Expert: W - 7/26/2008

Question
My girlfriend convinced me that it would be a good idea to take in 2 pregnant cats (they would have been euthenized if we didn't) We have had them both for just over 4 weeks. Their nipples were already noticably 'pinked' when we got them. One of them had just started to show. We took them to the vet and tehy said they were between 4 and 6 weeks pregnant (4 weeks ago!)I have been able to feel the kittens move around in there for weeks and over the past 2 weeks we have actually been able to see them moving.
They are both enormous. One of them is a younger cat and aside from mommy style belly is very skinny. They other is a much bigger build of a cat. She is very healthy and has gained noticable weight.
The bigger one has been wandering the house for about a week. Everytime we check on her she is in a different spot. Bathtub, drawer, cabinet or sometimes just on our bed. In the past week she has become much more affectionate.
The smaller one has been the sweetest thing since we got her. She purrs and jumps on our lap, although we try and discourage it because of teh size of her belly. She is laying on her side.
I feel what may be a fat pocket around the back nipples of the bigger one. No milk comes out of nipples however. The mammory area still feels enlarged. This is not the case on the smaller one.
As they are strays we have NO IDEA when they bred. Many people have told us that if you can see the babies moving there will only be 7-10 days before birth. Well it hs been 11, lol. The babies are still kicking. In the smaller one the movement has become less because of her size, but I can still feel and see them in there. Moms are still both healthy and get up when we come in and greet us. They are eating as well.
Teh larger of the two has only eaten about 3/4 a cup dry food over the last 2 1/2 dys. The smaller has eaten about 1 1/4 cups of food in 2 1/2 days.
By my math if the vet said 5 weeksish, 4 weeks ago- they should be popping any second!
One of thm hasnt nested at all and neither have had any discharge or anything.
Help!

Answer
Jonathan
Feline pregnancy, gestation can last anything up to 69 days in total. So I would give then at least 2 or 3 more days. Then if nothing take them down to the vets for an initial scan and probably C section for delivery

It is impossible to accurately gauge the state of pregnancy of a cat just by looking. When someone says about 4 weeks it can mean anything but if it was 6 weeks pregnant and it now is 10 weeks then you may have some problems with the litter.

A scan will determine the presence of kittens, approximate number and whether they are still healthy. An XRay on the other hand will show total number of skeletons and any other mass which may help the vet determine if a C Section is needed.

The actual movement detected could, and I emphasise could, also mean the kittens are fighting to get out but the birth canal is blocked perhaps by a dead foetus. My own opinion; to the veterinarian now.

Ray