Does my pregnant cat even look pregnant?

Eloise613

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Hello!!! I’m fostering what my shelter told me is a very pregnant mom. They estimate she’s due in 2 weeks so I’m just trying to bond with her and help her feel safe and relaxed. She’s very affectionate and VERY playful, always rolling around and purring and wanting lovies.

I’ve had a few mamas but all of my cats that I personally own are fat so to me, mama looks tiny and barely even pregnant!My last pregnant mama was bursting at the seams!
Can you give me another set of eyes and let me know what you all think? She’s not eating much at all but im wondering if that’s just her adjusting to the changes
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vince

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Looks like I see some pinked-up teats, which should be a decent indication of pregnancy. She's not terribly huge, but does have some belly. I figure she's probably pregnant. If she's due in a couple weeks, you should see some movement inside.

Increased affection is also common in expectant queens, but without a base line, I don't think that helps much in your case.
 

missymotus

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She certainly looks pregnant, and just like humans can be varying sizes, which isn’t always indicative of litter size, some can pack them into a smaller belly while singletons can be from a large size belly.
 
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Eloise613

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Thank you!!! She definitely seems to be bulging in some spots! And she loves laying on top of me and sleeping. I have a feeling it’s her first litter. I’ve fostered many pregnant moms but this one seems so nervous, so that makes me nervous! I don’t see any movement yet but I feel like sometimes I can feel it. I’m afraid to touch her belly and hurt anyone

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vince

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A gentle hand on her belly won't harm the kittens. You're just lightly feeling for movement you might not see.

As she gets closer to delivery, she should look slightly "less pregnant." The kittens will move into line in the birth canal. Her sides won't bulge so much, but her belly will hang down more. They call this "dropping," and it's a sign she's getting close.

Might not be a bad idea to supplement her food with some KMR to bolster her calcium reserves. It's also good to have some on hand to supplement the kittens' milk intake, in case mom can't supply all that's needed. She can use some after birth too until the kittens are weaned.
 
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Eloise613

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Thank you!! I have Breeders Edge which my mamas and kittens usually LOVE but she isn’t crazy about it yet. She also doesn’t care for wet food she just likes kibble. Should I mix some breeders edge with tuna maybe??

also I think she’s developing a URI. She’s sneezing a lot. I don’t want her to be contagious if / when she gives birth. Is it safe to start her in clavamox? I will talk to the vet this week but I wanted to see what everyone thought here
 
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Eloise613

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Ok perfect, I will give her the first dose tonight. I read it’s safe during pregnancy and lactating and I always have the powder available. She’s still eating and drinking but I hope she holds out another week so she can get better before the babies come!
 
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Eloise613

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Last night she was scratching at the closet door like crazy and then scratching around in her nesting box I made her. Today her food bowl is still full and she was grinding her teeth but now she’s laying down constantly purring. I also caught her licking her nipples. It also seems like she’s dropped.

my last queens kept everything a big secret and showed no signs until active labor so I’m unfamiliar.Could it be time soon???
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Sarthur2

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It sounds like she may be in stage one labor, which can last 24 hours. Keep an eye on her and keep us posted!
 
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Eloise613

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She is in labor. She’s delivered one stillborn kitten so far 😭
 

Sarthur2

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So sorry for the stillborn. I hope the rest is going well. Keep us posted!
 
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Eloise613

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We have 2 little beans! Mama is obviously a first time mom. She nurses them but otherwise wanders out of the nest when she’s not needed the kittens are clean and fed though. I cried when I heard their little cries!
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Eloise613

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I found another stillborn kitten she’d given birth to while we slept. It had the head bitten off 😭😭😭😭 Please let that be the last one oh god. I’m watching her like a hawk and I keep encouraging her to be with her kittens. She is nursing them and they seem healthy.
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vince

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Mom cats often eat stillborn kittens. Replaces much-needed nutrients and keeps odor down (to keep the remaining ones safe in the wild). Don't feel bad. It's the way nature works.

Mom might get better about staying with the kittens. If not, you should have some supplies to supplement her feedings, and she probably could use some KMR to replenish her calcium supplies anyway. Does she come right back when they cry? Don't feel bad about that--they need to tell her it's time for dinner! At their ages, they should get something to eat about every two hours. From the last pic, mom's teats look like she has milk for them.

Get a small scale and weigh the kittens daily to see they're gaining about 10 grams each day. Keep records to see that they gain that much on average (some days they wont gain much, but you want to see a definite trend of gains).

From your original post, it would seem she went about 12 days before delivery. The shelter's estimate was pretty good.
 
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Eloise613

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Thank you!! She does , however reluctantly, tend to them when they’re hungry. They are squirmy and so far have round tiny bellies. I will weigh them when my human children take a nap and keep track in my planner. I will update 💗
 
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