I Have NO Idea!!!!!

surflou

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Hey all!

My cat Kitt is almost 1 and due to have her first litter any day now, I've read and read about pregancies in cats and I have a room set aside for her with a birthing box and plenty of blankets and peace and quiet should she want it, theres also a litter tray and her food bowls in there.

Now shes absolutely huge, her nipples are very large and she's finding it difficult to lick herself shes that big! I also felt the kittens move around today, does that mean they're not ready yet?

Anyway, back to her room, she will stay in there for a time and eat and do her business but then she wants to get out to where Dad is (Spike, my other cat) and seems to prefer hanging around wherever I am (I work from home and she spends a lot of time in my office on the spare bed). She also seems to like sleeping on my bed when she can get there and also likes to hang around with Spike and my dog Logan, Logan is extremely gentle considering he's only 6 months old, and I have no problem with him sittin near the cats, in fact Spike and Logan are best buds, always chasing each other around!

So back to Kitt, I'm confused by her behaviour, shes trying to get into cupboards but has been doing that for a while now, I can't believe how big she actually is, she must be due to have them soon, I just fed her and she scoffed the lot... I have no idea... Heeeelp!

Also, can someone tell me about cats as partners, the 2 of them are always close, Spike is the father (we hope) and whenever she is shut in her room he goes and lays by the door and waits for her to be let out. They follow each other everywhere and often Spike will go up to Kitt and start to wash her ears or her nose, very cute but I thought cats weren't like that.....

Anyway, I'll post some pix of my guys and the kitties when they get here.... Can anyone help me?

Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

loveysmummy

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Hi
It sounds as if you have some sweet kitties.
Has the mama been to see a vet yet to determine when she is due and to see when you can spay her after the birth? Is your male neutered now?
I am no cat birth expert, and so can't offer much that way.
I hope all goes well, welcome you here and please keep us posted!
The experts should be along anytime soon!

Cheers
 

meiam

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cats can be like that...i had a male cat that used to let the kittens suck on his nipples they never got anything, but he loved it and they did too, it was hilarious! sorry i can't give any advice on the birth, except all the cats i've helped give birth start breathing weird and walking funny when they're about to deliver and i would keep her seperate from the other animals for a bit
 

jennyr

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She is trying to get into cupboards because she's deciding where to give birth - because YOU have provided a box and room doesn't mean she will want to use them - she may find somewhere else that is more to her liking. You can try and encourage her but if you are not looking then she may well have her kittens in a closet or on a bed, or anywhere. On another note, if your male is still intact, then he could get her pregnant again within a week or two of her giving birth - so I would get him neutered now. Good luck with the kittens.
 

5catsandcountin

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She is acting normal...she sounds ok..just figuring out her nesting and keeping busy..yea, she may not take the box you provide...I had a cat that HAD to give birth in my closet on my stack of sweaters.
 
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surflou

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Thanks everyone, yes I will be getting Spike neutered in the next week or so, I wanted Kitt to have a litter with him as I've had a lot of people ask me for kittens from them if they should have them and as they're such beautiful cats together and they all had homes to go to that were good and loving I thought whats the harm!

Regarding Kitt, shes still eating like a horse, her belly doesn't seem to have dropped any at all and you can still feel the kittens moving around, I was almost convinced she was impregnated around the end of Feburary but I think I was wrong there!

God this waiting is frustrating, I'm too excited to wait....!
 

cjandbilly

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Originally Posted by surflou

Now shes absolutely huge, her nipples are very large and she's finding it difficult to lick herself shes that big! I also felt the kittens move around today, does that mean they're not ready yet?
There's no telling how close she is, unless you know an approximation of when she was bred. Possibly, the last time she was in heat? The normal gestation period for a cat is about 63 days, but it can be anywhere from 58 to 72 days in some cats. When CJ was pregnant, she couldn't lick herself, either, so that's normal. It's kinda gross too!


Originally Posted by surflou

So back to Kitt, I'm confused by her behaviour, shes trying to get into cupboards but has been doing that for a while now, I can't believe how big she actually is, she must be due to have them soon, I just fed her and she scoffed the lot... I have no idea... Heeeelp!
CJ did that the day she delivered, but some cats do it up to a week before birthing.

