Expert: Ali - 10/9/2010

Question
I have taken in a stray cat, she has been with us now for about 2 weeks.  When we first got her, I thought that she might have something wrong with her.  Her belly was hard and big.   I never even thought to think that she may be pregnant, but she is.  We accept all responsibility for the cat and her kittens as pet owners.  We of course have NO idea when she is due.  I have been reading everything on the Internet about signs and how to find out when she will have the kittens. She has pretty much every single sign out there.  She has a huge belly, with a big appetite, I can feel and SEE the kittens moving.  She has milk or the start of milk coming out of her nipples.  She is looking around for a safe place to have the babies. The only questions I have are, well she is still eating, do cats ALWAYS loose their appetite when going into labor?  As well, I thought she would have had them by now because she is huge, I can see the babies moving lots, I mean A LOT!  She is purring all the time, wants to be around us and all the signs are there.  I cannot tell because we took her in late in her pregnancy.  Could you help me or send me to someone who can.  I know there is really no way of telling when a cat is due if you don't know when she got pregnant but any help would be great.
Thanks,
Vonessa

Answer
Vonessa,

At this point since mom's got milk I'd assume that her babies are due at any minute and it sounds like they're healthy, big and active based on the amount of movement you're seeing. The most accurate method for determining mom's approximate due date at this point would be to have your vet perform a physical exam (which might in and of itself let you know if mom's cervix has begun to dilate or at least soften up in preparation for labor) and late in the pregnancy kittens can be aged via the use of x-rays. It's completely safe to x-ray a pet during pregnancy and it's common practice when vets want to determine the gestational age of the kittens and/or the number of babies to expect which is also important in this case since you don't know mom's health history. The skeletons of the kittens are visible on x-ray roughly 52 days or so into the pregnancy or ten to thirteen days (give or take) before they'd be born - the move obvious the skeletons of the kittens are the older their gestational age.

Ultimately it's also possible for a vet to perform an ultrasound, but this is substantially more expensive than the x-ray and in some instances you can't get quite as accurate a feel for how many babies are in the womb because of the way that the feline uterus is constructed - there are two uterine horns making the womb Y shaped and these horns overlap each other making it difficult to count how many babies there are because you can't easily see the horns separately without a higher resolution machine similar to those in use in human obstetrical practices (most vet clinics don't have the financial resources or enough of a need within their practice to justify such expensive equipment, but if you're interested and money is no object then you should be able to find a vet somewhere who has it - the vet may not be all that close by though).

In a situation like this where very little is known about this mom to be it's not a bad idea to have a general idea of just how many babies she's expected to deliver because just as in human pregnancy, labor and delivery there are sometimes complications that mean that mom would require a caesarian section to save her life as well as the lives of any babies who happen to be stuck somewhere between their safe little home inside of mom and the outside world. Ultimately if your vet has told you to expect 4-5 kittens and there are only 3 on delivery day that could signal that there's an issue and mom may need a caesarian to safely deliver her remaining kittens which you would want to do as quickly as possible in order to increase the chances of the remaining babies surviving.

My recommendation to you at this point would be to set mom up in a room of her own (if at all possible) where other pets and children won't have access to her. This will allow her to de-stress and get ready to deliver her babies in as safe an environment as possible. Mom should also have a birthing box - a large sturdy cardboard box lined with a disposable incontinence pad (the big blue pads used in hospitals and nursing homes to protect beds and furniture) and some old towels/receiving blankets) will work just fine. I generally find that moms are happier when they have privacy so I tend to use larger boxes with lids that I create a mommy door in so that mom can come and go with ease during labor, delivery and while she cares for her babies. The lid allows mom privacy and darkness like she'd find in a natural den site if she was on her own and using a box like this gives you easy access to check on the new family and clean out their temporary home whenever bedding or the pad underneath the bedding become soiled or wet. I don't recommend putting a heating pad or heat lamp in mom's nesting box unless the box is large enough (and well enough ventilated) that the kittens can move away from the heat when they're uncomfortable because newborn kittens can't regulate their own body temperature meaning that if you overheat them with a heating pad or heat lamp they can't remedy the situation (and their mom usually does a fantastic job of keeping her babies cuddled, clean, dry and warm instinctively).

It's important to remember that just because you provide mom with a beautiful nest box doesn't mean she's going to use it - unfortunately she may decide to deliver her babies elsewhere so if you've got Grandma's heirloom quilt on the bed in the spare room it's probably a good idea to remove it and replace it with old or cheap bedding that you don't mind throwing away. I'd also recommend putting a waterproof mattress pad on the bed as some moms like to have their babies under the covers on an empty bed just because it's warm, dark and while not the best choice if the babies are close to the edge of the bed it is reasonably safe. If you don't want her to deliver her babies under a bed or in a closet you'll need to block those areas off so that she can't get to them and trust me, you don't want the mess of babies delivered where you can't get to the new family and clean up the area afterwards because there are blood and fluids with any delivery that do stain and these fluids do have a distinctive odor to them.

