Stray cat adopted us?

Question

this cat has been with us for about 2 1/2 weeks when she came she was under weight but pregenant when she came she had the pink nipples as they call it,,gaining alot of weight now you can see the kittens moving all around, no discharge yet but shes breathing heaving looking uncomfortble is this a sign she;s in the 1st stage of labor, need some help is her heavy breathing called panting?? have been reading up on labor in cats and im not sure

hope somone can shine some light

ty

helen

Answer 1

Panting is open-mouthed breathing and usually somewhat heavy and fast.

Every cat (and every litter) is different.  It's very hard to tell what's going on till you see her "push" one out.  I've bred my cat 3 times - each time completely different.  Wish I could be of more help, but all I can say is let her do it and don't stress her out trying to "help" her.

Each female cat, (called a "queen" when she is intact), is different, and even the same queen can have different experiences with each litter. How her labor will go will depend upon many factors, including her age, health, genetics, how many kittens she is carrying, the size and placement of the kittens in her womb, if this is her first litter, etc. etc. Some queens will become more agitated and restless when they are in early labor; some will have a slight mucous-y vaginal discharge; and you may also notice her trying to wash and clean her genital area more frequently. Once labor begins in earnest, signs will usually include nervousness and panting. The queen will often lose interest in food the last 24 hours or so before labor begins. She will also usually have a drop in rectal temperature below 100ºF (37.8ºC). The temperature drop may occur intermittently for several days prior to delivery, but it will usually be constant for the last 24 hours. When labor starts, some queens will go straight to their nest box and burrow down inside the towels; some will cry and want to stay by your side. Some queens seem to have relatively easy labors, while others really hurt and scream each time a kitten is born. When you can actually see your queen trying to "push" out a kitten, you will know for certain she is having contractions and is in "hard labor". Total time in labor can vary from several hours to 24 hours or more, with the mother cat normally having some breaks and rest from labor in between kittens.

Answer 2

Hey there, congratulations on becoming a adopted parent...lol - That is great that you have allowed her to stay with you and she will make you a very good cat because of this, just you wait and see....

Labor... This could be a 1st sign for sure... just try really hard to keep a check on her for if you are not sure of when the kittens are due then you wont to know that she is at least close to it...if everything is timely then you should notice her dripping blood as a for sure sign that she is only hours away from delivering, she will also have a swollen bottie back there but the true sign will be a bloody show she will drip for a little while before the kittens startcomingg and it could take a while for them all to come along. If she appears uneasy with you being around then just back off and let her alone so she don't run off to find another place - some have been known to eat them if the are scared for their saftey. Good luck, you sound excited and I wish you the best.

Answer 3

it sounds like she could be starting labor, fix her a safe and comfortable place to have them, like a box with an old towel or sheet in it and be prepared to change them again after she's done having them and often thereafter too.  Make sure she has fresh water an d a little food close by also.  She usually will do everything by herself unless she has complications of some sort (heaven forbid), and will appreciate a little comforting and talking her through it if she's like any I've been around.  Sometimes if it's her first litter she will be scared and just want to be close to you.  So exciting!  Good luck!

Answer 4

Yes, she is most likely going into labor. If she's living in your home, make sure she has a nice, safe place to have the kittens like a box or closet that's comforting and away from the main traffic of the house. Then give her some space. If she's a stray and only knew you for a few weeks, she might be more comfortable without close proximity when she's this vulnerable. You may want to be available just to make sure she doesn't seem to be having difficulty which may need a vet visit, but most kitties are great at birthing babies.

I was adopted by a stray mom cat and her 3 kittens a few weeks ago. We've taken in the kittens, though mom is still living outside, and she just gave birth to a second litter two days ago. I understand how exciting it can be to wait for kitty to have her babies. Just trust that she knows what to do, and the next day she will be ready for a large meal! Congratulations on your new babies :-)

Answer 5

go to a vet