Expert: Norman Auspitz - 7/28/2010

Question
Hi there I have a cat that is a little over 1 yr old, I did not notice when she got pregnant as my kids sometimes let her slip outside( she will be spayed after kittens are weaned) As a result I noticed 4 weeks ago her becoming larger, could have been earlier but I was working long hours at work and she is very fluffy. She is now huge! and I have been feeling the kittens movement for roughly 3 weeks, slight kicks at first but now full flips and turns and I can see the kittens moving in her stomach from across the room. She has been eating more as usual during pregnancy, but has not had a decrease in appetite yet. she waddles as she walks around, but does not do much except lay around all day, trying to get comfortable in any position. she also lays on her stomach is this okay? She has not begun nesting as far as I can tell, although sometimes she does disappear for 5 minutes or so I noticed this 1 week ago, but I'm thinking maybe it was because of a increase in company. She has a nesting box where her food/litter box is but has no inclination of going in the box. I have not noticed any milk come in? but When I did a little squeeze my finger was a tiiinnnyy bit wet with clear fluid is that her milk? So I'm wondering when should I be concerned? I'm not sure of the due date but I was almost convinced the kittens were going to come last week. Thanks. any opinions, concerns advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Megan,

The problem you have is that every queen does kitten delivery a bit differently.  So, I am going to give you a bit of an information dump on what to expect.  Also, the fluid you are expressing may very well be colostrum.

Cat gestation is normally 65-67 days with 63 days being a normal minimum and 68 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.

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

Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Best regards... Norm.