CJ's Pregnancy

I think CJ dropped today. I'm not too sure. It really looks like it. I'm so excited about her kittens! I can't wait!
YIPPEEE!

Is there a sure way to tell they dropped? I think she did, but I'm not positive. Is there any other way, besides appearance, to tell if she did ACTUALLY drop?

Thanks!

Cats are individuals and as such, what you may see as her belly dropping may not be the case with other cats. And that now said, I can honestly say that I have never seen a change in the shape or location of kittens in utero unless it was normal movement before birth. If you perceive a change in the location of the kittens, then it could be that birth time is approaching. I can't remember now, but do you know an approximate date of breeding for CJ? If it has been between 62 and 67 days since breeding, then the chances are good that she is going to deliver very soon.

When the birth time approaches CJ might become restless. Most cats will go in and out of their chosen birthing nest many times before they finally lie down. Other signs are water leaking or small blood stains and swelling around the opening of the vagina. You might also see the small waves of labor (contractions) which gradually become stronger. Normally a female will manage just fine on her own but it is wise to have a vet on call in case something goes wrong during labor and birth. Usually it can be between a few minutes to a few hours in between kittens.

If any of these trouble signs occur, call a vet or emergency vet immediately:

• Intense labor for more than 20 minutes with no kitten produced.
• Intense labor for more than 10 minutes if the kitten is visable in the birth canal.
• The cat becomes too weak to move or respond to your voice or touch.
• There is a lot of blood or foul-smelling discharge from the birth canal.

Hope this helps,

~gf~

She could be anywhere from 7 - 8 weeks along. So, I guess she has a while, so, I guess it's just my imagination. LOL. She is probably around 8 weeks along. Thanks for the advice, Gayef!

Well, at 8 weeks, that would put her right at 60 days ... it very well may be close to her time. Keep her inside and keep a good watch on her. A lot of first-time, inexperienced queens will mistake the contractions of labor with having to visit the litter box so if you see her in the litter box straining, put her in the nesting box and expect kittens shortly.

Thanks, Gayef. I didn't know that first time mothers could get confused like that. Thanks for the info!

Lacey: Yes, I am VERY excited! I can't wait to see the little ones. CJ is two-toned (eyes) and I can't wait to see if her babies are two toned, too! I can't wait. I have raised quite a few litters from strays recently, but, it's always different when it's your own cat! I can't wait!

I appreciate any prayers for CJ and her kittens, because she is almost 11 months, and having kittens. Don't worry, I've already been blasted for not having her spayed. I couldn't get her spayed because of vaccination complications.... but my tomcat is now an "it," so, nothing to worry about. We won't let her out. Anyway... I would appreciate any prayers for CJ and her kittens, and their "kittenhood." Thanks!

God Bless!

Cassie, while I don't want you to confuse what I am about to say to you as encouragement ... my pedigreed breeding queen was 11 months old when she was bred for the first time. Sometimes, there is no choice. She had already experienced, by that time, 3 estrus cycles and I was afraid to let her go a fourth. I felt it was necessary to breed her.

I know CJ is young(er) and I know you (and a lot of other people) are concerned for her, but just let me say that cats are a lot more resilient than we sometimes give them credit for ... barring the extremely unlikely and unforeseen, I think CJ is gonna be just fine. We'll just choose to think positively until we have something negative to think about.

Keep me updated!

~gf~

Thanks for the words of comfort. I think CJ has already had 2, possibly 3 heat cycles, as well. I'm not too worried about it, but a lot of people on TCS have told me that there can be a lot of complications with such a young cat having kittens regarding nutrition, not having enough milk for her babies, and being careless, so, I thought I'd get all the prayers I can get. It won't hurt.

I'm thinking, by the looks of it, she might have 3-4 kittens. I'm guessing, however, by the size of her. She's always been "skinny" her entire life, and seeing her that size, is weird. LOL! Anyway, it looks like 3-4 kittens. Yay!

My Lexus is a small, petite and dainty girl as well and she did fine. As I said, we should just remain positive until we have something to be negative about.

It ~is~ true that younger queens can experience problems, but as any long-time breeder can and most certainly will tell you, the problems a young queen experiences are really no different than problems that an older queen may experience. It is always a roll of the dice but breeders do have method behind their "madness" most of the time.

I know that everyone here (including me) has discussed CJ's aftercare with you, specifically getting her spayed as soon as you can. I got to thinking about this last night and came up with what I thought might be a ~really~ good idea to earn that cash a lot faster than originally planned ... most reputable shelters and rescue orgs all charge a nominal adoption fee for their animals. Why not charge your people (the ones taking a kitten from you when it is time) a small fee, say $20 or so dollars to cover the cost of getting CJ spayed? Even if you only have 4 kittens, that's $80 and as I understand it, there are a lot of low- or even no-cost spay clinics that will take good care of her for that amount or even less.

What do you think?

~gf~

It's not the money that's a problem. We neutered Billy just recently, and it was no problem at all. It's her reactions. She got her vaccs, just rabies and distemper, and no FeLk, which is required for spaying, and she had a HORRIBLE reaction to it! I thought, along with my parents, that she was going to die! It was horrible, and it scared me so bad, that I AM NOT going to get FeLk vaccination for her! I am too scared to do it! Also, when she goes to the vet, she gets so stressed, she has nausea and is sick for a day. So, I just got Billy neutered, and we won't let her out, and that solves the problem. She is an inside cat anyway. I know that she might get out someday, but, I just can't get the vaccination for her, knowing how badly she reacted to it last time.

That's why she isn't spayed.

Darlin, you can't let her go without being spayed unless you are going to breed her. It is that simple. As for the reaction to the shots - the recommendation is to give the RCP (what you referred to as "distemper" but by the way, cats don't get distemper, they get Panleukopenia) and then wait about 10 days to two weeks before giving the Rabies. I don't recommend the FeLk unless a cat is in the high-risk category. If you keep CJ and Billy inside, they are not in the high-risk category. Talk to your vet - there are ways of minimizing reactions or completely eradicating them should your cat be sensitive.

But if you let her go on with life without being spayed, she will eventually develop what is known as pyometra. It is a serious and sometimes deadly infection of the uterus and it is normally caused by the fact that a female hasn't been spayed and she isn't breeding. It can kill CJ if you allow her to go on without being spayed and bred.

You must talk with the vet. It is something he can advise you on and suggest alternatives.

~gf~

I'll ask my vet after their next check up or visit. Thanks for the advice!

I am sorry but why does she need FeLk vaccine before spaying? I have never heard that. None of my cats have ever had it and no vet has ever made it a condition..

Hmmm... maybe I got confused. I'll ask my vet. Thanks, again!

Originally Posted by gayef

Well, at 8 weeks, that would put her right at 60 days ... it very well may be close to her time. Keep her inside and keep a good watch on her. A lot of first-time, inexperienced queens will mistake the contractions of labor with having to visit the litter box so if you see her in the litter box straining, put her in the nesting box and expect kittens shortly.

Click to expand...

Our little Bellie did that..we put her in her nest and we got to lovely little ones and soon a trip to the vetman.

Originally Posted by jennyranson

I am sorry but why does she need FeLk vaccine before spaying? I have never heard that. None of my cats have ever had it and no vet has ever made it a condition..

Click to expand...

Some vets have ridiculously complicated pre-requisites for having a cat sterilized, most of which are primarily aimed at making $ and involve complicated vaccine and testing protocols. Other doctors have requirements that, while not money-grubbing, reflect an utter lack of understanding of the importance of spay/neuter and the crisis of feline overpopulation (e.g. not spaying anyone before her 6 month birthday and not spaying anyone who is in heat or even possibly pregnant - this is a surefire recipe for a *lot* of unplanned litters since many kittens go into heat before their 6 month birthday).

If any vet requires a FeLV vaccine as a condition for receiving further treatment, that's a sign to find another vet and fast. The FeLV vaccine is strongly associated with negative reactions, from immediate short-term reactions to vaccine site carcinoma, and should only be given to cats who are at high risk of direct, prolonged contact with an infected cat.

Originally Posted by CJandBilly

It's not the money that's a problem. We neutered Billy just recently, and it was no problem at all. It's her reactions. She got her vaccs, just rabies and distemper, and no FeLk, which is required for spaying, and she had a HORRIBLE reaction to it! I thought, along with my parents, that she was going to die! It was horrible, and it scared me so bad, that I AM NOT going to get FeLk vaccination for her! I am too scared to do it! Also, when she goes to the vet, she gets so stressed, she has nausea and is sick for a day. So, I just got Billy neutered, and we won't let her out, and that solves the problem. She is an inside cat anyway. I know that she might get out someday, but, I just can't get the vaccination for her, knowing how badly she reacted to it last time.

That's why she isn't spayed.

Click to expand...

You need a new vet. The FeLV vaccine should not be a requirement for anything, least of all spaying. A vet who would require this of you, and require it *again* knowing that she had a bad reaction to it the last time, is not someone you should be entrusting your cat's care to. Especially considering that your cat is not remotely at for exposure, to require or even recommend the vaccine given her history would be malpractice, pure and simple.

Cassie, maybe this article will help you with your cat fearful of carriers


http://www.thecatsite.com/Cats/Cat_C..._Carriers.html

Where Are The Babies!!!!!!! I Am Getting Antsy!!!

Come On Cj!!!!

Originally Posted by momof6Mews

Where Are The Babies!!!!!!! I Am Getting Antsy!!!

Come On Cj!!!!

Click to expand...

I know! I'm getting impatient! Come on kittens!