I have a stray female that is very noticeably pregnant and she has had a clear, non-smelly discharge for about 24 hours now. I think this is her second litter. She is in the bathroom of my barn in a large dog cage with a litter box, food, water, and a rubbermaid container with towels. Is she going to give birth soon? This is my first experience with a pregnant queen.

With cats, it's sometimes hard to tell if they're ready or not. The fact that they can stop labor (for up to a full day) if they don't feel safe, can further complicate things.

All you can really do is try to make her feel as safe and comfortable as possible. She'll have the babies when she's ready. It sounds like you're doing your best, and making sure you'll be able to keep an eye on her and the babies.

Google feline birth and/or pregnancy and read up on the subject. It'll help you feel more comfortable in how to act around her and the babies, once they're born, and you'll have a better idea what to look out for. There's just too much information to reasonably post on here.

Thanks for the help. She still hasn't gone into labor, but, she is still leaking discharge. It has been 3 days since she has started to do that. It's not a lot, about the size of a quarter in spots. She has been very tired the last day or so, but, is still eating well. The babies are kicking well also. I have her in a low lit spot in a rubbermaid slear container with newspapers, a potty, and foos and water at all times. The discharge isn't smelly or bloody at all. I am hoping she doesn't have them when I have to go back to work Tuesday. I really want to be here. I could take time off, but, not many days. I wish I had a better idea when she will go into labor. I have only had her 2 weeks, since I picked her up from a forclosed home.

Well, most cats have their kittens in the middle of the night.

Am I understanding it correctly and you're keeping her in a plastic container?

She's in a dog cage. I got the impression the container is making like a bed?

You picked her up at a foreclosed home? Like as in, people had to leave and just left the pregnant cat there? Stuff like that just makes me so angry. Thanks for trying to help! I'm no use, cause I haven't had an unfixed cat for around 30 years, and the 2 sets of kittens we did have were back home at my parents and I let them take care of everything, of course. ;) But I wanted to say thanks for trying to take care of this poor kitty.

Are you going to keep her? The kittens?

(Hoping you have the $$ to get her fixed, even if you can't keep her yourself. We're one of the areas which have started experimenting with the "neuter and release" programs. I'm hoping that works out well and that more areas start trying this.)

I have her in a large metal dog crate. Inside the crate is a litter box, her food and water, and a clear rubbermaid container bottom filled with newpapers. It is large enough for her to stretch out in, and the sides are about 4-5 inches tall. That way the kittens can't crawl out. I figured out I picked her up Aug 26th, and she was showing then. It was a bad situation she was in there. I couldn't not help them. When the kittens are at least 4-5 weeks old I am having her spayed. We have great spay/neuter programs here thank god. Only 75$ for shots/rabies/and fixing. We have a mobile vet clinic bus that travels all over the state.
She kicked out one of the newspapers this morning and she seems to be leaking a little more. I have also noticed a few very small blood clot spots. The kittens are kicking away, but, have slowed a little yesterday and this morning. I have helped deliver puppies and I know they go still before the mother goes into labor. I have read that cats start to show 2 weeks before they deliver. She has been for that time. Getting nervous.

I'm going to adopt them all out. I am getting both mothers spayed and making sure they have their shots before they go. I have to admit I am getting very attached to the pregnant mother. She may stay! :)

I hope she has them in the middle of the night, since I will be here if she needs me. I have a baby monitor with a night vision screen on it, so I can see and hear her at all times.

Let me tell you, that cats start to show LONG before that. They start to show at about 3-5 weeks and are pregnant for 9 weeks.

My mommy cat looked ready to pop a couple weeks before I was able to give her a home. She didn't actually give birth until a full month AFTER I adopted her. Looks can be deceiving, especially with small cats and/or first litters.

Thanks. I am really able to see the babies moves in her abdomen. I moved her into a quiet room in my house in an x-pen with a dark sheet over it. I put the stuff that was in the crate in there and also a small dog size carrier without the door. She seems more comfortable having more room. She was showing since the day I saw her and has doubled in size since then. She has a hard time cleaning, but, has been licking a lot. She also didn't eat much tonight. More licked the wet food than ate it. I hope that is a sign. I'm excited and really hope I will b here when she goes into labor and not at work. I hope she does give birth at night. I really appreciate all the help.

Since no one else has said this, I will. We love pictures, especially new baby pictures.

I'm going to adopt them all out. I am getting both mothers spayed and making sure they have their shots before they go. I have to admit I am getting very attached to the pregnant mother. She may stay! :)

LOL. They can do that to you. :p

And thanks for getting her spayed as well. I wish I was rich so I could go around and fix them all.