Expert: Norman Auspitz - 2/26/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a pregnant cat with colostrum (when expressed)and would like to know the soonest that colostrum could show up before birth. I know this question has been asked a million times, but each answer and website gives a different answer. Some say colostrum shows up at week 7, some say 48 hours, and I am just confused. This is her 1st and last litter (she has been seen by vet). She is not huge, just much much bigger than she was.
According to this website she would be at day 63??? I think we are on 55, maybe 60???
http://www.ukocicats.org.uk/Feline%20Pre...
(We are keeping all the kittens for the barn, and they will all be desexed)
The vet was unsure, the feed store told me she was due a  week ago and I have never had pet babies. I even put photos of her on a forum and most people said two weeks to go still. That was before the colostrum came in!Here is the website with her photos...
http://forum.horsetopia.com/cats/103934-pregnant-kitty-update-colostrum-premilk-
Thankyou for your help! Courtney

ANSWER: Courtney,

The problem you have is that all the web sites are correct to a point.  So, I will do a kind of information dump on you:

Anyway, cat gestation is normally 65-67 days with 63 days being a normal minimum and 69 days being a normal maximum.  Anything over 69 days would mean a visit to the vet!  You should be able to see and feel the kittens moving in the last week and a half to 2 weeks of pregnancy.  We start counting the second day of breeding.

Here is the problem.  Every queen seems to want to do it a little differently, so the best I can do is give you guidelines.

Anywhere from a week before birth up until the onset of birth or anywhere in between, she will get her milk in.  In this time frame she may also have a mucous/bloody discharge. (Although these events may start at different times during this time frame).

Anywhere from a few days before birth up until the onset of birth or anywhere in between, she may exhibit nesting behavior and restlessness.  Also, in this time frame her kittens will form hard knots and begin to move backward and downward in her abdomen.  This is really the very early stages of labor. (Although these events may start at different times during this time frame).

Anywhere from a few hours before birth up until the onset of birth or anywhere in between, her water may break and she will have what are called positioning contractions where she begins to get the kittens in line for birth.

You will know hard labor when you see it.  Once she starts her birthing contractions, it is usually about an hour before the first kitten is all the way out.  About 50 of the kittens are breech, so although it is a bit tougher, it is normal for the first kitten to be breech.

A couple of things you want to have handy are a roll of paper towels, a bottle of isopropyl alcohol, scissors (in case you have to cut the cords), and a soft face cloth to clean the kitten's face if mama does not do it immediately.

I like to use a "jumbo" cardboard storage chest (10" X 16" X 26") as a birthing box.  Put some old sheeting or toweling in side.  Put it somewhere you can easily get to, in a warm spot away from drafts, and away from young children and other pets.  You can half cover it with a towel, so it seems more den like.

Make sure your vet knows what is going on, so, in case she has trouble, you have arrangements about what you must do.

I hope all of this is helpful.  As you can see the problem is that there are no hard and fast rules!!!!!  It also sounds as if someone miscounted the days somewhere during all this.  Is it possible she was bred before you thought she was?  Anyway, from the sounds of your question you should not have to wait too much longer!

Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Best regards... Norm.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your answer. Her temperature yesterday was 100.5, I took it today it was 99.7. These are the first times I have checked them! Is she close?
In regards to the info you gave it discussed milk which is different than colostrum. In the info was it using them interchangebly? Her colostrum is still in.
I think I felt them move around for the first time on Feb tenth.
Again, thanks Courtney

Answer
Courtney,

I believe she will have kittens any time now.  Probably, by the time you get this, she should have started labor. The reason we tend not to take temperatures, is that one of our breeds is way too active and hates restraint, so taking temperatures is not an option.

Yes, when I say milk, I am using the term interchangeably with colostrum.

Please let me know what happens.

Best regards... Norm.