Need Advice......

Okee, My cat Peepants is pregnant and I was looking for some advice. She's about 2 months in and we are expecting them soon! She is very chubby and her nipples are getting large, her nipples are looking like the skin is dry, is there anything I can do for this or is it normal? She is also very lovey and cuddly which is strange because she usually only likes attention once in a while. I am assuming this is because of the pregnancy. Also is it true that I should put shredded paper in the litterbox to avoid the kittens being harmed by accidentaly being born in there? I found some litter at the pet store that was pellets instead of sand would this be better or should I stick to the shredded paper? I also made her a box but she dosen't seem interested in it which I also thought was strange because she used to love sitting in boxes or bins..... Is there a certain way I should make the box like are towells ok to use or should I put something else in there. I'm sorry this post is so long but I have so many questions. This is the first litter of kittens that I am to help bring into this world and I want to make Peepants and her kittens as comfortable as I can. So any advice that anyone has would be greatly appreciated!!!

Is this your girl's first litter?

You can probably continue to use whatever litter you have been using with her, just watch her carefully when she gets close to delivery - if she goes in and out of the litter frequently and strains without producing either urine or feces, then she is probably starting contractions. Sometimes, young, inexperienced, first-time mommy-cats will confuse the feeling of a contraction with needing to eliminate - just keep an eye on the box for anything that shouldn't be in there.

The nesting box materials are going to be changed out pretty quickly after delivery, so use whatever you can either throw away or wash clean easily. Towels are fine, old sheets, old blankets, anything soft and able to "nest" into is good. I dislike using newspapers although a lot of people do use them, but I find they make the kittens dirty with the ink print that comes off on wet kittens. Yucko!!! Have the delivery materials in the box and put the box in a warm, quiet, dimly lit room of your home away from the normal traffic patterns. Have a second set of box materials ready for when you change out the soiled delivery set.

We are always here to help so don't hesitate to ask questions. There are a lot of members here who have gone through litters recently and I am certain several of them will be happy to share experiences and suggestions with you.

Best of luck and don't forget to update us as things progress,

~gf~

Yes it is Peepant's first litter. She is a year and a half

Towels aren't the best bedding to use because their little feet can get hooked on them. Something soft, like a babies nappy (the old style cotton ones) are better.

Continue to use the litter tray. If she did happen to have one in a litter tray I'm sure you will be close by to assist.

Originally Posted by naynaygoose

Yes it is Peepant's first litter. She is a year and a half

Click to expand...

Peepants. That's Orion's nickname

What I found best to use for birthing kittens and after was to have two pillowcases - one with newspaper inside it (for absorbing the fluids) and the other after birth of all kittens with a soft towel. The pillowcases cannot have claws caught in them unlike a towel.

You could put a bit of vegie oil on the nipple if they are a little dry to help soften them up for nursing. Just put a bit on your fingers and massage the nipples.

I would not worry about litter at this point in time - the mother should have her normal kind of litter or she will not use the pan. The kittens won't use the litter pan till they are toddling around - about 3-4 weeks old.

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

What I found best to use for birthing kittens and after was to have two pillowcases - one with newspaper inside it (for absorbing the fluids) and the other after birth of all kittens with a soft towel. The pillowcases cannot have claws caught in them unlike a towel.

Click to expand...

That is a ~really~ good idea! It keeps the newsprint ink off the kittens too! Thanks for this!

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

What I found best to use for birthing kittens and after was to have two pillowcases - one with newspaper inside it (for absorbing the fluids) and the other after birth of all kittens with a soft towel. The pillowcases cannot have claws caught in them unlike a towel.

You could put a bit of vegie oil on the nipple if they are a little dry to help soften them up for nursing. Just put a bit on your fingers and massage the nipples.

I would not worry about litter at this point in time - the mother should have her normal kind of litter or she will not use the pan. The kittens won't use the litter pan till they are toddling around - about 3-4 weeks old.

Click to expand...

Great idea with the pillowcases.

YAY!! You are all so helpfu!! I agree that the pillocases are a fantastic idea! And I will be sure to use the veggie oil. Peepants is getting more clingy and shes constantly grooming herself... She has to sit right by me, she'll notice me looking at her and meow, then goes back to grooming, she's so silly. It is very funny to watch her walk, her belly is so big she seems to waddle, lol. Well thanks again everybody and I will be sure to keep you all updated. As soon as I can I will put some pics up of my two kitties and when Peepants has the tiny newcomers I will definatly post them too! Oh yeah I have another queston, I have been feeding her kitten food and wet food, Is this ok or should I be feeding her something else? Maybe something along with that? Everytime I eat anything she's in my face so I was just wondering if she was maybe not getting all the nutreints she needed or maybe shes just having cat snack attacks. She always has the dry kitten food availbul so she can eat when she pleases (which she does often).

Originally Posted by naynaygoose

YAY!! You are all so helpfu!! I agree that the pillocases are a fantastic idea! And I will be sure to use the veggie oil. Peepants is getting more clingy and shes constantly grooming herself... She has to sit right by me, she'll notice me looking at her and meow, then goes back to grooming, she's so silly. It is very funny to watch her walk, her belly is so big she seems to waddle, lol. Well thanks again everybody and I will be sure to keep you all updated. As soon as I can I will put some pics up of my two kitties and when Peepants has the tiny newcomers I will definatly post them too! Oh yeah I have another queston, I have been feeding her kitten food and wet food, Is this ok or should I be feeding her something else? Maybe something along with that? Everytime I eat anything she's in my face so I was just wondering if she was maybe not getting all the nutreints she needed or maybe shes just having cat snack attacks. She always has the dry kitten food availbul so she can eat when she pleases (which she does often).

Click to expand...

You are doing great.

BTW if you have a longhair cat you might want to carefully trim some of the belly fur to make it easier for the kits to find the nipples and to keep her cleaner.

Kitten food for pregnant cats is good - gives her more calories cause she's gonna need them when nursing. Just do not overfeed her. A fat pregnant cat has a harder time giving birth and cleaning kittens.

I didn't think you could overfeed a pregnant cat - I thought they had to have lots more food than usual??

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

BTW if you have a longhair cat you might want to carefully trim some of the belly fur to make it easier for the kits to find the nipples and to keep her cleaner.

Kitten food for pregnant cats is good - gives her more calories cause she's gonna need them when nursing. Just do not overfeed her. A fat pregnant cat has a harder time giving birth and cleaning kittens.

Click to expand...

Ooh... Thats good to know, Peepant's has long hair, not super long but she's definately poofy! I will try to trim her belly up (good thing I'm in cosmetology school, lol!) But she's not to keen on being held she likes to recieve her attention on her own terms.

Anywhoo, Peepant's has been looking around for good places to make her nest and has tested out the boxes, she actually seems interested in it! So I am expecting the big day to be coming soon! I haven't noticed any discharge,
do they always have discharge before they have the kittens??

Yes, they almost always do, as well as losing their mucous plug. You may not notice the plug though, as it can be passed in the litter box.

You can overfeed a pregnant cat - especially if you start when they are first pregnant. Towards the end you let them free feed cause they will be burning the calories up in delivery/nursing.