Help. Cat in Labor???

Question

My cat is very far along in her pregnancy and should have kitens anyday now, just tonight she just stated lying around on the hardwood floor....i've tried to get her to go to the nest a couple times but she doesn't seem to care for it very much. She lies on the floor for a while then gets up and walks around but then lies down again, and she flicks her tail. There are small ripples in the lower of her back and I wanted to knw if these were contractions or just the muscles from her flicking her tail. Please help and thanks.

Answer 1

that seems pretty weird when my cat was in labor she kept meowing and rubbing all over the carpet she did have ripples though your best bet is t leave your CAT where she wants to be which should be in a private quiet place to give birth

Answer 2

As their pregnancy progresses, they like to lie on a hard cold surface (tile floor or glass table top for example).  Many/most also look a little thinner just before they give birth as the kittens drop further down.  If this is your first litter it would be very helpful for you to have someone nearby who has been through it before, who can help you in case of a breach or if a baby isn't breathing.  Most of the time, mother cats (even first-time births) know what to do instinctively;  as her "person" you should have someone by in case of emergency.

She can have contractions for a day or two before giving birth.  She'll choose her own time and place to do it.  

Answer 3

Cats will often choose their own nesting location, not always the one we provide for them.

If she is laying on the hardwood floor, she may be hot (being pregnant with a lot of little bodies rolling around inside you is bound to make you too hot sometimes!) and laying on the floor to cool down.

The ripples could be early contractions, or it could just be the kittens moving around, as by this point I'm sure there isn't a lot of room for them in there.

Check her nipples and see if she is leaking any fluid or if they seem large and engorged. This is usualy a sign that birth is very close (w/in 24 to 48 hours).

Keep an eye on her and make sure she has plenty of access to fresh water and food if she is wanting to eat. Feed her good high quality kitten food, she will be producing milk for these babies and that takes a lot of calories. You can add KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement) to her food for even more calories and nutrition.  She may wait until you're asleep or not home to have her babies, and she may not use the next you provided. So be sure to check different places in the house if she suddenly shows up much thinner than she was before you went to bed!

And please, after this have her spayed so she doesn't have anymore babies. It doesn't sound like you are a breeder of cats, otherwise you would know what to expect. There are far too many unwanted babies who are put to sleep in shelters every day. Do the responsible thing and have her spayed as soon as you can.

Good luck with the birth and hopefully you will have fat healthy kittens in short order!

Answer 4

hmm, i would call a vet for the contractions.

and she may be carrying alot so she may be tired.

just call the vet to check up and let her deal with it in her own way (: