pregnant cat?

[HeatherJay]

My kitty, Color Cat, is pregnant. I've never had a pregnant cat before. She's probably got about a month to go, I'm guessing. She sleeps ALL the time now...way more than she did before. Is this something I should worry about, or are cat mommies just like human mommies and want to sleep constantly?

Also, this is her first pregnancy, and she got pregnant during her first season. How likely is it that the first litter will survive? I've been told that often the first litters don't make it. Just wondering because my 5 year old is so excited about kittens, and if it's a good possibility they might die, I'd like to prepare her for that.

Thanks for the info, guys. Also, how will I know when she goes into labor?

Love, Heather

 

[Heidilein]

Oh congratulations! We have two cats and they had 4 litters each. I know, it's horrible and we didn't do our part to help control the pet population, but we've since learned. Anyhow, I was about 6 or 7 with the first litter and it was an amazing thing to watch and will be very educational for your daughter, I feel. You'll know when she goes into labor because she will start meowing, panting and looking for a small, warm place to have the kittens. We always set up a birth box with a few towels in it so they would feel safe. Actually, in all of the litters we never had a still born kittie, although I do remember my mother having to help with one or two of them because our cat just couldn't do it herself. The kittens are just wonderful - their eyes and ears are shut for about the first 10 days and they are tiny, little delicate things (and quickly become wild curtain climbers!) It might be hard for your daughter if one dies, but it will be a learning lesson and I wouldn't worry about it happening too much. Maybe you could tell her it's a possibility beforehand. Gosh, I miss the days of having a whole litter of warm, tumbly kittens sleeping on my belly.

 

[jenptcfan]

My sister always sets up a small box with towels or blankets in it in her closet when it's around time for her cat to give birth. They like a nice quiet place like a closet...I guess it makes them feel safe. So make sure you provide something like that and show it to the cat...otherwise, she might try to make her own "bed" on your favorite shoes or the clothes in the closet floor that are waiting to go to the dry cleaner's.

 

[jenptcfan]

Too, there's always a possibility that at least part of the litter won't survive, so it might be good to prepare your daughter just in case.

 

[IvoryRain]

Since she was tagged in her first heat, chances are likely that she won't survive, also. Go ahead and feed her as much kitten food as she'll eat. She needs all of the extra nutrients she can get. Keep an eye on her, and have your vets emergency number handy for when the time comes.

 

[Wandering Cat Lady]

I've had at least 2 litters of kittens every year for the past couple years. We have barn cats and well we raise the cats to be both barn cats and extremely nice pets. Believe me, it does happen...anyways...I usually make a dark place away from everything and I put food and water there and make sure it's warm. Chances are she'll like it but if she doesn't she'll find a safe place for them! I(now don't kill me for this) handle them from the day they are born. When they are a few hours old I will simply pick them up and hold them in my hand for a minute, then put them down. When they are a few weeks old, I start to play with them but in the process I also "teach" them to play nice. lol...it's easy...just handle them alot, not too too much but really they don't get hurt from gentle handling at all! 5 or 6 weeks old I introduce them to dry food and at 8 weeks old they are gone! We had 8 kittens last summer and we had no trouble finding them homes because people know our cats our nice. My kitty I can do anything with. I can hold her up side down in my lap and she will purr and eventually go to sleep...on the other hand she will catch all the mice! She will chase my hand but never ever use her claws. When she was young I handled her perhaps more than I ought to have and to train her not to use her claws I squeezed her paw fairly hard so that she pretty much had to put the claws back in. She is a nice cat and I get many complements about her! Good luck and congratulations...they are a ton of fun and will be your cute little companions...don't forget to litter train them though lol...Litter train them even if you're on a farm or country setting because some people want them for their house pets! If you have any questions feel free to ask!

 

[Grommit]

Wow. Sounds exciting.

I've never had a pregnant cat before so I can't offer much advice, however, my vet say's it's normal for the mother cat to sleep a lot, but, to be safe, it's best to have her checked out. Well, when ever they pop out, please post pics!

Enjoy!

 

[Christs_bride]

My kitty, Color Cat, is pregnant. I've never had a pregnant cat before. She's probably got about a month to go, I'm guessing. She sleeps ALL the time now...way more than she did before. Is this something I should worry about, or are cat mommies just like human mommies and want to sleep constantly?

Also, this is her first pregnancy, and she got pregnant during her first season. How likely is it that the first litter will survive? I've been told that often the first litters don't make it. Just wondering because my 5 year old is so excited about kittens, and if it's a good possibility they might die, I'd like to prepare her for that.

Thanks for the info, guys. Also, how will I know when she goes into labor?

Love, Heather

That's wonderful. Do let us know when the kittens arrive. I'm praying that everything will go well for both mum and babies. BTW, as you can tell I'm a cat lover too.

