and pacing and sleeping are good signs she's getting ready!

There's no way to tell if the kittens will be long haired or not unless you know the line of the father too. I'm going to say there's a good chance at least a couple will be long haired! If they are born with pretty dense fur, even if it's not long right away, you can usually tell, but then again, I've seen some boren pretty thin that fluffed out a week later to at least a medium length.
 
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