Pregnant kitty advice..

Hi! This is my first time posting so please excuse if I mess something up lol..
Long story short I help out with a cat rescue.. Usually have bottle fed kittens which I am awesome at, but this time a got a pregnant kitty which isn't in my expertese... Lol

Prada came from a backyard Ragdoll breeder, at 1 1/2 years old this is already her 3 litter[emoji]128546[/emoji].. The lady said she wasn't sure on the mating date but guesstimated her due July 27. I've had her since Thursday and boy oh boy those babies are incredibly active. You can feel and see them moving around in there, so I'm thinking they may be here before the 27th.

She's is a quiet room of her own. Last night I went to check on her and she was acting off.. Usually she greats me at the door and demands cuddles but today she just sat there. Her pupils seemed to be enlarging and shrinking and the lighting wasn't changing. I picked her up and sat her on the bed with me and she was quite lethargic. Just wanted to be held and cuddled. Usually she's rolling around with that look on her face.. See that big belly?? Rub it! Lol (she such a sweet cat)
Anyways I cuddled and loved her up for a while and then I noticed her 3rd eye lid was partially over on both her eyes. I called the vet last night and she didn't seem too worried about that.. I thought she would be going into labour so I would just let her be and keep an eye on her..
This morning no babies and she seems to her usual self back greeting me at the door.. Anyone have any experience of whether this is normal? I'm gonna try get her to the vets today for a check up..

Hi and Welcome to TCS .  I have no idea what is going on with your girl, but the fact you are taking her to the vet is a good idea.  That is what I would do.  Please do let us know what the vet says about her behavioral change, and enjoy TCS!!  And of course, keep us up on her impending delivery!!   Can you post a picture of the mom to be??

I want to hope it was some precontractions - its common, a way of mother nature to train up the muscles.  Humans have it too, and it has a scientific name which I never remember.  A double-doctors name I think.

I do agree with you juli 27 sounds faulty, its almost surely sooner than this.

Observe, as this young cat has it now its third litter, it means, her reserves are very thin.  Especially calcium.   Begin asap with it, if you havent done it yet.

So give her calcium rich food - for example goats milk, but also some nice milk plain youghurt may be ok, some mild cheese.  Good quality kitten food, of course - good quality wet food may be instead or.   Of course, if you have some good kmr since before, you can use it too.

Perhaps even some nice vitamine paste... There are several brands.

continuing.   If you dont have problems with salomonella in eggs in your area, raw egg yolk is good and very easily digestible.

If you DO have problems with salomonella, do boild the eggs thoroughly.  Its essentially the same nourishments, but probably not so easily digestible - as all recipes talks about raw yolk...

The egg wite is best cooked - not raw.

You can use the egg shells, crush them into fine powder, and sprinkle the powder alike salt on her food - its lotsa calcium in them.   I do it with boiled egg shell, and take of the inner skinn.  An egg is enough for several weeks.

The rest of the egg - you may eat it or she may eat it... 

So the vet says she is all good [emoji]128522[/emoji]
The babies are so big they have squashed her intestines to the right side of her body so she's very uncomfortable, and that's probably why she has vomited a couple of times and was in a bit of pain last night... She just needs to deliver the babies... Vet figured in the next couple of days.. The babies weren't quite in the birthing canal just yet.
Hope it goes quick for her!

Here's a pic of Prada [emoji]128522[/emoji]. She's so pretty.. Excited to see what the babies will look like.

So I took Prada to the vets for a check up on the 11th July, the vet confirmed 5 babies and they were due in about a week...
Today is the 24th and still no sign of babies [emoji]128533[/emoji] she is so full of milk, you can express it! Other than that there's absolutely no signs of her going into labour...
She's still eating and drinking well.
I called the clinic and asked them and if she doesn't have them tonight they would like to do an ultrasound.
I really don't want to unnessarily stress her out by taking her to the clinic. I have been able to feel the babies moving in there for the last 2 and 1/2 weeks so I know they are very active..

Any advise?

I think you should wait. It sounds like the due date estimate was off quite a bit. Since you can still feel the kittens moving, it may be a few days more. Usually, babies can be seen or felt moving for the last 3 weeks before dropping lower in preparation for entering the birth canal.

I expect that the kittens will drop sometime this coming week - really any day now - and that your cat will begin to exhibit signs of labor. You can hold off on the ultrasound for now.

It's best that kittens not be born prematurely, as they rarely survive.

Keep us posted on this thread as she progresses. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Yay she's finally nesting [emoji]128522[/emoji]

That's progress! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

I let my dog out this morning and Prada was shouting for me from her bedroom lol went to check on her and she had, had 3 little beebies [emoji]128522[/emoji]
Have been watching her and I got to see 4 and 5 being born [emoji]128522[/emoji]
Mama and babies are doing awesome! Haven't seen them nurse properly yet but she has been kinda busy delivering...
Once everyone is nice and clean and dried up I'll post a better pic [emoji]128522[/emoji]

So happy and relived her delivery went so smoothly, and she will never have to do this again[emoji]128522[/emoji]

Congratulations!!  Can't wait for the pics!

That's great! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Once she settles down you can guide the kittens to nipples. Are you able to weigh them?

I removed her dirty blanket and put a clean one down and left her nursing.. All babies were sucking[emoji]128522[/emoji]

I could weigh them but they all look alike lol wouldn't be able to keep an accurate track of each one lol

Maybe when they dry they may be some differences...

Do Ragdoll babies change colours as they grow?

You can put a drop of food coloring on each one. It is important to weigh them. With 5 there is likely to be a runt. Congratulations to you both!

Ohh that's a good idea [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Thanks for everyone's help!

Went to check on them and we are now at 6, hoping that is it lol
I'll weigh them all a little later [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Oh, you really need to weigh them. With 6, there is bound to be a runt or two. Have your KMR and syringe at the ready in case you need to supplement.

They need to gain 6-10 grams apiece each day.

And if mom's nipples get sore you can apply olive oil or Udder Balm.