Pregnant Cat - How Far Along????

Prissycat162

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So about 2 and a half weeks ago, maybe 3 weeks ago, I took in a unspayed female cat from someone who could no longer keep her. She was the only cat they had and she was strictly indoors. I planned to get her spayed. Last week I noticed that her belly was getting bigger, before I noticed her getting bigger I had just thought she was eating too much and was fat but once I noticed her getting bigger pretty much every day I kinda got the idea that she was pregnant. a few days ago when I was petting her I was feeling her stomach and could definitely feel some babies in there squirming around and kicking. I asked the person I got her from if she had been around any males and they said “not that we know of, but she did get outside for a few hours one afternoon when she slipped through the front door.” I took her to the vet yesterday and the vet indeed confirmed that she is in fact pregnant. He’s thinking there’s 3-5 babies. He couldn’t really tell me how far along she is though, so I don’t know when to expect her to deliver. Anyone have any ideas on how far along she is or how long she could have left? The people I got her from don’t remember when she got outside so they couldn’t help me any. I’m absolutely clueless as I’ve never had a pregnant cat. She is nesting a little, her nipples are a little bigger and pinkish but not huge and no milk yet. She also hasn’t really shed any of the hair around her nipples either. But she’s very fluffy so it’s kinda hard for me to tell and she won’t let me look at her stomach for long. No discharge, or any signs of labor so far. :) (Im getting her spayed as soon as the kittens are bigger and weaned!)
 

MissClouseau

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My guess would be she's about halfway there or 1-2 weeks passed the halfway.

I've never lived with a pregnant cat but based on the pregnant strays I have seen over the years (and the one who chose my place to gave birth), they start looking for a safe place to give birth 1-2 weeks before giving birth. Like that street cat got inside my place to the room I don't use, inside an empty box there, and spent the night there one night. Couple days later she came back to give birth - she ran to that room as soon as I opened the door.
 
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Prissycat162

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My guess would be she's about halfway there or 1-2 weeks passed the halfway.

I've never lived with a pregnant cat but based on the pregnant strays I have seen over the years (and the one who chose my place to gave birth), they start looking for a safe place to give birth 1-2 weeks before giving birth. Like that street cat got inside my place to the room I don't use, inside an empty box there, and spent the night there one night. Couple days later she came back to give birth - she ran to that room as soon as I opened the door.
That chart is really helpful! Thank you! I agree that she still has a few weeks to go! She doesn’t look all that big for the vet thinking there’s 3-5 kittens in there, he only palpated her though and didn’t do an ultrasound or x-ray for the exact number so who knows how many are truly in there :lol:
 
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Prissycat162

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She probably has 2-3 weeks left. Start preparing by reading articles and getting supplies.

Pregnant Cat? What To Prepare For The Birth

How Do I Know When My Cat Will Give Birth?

Help! My Cat Is Having Kittens!

Thanks for taking her in! :)
Thank you! Ive been researching a lot because I’ve never had a pregnant cat or newborn kittens and those articles you listed are very informative! I started preparing yesterday after the vet confirmed! I prepared her a few nest options but she prefers to be up under my dresser which I can’t really see under so I might have to block it off. I have also picked up a scale to weigh the babies to make sure they’re gaining enough weight and I ordered some kitten milk replacer, syringes, and miracle nipples just incase. :)
 
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Prissycat162

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So I’m kinda curious about what you guys think. As I’ve said before I’ve never had a pregnant cat so I’ve been doing tons of researching. While researching I read that you will first physically see the babies moving around 1-2 week away from delivery. I can feel the babies moving and kicking but I can’t physically see them moving at all, atleast not yet anyways, I can just feel them. I’m not sure how long I’ve actually been able to feel them moving because I just felt her stomach the other day and noticed them moving and kicking. I might not be able to see them moving because she’s so dang fluffy, But does seeing and feeling them make a difference on how far or close she could be? Do you think she could be 1-2 weeks away from delivery even though I can feel the babies moving but not physically see them moving? I don’t know if it really matters but curious to know if it does. Does anyone have any experience with that? I guess every cat and pregnancy is different though. I still think she has 2-3 weeks left. Also, when do they usually get their milk in?
 

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Milk can come in anywhere from a week or so before delivery to right after delivery. It varies with every cat. :)
 
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Prissycat162

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Okay great! Thank you!! How interesting! I never knew it could come after delivery! Do you think I should have anything else prepared for the babies just Incase or maybe anything just in general? So far I have lots of nests prepared for her in different locations, I also have kitten milk replacer, syringes, nipples, bottles, and a scale to weigh them. Anything else I should pick up? Sorry for loads of questions, I’m anxious for her but I know everything will be just fine.
 

Sarthur2

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You sound all set! Just feed mom as much dry kitten chow and wet food as she wants so she has good nutrition to grow healthy babies. :)
 
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Prissycat162

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Thank you for all of your help! She’s definitely getting as much as she wants! She’s constantly eating.
 
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Prissycat162

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The babies are moving around and kicking a lot tonight! She loves having her belly rubbed. Here’s soon to be momma Prissy with my other cat Max :) Max is already neutered so no babies when she happens to go into heat after this litter is born :hyper:
 
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Prissycat162

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Prissy is in labor!!! I thought she had 2-3 weeks left! She’s been in her chosen nesting box since about 1 am consistently but before that she was going in the box and then back to my bed to lay beside me for a few minutes and then back to the box for quite awhile. I thought she was just laying in there but she woke me up at almost 2 am meowing her head off. She seems very uncomfortable. She keeps adjusting herself when in the box. She’s been digging the box and rearranging the towels I have in there. She’s cleaning herself constantly. She did have a little bit of stuff like discharge coming out that she immediately cleaned off. I’m quite worried about the babies and hope they’re full term and not pre-term since everyone thought she still had a few weeks left. Maybe it’s just a small, small litter. She hasn’t got any milk in at all! If she waits to get it until after delivery how long should it take to come in? If it’s needed and she doesn’t get milk, how long should I wait until I have to start feeding them??? I’m trying to stay calm but I’m a nervous wreck :cringe:
 
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Prissycat162

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Sorry for no updates! I think she might be still in her pre labor stages. No water breakage or kittens yet. She’s been spending most of her time in her nesting box sleeping or licking herself but does occasionally get up to eat or drink or lay on my bed. I haven’t seen any contractions either, she hasn’t meowed anymore like she did this morning. Maybe perhaps it could’ve been Braxton Hicks she was experiencing very early this morning? Maybe she wasn’t in labor at all since there’s no progression or anything so far?
 
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Prissycat162

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Update - no babies yet. I for sure thought she was in labor the other night but I guess not. She was nesting a lot last night and was nesting some this morning as well. She’s been her normal self today, just lots of sleeping in her nest box and grooming. Now we’re just playing the waiting game and having lots of patience :)
 
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Prissycat162

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Hi! Update - still no babies! Her stomach definitely has dropped though. But, quick question, is it normal not to feel the babies anymore after the stomach drop? Her stomach is still very small so I think there may be no more 2-3 kitten in there, I definitely think it’s going to be a small litter. I felt a lot of activity in there the day before yesterday and now I’m quite concerned because I didn’t feel any yesterday or today.
 
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