pregnant mama

Question
QUESTION: I have read a lot of your answers and you knowledgeable and compassionate.   My mama kitty is overdue and HUGE.  My concern is that she has been showing signs of early labor for about a week now.   tonight she is meowing short yelps while purring.   she has been in the litter box producing nothing. my concern is that her sister had kittens 6 weeks ago and they "annoy" her.  is it possible that she is "holding off" until things seem quieter.   she is uncomfortable, agitated, and not staying in one spot for long.   I have not taken her temp because she seems miserable enough without adding that...   I was also wanting to know if there was something I can do to help things progress along better
thanks
gina

ANSWER: Hi Gina, You and I are in the same boat. I have a cat that is overdue also and I am always positive that TODAY IS THE DAY>> ha ha
Cats cannot hold off their labour anymore than we can .. so don't worry about that. Those kittens will come when they are ready and I have had cats go to even 71 days gestation. How far along is she right now?? And can you still feel the kittens moving? Is mom cat eating and drinking ok?? When cats are quite huge and pregnant they get uncomfortable and can give little yelps as the kittens are moving around and moving down into the birth canal to be born. You may also find that she is spending quite a bit of time in the litterbox as the kittens moving down will give the sensation of a bowel movement.
Can you let me know about my questions.. and then we can worry about your girl if necessary... or NOT !! :)
But I suspect you will have your kittens tonight... Teresa


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: what you are saying makes a lot of sense.  she has had a weird pregnancy.  I am pretty sure that she was pregnant then went into heat around week three, snuck out, then a week later she miscarried ( was messy on the back end ) Originally she and her sister were a week to 10 days apart, but I am guessing that she lost all of the first litter because her nieces and nephews are 6 weeks old.  with all this confusion you can guess that I am not super clear on how far along she is.  My best guess is around 70 days give or take a couple.

here's the weird and fun part - she has just started letting her sister's babies nurse!!  I am feeling babies move and contractions - how can nursing feel good??  but it seems to have calmed her...

she is drinking fine and hasn't eaten for a little while

ANSWER: Hi Gina, well I would have guessed that she was restless because she was coming into labour... She really sounds imminent !! Restlessness, not eating, agitated, making strange noises.. Those are all signs of labour.. Can you write me back again in about 8 hours or so... She really should be having those kittens soon !! Nursing the other kittens is fulfilling her instinct to mother right now..
Teresa

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: still no babies!!  I can still feel movement and now no contractions.   she is eating and drinking and good bms.    so now i am just assuming that she had a bout of false labor and that next time maybe it will be real...
she is still wanting to be the mama of the 6 week old kittens, scruffing them and dragging them to her nest.   I watch the other mom watching her babies nursing all wide eyed....  makes me feel sad for Goldie - the first mom.

is it possible to have a flase labor??

Answer
Hi Gina, well if it makes you feel any better.. mine hasn't had hers yet either !! She spent all day yesterday in and out of the litter box..and then stopped and settled down and now is acting like normal except she is the size of a house.. and growing.. haha
I am sure you don't have much to worry about if she is eating fine and all that.... we just have to wait. They don't usually have false labour but they do get uncomfortable as the babies are moving down the canal.. and they may act like they are in pain.. Also the babies moving and being so tight in there can almost feel like a contraction across her belly..
When the belly gets softer they usually deliver within 24  hours.. but that is not a hard and fast rule !! Hang in there.. and keep in touch. Teresa