She is not nesting... she confuses other kittens to be hers that are already 4 weeks old... she doesn't even know she is in labor... I don't have money I am on ssi... I don't know what to do for her... she goes from room to room and lays down meows for me to be there... and if I am not there... then she will delay the labor... I called the vet and they said I needed to come with 250 dollars and they don't bill... this is my baby... her life depends on me not having money... them people don't even want to give me advice over the phone... they say bring her in... I said I am disabled and don't have money... they say they can't help me... what the hell is wrong with doctors these days.. same with people money make the living live... if you don't have money and you have an emergency the human doctors around here will not see you even when you are about to die... even emergency rooms are making people like me pay 150 before you get seen... back to the question what do I do when my cat doesn't know she is going to have kittens

Need answer now... my cat doesn't know she is having kittens... what do I do... in labor but not pushing,, vet told me he will not see her they do not bill... she mistakes other kittens for her own... she knows something... but not being pregnant or dewlivering them... she didn't even nest... call if you get this please... >Phone number Removed<... any help would be great thanks god bless daisy

We don't allow the sharing of personal information on here, so I've asked that your phone number be removed.

OK, let me see if I understand this. Your cat is in labor. You don't think she's pushing or knows what to do. She tries to mother other kittens.

If she's not pushing, then she's probably not in the final stage of labor. Cats aren't really given the choice of rather or not they push. Their bodies do it on their own.

Not nesting isn't a big deal. My cat didn't nest when she had her babies, and it didn't make a bit of difference.

The restlessness and crying is normal. Can you shut doors to limit the number of rooms she can get into? It may help her settle a little and pick a spot to have her babies. It'll also make it easier for you to go to her when she cries for you.

Mothering other kittens is normal, too. The maternal instinct takes hold and they want to take care of the babies. Some cats will mother any baby animal. Others will only mother kittens. Some will only mother THEIR kittens. Some won't have anything to do with babies of any kind, and will even kill them, given the chance.

How many cats do you have there? Is it possible to isolate her from the other cats?

Is her abdomen contracting? If it isn't, and hasn't been, then she's not in active labor, yet. She may wander around, crying, for hours before active labor sets in. many cats give birth in the middle of the night.

Hheath is correct -- your cat's body will take over to deliver the kittens and push them out. Cats don't need Lamaze or a birth coach.

I've had cats all my life. It's amazing how they are able to manage if humans don't interfere. Probably the less you do to "manage" the birth, the more positive the outcome.

Google "birth kittens" (or somesuch keywords) to find helpful sites like this one --

Cats Giving Birth to Kittens

Thank you for your answer... it was most helpful... sorry about putting personal information in my question and if I offended anyone about my complaint with vet doctors and human doctors about money. Please accept my apologies.. I haven't delivered kittens in years cause I haven't had any... crystal is my rescue baby I bottle fed her since two weeks old and I am fond of her and the bond between her and I is very strong... I was under stress when she sat under my computer desk meowing loudly and I didn't know what to do I paniced... normally I know what to do... but to answer your question I have two females one had kittens last month... and now crystal is due anytime now... by the way she is acting... my tomkats three are nutured... I had some people stay with me who had kids and they went in and out all day and I keep my females inside... there has been several times they got out for a few hours and they would come back in... those people are gone now... back to what I was talking about... I am calming down now after what you told me... and I thank you very much for your answer... I don't know how to tell when her abdomen is contracting... all I know is her private area is bigger than usual and the kittens seem to move in a circle like they are getting in line... she meows little chirps... and she is very affectionate... thank you for your answer... I put the other kittens and mother in my bed room... I have a rescue baby that was left at my door step in a box half dead... little orange kitten barely has teeth.. so I stayed up all night tending to it every 30 minutes I fed him kitten formula milk... with syringe... very small so I am not feeding him too much... but his body temp was low and lots of fleas... I gave it a bath blow dried it and kept him warm so I figure his blood count was low due to the infestation of the fleas... and the results of that is I had this little bundle of joy for 48 hours and he is walking around acting like a kitten... still have to feed with syringe but at least he is showing signs of being a kitten and playing... so I have a lot on my plate right now... don't worry I have a lady who agreed to take munches the mother of the one month old kittens and find the kittens a home... my toms are outside... have a nice day... are there anymore suggestions??

