My girl finally started labour a couple of hours ago. Things looked far from right, she was straining very hard and no kitten, so we went into the vet. Whilst at the vet she produced the first kitten - decomposing, followed by a lot of pus.

We opted to bring her home just in case we can get the others out without having to open her up, but the vet warned that the chances of a live kitten are low and the chances of her getting pregnant again in the future are very low. If she doesn't produce the next one by 5.30 then we have to go back and she will have to have a caesarean. The vet is really implying that we ought to spay her but we wanted these kittens so much, if there is any chance of having another litter then we want to take it.

The cat is in labour again but is subdued - understandably perhaps. Up to and including this morning she was behaving perfectly normally, I had no idea anything was wrong.

We did not know when mating took place, that was the problem. She had been living with the stud cat, at her previous owner's. We have had her for nearly six weeks and she was visibly pregnant when we got her - but only just.

Liz