Stray cat chose my family

Good afternoon,
The past couple weeks, I've found myself on this site several times. Around Valentines Day, a skinny stray cat showed up on our doorstep. Having 2 kids, and a very busy lifestyle, I chose to feed it on our front porch, but didn't bring it inside. However, over the next few days, the cat slowly worked its way into our front door, and our hearts. So, as a family decision, we decided to welcome the cat into our family. She was take to the clinic, de-wormed, given shots, and checked out healthy. We started "spoiling" her with food, treats and toys. She started to get rather round, and just two weeks ago we learned she's in "advanced pregnancy". Without knowing the conception date, we were not told a time-frame. We were told there shouldn't be an adverse effects of her having shots and being worked while (unknowingly) pregnant, so I am hoping and praying all goes well. Not sure exactly what I'm asking, only if anyone has been in a similar situation and can calm my mind? I'll be devastated if something goes wrong when I was only trying to better her health. I'm not sure how far along she is, only that she was depressingly skinny when she arrived, and now looks like she's swallowed a small football! I've been searching and reading the forums here, and impatiently waiting! This will be my first (and only) litter, as Im an advocate of spay and neuter. Her belly has been ripling around due to kitten movement, which has been visible to my eye for a little over a week now. Her appetite is voracious, but I have no indication on how it was previously. Any and all help is appreciated, while I wait it out!! C'mon out kitties!!

Have you come across our links pregnancy, when to expect?

I have, thank you! I've seen them linked to replys throughout the forum. Great help to me recently!

I would say she around 6 or 7 weeks possibility 8 weeks
can you feel them moving?

Wow, she looks like she is about to pop! It's hard to tell with skinny cats, a stray I took in a few years ago who looked like she'd swallowed a watermelon for over a week then only produced two kittens. Have you provided her with any nesting boxes? Give her a choice of places to have her kittens and see if she shows any interest in them.

@StefanZ  @catwoman707  Any advice?

Norachan yes, she's definitely rounded out recently! I know she should be due sometime soon, but I'm so worried about the kittens well-being, in regards to having her de-wormed and vaccinated during (unknown) early pregnancy. Would that affect the kittens development?

After doing research, I started her on kitten chow, and have provided 3 boxes with bedding in a couple rooms she seems to favor, away from children and the dogs. She's always starving, and hates for me to touch her stomach, but I have observed, from a distance, the kittens moving for a little over a week now. Thank you for your input!

Regarding the vaccine, I believe that it is during the first 3 weeks of pregnancy that has a higher risk of fetal damage, mostly fetuses were aborted.

I also read this info-

Pregnant animals:

Although very little data exists, it is thought that in a mother who has never been vaccinated or exposed, modified live parvo and panleukopenia vaccines may cause abortion or fetal damage. In mothers who have been previously immunized, on the other hand, there is likely no risk to the litter. In one study, abortions were no more common in queens vaccinated with an MLV FVRCP vaccine during pregnancy, and their kittens were considerably less  likely to suffer from upper respiratory infection than kittens born to queens not vaccinated during pregnancy. (We can chalk that benefit up to the increased maternal antibody received by the litter.) 

This cat being as friendly as she is, surely has been an owned cat, meaning the chance of her having received a vaccine during kittenhood is pretty good.

So actually in her case, assuming she has had at least one vaccine in her life, the litter will be fine and safe.

Even if she had not, I don't think you need to worry.

I think they will be just fine. I have done this myself. Vaccinate upon intake, have a female scheduled a few weeks later for her spay appt, only to find out she is prego and blowing up suddenly. Kittens were always fine.

I think it is not a common issue, but of course anytime there is any risk, no matter how rarely it occurs, it gets put out there and they don't tell you the actual odds if known.

According to her appearance, she's got a week to go, my guess

catwoman707 thanks for easing my mind with that information! She's really been a good cat, just doesn't like to be held or pet much, but as time goes on and she gets further along, she is becoming more affectionate. She is still movin around a lot, her milk isn't in yet, and she eats small amounts but very frequent. I've attached a picture of her today, I did catch her under my daughters bed, but she came back out to socialize. Just playing the waiting game and having fun seeing the movement in her belly. The babies were really moving last night!

Question: Momma Cat has been laying like this for awhile now. Breathing steadily but hard, I can see the kittens moving. Am I just worrying about nothing? Normal for her to lay like that for so long?

