Hello,

We rescued a cat about 4 months ago, we were told that she was up-to-date with her vaccinations and that she was spayed.

About a week and a half ago i noticed that she looked really fat (She is a fluffy cat so it was hard to tell), then when i put her on my lap i felt little kicks, this really shocked me! So i did some research and learnt that she was probably pregnant. Since then i have seen them moving around in her belly and her furr around her nippled has reduced.

She is sleeping a lot and is cleaning herself more regulary. About 3-4 days ago she started calling really loud, and last night she was doing it a lot! She has been doing this today too (I looked it up and i read that this could the start of her labour, but she's been doing it for around 4 days?)

I have a box with some old towels and shredded paper in.

I just need advice, and to know roughly when she's due?

Thanks,

Jack.

Jack, that's difficult to tell. Did you ever notice her yowling, being over affectionate, rolling around on the floor or sticking her bum in the air with her tail held to one side? If so, can you remember roughly the last time you saw her do this?

Kicks can start to be felt as early as five weeks, but really viggorously from about 7 weeks onwards. you can usually see them moving at about 7 or 8 weeks, so I suspect it won't be long now.

Take the shredded paper out of the bix. It'll be a nightmare when she starts to give birth, and they don't nest in shredded paper anyway. Replace it with lots of comfy towels or, even better, layers of human incontinence pads when you know the birth is iminent. These will soak up the mess as each kitten is born, and it's easy to remove the top one to have a fresh, clean layer underneath. They're nice and soft for mum to nest in too.

Give her a quiet, calm area to nest far away from the hubbub of the house. Make sure not to let her outside at all now, as she could have the kittens away from the house, and if she does that, chances are they'll die of cold as you'll not find them and we're due to have a cold snap. Don't let mum out even after she's had them until she's been spayed. They can go into season again only weeks after having a litter, so if you let her out, chances are you'll be asking the same questions again in a short period of time. Make sure you close doors to airing cupboards etc, keep all windows closed. They like to nest in dark places, to check these carefully and block them off if you don't want her having kittens in the middle of your wardrobe!

If you want my advice, I'd take her to a vet to be checked over propperly, as he'll be able to give a much better approximation of when she's due. The milk usually comes in in the last few days, but this is still only an indicator rather than a guarantee. My girl's milk didn't come in at all until they were born, and I've got another breeder friend who told me that his queen was producing when she got to eight weeks, so don't use it as a reliable measure that kittens are coming soon.

The rectal temperature drops up to 24 hours before delivery, but again, if you're not experienced in taking a cat's temperature, then you won't be able to use this as an indicator either.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Towels are not good bedding as tiny claws can get caught in them. The best is washable fleece with a layer of newspaper underneath.

Sounds like she is very close to having her babies since you can feel them.

Hopefully all will be well, it almost always is, but check with your vet about out-of-hours arrangements 'just in case', and if you have to go somewhere different make sure you know where it is.

Also you need to check with the vet about worming the kittens (and mum), and about flea control.

There is lots on the internet about cats giving birth - Google will find oodles. If there is a kitten dangling on it's cord from mum (have seen that a few times, saw two dangling kittens once!) just use your finger nails (washed of course) to break it as near to mum as possible. Never cut a cord, it bleeds. Crushing makes it seal up properly.

Hopefully you have electronic kitchen scales that weigh to 1g. The best way to spot incipient problems with kittens is to weigh them at about the same time each day. They may lose weight for a day or two, but should then be gaining 10g or more every day until they start weaning themselves - weight gain can be more variable then.

I only handle them so I can change the beeding, and to weigh until their eyes and ears are open, then I gradually handle more and more, stroking them and so on. Obviously I put them right back with mum if they start squeaking as that's their distress call and it will upset her.

Do keep an eye on them and if you spot tangled cords untangle them. Once the cords have dried properly that won't happen but it can in the first few hours.

Its hard to say when your cat will be due - its even hard to tell when you know the day they mated!!!
My cat Luna acted weird a few days before giving birth - she was restless and sleepy at the same time
On the day she went into labour she would walk a few steps then lie down, walk abit then lie down etc - she had them that night - it became obvious something was happening as the day went on - she didn't pass a mucus plug - or not that I saw

I would echo not having towels on top - one of the kittens snagged on a towel when I was changing the bedding once
I am using baby cotton sheets and pillow cases with towels underneath

As a word to the wise - limit the amount of visitors and minimal handling for first few days minimum - as my mum cat got upset and started moving one of the babies leaving the others to cry - with advice from someone from here (thankyou once again) I stopped all interference and everything has been ok since
Hope everything goes ok

Just to make it clear, I wouldn't use towels myself for bedding because of kittens getting caught, but I put it here so that, in desperation the OP could use something which most of us have handy in the house. I didn't even think of using a cotton sheet!

Thank you all for the advice. I have put an old pillow case over the towel.

Also, is the calling that she keeps doing normal?

Jack.

Oh and another thing; She looks like she's changed shape today, it worried me! And they are hardly kicking inside her, i've just felt the odd kick. Is this normal?

Sounds like she is due very soon, they call call just before hand and once they have 'dropped' (belly shape) it's often within 48 hrs. Good luck.

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i can't offer you any advice i'm afraid, but i think it's so exciting! you have to keep us posted with this one, and take lots of photos of the little darlings

good luck! x

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Changing shape is normal, and maybe there's just not enough room inside now to kick much.