Cat Pregnancy and length of gestation

Question
Hi, I have a queen who is around 12 months old.  She came into season early December 2007.  She was calling for 3-4 days then stopped, so I assumed she had mated around that time.  She is currently VERY pregnant, I have felt movement in her belly and she regularly has quite easily recognised lumps and bumps on her abdomen that move when patted or rubbed.  I took her to the vet early this week as I estimate she was around the 70 day mark, but he was happy to let her go for at least another week.  My concern is that she will be left too long and lose the babies as well as endanger herself.  At the moment her voracious appetite has lessened, she spends a good deal of the day sleeping and visits the litter tray a lot (I guess there's not much room in there at the moment).  

I guess I'm just seeking some sort of indication as to whether she could have continuec to mate in her heat cycle after the first mating (assuming that she didn't conceive the first time) without actually displaying the behaviour she was initially?  If that was the case then she may well have conceived later than I anticipated and not be as far into the pregnancy as I thought?

Thanks, Concerned Mum!

Answer
Karen,

Domestic cats gestation is 65-67 days with 63 days being a normal minimum and 69 days being a normal maximum from the time the cat was bred.  We usually start counting at the 2nd day of breeding.

If you truly think she is at 70 days, it is time for the kittens to come out!!!!!  

Here are some guidelines as to what to expect as she gets close to birthing the kittens (keeping in mind that every queen does it differently):

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.