Pregnant cat....close???

Question
QUESTION: My cat Dill got out out the house right before Christmas and lucky me got pregnant. The past week she has had colustrum that is able to be expressed from her nipples and the hair around them has all but disappeared. I can see the kittens moving quite clearly now and have been able to for several days, and have been able to feel them move for over 1 1/2 weeks. She had a temp drop to 99 48 hours ago and was steady for 24 hours at last check it was up to 99.9 Here is my question....What should I be looking for and how much longer do you think I have to wait before she kittens??? I have had a cat have a litter before but it was unusual and they were stills. Way different than this. Any advise?

ANSWER: Erin,

It sounds as if Dill is about to have klittens any time now.

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.  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 contractins 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 there are any more questions.

Best regards... Norm.




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

QUESTION: Ok, thank you very much for getting back to me so quickly, There has been a change in my cat since the last message, last night I noticed ( while rubbing her tummy) that her fur around her nipples was crusty and on closer inspection saw that the "milk" is actually dripping from her nipples, not at an alarming rate but it was dripping. Is this normal? I do have a birthing box set up for her that is nice and big and in a secluded place away from everyone but she seems to prefer being under my bed, so i have barricaded that for her and her kittens safety.

Answer
Erin,

Having milk expressing itself from the nipples is not unusual, but not that common.

You are better off having Dill where you want her for your ease of access (unlike under your bed), especially if you need a quick trip to the vet!  Usually, once she has kittens somewhere and it is warm and free of intruders (except for yourself), she should settle down!

If she wants to move the kittens, there are remedies for that.

Please let me know how she does birthing.

Best regards... Norm.