Originally Posted by surflou

Also, can someone tell me about cats as partners, the 2 of them are always close, Spike is the father (we hope) and whenever she is shut in her room he goes and lays by the door and waits for her to be let out. They follow each other everywhere and often Spike will go up to Kitt and start to wash her ears or her nose, very cute but I thought cats weren't like that.....

Anyway, I'll post some pix of my guys and the kitties when they get here.... Can anyone help me?

Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Billy and CJ are that way. When CJ's locked up in a room, a lot of times he will sleep out the door, for at least a while, then he might leave. And when I let her out, and he sees her, they play, or groom each other, or just sleep side by side. So, that's normal!


Hope that helps!
Cassie
 

kluchetta

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As far as the kittens moving, I believe they move right up to delivery. I think I recall hearing that they actually get more active before delivery? (I've only had one litter, so I'm hoping that's right, someone jump in if it's not.)

Also, my cat got so huge she couldn't clean herself either. And was NOT very happy when I attempted it for her! She got so big that the last day she had to lie on her back instead of her side or stomach! Of course she had 8 kittens...good luck, and keep us posted.
 

cjandbilly

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Originally Posted by kluchetta

As far as the kittens moving, I believe they move right up to delivery. I think I recall hearing that they actually get more active before delivery? (I've only had one litter, so I'm hoping that's right, someone jump in if it's not.)

Also, my cat got so huge she couldn't clean herself either. And was NOT very happy when I attempted it for her! She got so big that the last day she had to lie on her back instead of her side or stomach! Of course she had 8 kittens...good luck, and keep us posted.
EIGHT KITTENS!!!!!
Poor baby! Bet she
a lot!!!

Anyway... everytime my cats have had kittens, the kittens are active until delivery, and do get more active as delivery approaches, however, when delivery comes, and momma is in labor, I don't think they move around as much.
 
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surflou

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Sorry guys, I feel terrible, we've had so much going on I haven't had a chance to let you all know what happened (even though it was almost a year ago!

We had 6 kittens on the afternoon of the 12th May last year, We sadly had a stillborn that looked exactly like his dad, then came Parker (my big fat baby) a sandy coloured fella, then we had - no word of a lie - IDENTICAL black twins, then a little tortoiseshell like her mum but with her Dads long hair and then finally we had little MJ pop out (shes jet black with long hair - we also think she maybe one of the smallest cats in the World, shes almost 1 now and tiny still, the vet said she won't grow anymore!). Anyway, we buried poor splodge, kept MJ and Parker and found a home with my best friends parents on their farm for the twins Jet and Tony and the tortoiseshell is called Lex and went to a friends too... So all ended well... WE also helped deliver, Kitt was happy for us to do it as well and we've been close to the kittens since they were born and they love us to death now!
 

tnr1

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surflou....I would highly recommend that you place these kittens carefully and ensure that they are spayed/neutered by their owners. I would also recommend that you offer to take the kittens back if there ever becomes an issue and their new owner cannot care for them. Part of the responsibility of bringing kittens into this world is ensuring that they will never be in a situation where they could end up either homeless or in an animal shelter or pound.

I also hope that you intend to have Kitt spayed once her kittens are weaned. It is healthier in general for a cat to be spayed.

Katie
 
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surflou

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Thats great advice thanks but if you check the thread carefully you'll see that firstly, both parents are now spayed and neutered, all kitten bar one that was stillborn and the 2 we have are homed and the ones we kepts are injected and neutered, I know both homes of the kittens well so I know they are healthy and happy, oh and finally, the kittens are now almost 1 year old lol!

Thanks for the advice though, beter late than never I suppose!!!
 

tnr1

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Originally Posted by surflou

Thats great advice thanks but if you check the thread carefully you'll see that firstly, both parents are now spayed and neutered, all kitten bar one that was stillborn and the 2 we have are homed and the ones we kepts are injected and neutered, I know both homes of the kittens well so I know they are healthy and happy, oh and finally, the kittens are now almost 1 year old lol!

Thanks for the advice though, beter late than never I suppose!!!
Surflou...I JUST saw that this thread was from last year. That's great that both parents are now fixed and the kittens are placed with friends or are with you. I guess my advice was also in case someone else read this post and found themselves in a similiar situation. Glad it all worked out. ::must remember to read dates before posting::


Katie
 
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