how do I know when my cat is in labor??

Answer 1

She will be pacing alot.
Do you realize that for every 1 person born, there are 7 puppies and kittens
born? At best, 1 will find a forever home.
And don't forget, that every "Free-to-good-home" litter takes homes away
from animals already at the shelter.

STOP letting your pets; or your friends, relatives or co-workers pets
contribute to the problem.
If you love animals, it is NOT ENOUGH to merely say "My pets are fixed".
Vow to educate and enable others to fix their pets too.
Spaying just 1 female dog or cat, will prevent 6 others from ending up in a
shelter the following year.
Please be part of the solution, NOT the problem!
Thank you. ^..^

Answer 2

Several hours (and perhaps a whole day) of restlessness, grooming, nesting, pacing, panting, vomiting, and crying indicates that labor has begun. Like the dog, there is often a drop in body temperature ( to less than 99 degrees F) indicating contractions will commence in the next 12-36 hours but this is not as reliable a finding as in the female dog. The female cat secludes herself in her selected nest area and begins to purr.

The above first stage of labor progresses to the second stage of labor with the initiation of hard contractions and the birth of a kitten. The third stage of labor refers to the passing of the placenta. The entire litter is born usually within 6 hours with kittens every 30-60 minutes. If she is stressed or distracted she is able to stop her labor and restart the next day. The new mother usually eats the placenta and membranes of the kitten’s sac. There is no special benefit to this behavior so if one wishes, one may remove these tissues from the nest and prevent her from eating them if one wishes. Do not attempt to move her and the kittens to a “better” nest spot after labor has started. This may stress her into curtailing her labor or worse may scare her into neglecting the litter.

Strong contractions for more than 60 minutes without production of a kitten
indicates she needs help and should see the vet right away.

Answer 3

Labor And Birth:
Twenty-four to forty-eight hours before the onset of labor your cat will seem more anxious and restless. It will often poke its head about looking for a place to nest and have the litter. But be advised that in some cases nesting behavior can occur as early as three days before delivery. At this point confine her to the room you want her to birth in. This should be a darkened room with an impervious floor in a quiet area of the house. Place food and water in the room.

Cats that are about to go into labor will usually lick their abdomen and vagina persistently. There is often a discharge that precedes birthing but the mother will lick it away as rapidly as it appears. Her cervix will be dilating but no outward signs accompany this. She will loose all interest in food and become serious and attentive to only her licking. If you are perceptive you may notice an increase in her breathing rate. It is quite common for the mother to sit with her mouth open and yowl loudly or pace the room. As her labor progresses and uterine contractions begin pregnant cats will lay on their sides and intermittently squat and press downward to expel the kittens. Do not interrupt or disturb the mother during these periods – just watch from a door left ajar.

The first kitten should arrive within an hour after the onset of labor. Sometimes labor lasts only a few minutes before the kitten arrives. Other kittens should arrive with an interval of ten minutes to an hour between them. Each kitten arrives wrapped in a jelly-like membrane filled with clear fluid – the amniotic sac. Good mothers immediately begin licking the kitten forcefully, which shreds this sac allowing the kitten to breathe. This licking stimulates the kittens circulation and respiration. In the exceptionally rare case where the mother does not free the kitten’s mouth from the obstructing membrane the owner should do it for her and follow this with a vigorous rubbing of the kitten in a soft towel to dry it and stimulate respiration. The mother will also chew off the umbilical cord at this time. If she forgets to do this to one or more of the kittens, tie off the cord with a length of dental floss and snip the cord about an inch long. It is important to let the mother do these things herself if she will because through licking and mothering the kitten she bonds with it and recognizes it as her infant.
More info at: http://www.2ndchance.info/felinelabor.htm

Answer 4

It seems as though the other answerers have already answered this question, but you shouldn't be worried about it. Cats most often give birth in the middle of the night, where no one will bother them. Just make sure to have a box made up for them with OLD towels/clothes/blankets. I don't think you'd want to have your new clothes/bedding bloody if she lays her kittens in a place you don't want her to.

Answer 5

With my cat, it was very obvious. She went into her box, started contracting (almost looks like she will throw up), and let out a loud meow when the kitten came out.

Answer 6

Just before labor, she'll be restless. When she lays down and starts having convulsions, she is in labor. Good Luck with your kittens.

Answer 7

They become restless and start to pant. They look for a place to hide (mine loved the linen closet). When their meow sounds different, you're having kittens.

Answer 8

her stomach will start to contract it will look like she's suckking it in. and she will breath differently, also she will try to hide! if you have anymore questions email me!

Answer 9

oh this sounds so gross..
umm...
check if it's... you know... is dialated.