Expert: Marcia Owen - 5/25/2009

Question
My cat was in heat and escaped on the evening of March 14th and returned that night at about 10pm. She had 4 week old kittens at the time. We kept one of them and she is 14 weeks old today. She still nurses her kitten but today is day 70 in mamas pregnancy. Shouldn't she have delivered the new litter by now? I can feel the kittens kicking in her belly. Will mama still nursing 14 week old kitten prevent mama from going into labor? I'm getting scared that something is wrong since she hasn't gone into labor. 14 week old kitten only nurses maybe 5 minutes a day. She is weened, I think that she nurses just to be close to mom still since mamas a little cranky towards kitten since she's pregnant. I'm really getting nervous since it is almost day 71 in mamas pregnancy. Help!

Answer
I have had experience of cats going to 7 days over their due date.  If you can feel the kittens kicking then that is good news.

It would be a good idea to take the older kitten away from Mum though I don't think that would stop Mum going into labour.

If your girl hasn't kittened in the next 24 hours though I would consider taking her to be checked out by the vet.

Marcia.