Hi there all

I'm needing some advice if anyone can help?

About 7 weeks ago now, a cat decided to shack up in my utility - I didn't encourage her by feeding her or anything because all I could think was that someone would be missing their baby and by feeding her she wouldn't leave! Anyway, the fact she hardly left my utility room and her expanding waistline but skinny shoulders and hips lead me to presume she was pregnant and didn't have a home - I took her into the local vets to be scanned (no chip) and I put up posters saying she was found just in case anyone had lost her - the vet confirmed the pregnancy and declared her to be in good health if a little thin - so I took her home and fed her up.

A lady rang me about a month ago to say she was hers but couldn't afford the vets fees so she had chucked her out basically (evil evil woman). So being the soft sap that I am, she has joined our little family of 4 cats and 2 dogs and has fitted in a dream - she loves the dogs, comes walkies with us in the morning and is being well and truly cared for.

So that's the background...now onto the present!

The lady who had her before me said she was mated 3 or 4 times on the 16th March by her own un-neutered tomcat ( so why not do something about it at the time???) which would make her day 65 today if the 16th march was Day 1 (is that right?) and we have NO sign kittens are on their way. She is sleeping, eating and drinking as normal, kittens are moving (have a cute vid if anyone wants to see?), no discharge, obviously waddly but active. I have read books and websites until my eyes are sore and I breed, show and work my dogs so know what having a litter is all about in dogs, just a little worried for my little kitty.

Is it common for kittens to be late? I have a couple of boxes with comfy towels and vetbed in and have kept the dogs and other cats away from her to enourage her to crack on. The vet says not to worry - she's in good health and as long as the kittens are moving then things are ok but to bring her back in on Thurs (Day 68) if she hasn't had them by then.

Sorry this is so long - I wanted to give you all the information so it was easier to advise. Thank you if you have got this far and thanks if you can offer any advice!!

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SELKCAH NORWEGIAN FOREST CATS
www.selkcahcats.co.uk

Pets name: Analeise
Adopt your own!

hello George and welcome on here You're a very kind soul taking in the little waif queen. It is a shame about the woman who could not afford to look after her properly - she sounds as if she was just poor and ignorant rather than actually evil but enough of other humans.

You seem to know what to expect in many ways and I would not presume to tell you things you already know but please forgive me in case I inadvertently tread on old ground for you. I realise that you breed and show dogs so some of it may be familiar to you - the only difference is that this is a feline.

The dam will start to drip a bit of clear liquid around the time when she will soon deliver her kittens. As you have already provided a nice cosy nest for her, she will be fine - it is often said that the gestation period is 63-65 days but in my own experience - limited as it is - my queens have tended to err on the fashionably late side and have kept me waiting for as long as 69 days - mine are meezers though. I think you should take vetty's advice - kittens might appear any time between now and Day 68. If kittens have not yet appeared and your little princess has not shown any kind of discharge to indicate that kittens are arriving, then sometimes, as you are taking her to the vet, the journey alone will be enough to start things moving.

Hope things go well for you and the little queen-let.

best purrs

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kind regards

Ra

http://www.bobergsiamese.com/

JustGiving to Marie Curie Cancer Care Thank you.

Thank god you took in that poor little cat. How awful was the woman that previously had her. Allowed her mate then threw her out – unbelievable.

I went to a seminar and one of the guest speakers was Dr Susan Little a cat vet specialist and she said that cats gestation can go from anywhere from 60 to 70 days quite happily. This woman who had her before sounds very odd, and with an unneutered tom around they could have mated subsequent to the matings she said she witnessed. She may well have taken on those rather than the ones on 16/3.

I would take your cue from your girl, if she is happy and content and has no foul smelling discharge then she is probably fine. The waiting is the hardest bit, the last few days feel longer than the entire pregnancy.

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Thank you all so much for your reassurances - I am so grateful! You are all very kind, you really are.

I've called her "Little Chicken" as she miaows a bit like how a chicken clucks She's fast asleep on a little cat bed on my desk now without a care in the world - if only she knew how much her new mum was worried about her!

Thank you again - here are a couple of pics of her so you have a face to put to the name

What a beautiful girl Do you know what colour Dad was?

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Nope not a clue! She's a very pretty sweetheart and so loving. I have pondered on what colour they will be too

I cant see the pics? they're a red cross on my screen?!

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Ooo yikes yes, they are red crosses for me too now! Hmmm hang on I'll have a play and see if it fixes them.

Ok, not sure what's happened but if you right click over each cross, then select "Show Picture", they should appear.