is my cat in labour?

Question

so far today she is acting kinda weird, she had diarrhea this morning and shes back to hiding under neat her chair. not sure how long she hasnt eaten for, so far this morning all morning maybe all night. her babies are still moving around alot. i had a feeling for a while she was pregnant i got her a month and a hlaf ago and her nipples were pink and engorged. now they are white and still engorged. with all this could she be going into labour soon. shes very quiet. sometimes very seldonly she will all of the sudden pant. im just not sure if it is her catching her breath or if she could be in labour or if its just her kittens. i can for sure count 3. please serious answers only. im going to go see the vet in a couple of days.

Answer 1

Signs of Impending Labor

* Nesting
This was covered in the previous article on Care and Feeding of a Pregnant Cat.
* Behavioral Changes
These include restless pacing, panting, excessive grooming (especially in the area of her genitals), and excessive vocalization.
* Physical Signs of Labor
There may be a drop in normal body temperature.



The cat may vomit. The abdomen may "drop" a few days before labor, and the nipples may become larger and pinker.
* Active Labor
Contractions will start and you will see the appearance of the amniotic sac. You may also see a discharge of blood or other colored fluid.

Your biggest role may be to prepare the birthing area and move your queen into it.

Supplies for the Birthing Area

1. Newspapers
to line the delivery box. Place a stack in the bottom of the box and remove one-by-one as they become soiled.
2. Clean towels
for helping to clean and stimulate the kittens, if necessary.
3. Paper towels
for the same purpose.
4. An extra box
for placing the kittens in while the queen is still birthing. Place a heating pad in the bottom of the box with a blanket or several towels over it. The idea is to keep the kittens from being chilled, without burning them. Never place them directly on a heating pad. Drape another clean towel over the top of the box to hold the heat in and to keep out drafts.
5. A laundry basket or extra box
for discarding soiled towels

These are the most basic supplies you will need. Since I am neither a veterinarian nor an expert on birthing kittens, for the rest of this lesson you will be turned over to a highly qualified veterinarian, Jennifer Prince, DVM. Her article on Queening (Giving Birth)provides you with not only an extensive list of supplies, but all the information you will need to assist with the birth process, should human intervention become necessary. Be sure to read it several times well before your pregnant cat's labor begins.

Length of Time for the Total Birth Process

In general, it may take up to six hours for a queen to give birth to all her kittens. The first kitten should arrive within an hour of the start of active labor, and subsequent kittens will take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. She will rest for 15 minutes or so between kittens, and during this time she should be allowed to nurse and clean the kittens that have been born. If you have been keeping the kittens in another box, move them back with the mother cat and help them find a nipple. This is also a good time for you to offer her food or a sip of KMR or plain, unflavored yoghurt. Although in rare cases a healthy kitten is born after the seven hour period, you should take the queen and her kittens to the vet for a checkup once seven hours passes and you are sure there are other kittens inside.
Summary of Potential Problems During Labor

* Extended Contractions without Birth
More than one hour of strong contractions indicates a veterinary emergency, and your cat should be seen by a vet immediately. Take her and any kittens to your vet.
* Retained Placenta
A retained placenta can cause uterine infection. It is important to count the number of placentas (one per kitten) to keep on top of this potential problem.
* Kitten Lodged in the Birth Canal
A kitten that is lodged in the birth canal for more than 10 minutes is in distress, and your intervention may be necessary. Dr. Mike Richards offers instructions for assisting the delivery in an article on his excellent web site. Note that although most kittens are born head first, "breech," or tail-first births occur about 40% of the time, and are considered normal.

Once all the kittens are born, your queen will normally be caring for and feeding them. Make sure she has ample quantities of kitten food and KMR now, and for the rest of the time until the kittens are weaned. And if anything seems amiss with either your queen or the kittens, seek veterinary care immediately.
ALSO
http://www.cat-world.com.au/BirthInCats.htm


Good luck!

