Kittens on the way - colors and preparation?

krissy marissy off topic, but the kitten in your avatar is quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Aww thanks! That's one of my kittens. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

So I read up on using temperature to tell when a cat is ready to go into labor, and picked up a thermometer. As of 4:30 her temperature was at 100.1, but she's been moving restlessly around her nursery area for nearly 20 minutes, licking between her legs every time she changes positions. Is temperature really the best way to go about guessing when she might be going into labor?

No, temperature is not a reliable indicator.  I would also only recommend taking it under her arm, if at all.  It's too stressful otherwise.

If it's not reliable I probably won't continue taking her temperature. I've got a full work week, but I've been given permission to call out while she's giving birth in case anything goes wrong--that's one of the main reasons I'm trying to figure out a way to better tell when she might go into labor. I know there's no way of really knowing, and the chances of it happening at the most convenient time are slim to none, but... I'd like to be as prepared as possible

talkingpeanut is right, don't bother taking her temperature again unless you feel that she may have a fever. The labor process usually takes time and she may indicate that it's coming, so you'll know when she's truly getting close. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

She's rolling around and acting like she's in heat, but she's not meowing at all.  She's eaten a little and has visited her water bowl a couple of times.  My roommate suggested I take her temperature one more time, and it came out to be 99.1.  I haven't seen any signs of her mucus plug coming out, but she's not real fond of me examining her backside (temperature taking aside, she really doesn't care about that at all, purrs the whole time and cuddles me afterwards).

As this is my first (and hopefully only) cat pregnancy I'm really concerned with missing something important and losing my baby girl or the kittens.

Quick update: I think the kittens have dropped, and she's getting really restless.  She's the only cat I've ever known that loves belly rubs, and she just swatted at me for trying.  (She's allowed and encouraged belly rubs until this point).  I'm hoping for a Friday or Sunday delivery as those are my days off (and Sunday will make day 65).  If she doesn't go into labor by  next Tuesday, would it be a good idea to call the vet?

I'm so excited to see what these little ones will look like!

Let's hope there's no need to call the vet! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Let's take it one day at a time. Hopefully they'll come without issue.

Thank-you guys!  I'll definitely post pictures when they're born, and update throughout labor.  I know we've still got a few days to wait, but it's exciting to see her slowly start to show symptoms that she's ready to deliver.  Fortunately I have work to keep me from pulling all of my hair out in suspense lol

Sorry again for all of the questions, but she just spazzed out--running and jumping all over the bathroom with her ears flat and her eyes dilated like she was chasing something, but there's nothing there. Is this something I should be concerned about?

Could have been a pre-labor contraction. Her hormones are in high gear now, so there may be things like this happening! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

That's exciting! Is it reasonable to think the kittens may come this weekend?

There's no way to know, but it's a possibility!

If she's due Sunday they might, possibly early next week.

She hasn't shown any other common signs of labor approaching, but I've read that some cats don't really show symptoms at all, they just start having contractions.  I hope that's not the case here, as I'd really like to know ahead of time when she's going to start giving birth.  But I know when she's ready, she's ready.  All I can do is wait and hope for the best (:

Today is day 61, and she's started showing less interest in her food. She poops every time she goes to her litter box that I've seen, and she's definitely starting to look slimmer, even from the top, so I think that's a good sign that the kittens are dropping. It's also not as easy for me to feel the kittens moving this morning. (Could be that they're tired from all of the moving and kicking they were doing last night!) Thank-you guys for being here and staying supportive.

She's finally taken to the box I set up for her as opposed to under my bed/under my desk/in my drawers.  When she starts showing signs of imminent labor the cute pink fleece will be replaced by old some old towels until everything (and everyone) is cleaned off.