Mom will also need a few other basics in her temporary maternity wing - at least two adult sized litter pans to start with and a kitten sized litter box when the babies have their eyes open and start moving around more comfortably outside of their nest box - around 2-3 weeks of age is when I usually start providing a kitten sized litter pan because these babies do learn partly through the help of people and partly through watching their mom do her business in the litter box (this is also why I recommend open style litter pans for a nursing mom and her kittens so that the babies can see exactly what mom's doing inside the box). You can fill mom's litter pans with clumping litter if you like but I don't recommend it for the kittens because as with any baby they explore their world by putting things into their mouths and you don't want the little ones to eat clumping kitty litter if you can help it since it can clog up their plumbing. The most important thing about any kitty litter that you choose - it should be UNscented, this is because cats have a very sensitive sense of smell and perfumes can irritate their respiratory tract as well as cause them to go looking elsewhere for less potent smelling places to relieve themselves. Mom will also need peace, quiet, privacy and time to bond with her babies so although the little ones are very cute and it's tempting to pick them up and handle them at every opportunity it's important to respect the fact that they need time to bond with mom, nurse, sleep and grow and mom needs quiet time to just be with her babies. It's perfectly okay to handle the little ones

Mom will also need access to plenty of clean water and fresh food on a daily basis. I don't suggest feeding dry cat food for a few different reasons, but there are plenty of good quality canned foods out there that are perfectly appropriate for a nursing mom. If you would like to learn a bit more about the unique nutritional needs of your new feline companion and her babies please check out the following websites:

~ www.catinfo.org

This website is a fantastic nutritional resource created by a vet by the name of Dr. Lisa Pierson. She explains things thoroughly and above all, rather than providing tons of misleading statistics and scientific mumbo jumbo that you have to be a chemist to understand she puts key points about a cat's nutritional needs in common sense terms that most laypeople can easily understand without reading Chemistry for Dummies, a reference for the rest of us... My cats eat a combination of the homemade recipe on her website and a high quality commercially produced pet food and to be honest they're incredibly healthy - much more so than they were when they ate a diet made up almost entirely of commercially produced big name pet foods.

~ http://www.halopets.com/pet-education/pet-articles/pet_food_what_you_need_to_kno...

I've seen similar articles to this one on different websites, and I really do believe that this is an article that every pet parent should read because knowing what exactly can end up in pet food is the first step towards feeding your pets food that will be healthier and safer for them in the long term. This is definitely not mealtime reading if you're at all squeamish because some of the content is stomach turning at the best of times.

~ http://www.messybeast.com/cat-food-industry.htm

~ http://www.homevet.com/petcare/foodbook.html

An article you might be interested in if you haven't cared for a litter of kittens from birth before:

~ http://www.waterloowest.com/articles/breedingcats.html

This article does contain information about normal labor and delivery as well as when you should call a vet in because of potential complications. You can also find information on this page about caring for newborn kittens and their mom. There are a few points to clarify though:
    
    - It is completely natural and normal for mom to consume the placenta of each kitten as she's cleaning them up and cutting their umbilical cord. This is an instinctive behaviour that cats developed thousands of years ago to help reduce the chances that predators would discover where their babies had been born and prey on the little ones while mom was off getting the food or water she needed to sustain herselves and her newborn offspring. It's also desirable for mom to eat the placentas of each kitten for a couple of reasons, they contain a hormone called oxytocin which stimulates further uterine contractions to deliver the next kitten/minimize any bleeding from the womb post delivery AND it also facilitates bonding between mom and baby. Although the article mentions indigestion I have to admit that I've never seen a mom get indigestion from eating the placentas. Due to the fact that some moms do stop eating entirely or at the very least their appetite will drop off significantly just prior to labor starting eating the placentas also provides a perfect way for mom's body to recover vital nutrients she needs to recover from labor and delivering her babies.

    - If mom's labor stops for more than a few hours and you are reasonably sure that there are still one or more kittens inside of her womb she should be assessed by a vet promptly (within a few hours or first thing the following morning since kittens are often born in the middle of the night) as this may mean that one or more of the remaining kittens is simply in an awkward position to be born, too large or stuck for some other reason and the sooner that the vet diagnoses the issue and performs the c-section the more likely it is for the babies to survive their delayed entry into the world. I never suggest waiting 24 hours to seek veterinary care in this instance.

    - It is not uncommon for some moms to be quite vocal during the delivery of their kittens, particularly if they happen to be a first time mom. Obviously giving birth isn't the most comfortable experience in the world and as some kittens enter the world their mom may issue some dramatic yowls to announce their entry into the world. It is not normal for mom to yowl through every contraction during her labor or yowl and push without having a kitten emerge so if this is happening she should be assessed by a vet on an emergent basis just to be sure that no serious complications are interfering with the ability of the kittens to come into the world naturally. If mom requires medical assistance to deliver her babies in the form of a caesarian section it's kindest to have the vet spay her at the same time to prevent further pregnancy rather than subjecting her body to another anesthetic after the kittens are weaned and it's time for her to be spayed.

