Is Tilly in labour???

My Tilly is very heavily pregnant.

I had her booked in to be spayed, but only a few days beforehand I noticed her looking/acting differently. Turned out she was already 5-6 weeks gone! Based on the fact that I could see the foetuses moving (during the last-minute scan I arranged), my moral instinct told me not to go through with the spay there and then. 

*****(For all US bloggers: UK vets don't like to spay/neuter younger than 6 months old unless they really have to. My vet said it is do with ensuring the cat is big/strong enough to survive the operation)*****

I am well aware this must make me seem totally irresponsible. Let me assure you all, though, that I am riddled with guilt at what has happened - it was NEVER part of the plan! I've had cats all my life and this is the first time pregnancy has been a feature. My only consolation is that, while still technically a baby, herself, she's not as young as she might have been - she will be 1yr at the end of June. As soon as the litter is weaned she WILL be getting done!

Up to the point of pregnancy, she was a house cat (until after eventual spaying)...or so I thought. My only guess is that she must have jumped from an upstairs window and down on to something, and...well, I'm sure I don't need to give anyone a biology lesson here! Life has been busy and I hope I will be forgiven for saying that - since she lived indoors - I thought I could get away with not getting her "fixed" just yet. Mark me now, LESSON WELL AND TRULY LEARNT! As soon as the litter is weaned she WILL be getting done!

In any case, she's now so pregnant she's about to burst! My concern is that on Thursday evening (12th May) she started acting peculiarly - rolling around on the floor and trying to get into the silliest of tight spots, and/or digging under things. This was a new development for her - she has shown no interest in nesting up 'til now. She then completely planked out on the floor and closed her eyes, as if deep in concentration. A massive ripple went across her body and I was convinced that meant things were progressing. 

Yesterday (13th May), she spent much of the day prowling around the house, in search of more dark, quiet corners. Intermittently, she would go and lie down on the cool, hard floor of the bathrooms and kitchen, where she would start - what I think were - small contractions. Each time, she had the same, closed-eye expression, would tremble and more ripples went through her. She ate nothing between 9am and 6pm, but then her appetite seemed to come back a little. Toileting was not an issue at any point. 

I felt the kittens move inside her around two weeks ago. They went a little quiet this past week, until Thurs, when they really ramped it up - full summersaults and everything! Friday was pretty much the same.

Today, however, they're a little quieter. Tills has been pacing and searching again, and doing a lot of what she did yesterday. She doesn't seem to have settled on anywhere in particular, though. Her appetite has also waned a bit.

Her last bowel movement was at c.3pm andwas very runny (like diarrhoea???). The "contractions"(???) seem to cause her upper legs and rear end to twitch and tense. Bless her, her sighing tells me she's not entirely comfortable...!

My question is, how long is this pre-labour stuff supposed to last? Or is she in actual labour??? She's not visibly distressed or producing any fluids from her back end, that I can tell. But then am not sure what to expect from hereon in. 

Any advice would be great! Please don't drag me over the coals...

No obvious milk leakage, either, by the way*

Welcome! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

It sounds like she's been in stage one labor for awhile now. It can go on for a good 24 hours. All of her behavior is indicative of labor and kittens soon. My guess is they'll be here this weekend!

Do you have nests set for her and supplies on hand? Have you read any of our articles?

Keep us posted. We're here to help.

Milk can come in just before or after giving birth.

This may be helpful:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/pregnant-cat-what-to-prepare-for-the-birth

[emoji]128522[/emoji]

Thank you for the speedy reply!

I have laid down loads of puppy training pads in areas I know she's vested an interest. I do also have a box for her with a little doorway cut out of it, and lined it with newspaper and more training pads.

Because she seems to like our downstairs bathroom for the quietness, I have placed the box in there. She has since been scratching around and redecorating it, which is somewhat of a relief at this stage...!

The trouble is, she won't nest for more than a few minutes at a time. Then she gets bored and goes back to lying on the kitchen floor. It's all very back and forth.

Ah, yes, the interminable waiting. My cat did not go into her nest until she was ready to deliver - I mean literally laboring on my bed, then suddenly jumped down and ran straight for her nest in the guest room closet, let out a big meow, and birthed her first baby.