 

[Messenger30]

My cat has kittens right now....only 4 this time. She had 5 her first time and one died at birth and 5 her second time and one died at birth. This time they are all alive but one seems a little weaker than the rest. It is a good idea to look it up on the internet because with my cats last litter the kitten that died was out of the bag before birth (still born) I had to help my cat because the kitten was not coming out. Usually the cat can handle it all on there own...they will cry out but they take care of things you don't want to be in the way but at the same time if the cat is in a lot of pain and it is obvious that the cat needs help it is nice to know what to do. Hopefully this will be a wonderful experience for you and your little girl. Let us know how things turn out.

Love and God Bless,
Messenger

 

[Tara]

How old is your cat? I ask that because they don't all come on heat at the same age, it depends on the time of year as well? I would have a word with your vet, take her along and get some advice from him/her. I do hope all goes well for her. Please let us know how you get on.

 

[BeanMak]

one of my cats had a litter her first (and only) heat. She had 4 kittens that were all healthy. She chose to have the first 2 under my bed. Then I got the box, put the babies in, and momma jumped in and had the other 2. It is the most marvelous thing! I wish that there weren't so many shelter kitties, it is SOOOO much fun to have a house full of kittens!

 

[HeatherJay]

Well, she hasn't had them yet, but she looks like she's about to POP. I hope it's soon.

Actually, she's a little over a year old, so I guess maybe it wasn't her first heat...I just didn't notice because our boy cat has been fixed since he was 6 months old...and they're indoor cats. She escaped through the floor under our bathroom sink and met her boyfriend.

My 5 year old was so scared that she was lost until we found her the next day outside our back door. She was so cute...she scolded Color Cat and said, "Color, that boy cat doesn't love you like we do...he just likes you 'cause you're so pretty."

I've got a box set up for her. Is this going to be a really messy thing? Not looking forward to that part.

 

[Tara]

If everything goes well Heather it is going to be a really beautiful thing. 12 months old isn't so bad. Try not to worry. God Bless.

 

[USincognito]

I've got a box set up for her. Is this going to be a really messy thing? Not looking forward to that part.

I "midwifed" our Siamese through dilvering a litter about 12 years ago and that's my only experience, but here's what I recall.

She may "spot" a bit as she goes into labor. Don't get freaked out if you see some blood drops left behind when she gets up to move.
She may want to be very private or she may want someone there with her. Ours wanted me to stay with her until the litter was delivered. Even when I tried to leave her, she followed me.
The first one out hurt and she tried to claw at me, but the others just involved some huffin' and puffin' and she just lay there.
Kittens are tiny, as are their sacs, so there won't be much amniotic fluid. There won't be a sac either, as she will eat them.
If one is still born, she'll stop licking on it within a few seconds and get to eating the placenta. If she's given up on it, there's no harm in taking it and seeing if you can stimulate it. Most stillborns are dead well before delivery however.

Contact the vet if you see signs of her going into labor and it's during office or day hours. If it's after hours, try and keep an eye on her, and don't hesitate to call if she appears in real distress.

 

[HeatherJay]

Thanks guys, for all your advice. She spared me the worry and had 3 kittens in the middle of the night last night and a 4th this morning. I had fallen asleep on a blanket on the floor and she had crawled underneath the couch right beside me to give birth. I woke up to little kitten cries beside me. Bless her heart, she had them under the couch on a dark brown carpet, so I'll never have to worry about the little stains left behind.

NOW, I have a new set of worries. How to keep my little ones from petting the babies too much...how to keep our male cat (neutered) from hurting them...how to keep Color Cat away from me and with her babies (she seems to want me beside her constantly...if I'm not sitting with her and the babies, she follows me around meowing). I worry each time I hear the kittens crying...they're underneath my bed now. Are they cold, hurt, being sat upon, etc?

This is nerveracking. My hubby tells me to relax, but I have that mommy instinct in overdrive, I guess.

Love, Heather

 

[Tara]

Heather, have you got a cardboard box you can put some old clothes, towels or such in. They need to be inside 'something'. That maybe why mum cat is following you. They will get cold on the floor. I would keep the tom cat in a different room for now, because sometimes they kill the kittens. pm me if you want to.

 

[Thithy]

Well, I once had a cat that had kittens. In fact she was really a kitten herself. She was a stray and we're guessing she was about 6 months old when we found her. When she got pregnant I would guess her to be about 9 months, still very tiny and definately not fully grown. I was a bit concerned, but she had 5 healthy kittens that all survived and she did as well. I don't know if it was because she was an exceptionally strong cat, or what, but it all worked out. Kittens are a lot of fun, but they are also a lot of work. Have fun.

 

[HeatherJay]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Especially Tara, thanks for that link. I did get a box with towels and stuff in it and pushed it underneath my bed. Color Cat definitely liked it, she took the babies right inside the box. She's a good mama...I should stop worrying so much.

 

[draper]

Congrads on the kittens! You should definitely post some pics of them

 

[Soulwinner79]

I have 2 cats that had kittens the first one had 4 kittens (btw if anyone lives near me and wants one PM me they will be ready in 2 to 3 weeks) and the 2nd cat had 5 but 1 died. Since this was my 2nd cats first litter she went into labor like on a Mon. Tues I was at the computer and she started to lay down and I seen she was going to labor. I scopped her up and put her in the box in the bathroom because I have a dog that will kill kittens.