cat in labor?

Question
It has been over 15 years since I have had a pregnant cat. My cat TippyToe is pregnant with her first litter and I'm a little unsure if I'm over reacting or correct in keeping watch on her as she shows a few behavioral signs of early labor. Her belly keeps hardening and she has been overly hungry and very edgy/anxious over the past four days now. Her nipples have pinkened but there is barely a noticeable swell yet and this morning she has been vomiting. I'm wondering is she going into labor or do we still have days yet to wait as I have lost track of where she is in her pregnancy since we didn't notice till she had already swelled some in the belly.

Answer
Sam,

Yes, this answer is copied and pasted from an answer I have given many, many times before. I just found it easier to put this out copied from my previous answers.

If you have something more specific, I will be happy to answer it.  On a number of occasions, we have had to guess at the due date and watch the signs. Even so, we have had surprises of kittens coming a week before we thought they would when the breeding date was unknown.

So, you will just have to be vigilant.  The guidelines I gave you should give you some idea of the progress of the pregnancy.  However, as I said in the original answer, every queen has her own way of doing it!!!!!!!

I hope all comes out OK.

Best regards... Norm.

Sam,

It would be best if you knew when she was bred, so you will have to just keep watch.

I am going to give you a bit of an information dump on what to expect during the very later stages of pregnancy.  I suspect you know most of this, but there may be some things that may help you:

Cat gestation is normally 65-67 days with 63 days being a normal minimum and 68 days being a normal maximum.  Anything over 68 days would mean a visit to the vet!  You should be able to see and feel the kittens moving in the last week and a half to 2 weeks of pregnancy.

Here is the problem.  Every queen seems to want to do it a little differently, so the best I can do is give you some guidelines.

Anywhere from a week before birth up until the onset of birth or anywhere in between, she will get her milk in.  In this time frame she may also have a mucous/bloody discharge. (Although these events may start at different times during this time frame).

Anywhere from a few days before birth up until the onset of birth or anywhere in between, she may exhibit nesting behavior and restlessness.  Also, in this time frame her kittens will form hard knots and begin to move backward and downward in her abdomen.  This is really the very early stages of labor. (Although these events may start at different times during this time frame).

Anywhere from a few hours before birth up until the onset of birth or anywhere in between, her water may break and she will have what are called positioning contractions where she begins to get the kittens in line for birth.

You will know hard labor when you see it.  Once she starts her birthing contractions, it is usually about an hour before the first kitten is all the way out.  About 50% of the kittens are breech, so although it is a bit tougher, it is normal for the first kitten to be breech.

A couple of things you want to have handy are a roll of paper towels, a bottle of isopropyl alcohol, scissors (in case you have to cut the cords), and a soft face cloth to clean the kitten's face if mama does not do it immediately.

I like to use a "jumbo" cardboard storage chest (10" X 16" X 26") as a birthing box.  Put some old sheeting or toweling in side.  Put it somewhere you can easily get to, in a warm spot away from drafts, and away from young children and other pets.  You can half cover it with a towel, so it seems more den like.

Make sure your vet knows what is going on, so, in case she has trouble, you have arrangements about what you must do.

Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Best regards... Norm.