Is she in labour?

[CatPower]

Our very pregnant cat (nine weeks tomorrow) has spent the morning wandering between the kitchen (where her bed and food is) and into the livingroom, where she hides behind the curtains and purrs like a lawnmower. This isn't normal for her, she normally spends her days upstairs lazing around or outside - obviously we've kept her inside given how pregnant she is.

This is the first time I've cared for a pregnant cat. I'm probably panicking or being overly cautious, but could this be the start of her labour, or is she just being weird for the sake of it?

Could be.... - how exciting. LOL about purring like a lawnmower.
I also have a very pregnant cat, vet reckons it could be this weekend - she's enormous.
Sounds like behind the curtains is the place she wants to be - you could put her nest there...?

I'm a very nervous first time "granny" to be too - esp as DH is away this weekend , so won't be around if it does happen this weekend, although we're not sure of the dates really.

But I'm told they are brilliant at it, and do it all themselves with no need for any interference.

Good luck! Just realised your post was this morning - things will have moved on somewhat if you were right! Let me know ....

In our cat's case, she wandered round panting, and stopping frequently to lick her rear end for a couple of hours. Before the birth of each kitten, you could see waves of contractions down her sides, then a kitten appeared. She cried when she gave birth to the first one, and panicked, and started running around the bathroom before the placenta had been delivered, so the poor kitten bounced along behind her. It was fine though. It looks vicious as they bite off the membranes though - as if she is trying to eat them.

Have you got a box for her to give birth in? It might be an idea to put it behind the curtains. There will be some mess. If you have one of those disposable absorbant incontinence sheets to line it, it will be easy to remove the mess without disturbing her so much afterwards

We shut ours in the bathroom with her box, her litter tray and a drink, (and me) as we didn't particularly want her in our bed with them.

I put her usual bed in a corner of the kitchen, along with food, water and litter tray. I hadn't thought about getting some of those incontinence sheets - think we've still got the Pampers version from when DS was toilet training through the night, so will dig them out. I'll get a box from the garage and line with with shredded newspaper and an old blanket for behind the curtain, just incase she does choose to go there.

No real change this evening, she's still wandering around aimlessly and giving a tiny, pitiful little meow but I think that's more to make me feel guilty for not letting her out to play! The neighbour's cats tend to use our garden has a hunting ground so she's seeing them outside and wanting to go too. Poor thing!

I haven't noticed her panting or licking herself too excessively so I guess there's a day or so to wait. Her nipples are flaming huge though, like little pink beacons, so I suppose it can't be that long to go.

Cat Power - any news?
We were sitting watching the Royal Wedding this morning, with Daisy-cat sprawled on the floor, when we suddenly noticed some bloody mucus stuff - ran upstairs to fetch her nest down, laid her in it, and hey presto an hour or so later - we have five gorgeous little kittens!!
Am totally in awe of how she knew what to do, although she did seem rather surprised - looked at me as if to say wtf??
Had to record the Royal Wedding in the end, as we were completely transfixed - she didn't seem to mind that me and the 2 DSs were there watching (very quietly and at a distance of course - I was very proud of how sensible the boys were in fact). Never sat that still and quiet before!!!
And she ate all five placentas - yuk!
DH missed the whole thing - he's gutted.

No news here yet at all! She's been slinking around the house as usual, eating a little less perhaps but nothing too drastic. I keep watching her hoping to see something beginning but the kittens aren't moving. Oh well!

So glad to hear yours came safe and well - and five too! How are they all this evening? Very glad to hear Mum ate the placentas - I'm hoping ours does the same, I don't cope well with gore! ;)

all well and happy - guzzling milk nicely.
Mum's been up and had a bit of a snack, but didn't want to leave babies for very long, especially when they squeak! Maternal guilt kicks in quick then.
Living room is now complete with litter tray and her food and water bowl - not ideal, but think I'll leave her be tonight, might try moving the box tomorrow.

She's giving birth! So far one tabby and white, one ginger, and one black and white (I think, she's cleaning it up right now so could be tabby).

Bless her, she chose kiddo's bed to nest in, I only realised when I heard high-pitched meows from the ginger one at 1am! She's had three babies so far, one tabby and white, one full ginger and one black and white. Looks like another's on the way, her belly's rippling . Kiddo is wide awake and watching everything, so happy to see the kittens!

Four beautiful kittens born to a very happy Dora. One ginger, one black, and two tabby & white. All latched onto mum and feeding happily. Have somehow managed to transfer them all to her bed, all very comfortable and cosy. Won't touch them anymore, going to let them all settle for the night.

Managed to add a couple to my profile. I'll try and get a couple more tomorrow.

wow! they are so tiny. well done granny!( and mummy)

Awww I've just had a look at the pics, They are sooo cute!!
Will you keep any of them?

Lovely pics! Enjoy.

Further to my post a few days ago, my lovely five newborn kittens all died over the weekend. We're not quite sure why - mum is very young, the (absurdly expensive out of hours) vet reckons her hormones did not kick in properly, so there wasn't enough milk. By the time we realised what was wrong, they were too weak, and could not recover despite our desperate attempts at hand-feedling / warming etc. And Mum gave up on them a bit too, and they couldn't keep warm etc etc.

We're all so upset about it. Poor little mites.

Oh god noarguments, I'm so so so sorry to hear about your kittens. What a shock for you all. It's so easy to think that once they're born and feeding that the risks are gone... Hope you're all bearing up okay. Poor little things, and poor mum too.