When can I tell if my cat is ready to have her kittens?

Question

She is so big she looks like she is ready to pop. I know it has been a while since she has been in heat. But I want her to trust me so I can help her with the kittens so I need some what of a sign that she is ready to have them. I was just wondering if anyone knew or how I can find out. I will let you know what else I see her do. She lays in my bath tub all the time like shes hot. She won't let anyone touch her belly but me. Shes even mean to my other cat she doesn't want him by her and they have been around eachother for a long long time so I don't really understand that unless she is afraid he will hurt her and the kittens. Well if anyone knows please let me know.

Answer 1

She will start acting weird, like you are describing, when it is close. Look for nesting behaviors, like grooming, worrying, disappearing for a while and you don't know where she is (if you can track her to her "secret place" you will know if she has been setting it up or not.)

If I remember correctly, you should look for bald patches on her fur, they pull it out to cushion their birthing area with. Also mood changes, appetite changes.

Don't leave laundry piled up anywhere, and don't leave clothing drawers open...baby magnet...it would ruin all the stuff she delivers on.

If you do want to encourage her to deliver in a certain place give her a box with an old pillow or small pieces of fabric (so she can arrange it the way she wants) or a blanket inside, put it in a cozy place that is private for her, and gently pick her up and put her in it, put some food and water nearby. I suggest something like maybe in the bathtub in the spare bathroom, or on a closet floor. Someplace easy to clean up. But don't be surprised if she doesn't go there when it's time. If she is that close to delivery she probably already has a place picked up and you probably will not know about the births until she comes back skinny, or when you hear the babies.

Answer 2

For our cats we would make a bed for them where they felt safe. Do you have more than one tub in your house? It sounds like your cat has found a spot that she might like to have her babies. If it is okay with you I would get some blankets that you obviously don't care about and put them in the tub for her. See if she likes it and will still lay on them. If she feels safe there and protected from being bothered by your other cat she might just have them there. The fact that she lets you touch her belly and no one else is a good sign of trust. Our cats would let us do that too but if a stranger came over they would disappear. As she gets closer to giving birth she will probably become more agitated. The fact that she looks ready to pop....she probably is. Does her tummy feel super tight? If she is really spending most of her time in the bathroom I would consider putting water and a little food in there for her and keep the door 3/4 of the way shut to give her a sense of safety but, never close it all the way because if she feels trapped it might spook her. If you let her go outside now might be a good time to keep her in only to ensure that she has the babies were you can see. I don't know how much you know about the birth but, when she starts you can of course watch but don't do anything. Just let her be. Once the babies are out she will clean them frantically and most likely eat her own placenta. Ours always did. (sounds gross but it will give her nutrients that will help give her strength) You may want to clean her bed up but don't. Just leave things alone. Don't pick up the babies for awhile. Let the mom take care of them an get use to what is going on. After a day or so I wouldn't worry about picking them up, but don't take them out of the moms sight. If you are holding one and it starts to cry put it back otherwise it will upset the mom. We had LOTS of kittens when I was growing up. You are in for a treat. It is very exciting and they are so cute and little. Hope this helped a bit. All the best!! Let us know how many she has and if all is well. = )

Answer 3

When cats are ready to have kittens they will start to nest. They will try and find a quiet place away from everyone else to have their kittens. It's not unlikely to find them in the clothes hampers, behind furniture, in the laundry room etc..
Since your cat isn't wanting to be messed with, you might consider putting her in a quiet room in your house where she won't be disturbed. Make her a nice whelping box. Usually a nice sized cardboard box will do with a couple of blankets. Cut a "u" shape in the front like a bed so she can get in and out without problems. Make sure the bed is in a warm, draft free area. Keep her in this area at all times unless you are holding her. Provide her with food and water and keep it fresh. A few days before she has the kittens she'll start scratching at the bedding and it will be a mess. Let her do this. Gestation for kittens is about 62 days. I've delivered countless numbers of kittens and your in for a fabulous experience. Go to websites that teach you what to do delivering kittens. Many times things don't go just right, especially for a first time mom. Mommie hormones don't always kick in and you may have to break amniotic sacs, tie off cords and teach mom how to nurse her babies. Good luck to you.

