please describe labour.x

im the sort of person that likes to know all the possibilities..... but all i can find is good or bad news... can you please give me a better knowledge of labours as i only have experience with rat breeding...... she is 61days preg.... ready to pop... just started to sleep lots and really enjoy a belly rub"princess"this afternoon made a concious decision to not leave the house.... im not worried about nesting etc because no matter what she does she always turns to me... (she wouldnt even mate unless she was like 10cm away. during week has just got closer.....) today at lunch time notices about 1cm of gunk hanging out. it dried up and fell off.... but please can you help me get a better understanding of what we could be going through very soon.xxxx

Hi and welcome to TCS

This link has lots of great information in it

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74659

I don't have much help with your question but just wanted to say that if you are giving her the option to go outside at all you need to STOP. She can be carrying more then one litter at a time if multiple males got to her. Plus she can get pregnant almost right away again after birth.

Please do not let her outside at all and have her spayed as soon as the babies are weaned!

At 61 days, she will probably not pop just yet. The average gestation is more around 65 days, and can be up to 70. You will probably want her to hold off a few more days. As for the "gunk" you described, that may mean she could be ready to go...if it is indeed the mucous plug.

Signs of labor:

*Restlessness, preparing the birthing nest. Once she does this, don't disturb it!
*Contractions-will look like "waves" or rippling down her side.
*Discharge and/or mucous plug.
*Decreased appetite.
*Non-stop purring.
*A change in personality...if she's a loner, she may want to now be near you.
*A temp below 100 degrees F.
*Swelling or dialating around her vulva area.

Once she goes into active labor, as in the contraction are coming closer together, discharge, meowing, licking herself, etc., stay close by, but don't assist in anything, unless she begins to struggle with something.

The thread above was excellent. Those are signs to watch for definitely.
I knew labor was in deed underway when my cat came in and wouldn't leave my side (odd because she was an outdoor cat lol) and was meowing over and over again. Right before she started pushing she was panting.
I have no idea how far along Holstein was though due to her being an outdoor cat.
Let us know how things go with her.

princess is an indoors cat... but where we have children we smoke in the garden on a bench and so she will come sit with us.... that was kinda my point... to look at me and make a dessision to not follow to the outside.... she never goes anywhere unless she is with me... i am fully aware that she can not have any access to fresh air once she has had them as i am planning on getting her done asap... im at the more trying to find out the next time the neutering van is here incase the timing is appropriate.... she has been pretty much asleep today... she is no longer doing any jumps.... has meowed at me 4 times now to help her back down the stairs.... i just wish she would hurry up and have them because if she did wait for the 70 days i would have to arrange someone else to watch over them as me girl has an op next tues.... just got to keep my fingers crossed it all goes perfect and she makes sure her timing is perfect..... just gotta wish... otherwise we will have the ordeal of choosing who has the cat and who has the child.... the prob is my girl does not mind who looks after her as she is well used to it..this is her 24th.. but i know the cat would only want me!! dilema!

Originally Posted by gem4382

princess is an indoors cat... but where we have children we smoke in the garden on a bench and so she will come sit with us.... that was kinda my point... to look at me and make a dessision to not follow to the outside.... she never goes anywhere unless she is with me... i am fully aware that she can not have any access to fresh air once she has had them as i am planning on getting her done asap... im at the more trying to find out the next time the neutering van is here incase the timing is appropriate.... she has been pretty much asleep today... she is no longer doing any jumps.... has meowed at me 4 times now to help her back down the stairs.... i just wish she would hurry up and have them because if she did wait for the 70 days i would have to arrange someone else to watch over them as me girl has an op next tues.... just got to keep my fingers crossed it all goes perfect and she makes sure her timing is perfect..... just gotta wish... otherwise we will have the ordeal of choosing who has the cat and who has the child.... the prob is my girl does not mind who looks after her as she is well used to it..this is her 24th.. but i know the cat would only want me!! dilema!

Click to expand...

Gem...any way you can keep her from following you outdoors....my concern is she goes into labor and is accidentally "spooked"....runs off to find a safe place to have her kittens and ends up having them outdoors. Probably better to try to contain her indoors at this point.

Katie

This is what happened during Maverick labour:

11pm - just after Desperate housewives! Maverick is being very affectionate and has been all evening. She meows at me and is leaking a clear, slimy discharge.

12pm- She goes to sleep on my bed. I decide to stay awake to make sure she is ok. I finally go to bed at 2am.

4am - Maverick wakes me up and is having contractions. Her stomach seems to be rolling almost. She seems to be in pain and kind of 'spoons' next to me where I rub her stomach and stroke her.

She moves from the birthing box I have set up to a gap behind the wardrobe. She then tries to use the litter tray before finally settling down on my lap. She grunts and moans like the women do in bad hospital dramas! Finally, a small black lump pops out.

5am- Jupiter is born! Maverick cleans him and eats the placenta. They both start crying as neither knows what to do now. I put the kitten on Maverick nip and he starts feeding.


Maverick wouldnt let me leave the room for three days after her kitten was born. i used a huge cardboard box that a tv had come in with holes in the side for a nest. I kept it warm by insulating it with newspaper and putting a rice heater inside.

TIPS:

* Prepare a nesting area away from the traffic of the household. Be prepared to sit by the box when the mama cat goes to eat, play etc.. Maverick seemed to firmly believe in the saying 'it takes a village to raise a child' and often left me to kitten sit. Keep some magazines by the nest!

* Wilkinsons sells £3 cat beds. Buy three of these so you can wash and change them a lot. If the nest smells the mother might move the babies.

*Wear an old t-shirt and get it sweaty. use it to line the nest box. the babies will then become used to your smell and bond with you quicker.

*The mother will need lots of nutrients. Hi-life does a fish flavoured kitten food that my cats loved! and its really easy to persuade kittens to eat when they are weaning as it smells so strongly. A good quality dry kitten food is a must too.

*The mother might not want to leave the nest for a while so have dry food close to hand for her. Cat milk provides extra calories and water too.

her fluff around her area is slightly crusty... only really slightly.... .... she has had a slight personality change for nearly 3 days now..... we will just have to watsh this space....my girl thinks it will be tomorrow..... call it a blind persons intuition with her other sences and if she gets it right i will be so amazed.....