Advice please regarding pregnant cat.

My house cat managed to escape while in heat, she usually doesn't go out and we are always careful not to leave the doors wide open when she is near by but on 7th April when one of my children were coming home from being unwell in hospital my husband stupidly left the door open until I got in from the car and the cat got out. She was away all night and came back the next day covered in sticky stuff. We didn't think any more about it until her stomach started to swell about 3ish weeks ago. So we know she's pregnant. We know she's due quite soon so I've been keeping an eye on her behaviour and temperature.
Her temperature was 37.8 at 11am yesterday morning,it was then 37.3 at 10pm last night. I took her temp this morning and it was 37.2 but I've just taken it again and it's now down to 36.7.
She's hardly ate at all today and all she seems to be doing is sleeping or constantly cleaning her stomach and tail. I'm going to call her vet in the morning but I was just wondering if anyone knows what could be happening to her ? She isn't really showing any signs of labour approaching though. And sorry for such a long post.

If she got out April 7th then I believe she's about 61 days? Most cats go an average of 65 days. Temperature is not a good indicator for labor. It's normal for them to sleep quite a bit in the last week. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Thank you. Every time I check the calendar to count I mix the numbers up so just don't bother but I knew roughly by weeks that she should be due quite soon.
She's normally such an active cat and is always running around the house, she usually hates my husband and attacks him whenever he walks past her but today she hasn't left his side and crys when he walks away from her. Is it normal that male cats seem to be snooping about my garden as well ? I always thought that only happened when a queen was in heat.

The hormones of a pregnant cat can confuse a Tom. Pregnant cats become affectionate with pregnacy, especially late pregnancy.

Once the kittens arrive you'll want to weigh the kittens daily to see that they're gaining enough, 6-10 grams. If not you'll need some kitten milk replacer, a powder you can buy online or at a pet store, and a needleless syringe to supplement their feedings.

Please make sure momma stays inside. They often try to escape in late pregnancy before labor begins. Have you set up a nesting area for her?

I have noticed that she's been trying to escape at every opportunity but we've kept all doors closed when she's near them and the windows are only open slightly and aren't easy to push open. My oldest son is 6, she's his cat and he understands that she can't get out so he even keeps her in one room until we open and close the doors.

I've set up one side of my walk in wardrobe for her (the part I don't use) it has a litter tray, food and water bowl, her blanket plus I made a bed with a big box with bed pads and covers inside for when she's down stairs through the day.

Can I weigh the kitten/kittens on normal scales or kitchen scales or do I need to buy a specific type to weigh them ?

A kitchen scale is fine. [emoji]128522[/emoji] Sounds like she'll have a nice space to raise her babies.

You'll also want to make sure that mom stays inside once she delivers. Cats can get pregnant again within a week of delivery, even without going into heat.

Let us know if you'd like help finding a low cost spay and neuter clinic for when the kittens are weaned!

That's fab. Thanks for your help. Had been googling for ages looking for a cat website to get advice.

Glad you found us! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Any other questions or concerns you have, just ask here in your very own thread. Welcome to TCS [emoji]128516[/emoji]

Talking peanut I already have my vet aware so they are going to give her a check up and kitten/kittens plus are going to book her in for when the kitten/kittens are 8 weeks old so she can get spayed as I don't want this happening to her again. She's my fur baby and I hate seeing her like this and dread her going through labour. Thanks xx

samjam said:

Talking peanut I already have my vet aware so they are going to give her a check up and kitten/kittens plus are going to book her in for when the kitten/kittens are 8 weeks old so she can get spayed as I don't want this happening to her again. She's my fur baby and I hate seeing her like this and dread her going through labour. Thanks xx

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I know, it's hard to watch. Your mama is in excellent hands, though, and we're here to help!

I posted 2 days ago regarding my pregnant cat Jessie and someone kindly worked out that she was 61 days so now makes her 63 days. I called the vet but they can't fit her in to be seen until Monday
Well anyway about 12am this morning I could hear her crying so went to check on her and she instantly came to me nudging me so I sat with her and she lay over my legs on her side and nudged my hand to her stomach. For about an hour her stomach kept tightening every 10 or so minutes and she would purr loudly when this happened then when her stomach softened she would let out a big kind of sigh/breathe.i genuinely thought that things were happening cos she also has only ate about half of what she usually eats for the past 2 days plus had some soft stools yesterday. Well today she's still as sleepy but she's eating like normal again and no more tightenings and the kitten/kittens seem to be moving quite strongly.
Does anyone know why the tightenings would start then stop ? Obviously I know from my own labours that it can start and stop but is it the same for cats ?

Yes, it is the same for cats.  Her body is preparing to give birth.

The last few days of waiting are always the worst. Have the babies dropped yet? When that happens they will stop moving as they are then in the birth canal and it won't be far off. Her belly will feel harder with the kittens more compressed.

JennyR said:

The last few days of waiting are always the worst. Have the babies dropped yet? When that happens they will stop moving as they are then in the birth canal and it won't be far off. Her belly will feel harder with the kittens more compressed.

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Her belly is quite hard all over, there is like a bulge which I'm assuming is a kitten towards the lower part of her stomach that only moves slightly but there is 1 for definite higher up that moves and wriggles quite strongly. Today she's kept clawing at my daughters wardrobe to try and get in there. She's either sleeping or licking her belly. That's all she's did for the past 2 hours.

Has she a choice of nesting places? She may not like the first one you made for her, cats can be funny in their choices. Make her a couple of boxes with old towels or blankets or even folded newspapers and put them in places that are safe and quiet. Let her know where they are or she may have the lkittens on or worse under your bed! Your daughter's wardrobe could be an ideal place if your daughter doesn't mind.

Where have you set up her nest? She needs a dark, private, quiet place. The wardrobe will work. She's getting very close!

I've set up a few places for her. She has one in the part of my walk in wardrobe that I don't use. She has a box with covers and bed pads in for in the front room for if she feels like being there and last night I set another up in a big storage cupboard that we don't use but she's only going to my daughters wardrobe but I can't have her in there as my 2nd son (almost 2) and 6 month old daughter sleep in that room so it wouldn't be good for the cat especially if it's through the night and my 2 year old wakes up and notices cos he wouldn't know not to touch them.

I've just noticed that she looks a bit thinner towards the top of her body now at the top of her ribs. Is that a good sign ?