Answer 4

Mom cats to be are VERY protective of their unborn babies. We fostered a pregnant one once. She flew out of the room she was in and literally attacked my other female!! Fur flew everywhere. Thank God I was able to break it up.
Keep your mama cat away from your other one. In it's own room if possible. Pregnant cats can be rather ornery. They need their own space & area to have their kittens. If her nipples are really pink & enlarged, seems as if they're full of milk, then it shouldn't be too much longer now. Cats will have them anywhere from 63-65 days from the day of conception. She will also not eat as much as normal so don't be surprised. She will possibly howl and pace back & forth. Make sure she has a comfy place in her room to have the babies. Blankets & towels & such. If she doesn't use it, that's ok too. They do what they think is safe. It can take up to a couple hours for her to have all of them. She'll be crying a lot then. You can always take her to a vet and they might be able to better determine when she'll have them. Although mine tried that and they came a few weeks early.

Make sure you're feeding her kitten food now, both dry & wet. Purina Kitten Chow is what I use. They need the nutrients to pass on to their babies.

Good luck and let us know!!

Answer 5

Oh, YOU'LL know..........she'll get restless and whine a lot. You should prepare a birthing box for her in a place where she won't be disturbed and keep taking her to it so she will know where it is. You will have to keep the male cat away from her and the kittens because male cats will kill a litter of kittens - fact. She sounds like she's very close to her time and that's why she doesn't want that male cat around her. It's time to get the birthing box ready and confine her away from the male cat.

Answer 6

okay, your not alone. my cat is pregnant too. cats usually are pregnant for 64 days. when they go into labor they start to pant and lay down. once labor has started, cats can stop and restart their labor. it may take anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour for a cat to have a baby or it may take that long in between births. if your cat is pushing for more then an hour take her to the vet asap. my cat has been laying on the cold tile in the bathroom floor like she is hot. but she hasn't started panting or showing any signs of labor. my cat is very sensitive about her belly, she'll let me touch it only if I'm petting it. if I'm actually trying to feel for anything she'll try to claw my hands off. don't worry, she's just fragile. my cat hates my other cat and my dog by her. she prefers nobody by her unless they are not touching her, and again don't worry, she's fragile and protective.

Answer 7

she's going to probably exhibit a spasific trait to her I've had many mama cats! so much all will make a nest and or uncover a well hiding spot (within the kitchen cupboards, beneath a crowded mattress, in a closet, if out doorways they are going to uncover a far flung hidden situation for a nest) if you already know whilst she acquired pregnant it might support she could have the kittens a few wherein round sixty five days after she breed, she might get clinginy if shes a colossal humans character (had one cat had her kittens on my three 12 months olds toes to be virtually a few one he used to be sitting at a desk coloring) she would get overly agressive because the time will get close (a traditional adequate time for eveyone to depart me by myself factor) (when you have been preg with three-eight babys you'll get a little cranky as time drew close too!) differnt cats do it differntly however so much all will make a nest of a few style. watch her and spot wherein she spends all her time within the weeks or days to return she's going to broaden a "detailed spot" in an effort to probly be wherein she desides to provide. I might have a "nest" able for her in a situation YOU wish her. however dont be surprized if she refuses to make use of it (even supposing you place her born kittens in it she might transfer them again to wherein SHE wishes them) cats are very humorous approximately wherein they hold their liter. and after she can provide becareful of human accsess to it (even supposing its simply you) If she feels that the babys are drawing an excessive amount of concentration from pering eyes she would transfer them to a brand new hiding spot. (a few cats do a little cats dont)

Answer 8

she is hot and u can tell when she starts to have them cuz she'll be cring and get a box and put 2 towls on the bottom of the box inside cuz there will be a lot of blood i always use a cardboard box and she's gonna want to be in the dark so the light wont bother the cats. I hope that helps

Answer 9

when shes gone from sight into her nest =\

make sure its away from people who will see her.
keep her out of sight or she wont give birth. just let her do her thing, dont get invloved, do not touch the kittens when theyre born, she might loose interest in them if you touch them.

i just left my cay alone when she gave birth.

Answer 10

Well, she'll lay on the ground and start panting and little baby kittens will pop out of her...