Cat pregnancy - longer than 63 days?

[Melrihani]

Im really not sure how long my cat has been pregnant for.

A guess would put her more than 63 days! I think maybe even a week over that.

Should I take her to the vet?

I think it may be a little cramped in there because she looks as though shes going to explode, and the babies started moving about a week or more ago.

She seems to be going under the bed to look for a place to nest but theres been no milk or anything coming from her nipples as yet.

I love this animal to death so Im just wondering if I should let labour happen naturally, or take to to the vet and maybe have labour started. Is it unusual to have to induce a cat?

[Melrihani]

I would also like to add too -she is a pedigree Chinchilla Persian and we have homes (which are all family and friends) for up to 8 kittens which will all be spayed, as soon as possible.

After this litter, my queen will be spayed also.

[Cleo]

I would take her to the vet. Is this her first litter? If not, has she had complications with previous deliveries? If you think she's overdue, a vet visit would give you a full assessment.

[Cindy]

Have you been to the vet earlier in the pregnancy just to make sure everything was going alright with her?

I have been working for a small cat shelter for under a year now and we have had purebred Persians, Himalayans, Ragdolls and Siamese coming in to be abandoned at a steady pace. I'm glad to hear mom and kits will all be spayed and neutered. This country does NOT need more cats, purebred or not.

[Traci]

Get her to a vet NOW!

Some Persian breeds have a narrower uterus/birth canal, making complications of delivery a very huge risk, she could be retaining and both her and the kittens are extreme risk, get to a vet RIGHT THIS MINUTE!

And btw, you should have had her totally evaluated at the first knowledge of pregnancy, pregnancy care, and followup care for both her and kittens.

[Melrihani]

Im in australia BTW guys.

Thanks for the info, I cant physically get to the vet until 5pm tonight so I have booked her in.

Cat pregnancies in this country are much more blase. Most people do not take their kittens or cats to the vet, but I was planning on getting a vet out to my home after the kittens are born for a check.

She wont be having any more litters and this was her first. Im sick of people having a go at me for my decisions with my animal in relation to breeding her. So many backyard breeders breed moggies all the time and there are so many cats euthanised every single day. I am not doing this and I by giving the kittens to family and friends I was assure that they are spayed and have a happy loving home.

This cat is my baby, other than my other human babies, as are my dogs, and of course if I thought she needed vet attention I will take her, which is why she has been booked in.

Thanks again for your advice, I will let you all know how I go.

[Cleo]

Please let us know how she does at the vet's as soon as you can. Also, please don't think anyone here was getting on you about breeding. You explained your reasoning and your plan, it's a responsible one and we wish you the best with that.

Remember, the kittens aren't ready to go to new homes until they have been properly weaned from mama, usually by 12 weeks ?? I'm not exactly sure but Traci will be along with better input.

Here are some kitten links with info that you might find useful.

Good luck!

http://www.cathelp-online.com/health/

[Melrihani]

Oh thanks heaps Cleo.

Im not in a hurry at all to let the kittens go, they can stay with mum for as long as possible.

I dont understand how some people let the cats go to new homes at 5 weeks!! Even 8 weeks is too young IMO.

[MJ]

My youngest cat was being given away in front of Walmart when he was only 6 weeks old. He definitely started out with some behavioral problems, and still has some minor personality quirks that I definitely blame on him being taken away from his mom way way too soon.

Unfortunately people probably give them away so early because they realize the sad truth. The younger the kitten, the cuter most people think it is, and the more likely they are to adopt it. 12 week old kittens are far far less appealing to the general population because they're already "too old". :/ Poor babies.

My cats are always adorable sweet baby kittens to me, no matter how old they get. :P

I'm glad you already have good plans for your kittens, and I hope everything goes well.

[Traci]

Yes, ideally, only at 12 weeks or longer should they be adopted out.

However, sometimes situations don't allow for this, like we rescuers, or finding kittens without a mom, or someone dumping kittens, or....you get the picture.