Pregnant cat! Help!

Hello. I have a one year old calico named Gidget. I know she got pregnant somewhere between Feb 27th and March 10th. She is very big and her nipples are obvious. I haven't seen any discharge but she has been licking her private areas and her belly a lot. She was breathing a bit heavily earlier but then started running around like normal. She bit me several times today just after she was unusually affectionate. (licking me All over my face) during this pregnancy she loved having her belly rubbed but this morning (when all this started) she bites and scratches. I haven't seen her nesting but I caught her hiding in my closet behind a curtain a bit ago. She was laying on my bed earlier purring for about 40 minutes and no one was touching her.... Sounded like a lot of sneezi g before it seemed she was breathi g harder. But she just got up and left. Is she in labor? She isn't usually affectionate so I felt the kittens move today but haven't looked before. Not sure what to do now .

It sounds like she's getting close. Set up some nest options around your home. They should be in secluded, warm, dark areas.

Now is also a good time to buy some kitten supplies. Get a scale so you can weigh them daily. Also a needleless syringe and kitten milk replacer (kmr) in case you need to supplement. Powdered by PetAg seems to be best.

Do you plan to spay mom when this litter is weaned?

Please use this thread to ask any questions that may come up. We'd love to see photos!

She was supposed to be fixed before this litter but circumstances arose and we kept postponing it. She will be immediately spayed as soon as the vet gives the all clear. She has several nesting spots and I have clean towels, scissors, and blankets on hand. There is a local feed store here that supplies kmr. I will go get some. She is also still eating. All the research I've done says she's not in labor but she is definitely not herself today. I'm glad I asked early. I hadn't thought of buying milk replacer! Thank you so much! From here is it going to be a 72 hour wait? Or can I expect kitties a bit sooner?

Gidget

She's a sweetie. It won't be long now.

Is Feb 27th the earliest possible date? If so she's still got at least a week.

Should I seclude her to one area? She is really wanting to pace and hide. If I lock her up will it stress her? I have many dark areas set up with blankets and nesting items. Should I let her find a place herself?

There isn't a great way to predict exactly how long it will be. Every cat is different.

Make sure she stays 100% inside and away from intact males until she can be spayed. Cats can get pregnant again within a week of delivery and without even going into heat again.

Kittens should stay with mom for 10-12 weeks, at which point they can also be spayed and neutered. You can charge an adoption fee, especially if it goes to their medical care!

That sounds like a great idea! Fortunately she is an inside only kitty and all of my other fur babies are altered. (She escaped early in the morning) We certainly did not want her pregnant by any means. While the kittens are immanent though, we can't help but suffer a bit of anticipation. I will keep this thread updated as she progresses! I will ask my local vet the cost of having them done all at once as soon as I am sure how many. We are guessing 3-4.

I would not lock her up in one room. She will pick one of her nesting spots when the time comes.

Okay. Thank you!

I have an update on Gidget! No kittens yet, but she has new symptoms. She now has diarrhea and sleeps constantly. I can hardly ever find her because she hides and is still unusually affectionate. Also, I'm a little concerned as her belly feels lumpy and hard. Any advice?

Lumpy and hard is typical of a pregnant cat's belly at the very end, just before labor. So is excessive sleeping and diarrhea. And affection. All sounds normal!

This morning Gidget is restless. She has tiny tiny white dots on the tips of at least 3 nipples. She is only drinking and maybe nibling her food a bit. But! I'm not getting my hopes up again because it just makes the wait more agonizing.

I'm getting a bit worried. She is hiding under my bed and won't come out. She is the type of cat that will come when she is called every time. I can touch her but she won't come out. She hasn't been sleeping at all today! Eek! Is she okay? Is this labor?

She got on my bed. This is her baby belly.

There we go! I had to do it from the lap top.

Does it look like she is having pre labor contractions?

The white dots are dried milk. It's hard to tell, but appears to be kitten movement. She's getting close though. Try to be patient!

Update on my Gidget. No kittens yet but she looks like if I poked her she'd pop! Still eating and just loving.
On another note; I love this site! I can't tell you how much I appreciate you all going through this with me and Gidget. We appreciate it. I would like to keep this forum updated through her and her babies spay and finding their forever homes if I could!