What are the 'secret labor signs'?

We can all read about the panting, or pacing or refusing food. But are there any common signs that only you guys with experience know?

My Dudley has been licking her um, area, since last night. I try to feel her babies move and her stomach gets hard for a minute, then not and I can feel the babies wiggle again. She will roll on her back begging me to rub her tummy, then jump up and walk around meow and come back. Yet she is eating and drinking like crazy.

She hisses at every cat except my little girl cat, and wants her to clean her and sleep with her in her nesting box.

I'm just confused at this point. Maybe Dudley is confused as well.

with the stomach tightening it sounds like she is having contractions. how close together does it tighten? They can have mild contractions for a while but once they get into hard labor it shouldn't take too long or there could be a problem.

IK some cats will spin in circles, lay down clean themselves, stand up, spin in a circle, lay down etc........... this is when they are pushing most times. My old cat used to do that and I know skittles did it when she was starting to push too.


They may use the litter box ALOT right before hand, when they start pushing they may squat down (like going to sit)......... sure others will have some more things for you.

Originally Posted by hugparty

We can all read about the panting, or pacing or refusing food. But are there any common signs that only you guys with experience know?

My Dudley has been licking her um, area, since last night. I try to feel her babies move and her stomach gets hard for a minute, then not and I can feel the babies wiggle again. She will roll on her back begging me to rub her tummy, then jump up and walk around meow and come back. Yet she is eating and drinking like crazy.

She hisses at every cat except my little girl cat, and wants her to clean her and sleep with her in her nesting box.

I'm just confused at this point. Maybe Dudley is confused as well.

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I would keep her contained away from the other cats now...she is probably very close to delivery.

Katie

She hasn't been using the litterbox any more than usual. The tightening was about 30 mins apart all night that I could tell. Sadly I have to be at work right now so I can't monitor it right now. She was also rather 'moist' down there last night.

Am I just being super nervous???? Or am I just wishful thinking that they'll be born soon...

TNR: Of course! She has been in the back bedroom for a few days, since I started feeling the kittens move. She just cries for the girl cat to be with her so much that I moved Dinah's (the spayed girl) bed in there with Dudley and all night it was Dudley crying for Dinah to come sleep in her nesting box - whereupon Dinah licked Dud's sides most of the night. Apparently my girl cats have an alternative lifestyle, or Dinah is her doula. She better not have them till I get home...

That is sweet! Looks like your girls are really good friends!

Do you think I should seperate them though? I hate to cause her distress when she seems to like her there but I don't know if it will cause problems.

Dinah is a girl cat I found meowing over dead kittens of her own. She was of course promptly spayed. Maybe she wants to be a mommy

No don't need to seperate them, but I would seperate them when she goes into hard labor.

Is there babies yet...

That is very cute. I hope everything goes well.

I hope there is babies...

Not yet :/ she stopped eating last night though...and has pretty much moved into her warm box the last 24 hours and won't let her girlfriend come near her. I have no idea what is going on with her LOL!

I noticed that the cat I took in off the street had plenty of movement in her belly, but did not finally give birth to one kitten until 3:30 last night/Wednesday morning technically.

She had what looked like contractions Monday afternoon, but it was very random and spread out. She would occasionally tighten up her hind legs while laying down on her side, and she walked around the bathroom a bit looking for somewhere different to sit down.
But when she finally went into labor, I knew it was happening because first off, she was laying down purring like crazy with her contractions happening pretty much nonstop. I could hear her make a noise every once in a while that let me know she was pushing and was uncomfortable. Then she started licking her rear end like crazy, and walked over to me and a few drops got on the floor so I knew she was getting closer to going into labor.
Then a clear, greenish colored gooey looking ball came out of her and I figured it was just a matter of minutes. About 45 minutes later she was pushing and pushing and walked back to her box, and the kitten popped right out. Her contractions were getting really close together as early as 10 pm and it was about 2:45 or 3 am that the kitten finally arrived. Hopefully this is of some help to you so you don't get too anxious over things when it may still be a few days.

I hope so. I don't know if I should be worried or just let nature take its course. She is just laying around not eating still, although she did have some water. Ironically, though she hasn't eaten that I can tell, her stomach looks larger. She is still licking a lot too, but doesn't seem to have any discomfort.

I am sad though, because since yesterday she just wants to sleep and doesn't seem to like me being around

Maybe she is just waiting for the perfect time....