pregnant cat could use some advice asap

Hi.
sorry about this long post so please bear with me. I have a pregnant cat who is about 60-61 days. Due at any time. She scratches and meows only at night. I know this is her nesting period. but this has been going on for 3 days I would have thought she would already be in labor by now. I was told that this is the thier first stage of labor. Has anyone cats been doing that for that long? I hear they usually have their first kitten between 12-24 hours. She was also very petite before she has got pregnant. She is bigger but not overly big. Does this kind of tell the size of a cats litter? Has anyones cat that was small had a big litter? Also she still eats normally but does her nesting. Has anyones cat eat up until birth? I hear cats tend to have their kittens at night. Is this true? Has anyone ever had a cat go into labor during the day? I see her little ones constantly move around. Is this a sign of up coming labor? She also (Her name is Sunshine) wanted nothing to do with the area I had prepared for her. I noticed when she was scatching she was doing it on a throw rug we had. She left her scent there so I know that was where she intends on having her babes. My kids made a box so I lined it with the throw rug. Which happens to be an oriental rug. I don't care though.She is just starting to sleep there so I think she will have her kittens there. I get so excited. I am constantly lying on the floor and petting her. I also have checked her nipples. They are pink and swollen they actually look like breasts. Is this a sign? Maybe I am reading into things but I just can't take the suspense. I wanna be there for her. hope to hear from you soon. Darc

hi darc my baby had babies on wednesday during the day and despite having everything prepared she had them behind the tv lol. missy had me up two nights on the trot in the early hours with the scratching and meowing during the birth she never made a sound i happened to see the mucas plug so i knew it would be soon missy went off her food but was still eating small amounts. i hope all goes well
michell missy and babies

Size of cats don't always tell size of litter. I've known many smaller cats (6 lbs and petite) that have given birth to 5 or more kittens.

Usually with my rexes, if I could get a drop of milk from the nipples, she would deliver kittens within 48 hours.

Hi again. I have been seeing her licking her genital area but she also just went to the bathroom. Do cats go to the bathroom before labor? I have heard that they stop. I just saw the dog play with the cat. she was not happy. I caught them in the middle of it. I hope he didn't hurt the kittens. He is a little dog though. Also she used to let me rub her tummy but last time she bit me so I stopped. Is that a sign? darc

Originally Posted by darc

Hi again. I have been seeing her licking her genital area but she also just went to the bathroom. Do cats go to the bathroom before labor? I have heard that they stop. I just saw the dog play with the cat. she was not happy. I caught them in the middle of it. I hope he didn't hurt the kittens. He is a little dog though. Also she used to let me rub her tummy but last time she bit me so I stopped. Is that a sign? darc

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Darc....if your mom cat is close to delivering...I would place her in a seperate room away from the dog. She will need to feel secure when she gives birth and having the dog have access to her may stress her to the point where she moves the kittens around trying to find a safe place.

I don't know the background of your cat...but it will be very important right now that she is kept strictly indoors only and away from intact males until the kittens are weaned and she can be safely spayed. There are many low cost spay clinics in New York...you can find a link in my signature to low cost clinics by state.

Katie

Thanks katie I will do that. The cat has been kept indoors. She is an indoor cat but sneaked out. I will def. ckeck out those clinics. I don't want my baby girl prego again. She is a beautiful black cat. I think more than likely she will wait til the evening. It's funny since Sunshine became pregnant he has been feeling a little bit jealous. Not mean jealous though. She has been getting a lot of attention from me. Yoda (the dog) used to play together all the time, they are best buds but since she became pregnant she has wanted nothing to do with him. Poor guy. My hubby and I really pay a lot of attention to him though. I think when the kitties are born he will be curious but won't in any way do any harm. He is a toy Rat Terrier. The cat could take him out if she wanted. Sunshine was licking the dog yesterday, it was so cute. He loved it. He just misses her company. I do however send him away when he comes up to me as I am petting her. She loves her belly rubbed. He just comes right up inbetween us and wants to be loved. So I tell him I love him too, pet him, and send him on his way. My husband and I are going to give him a lot of attention when the kitties are born, so he does not feel neglected. Afterall with all those cute little kitties who can resist them. Thanks again Darc

Not to alarm you, but it is very possible that once Sunshine has her kittens, she will be very protective of them. If the dog comes near, she may hurt him.

One of my foster cats (CoCo) got rattled by my 17 y/o jumping over her kittens. She attacked ds, and as he left the room, she followed him and attacked our 70 pound akita. I used my foot to shoo her back into the room. She bit through the leather shoes. (I was NOT kicking her, just pushing her off the dog with my foot.)

Of course, this cat and dog were not friends, but just to warn you when a Momcat becomes defensive, look out! I would plan to keep the dog well away from the kittens. Either shut Sunshine in a room with the kits, or put up a baby gate so she can come and go, but the dog can't get near the nest.

I think when the kitties are born he will be curious but won't in any way do any harm. He is a toy Rat Terrier. The cat could take him out if she wanted. Sunshine was licking the dog yesterday, it was so cute. He loved it. He just misses her company. I do however send him away when he comes up to me as I am petting her. She loves her belly rubbed.

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It doesn't matter what his intention is....your cat will find his interest to be threatening....so best to have her in her own room. She will be very protective towards her kittens and as her owner...you need to respect the fact that she needs her own space. Otherwise...she could end up moving her kittens to an unsafe location in your home.

Many people here have set up their pregnant mom in a bathroom or a spare bedroom. It should be a place where it is relatively quiet and she does not have a lot of traffic coming in. If you have any children...they also need to give her space. The room you place her in should have her litterbox and her food (she should now be on kitten food).

Katie

Thanks again. I did research and when she was half way through her pregnancy I was told to gradually mix in kitten food. This past two and a half weeks she has been on strictly kitten food. I will definately keep the dog away from her. The only thing is she prefers the spot we have in the kitchen. It is in a box under a table. She is constantly there. The dog leaves her alone and sleeps on the coach. I had a closet all designated for her but she hated it. I even would put her in there and shut the door so she would get used to it. she cried and clawed to get out. The basement would be perfect but the temp is to cold. after her kitties are born I'll see if Sunshine will let me move them to the closet upstairs. She loves to have her belly rubbed. Is this a sign? She also from time to time is starting to cry. I felt her tummy but it is hard to say if it was hard. Her nipples are big and pink. she moves around also but does not seem agitated. She will move to the basement for a little bit and then come up by her spot. I can't tell if she is restless or not. She eats soooo much. She licks herself a lot also. Is she close? I love this site. Everyone has been so helpful. I'm am so excited. I don't know what Daddy looks like so it will be a nice surprise. Do cats urinate before they go into labor? I am def going to take your guys advice. I'll let you know when she starts labor. Can anyone please tell me about their prego cats story. I would love to hear them. This is all knew to me so I would like to see if anyone else has experienced the same thing.

Darc....this post has lots of pregnancy information:

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

I would refer to this post regarding signs to look for.

Katie