My cat aura is a first time mom. Not sure exactly how far along her pregnancy is but she is noticeably round and there is dry white flakes on her pinky enlarged nipples. She seems very agitated. Will be laying in one spot but then moves to another spot and so on. Is this normal? Also when do they start looking for place to give birth? I have pulled out a shelf from my chest of drawers and put clean towels in for her but she doesn't seem interested in it. She is sleeping a lot but still eating fine. How do I know ( through behaviour and physical signs) that she is preparing for birth? I am a first time Granny aswell so any advice will help lol.
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First Time Mommy Aura
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Many moms will not go into a nest until they are very close to delivering. She sounds close if you are starting to see milk.
As mentioned, mom needs to stay 100% inside and away from intact males until the kittens have weaned completely. Mom can get pregnant again at any time, even without going into heat. Kittens should stay with mom until they are at least 10 weeks old. Do you plan to spay her after this litter?
You will want to get some supplies now. Get small needle-less syringes, powdered kmr like PetAg, and a scale to weigh daily.
As mentioned, mom needs to stay 100% inside and away from intact males until the kittens have weaned completely. Mom can get pregnant again at any time, even without going into heat. Kittens should stay with mom until they are at least 10 weeks old. Do you plan to spay her after this litter?
You will want to get some supplies now. Get small needle-less syringes, powdered kmr like PetAg, and a scale to weigh daily.
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thank you for your advice its really appreciated! Will update soon! X
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Oh and by the way I do want to get her spayed unfortunately where I live its not for free anymore. Not sure how im gonna get the money but I will. Luckily there is no males in our house its only her, will keep her indoors with her kitties
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Where are you located near? We can help you to find a low cost clinic. Litters of kittens are far more expensive than a spay, and much better for mom's health. Definitely worth saving up for.
When did you start being able to feel the kittens? It's usually 2-3 weeks from then until delivery. When she is quite close to delivery, her stomach will look smaller as the kittens move into the birth canal and you may be able to feel them less.
What are you feeding mom? She needs unlimited access to dry kitten food and several meals of wet kitten food per day.
My cat delivered 17 kittens in less then a year, she became pregnant, within weeks of giving birth. She was a stray at the time, someone had dumped in my area. Needless to say, I adopted her and had her spayed so she wouldn't bring any more unwanted and unloved kittens into the world. It has cost me 150.00 each time I have spayed (with shots) but it is WELL worth it to stop the extra mouths to feed and to find homes for. Cats will stay in heat for a long time, and don't have 'set' cycles. I pray you find the way to help her avoid this unending cycle of giving birth.
Bless you for taking her in and giving her care and love, she doesn't know how lucky she is. I hope for a uncomplicated delivery soon, and for you to find good homes for those precious little lives. It does sound like it is close, within a couple of weeks, they get very uncomfortable at the end. From your description, she sounds like she will deliver around three -four kittens My mama cat looked like a basketball on toothpicks, she delivered 7, and couldn't even lay on her side at the end.Please keep us posted on how she is doing!
Bless you for taking her in and giving her care and love, she doesn't know how lucky she is. I hope for a uncomplicated delivery soon, and for you to find good homes for those precious little lives. It does sound like it is close, within a couple of weeks, they get very uncomfortable at the end. From your description, she sounds like she will deliver around three -four kittens My mama cat looked like a basketball on toothpicks, she delivered 7, and couldn't even lay on her side at the end.Please keep us posted on how she is doing!
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I live in South Africa. So third world country problems but I know ill be able to get the cash from my fiancé for her spay. I only felt and saw the kittens in her tummy for the first time today . Have been feeding her kitten food as I know its good for the babies! At the moment she meows at me a lot, and I can see she is very restless. She sat in the nest I made her for like 2 seconds before meowing at me and hopping out. Is it normal for her to still be very playful?? She can still lay on her tummy but only for short periods and then she turns on to her side. Also her hair is pretty long around the nipples but the nips are sticking out of the hair? Like its very obvious so should I leave it so? Also I have an old bullboer cross boxer dog, theyre good buddies but how should I go about the kittens with him? He isnt allowed in my room and her nest Is in my room
No sooner the opposite. It depend of course on if you used to to felt on her tummy daily. The usual is, wneh you begin to feel them move, its 2-3 weeks left to delivery.I just felt AND saw Auras kittens kicking in her tummy!this means labour is close right??
The very last days before the delivery she usually "drops" - looks less obvious pregnant so to speak. Its because the kitten had moved into the birthing positions further down. Its more tight for them there - and thus - they are LESS visibly moveable....
Her being restless may be simply she is uncomfortable... Which is normal. If she seems to have some pains, it may be precontractions - women have such too, a way of Nature to train up the muscles...
If she allows and wants you to rubby her tummy, do so. Its a nice massage, and also, helps the hormones get going.
Anywyas, better wait a couple of days too long, they her getting a too early delivery. This is much more dangerous for kittens than for human babies.
If she and the dog are good buddies, and momma accept him with her, you can probably let him be with her. If you notice he is comforting her and so. Probably he wont be dangerous to the kittens either, sooner be a co-momma (but do observe and supervise the first hours!). So is common with male cats whom are friends with momma - I presume its similiar with dogs.
But if they ARENT good friends, or momma shows she doesnt wants him near - do separate them.
Cann you get goat milk? Its useful both as a something little extra for her, and in a emergency, its OK for the kittens too. Some rescuers even prefer goats milk although they can get decent kmr.
You can leave the teats - you ca trim the hair around somewhat, but it sounds normal so far. Everything sounds normal, in fact.
Good luck!
