Pregnant foster cat behaviour

Hello everyone. We have had a new foster for a couple of weeks, who came to us obviously pregnant. She was a stray so we have no idea when she is due. When we met her two weeks ago she had large mammary glands (elongated and clear of hair) and a knobbly bulge on her right side. I know the breast tissue was there at least a week before then but I don't know about the bulge.

We think there is only one kitten, or maybe two on the same side, as we've only been able to feel hard lumps and movement on her right side. It moved a few days ago and we can't feel it at all now. We assume it's moved down closer to her pelvis. I don't know if it's still alive because it's been a while since we've been able to feel it. She won't let us touch the bit of her belly where we think it's hiding.

She seems perfectly happy but some of her behaviour is puzzling us. There doesn't seem to be a straightforward progression from "not in labour" to "in labour". Some days she's really restless and can't seem to sit still, then the next day she's perfectly chilled and sleeps all day. Sometimes she's hugely affectionate, sometimes she doesn't want to be touched at all. She sometimes spends a couple of hours rolling around and putting her backside in the air as though she's in heat, then she stops and doesn't do it for a day or two. Her appetite varies from not at all hungry to ravenous. Every time we think she might be going into labour she stops what she's doing and starts acting normal again. There's no pattern!

Is it normal for a cat's behaviour to be so confusing towards the end of a pregnancy?

Yes, it is normal. It's always tough to know when a pregnant stray is due because we don't know when they conceived. I took my pregnant stray for an x-ray, which helped to pinpoint a time frame. Otherwise, all you can do is be prepared and wait it out. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

She had some irregular contractions about 28 hours ago, which stopped after an hour. For probably the last 12 hours she's been asleep in or near the nest. When she's briefly awake she looks generally uncomfortable but seems to find stroking along her back soothing. She hasn't eaten or been to the toilet for a few hours.

How long do I wait for full labour before I start to worry?

Merree said:

 
She had some irregular contractions about 28 hours ago, which stopped after an hour. For probably the last 12 hours she's been asleep in or near the nest. When she's briefly awake she looks generally uncomfortable but seems to find stroking along her back soothing. She hasn't eaten or been to the toilet for a few hours.

How long do I wait for full labour before I start to worry?

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I think she is nearing, it seems she has dropped, that is why you dont feel the kitten move.  You dont feel them much when they have moved onto the birthing postion.

Prelabor stage may be quite long, 24 hours are mentioned, may surely vary.  This is no real problem.  What we dont want to see, is long active fruitless full labor.  As its usually shorter than with women.   Say, if the pushing phase is longer than 40 minutes without result, sound the alarm bells.

Good luck!