[nursekrisreynolds]

:ee My cat is due any day to have her babies. She has been doing a lot of sleeping and eating, but she started vomiting today, she has done it about 3 times. Is this the beginning of labor?

[Clough]

From the following site: Care of a Pregnant Cat - Helping With Birth

Lesson 5: Helping With the Birth Process

The big day has arrived when your pregnant cat is ready to give birth to her kittens. This process is technically called "queening." Chances are that you will not need to do anything to help with the birth process except to be with your cat to encourage her. You may even wake one morning to discover that your pregnant cat has given birth during the night, and is comfortably nursing her kittens. However, you should know how to spot potential problems and what action to take, should she need assistance with the birth process.

Signs of Impending Labor

The cat may vomit. The abdomen may "drop" a few days before labor, and the nipples may become larger and pinker.

Active Labor

Contractions will start and you will see the appearance of the amniotic sac. You may also see a discharge of blood or other colored fluid.

Your biggest role may be to prepare the birthing area and move your queen into it.

Supplies for the Birthing Area
Newspapers
To line the delivery box. Place a stack in the bottom of the box and remove one-by-one as they become soiled.
Clean towels
For helping to clean and stimulate the kittens, if necessary.
Paper towels
For the same purpose.
An extra box
For placing the kittens in while the queen is still birthing. Place a heating pad in the bottom of the box with a blanket or several towels over it. The idea is to keep the kittens from being chilled, without burning them. Never place them directly on a heating pad. Drape another clean towel over the top of the box to hold the heat in and to keep out drafts.
A laundry basket or extra box
For discarding soiled towels

These are the most basic supplies you will need. Since I am neither a veterinarian nor an expert on birthing kittens, for the rest of this lesson you will be turned over to a highly qualified veterinarian, Jennifer Prince, DVM. Her article on Queening (Giving Birth) provides you with not only an extensive list of supplies, but all the information you will need to assist with the birth process, should human intervention become necessary. Be sure to read it several times well before your pregnant cat's labor begins.

Length of Time for the Total Birth Process

In general, it may take up to six hours for a queen to give birth to all her kittens. The first kitten should arrive within an hour of the start of active labor, and subsequent kittens will take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. She will rest for 15 minutes or so between kittens, and during this time she should be allowed to nurse and clean the kittens that have been born. If you have been keeping the kittens in another box, move them back with the mother cat and help them find a nipple. This is also a good time for you to offer her food or a sip of KMR or plain, unflavored yoghurt. Although in rare cases a healthy kitten is born after the seven hour period, you should take the queen and her kittens to the vet for a checkup once seven hours passes and you are sure there are other kittens inside.

Summary of Potential Problems During Labor

Extended Contractions without Birth

More than one hour of strong contractions indicates a veterinary emergency, and your cat should be seen by a vet immediately. Take her and any kittens to your vet.

Retained Placenta

A retained placenta can cause uterine infection. It is important to count the number of placentas (one per kitten) to keep on top of this potential problem.

Kitten Lodged in the Birth Canal

A kitten that is lodged in the birth canal for more than 10 minutes is in distress, and your intervention may be necessary. Dr. Mike Richards offers instructions for assisting the delivery in an article on his excellent web site. Note that although most kittens are born head first, "breech," or tail-first births occur about 40% of the time, and are considered normal.

Once all the kittens are born, your queen will normally be caring for and feeding them. Make sure she has ample quantities of kitten food and KMR now, and for the rest of the time until the kittens are weaned. And if anything seems amiss with either your queen or the kittens, seek veterinary care immediately.