Not sure how far along my cat is in her pregnancy help?

I am having a similar issue I know my cat is pregnant but I can't tell how far along. She is a smaller cat so she is blown up like a balloon and her nipples are pink and big, I've had 4 litters of kittens and she's showing all the same signs but I can't tell when she's gonna have them! She is a barn cat and so I'm keeping her at my house until she has them so nothing gets them. I've made that mistake before and something got to the last litter I had.As far as I know this is her first litter and so I'm kind of nervous for her. I don't want to miss out on her kittens. I will attach some pictures to see if any of you guys have an idea of how far along she is.

It's hard to know, but if she's rapidly expanding, it may not be long. Have you seen or felt kitten movement yet? If so, birth is 2-3 weeks from when you first detected movement.

Have you brought her inside now? That's the safest way to go to protect her and her kittens. She also needs a nest, and as much wet and dry kitten food as she can eat. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

I have felt kitten movement and I do have her inside now I am working on making her a place to nest as well. I just brought her inside tonight as I kept missing her at the barn she tends to only come at feeding time. Sarthur2

Ah, so glad you have her in now! So she may be close, or have a couple of weeks left. But it's a good time for her to rest and acclimate while you wait! Is she eating well?

She seems to be eating fine but I was just about to feed her so I guess I will really find out lol!

Yes I just fed her and she is eating right now! She is eating very well in fact rather rapidly compared to her normal eating pace[emoji]9786[/emoji]

She's probably relieved to have access to unlimited food if she's been a barn cat. Pregnant cats are very hungry all the time. They need the nutrition. Leave dry food down 24/7, and fresh water. Wet food 3x/day. Is she using a litter box now?

She has access to food all the time and she doesn't use a litter box as she was never trained but she stays inside a lot of the day and is put outside (but at our house away from predators and dangers) the rest of the time. This is usually what I do when I get a liter of kittens and its worked very well in the past, I hope it will work just as well again! She is getting fatter by the day! Thank you for your help[emoji]9786[/emoji] Sarthur2

That's great! Can you fill a litter box with dirt or sand so she can begin to use it inside? You don't want her going outside after she has her kittens. She will probably learn to use it quickly. Do you plan to spay her after this litter?

Can you put a litter box with dirt or whatever she's used to inside? The risk is that she could run off and have the kittens outside, or that she could get pregnant again within a week of delivery.

Well actually she just had 5 baby kittens! They are adorable! I think we are going to spay her after this litter and she is living in our enclosed deck right now with her babies[emoji]9786[/emoji] It's perfect since she can exit whenever she wants but the kittens can't! I will post pictures of the babies on here for you guys! Thank you so much for the tips[ @] Sarthur2

Congratulations on the babies!! So cute.

You don't want mom to get out, though. She can get pregnant again within a week, and without going into heat. Is there any way to secure the porch so she stays? Or to bring everyone inside?

Congratulations! [emoji]128149[/emoji]

Do you have a nest for them, such as a box with blankets?

No, you do not want mom going out at all. She can bring back fleas and parasites, and could even disappear.

Yes they are staying in a large animal carrier with blankets and the mom never leaves but she is able to. I have noticed she never does. I can't have her inside our house but I know the kittens are safe. Our dog actually protects them. It's super cute! I don't have a way to make her stay in with the kittens unless I lock the carrier, but it wouldn't give her much room to move around in.

skittles44 said:

Yes they are staying in a large animal carrier with blankets and the mom never leaves but she is able to. I have noticed she never does. I can't have her inside our house but I know the kittens are safe. Our dog actually protects them. It's super cute! I don't have a way to make her stay in with the kittens unless I lock the carrier, but it wouldn't give her much room to move around in.

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Would it be possible to get a larger animal cage? Like one for a very large dog? That way you could secure mom and kittens.

Mom doesn't want to leave now, but she will go into heat and wander off. That's where you have a problem with vulnerable kittens and another pregnancy.

Why can't they come into the house? It would only be until mom can be spayed at 8 weeks.

Okay, but at some point she will go into heat again and leave to mate. So she may get pregnant again before you can spay her. Most cats go into heat again anywhere from 2 to six weeks after giving birth.