    - Most moms are excellent at getting their little ones cleaned off and breathing successfully without human intervention, but if this is a first time mom she may need a bit of encouragement or you may need to rip the amniotic sac away from the kitten's face and gently use an old face cloth to wipe away the mucous from the kitten's airway if mom won't lick his/her face off within a reasonably short period of time. In situations where you have to intervene don't do anymore than you have to to keep the kitten safe because the more you intervene during the birth process the higher the likelihood becomes that you'll end up seeing mom reject one or more of her kittens and then you'll be surrogate mom who must bottle feed kittens every 1 1/2 - 2 hours 24/7 for about 4 weeks which is time and labor intensive, emotional and rewarding but kittens really do better long term in terms of socialization and behavior as well as health if their mom provides the nutrition and care they need from the beginning since mom is ultimately the perfect mom for her babies and generally she knows instinctively what to do. In fact most moms do absolutely fine with their babies when they receive little or no supervision during labor and delivery because they are able to focus on what their instincts are telling them to do.

~ http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2138&aid=912

If in the worst case scenario mom doesn't take to her kittens you'll need this information ASAP.

~ http://www.greenwaypettucson.com/PDF/Newborn%20Kittens.pdf

This article provides some decent information about caring for kittens. My personal belief on the subject of feeding foods "scientifically formulated" for different life stages is that it's a marketing ploy by big name pet food manufacturers to get people to spend more money - cats have gotten along absolutely fine for thousands of years eating mice, birds and other small prey animals and I have yet to see a mouse running around in the field with "kitten formula" stamped to his side. The biggest difference in the nutritional needs of kittens vs adult cats is the amount of food they need at each meal and the frequency they need to eat, beyond that most kittens do absolutely fine with a properly balanced, species appropriate, nutritionally adequate diet.
~ http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/sexing-kittens.html

This article contains photos that will help make it easier for you to sex the kittens while they're reasonably young.

~ http://www.suite101.com/content/kitten-stages-of-development-a94112

http://www.suite101.com/content/kitten-development-birth-to-2-weeks-a151828

http://www.suite101.com/content/kitten-development-weeks-3-and-4-a152179

These websites above will provide you with general guidelines about the developmental milestones that you can expect from birth to 4 weeks of age, however bear in mind that just like children all kittens are different and some may mature faster or slower than the guidelines suggest.

~ http://cats.about.com/od/newtocats/tp/topmistakes.htm

Not a bad article to check out if this is your first kitty.

~ http://www.holisticat.com/vaccinations.html

Although vaccines aren't something you need to worry about at this point I do think it's wise to read up on their use because things have changed in the last several years and some vets have yet to get the message (they'll still recommend annual vaccinations which are unnecessary and likely to contribute to serious health problems later in the cat's life). Ultimately the level of risk that your momma cat is exposed to should determine the number and amount of vaccines she receives because there's reasonable evidence within the veterinary community to show that a properly vaccinated indoor cat may require a single installment of shots, then a booster and nothing beyond that (though rabies vaccines can be a touchy subject depending on the local laws and your living circumstances).

~ http://www.ora-animalrescue.org/catcare2.html

This website has got some fantastic information about vaccinating your pets.

~ http://www.premierepets.net/index_files/WhySpayNeuter.htm

Some basic information on spaying and neutering for you and any pet parents you choose to have adopt the kittens when they're old enough to go to new homes. My recommendation is that kittens be kept with their mom and littermates for 12 weeks because this allows mom to wean her kittens naturally without having a human force the issue and she also gets to teach her kittens proper manners to use when interacting with people and other cats. Socialization in those first 12 weeks is key though so once the babies are 4-5 weeks old you can start having more cat loving people of all ages, races, genders, etc to interact with them in positive ways via play and giving treats like small amounts of pureed chicken/broth baby food. It's important to note that everyone interacting with these babies should wash their hands before settling down to touch mom or her kittens because they're vulnerable to viral/bacterial infections passed from other animals and you want to reduce those risks as much as possible. All children should be closely supervised by responsible adults while interacting with young kittens to keep the children from handling the kittens too roughly and potentially injuring them which could result in a child being scratched or bitten. I don't recommend that mom or her babies interact with unvaccinated pets until the babies are at least 7-9 weeks of age and mom and kittens have all received their first round of vaccines.

~ http://www.fabcats.org/owners/safety/inorout/info.html

Information about keeping cats as indoor only pets or indoor/outdoor pets.

If you have any further cat related questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact me again - I'll be happy to help in any way that I can.