I think my pregnant cat is overdue

Question
Hi
My cat got out on Wednesday, February 9th. She was gone for 4 weeks when I finally got her back by setting up live animal traps at night and checking them every other hour (it was so hard to get her back because I live in a very busy, main part of the city in a 2nd story apartment- so not like she could just come back to the door sadly).

When she got out, she was mildly in heat- I think nearing the end of her heat cycle. I figured that if she was at the end of her heat cycle, she must've gotten pregnant within the first couple days of being outside... right? There are lots of cats around here- I'm sure many are unneutered males. If so, she would be due from about a week ago to now. 69 days from the first day she got out would be tomorrow, which I've read is the maximum normal length of pregnancy. I have not noticed any milk, but the babies are moving around a lot (can see them moving) and she is huge. No imminent signs of labour. She isn't showing signs of distress, but I'm really worried about her. There is also some dark brown patch of something around a few of her nipples that I've just noticed.

I read that if the pregnancy extends even a couple days past 69 days, the babies and she could die. If she didn't get pregnant within the first few days, then I think she's probably okay, right? But I have no way of telling when she got pregnant, so how do I know when it means trouble? I am tight for money and don't have a car to get her to a vet easily, but of course I'm more than willing to find a way to get her to a vet if needed. Also, her belly started to swell a week after she came home, which, if I was correct about her getting pregnant within a couple days if being out, would put her at 5 weeks along- which is the time they usually start to show, right? Her nipples were already pink and a little enlarged, but they became very much more pink and enlarged a week after. So that also kind of confirmed it to me, but I could (I hope) be wrong. Sorry for such a long message- I'm just so worried about her. Do I take her to a vet now, do I wait, what should I be looking out for?

She will be spayed asap. We were on a wait list to get her spayed through the SPCA, but she got out just after we got a call from them to book an appointment.

Thanks so much for any help.
Amanda

Answer
Amanda,

If your girl was bred, February 9, yes, she is overdue!!!!!!  However, she could have gone out of season and come back in again any time during her 4 week adventure away from home.

So, you will have to watch her to see about signs of pregnancy, especially the later stages.  Also, I would see your vet to see if your vet can give you any insight about how far along she may be.  Anyway, if you would like, I have included some information about the later stages of pregnancy below.

You are correct in assuming that anything over 69 days would be problematic. In fact we use 68 days as our normal maximum and are concerned about going over 68 days (this changed for us a few years ago). As far as starting to show we have had some not showing until just before birth. It depends on how they carry them!!!!!!

OK, 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.