Answer 2

Provide a box large enough for her to stretch out in, put a towel or folded up sheet in there, and place her in it. She may jump back out, but don't worry about that. How long has she been with this behavior? If it's been longer than 24 hours, time to consult the vet, don't wait a couple of days for it will be too late by then.. A baby may be stuck in the birth canal and she will need a vets intervention. If not you'll lose all of them Panting is normal and so is not eating. Make sure she is drinking, you don't need her dehydrated. It's a great sign you still feel the babies moving around. Once she does start to deliver, they should come out 1 every 15-20 minutes. My last cat, 4 yrs ago, had both her kittens born breech and she labored for a long time. She delivered them 9 hours apart, which is a very long time in between births. My vet knew I was capable of handling this and told me what to do and what to look for so I knew when to rush her in for a C- section. Try to remain calm yourself it will help her relax. Try petting her, lightly stroking her abdomen, and talk softly to her, it will relax her also. Like I said if she hasn't started to deliver after 24 hours take her to vet.

Answer 3

When your cat goes in to labor you'll be the last person to know becuz she is a cat and everyone knows cats LOVE privacy she will be very slow and might not eat that much and she may puke a few times. But mostly she will be around you alot and when she feels its time she will find a dark place and settle down.
I know this from my cat has had 36 kittens so far and shes only 7!!
Good Luck with your kitty.

Answer 4

Sounds like she will be going into serious labor soon, anyway. I always make a nice cardboard box with a towel in it in the bathroom. And I confine her to that place because otherwise as soon as labor is imminent, cats tend to find a quiet spot under the dresser or bed or in a closet, etc. My mama cats have generally liked me to be with them. So, I stay in the bathroom, to encourage and tell her what a wonderful cat she is. You will know that labor is starting when she starts licking herself in the appropriate place. Generally, the cat can do it all herself. She rips open the sack, eats the afterbirth and licks the baby until it makes its way to a nipple to nurse. Congratulations.

Answer 5

if you are positive that she is pregnant, first off, congratulations:) most of the cats that i have owned had litters of at least six or seven though. make sure she has enough supply of clean water at hand and let her know u r there for her, she will appreciate it when the time comes. All the cats that i have owned exhibited this behavior minutes before poppin out little ones; crying insistently possibly to the point of becoming aggressive, biting your hand to lead you back to the cozy box she las decided to give birth in (add sweatshirts or towels with ur scent or hers on them). then she will constantly lick at herself down there as the water breaks (?) and the rest surely follows suit with what u were describing. good luck!

Answer 6

The cat will be fine! My cat has had 5 litters of kittens in the last two and a half years. I think you should prob block the entrance to behind the bookshelf, most of the time, the mother knows best...but earlier this year, my cat moved her kittens into a box full of heavy poles and things, and all the kittens fell to the bottom. One of them died. :(

Answer 7

Sure sounds like it...I've had several cats thru the years...you should set up a box with a towel or small blanket in her favorite spot, in a dark corner or a closet...it can be very messy...she will clean her kittens and eat the afterbirth.

Answer 8

It's possible she may be going into labor. If I were you, I'd take her to the vet to be sure everything is o.k. and that her kittens are fine. Better safe than sorry.

Answer 9

Some links
http://cats.about.com/od/reproduction/a/birthprocess.htm
http://www.cat-world.com.au/BirthInCats.htm
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=signs+of+cat+labour

Signs of labor
-The mammary glands increase in size during the last week of gestation.
-Around two days before the queen gives birth she will start producing milk.
-She may start nesting.
-A day or two before birth, her temperature drops to 99F.
-Change in behaviour. During the last week or so your queen may become either reclusive & seek out a secluded place or she may become more affectionate, especially if she is particularly bonded to one carer.
-Restlessness & pacing.
-Frequent trips to the nest.
-Licking at the genitalia frequently.

Congrats if the kittens come!Hope i helped

Answer 10

Let the cat do the work,She will know what to do when the time is right..If you think that there is a problem call the vet..