Advice Needed

by Jess

I adopted a cat from a family who claimed they could no longer afford to keep her but they failed to tell me she was pregnant. She's only about 8 months old and I think malnurishment has stunted her growth.

I would never have guessed she was pregnant and it wasn't until the next day when I took her to the vets for vaccinations that they told me she was about 4 weeks pregnant.

Problem is we don't know when exactly she's expecting, the vet thought she might have been due a couple of days ago but she is showing absolutly no signs of preparing for labour.

I think we've done all we're supposed to do, a box was put in her favourite corner about a month ago but over the past week she has completely ignored it.

I thought she would spend more time in her box and gradually reduce the amount of food she eats but its turned into the opposite, she's eating more than ever before.

The past couple of nights she had started to show signs but only for less than an hour. She'd get really restless and look around almost as though she'd lost something. Last night she dug herself a little den underneath a blanket and seemed to be breathing heavily, I left her alone but thought this was it so just kept an occasional eye on her but after about half an hour she changed her mind and came out and carried on like normal.

I thought as this is her first litter she might be as unprepared for it all as I am but I was hoping her mother's instinct would kick in. I'm a complete novice and I was wondering if it was possible to predict labour or does it literally just happen without warning until the signs that contractions have started.

Also the vet said he could only feel one kitten and he seemed absolutely certain that it would be no more but she is huge! I'm certain there's at least two in there and they're constantly kicking and wriggling. Can't wait.

Now that I've written all this I bet she has them tonight.

How To Take Care Of Your Pregnant Cat answers all your questions about pregnancy in cats and kitten care.