Another view. She's flat on her back

I think it is "just" squeezing her...  Laying this way is the least uncomfortable position...  So maternity luck and all this, but ist not any comfortable phase of her life...

Btw, I want to add, she is not only very sweet, but also a real beauty too.  Also,  I wouldnt be suprised if she were an oci-cat. Surely of pet quality, as her spots arent well definied, but still.

I was just about to say the very same, it's probably comfortable for her and takes some of the pressure off of her.

I wouldn't worry! She looks pretty comfy really

Maia and I are sending major To  Momma Cats delivery!

Thank you all for your help and input! MK is acting pretty normal, besides sleeping a lot and eating constantly. So I wouldn't drive myself crazy, I've assumed she's around 7-8 weeks and will hopefully go into labor next weekend (3/28) so we'll wait and see! I found myself scrutinizing every little thing, but I'm just going to step back and let nature take its course. Poor momma, though, because that's a big belly on her tiny frame!

hello again,
I've been searching the boards for an answer to my question, to no avail, so here goes:
I have seen visible movement of MK's kittens for over 2 weeks now. In fact, this upcoming Sunday will be 3 weeks since I noted in the activity book that I was able to clearly see the movements. Everything on the boards has said movement should indicate birth within 2 weeks.
Therefore, my question is, is it alright that MK hasn't even began to show signs of labor at the moment? From my previous posts, we do not know when MK became pregnant, as she was a stray. Also, she is a skinny cat with a decent sized belly now. As I said, I could feel and see kitten movement on March 1st. Is this normal, or is it time to alert our vet? Do not want to rush the kittens birth if they aren't ready, but want to be active about a healthy pregnancy as the vet stated he believes this is her first.

Thank you in advance for any information you can provide!

Honestly it very often seems like the end of pregnancy and waiting for labor takes forever, and very common for people to wonder/worry, due to the varied indications.

Every momma cat is different, it's also common for labor to come so suddenly, without any warning signs at all.

I've had moms who seemed like they nested and were changing for several weeks in advance, or milk coming in early, or not at all before delivery, or kittens churning around for weeks, then no movements at all I can see, I think they do this to keep us on our toes!

I would say it is HIGHLY uncommon and very unlikely that there are any issues, basically when she is ready, she will pop them out.

The only time you should worry is when labor starts but does not produce kittens for a long period, she is in obvious distress, or a kitten gets stuck.

Until labor begins, it's all a waiting game!

The best part is she will produce nice round healthy kids. All they are doing now and have been for weeks is gaining weight and strength, so a very good thing.  

samanthalynn770 said:

Thank you all for your help and input! MK is acting pretty normal, besides sleeping a lot and eating constantly. So I wouldn't drive myself crazy, I've assumed she's around 7-8 weeks and will hopefully go into labor next weekend (3/28) so we'll wait and see! I found myself scrutinizing every little thing, but I'm just going to step back and let nature take its course. Poor momma, though, because that's a big belly on her tiny frame!

Click to expand...

samanthalynn770 said:

hello again,
I've been searching the boards for an answer to my question, to no avail, so here goes:
I have seen visible movement of MK's kittens for over 2 weeks now. In fact, this upcoming Sunday will be 3 weeks since I noted in the activity book that I was able to clearly see the movements. Everything on the boards has said movement should indicate birth within 2 weeks.
Therefore, my question is, is it alright that MK hasn't even began to show signs of labor at the moment? From my previous posts, we do not know when MK became pregnant, as she was a stray. Also, she is a skinny cat with a decent sized belly now. As I said, I could feel and see kitten movement on March 1st. Is this normal, or is it time to alert our vet? Do not want to rush the kittens birth if they aren't ready, but want to be active about a healthy pregnancy as the vet stated he believes this is her first.

Thank you in advance for any information you can provide!

Click to expand...

Yes, they often say 2 weeks, but the fact is, quite a few of our forumites report it may be almost 3 weeks for the movements to be noticeable.  I suppose it depends in part, of how good you are at observing and feeling / palpitating.

Anyways, cats seems to manage a little too long pregnancy better than humans.  While the kittens dont manage well premature deliveries, again unlike human children.

So, as Catwoman says, be observant and vigilant, but its just to wait and see.

Good luck!

Just got home from work. She has a slight wetness going on, but no mucus or anything big. I just see the area is slightly glistening with wetness. A sign good things are to come, perhaps! Still see crazy moving kitties and she still has her appetite, though!