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Thanks for all of the advice. It does make me feel better. I figure if she acts fine, she's fine, but the waiting game is tough and I don't want to not take her to the vet if she's overdue. Of course, people go overdue too--I guess every pregnancy is its own world and few follow the textbook version. And she's such a sweet little cat I just don't want to endanger her or anything. But I also don't want to rush her to the vet needlessly and, like someone said, have him cut her open just to do it.

Well, today is day 68ish, so we'll keep waiting. She's still bouncy and happy. I haven't seen her at the food dish yet, so she might be slowing down there. Seems like the bump is lower down--she used to be rounder nearer her ribcage, now it does seem further towards her rump and maybe more underneath. Her nipples are pink and stick out, but I'm not seeing a lot of activity there, but I guess that can be late too. Sorry for the neurotic ramblings. I've never had a breeding queenie before

how is your girlie today?

Thanks so much for asking

She's a little strange. She was hissing and growling at her bestest cat friend this morning. She's been aloof from the other cats for the most part and sleeping more than she has the last couple of days. I think she's eating less too---I had to work, so I couldn't watch her all day, but the dish isn't depleted this evening and I've usually had to fill it 2 or 3 times during the day. She definitely doesn't want her belly touched at all, so I can't feel anything, but I think they must have moved down--she looks thinner again. Of course, I can't get a look at either her teats or her lady bits and her long hair isn't helping!

That said, she's sweet if you don't mess with her belly, she follows us around, and she doesn't seem poorly or anything. I nearly despaired that she wasn't even pregnant for a little while, just because we haven't had anything confirmed and she just isn't huge. But when I have been able to touch her belly in the past, I know I felt things slide around that I don't feel in the other cats .

I suppose tomorrow she should go to the vet for induced labor if she doesn't pop tonight. I hate to do it, because I don't want them to do a caesarian, but I don't want her to keep them in too long either.

One of the hardest parts of cat breeding is the waiting for birth.
People will warn you about all the pitfalls & worse case scenarios: possible ceasars, fading kittens and so forth, but even after seeing 5, 6, 7 or more births through, the waiting is probably the worst bit! Nobody prepares you for that bit!

I'm not even sure that the vet can induce.... true, a shot of oxytocin could get things going but if it's the wrong time or too early then things very well might go wrong.

On balance, I think it is best to let your girl take her own sweet time. The exact date of birth can't be predicted after all. You run more risk of screwing it up if you interfere; let's suppose she has gone waaaaay over time, and something's wrong, she may have a stillborn litter when she eventually does give birth. That would be very sad and tragic but wouldn't necessarily cause her any permanent harm..... But the potential for damage to live unborn young and the girl herself is greater if you start panicking and stressing her with vet trips and unneccessary intervention.

Just keep your eye on her, trust her. Call the vet for advice if you need. I think it's too soon just yet to get alarmed.

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Sue, Merlin & Cuba
Dog moves in mysterious ways. Be at peace, Patrick.
I've been described as a lighthouse in a bog - brilliant, but useless.

MerlinsMom---wow! thanks so much for that advice. That makes me feel wonderfully better. I was just afraid if she went beyond 70 days it could harm her somehow. I've read a lot of hysterical things on the web that imply that the cat will sicken and die if she carries them past 70 days. It's a huge relief to know that's not the case. Of course I wouldn't want her to lose the kittens, even though she was a surprise on the porch, and her pregnancy was an even bigger surprise, but now we're excited about our little waif's impending little ones. We've got homes lined up if it's a larger litter (which I doubt) and we're going to keep them if it's 2-3.

It hasn't helped my impatient and neurotic mental state that the weekend is coming up and if a pet is going to have a medical emergency, it will be when the regular vet isn't around and a long stressful trip to the emergency hospital 30 miles away plus the humongous bill after looms. I've heard horror stories about the emergency vet too.

Well, I will breath deep, keep watching her and just hope it all works out with some cuties to love when it's all over. She's sleeping now nearby after treading the blankets on the bed a bit. Of course, she has absolutely no interest in the lovely birthing basket I made for her. I'll keep you updated and if it all works out well, maybe I'll figure out how to post pictures of them all.

I didn't say it couldn't..... but she hasn't got to the 70th yet has she? And to be fair you aren't 100% about the date of the mating (if i remember that right!).

Watch her... if you think the 70th has come & gone, see how her general demeanour is. Vomiting plus smelly discoloured discharge from her lady bits (greenish, yellowish, pus-y), lethargy, are all signs to get busy and call the vet. But eating and drinking, normal energy levels, no discharge or obvious signs of sickness, are all reasons not to.

She may look a bit unwell when her labour starts - the early signs are often not very noticeable and can last for 24 hrs - she may be restless, not eat, be more affectionate or conversely not be. The movements of the kittens slow or stop as they settle in the birth canal.

I think the best thing you can do right now is not to panic overmuch at all. Cats have been doing this on their own for thousands of years, and statistically, problem births are few & far between. Just make sure you've got a vet on the end of a phone if needed.

All good wishes to her & you!

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Sue, Merlin & Cuba
Dog moves in mysterious ways. Be at peace, Patrick.
I've been described as a lighthouse in a bog - brilliant, but useless.

Thanks again, and you're right. I think I've just been made a bit paranoid by some things I've read, and other forums. They act as though you're a terrible and irresponsible pet owner if you don't have the cat to the vet every time there's anything different or unusual. I think it's stressful to the pet and needlessly expensive unless there's an issue, but everything I read before I came to this board indicated that one should take the cat for several checkups during the pregnancy. Of course, these boards also have zealots who berate posters viciously for allowing the cat to become pregnant in the first place, even when it is stated clearly that they didn't just let their cat out willy-nilly while in heat.

I'll keep a watch on her and so long as there's nothing foul, I won't panic. The kitties all just shared a can of wet food and she was in there till the plate was clean, so she's still got an appetite now, at least for wet food. She's back to napping peacefully.

Just an update on her. She was a ball of energy this morning, but has been sleeping most of the day since. Not a lot of appetite---she used to gorge, but now she's picking. There was some diarrhea in the litter box today too. Since there's 5 cats total, not certain it was her, but I don't see any reason for any of the others to be loose. She looks a little thinner today while her belly seems a little more droopy underneath, instead of sticking out slightly on the sides. She seems well and happy, not quite so cranky today with the others, but still not into full-out wrestling like she used to enjoy. She seems to prefer sitting under a chair and slap boxing .

We'll see what the evening brings. My fingers are crossed.

Anytime in the next 48 hours then! When Minnii 'dropped' the first time she gave birth about 30 hours later and the second time she 'dropped' it was about 18 hours later.

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