my cat is pregnant and I need some more answers

Question
Hi I'm Nikki and my cat IS pregnant and she has this clear stuff coming from her nipples and she's acting like she's in heat the last 3 days and I don't know what to do. But also she is eating more and resting more and also she is cooing and keeping me up late at night because I think she's going to have her babies and I don't wanna miss it. Before she had milk coming out of her nipples and the last 3 days it's been clear. Does that mean she's getting close. Today she hasn't acted funny and the babies feel like they have moved down so I'm thinking she is closer than I think can you please help??


Answer
Nikki,

Yes, I would say the kittens are within a day or two of coming,  However, we have been fooled before.  Here is an information dump which you may or may not find helpful.

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 guidelines.

Anywhere from a week before birth up until the onset of birth or anywhere in between, she will get her milk in (it sounds to me as if she has her colostrum).  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 (it sounds as if this is happening).  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.