And if yours delivers in an odd place, you can move everyone after she's done and settled.

She's been such a trooper throughout and hardly a peep out of her...yet!

Guilt aside, I am looking forward to meeting the grand-fur babies. The scan revealed there were at least three, and I have decided to keep one for myself. I just have to hope Tilly knows what she's doing when it comes down to it, so that I don't have to intervene too much. 

*Gasp* labouring on bed?! But the sheets...! Not sure how I'd've coped. Lol...I'll try not to be so precious when the moment arrives.

Is the popping/crackling sound coming from her belly normal? It's REALLY loud. 

Yes, it's normal.

Keep the one Tilly favors when the time comes, and try to rehome the other two together if you can. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Don't really know what's going on with her now. Not sure she does, either. The on-call vet wasn't alarmed when we spoke yesterday evening, but I'm just a bit anxious of the fact that everything seems to be taking so long - it has definitely been going on longer than 48hrs by this stage! Unless, of course, I've been misreading signs and she hasn't, in fact, been labouring at all for the most part. Maybe her body was just adjusting to another little growth spurt prior to the event...?

She has been very clingy this morning, following me around a lot more than usual. But then she'll stop and wander off by herself. She's meowing more, too, but not particularly loudly. More out of uncertainty and confusion, I think. She's acting quite contrary - like a light switch, switching her moods on and off at random intervals. She started vigorously licking herself at one point, then a really big shudder went down her spine and she pretty much dropped her tummy to the floor - lots of erratic movements and inconsistencies in behaviour. She is still eating, but she hasn't used the litter tray since last night (to defecate, in any case).

She sounds close, but I agree with the vet that it's not alarming. It sounds like she's been pre-laboring, and getting ready for the real thing which is coming soon. It really is a big process. And she's pregnant-cat clingy, but not in distress, so try not to worry. She's getting there! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

I think she's close too. The pre-contractions can go on a little longer than 24 hours, for first litters even 48 hours or more. My girls has had them for a day now too, but other than that she's calm like the wind on a hot summer day (wow, how deep is this.). Your cat is showing more signs tho, so it shouldn't take much longer. If it's her first litter this can go on a while longer than when it's a 2nd or 3rd litter. But until you see a lot of discharge that smells foul, is green colored, or she has push contractions (You can tell when she has those, don't worry) but no kitten comes out in about 1 hour, then it's time to call the vet. She's doing perfect this far!

All sounds okay. Many come here thinking they're seeing labor when it's really just her body preparing for real labor, which shouldn't be too far off now. Keep a close eye and rub her belly. Soon life will be busier for everyone. [emoji]128516[/emoji]

She had her babies - a week ago this morning! Sorry it's taken so long to update; it's been a mad time!

She had five in all - 3 girls and 2 boys. All seemingly fit and healthy and already their eyes are starting to open! One is a little on the small side, but he's still with us.

I've been so proud of my girl - right from the word go she was and is a natural! She woke me up at 5am just so that I could be there to support her through her transition into motherhood, too - I felt so honoured and I've not been able to stop smiling at her every since.

She hasn't minded me touching the kittens. Obviously, I have kept contact to a minimum while they're so young. She has already moved them from the birthing box to behind the sofa, where I'm happy for her to stay if it makes her more comfortable.

All kittens have new homes to look forward to too, when the time is right - so that's one load off my mind!

Does anyone know how soon I can get Tilly spayed? I know her milk has to have dried up first, but I'm not sure how the weaning process works.

Also, her chest is a little red/sore-looking from where the kittens have been kneading her when suckling. Are there any homely remedies to ease this?

I'm not sure about the tummy being red, I haven't noticed that on my girl. As for spaying it varies depending on when the kittens or mom decide it's time to stop nursing. Then a couple weeks after for her milk to dry. I'm in the same boat trying to figure out when we can get this done.

Glad they are all doing well. [emoji]128513[/emoji]

You can put olive oil on her nipples. Udder Balm is great too and safe for the kittens.

I recommend spaying mom when the kittens are 8 weeks old. She'll still be able to nurse. But if your vet will not spay until milk is dried up it will be later than that. Milk takes a couple of weeks to dry up.

I recommend that the kittens stay with mom for 10-12 weeks for maximum socialization before going to their new homes.