Help me it is a possblie my cat is pregnant !

Question
Well my cat belly is hanging very low and it is very hard !My cat has Vomited about two time ! I do see a  Increased of food and Sleep she sleep all day and play at night but what is making me nerves the most she has a very large and hard belly .  
 I wanted to know what are signs that my cat could be pregnant ? How long does a cat stay pregnant ? At birth what do i need to do ? And life after birth ?  I have never had a cat that was pregnant help me please.  

Answer
Ashona,

Yes, it sure sounds as if your cat is pregnant.

Normal gestation in cats is 65-to 67 days, with 63 days being a normal minimum and 69 days being a normal maximum.  We start counting from the 2nd day of breeding.

Here is the problem.  Every queen seems to want to do kitten birth 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 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 inside.  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.

Once the babies are born, mama does the rest.  If she has trouble and you have to hand raise the kittens, you should order a book called: "Hand-Raising the Orphaned Kitten" by M.L. Papurt, Barrons, Hauppage, NY, 1999.  Another book worth having is "Kittens for Dummies" by Dusty Rainbolt, Wiley, Indianapolis, IN, 2004.

Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Best regards... Norm.