Pregnant Cat or False Pregnancy

Question
I have a cat that is just under a year old and i think she is pregnant, but i'm wondering if it might be false pregancy. She is  a thin lanky cat and although when i pick her up,she seems more solid, a little heavier,it could be my imagination.  Her nipples are definately enlarged and pink and i think i might feel movement or again, it could be my imagination.  If i place my hand on her stomach, sometimes it feels like a flutter or tickle against my palm - does that sound like kitten movement or her belly growling or something?  I'm concerned because she really isn't "showing".  She hasn't been in heat for a month in a half or so.  If she is pregnant, her brother would be the father and it happened before i got the money to get her spayed.  I promise i'm getter her spayed as soon as i can.

Answer
Jennifer,

I have had cats that do not show very much until a week or so before birth and some that show after the first month.  Here is an information dump on what to expect, if she is, indeed, pregnant.

Cat gestation is normally 65-67 days with 63 days being a normal minimum and 69 days being a normal maximum.  Anything over 69 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.