How did she get pregnant? (She's the one expecting kittens, right?) Can you get all your cats fixed? (It seems like they aren't -- because of cost?)

I rescue cats too -- and they are the joy of my life.

I know they need to be fixed.. I only have two females... I have three toms who stay outside... and they are nutured.. I can't help it if I were helping other people and the children would not listen to keep the doors closed and either stay in or out... those people are out now... so I guess I wasn't even thinking right... but I don't have the money to get them fixed I am disabled... and that is not much money in la. There isn't a single vet in this area that offers free work... for the ones in need... we have paws here but they can't do anything cause of state cut backs... I am sorry but I felt that you were being sarcastic wondergirl... right now I am not thinking about past tense I am only thinking about right now... it is too late for me to think about how she got pregnant I can't go back intime... the fact is I can't do nothing about it now... so give me a break would you... and yes they would have been fixed eventually... yeah to answer your question no money... are you always like this with your answers... you don't give anyone any answers you just give a statement and make everyone feel bad? I am not trying to be rude or anything... but I thought you to be rude...

It's fairly obvious when the contractions start. You'll see her abdomen sort of 'jumping' with each contraction. She'll probably lay down once the contractions start. Kittens should start following within about an hour of active labor starting.

Have you tried getting your other momma cat to adopt your rescue baby? If she won't, then maybe your pregnant momma will adopt him, since she seems willing to mother the other kittens.

Don't be terribly surprised if the kittens just plop down and feed from which ever female's closest once they're up and moving. As long as they're all getting fed, it won't matter.

I'm glad your kitties have you. I, more than some, understand having pets but not having the money for unexpected vet visits. As it stands, a visit to the vet right now would've been a waste of money.

Wondergirl wasn't trying to be rude. We just get a lot of people on here who have either purposely decided to breed their pets, without any real knowledge of what's involved, or who have unfixed females they allow to roam the neighborhood, then get upset when they keep getting pregnant.

When you adopted your babies, I'm sure you didn't foresee having kids stay with who would leave the door open. Having indoor cats who manage to escape when they're in heat is a lot different than actively breeding your animal or doing nothing to prevent pregnancy. While getting them fixed would have prevented it, you saw no reason to rush the process since they are indoor cats.

Put her in a box you have set up for the kittens birth she will know what to do. Cats often watch out for other cats kittens that is why she tries to care for kittens that aren't hers. Cats need care as much as people. Maybe you could sell the kittens and get her spayed. Some areas have reduced rates or offer free spaying. You should not let her have anymore litters for her health and over population of cats in this world.

I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to be rude. I'm a very practical person who likes to get to the heart of the matter. I was worried about the cats, but am totally on your side. I will have to try harder to sound supportive and helpful when I answer questions and give responses.

Thank you all for your answers now I understand and wondergirl I am sorry... just fustrated I felt like you were getting on to me... I am responsible pet owner... for I had all my toms nuturted at the age of 6 months old... I thought that would sovle the problem because it is only 65 dollars to nutur the male... 150 to spay females... and miss ellen I don't plan on having no more kittens... I was working with paws to rescue cats and then it got to where I had 32 cats... then cut backs came... so with my grant money from college I managed to get 21 cats spayed for 1500 dollars so that helped there... and once they were spayed... then it was easy to find them homes... but paws can't except them cause they are over full... well thank you for everything and I will keep posting as time goes on... I am calm no0w that I know you are there for me

Don't be sorry. Once in a while I need to be pulled up short and scolded. Thank you for reminding me that I have to be more empathetic (I'm a real-life counselor, after all, and know better). Also, if you want to hear an excuse, while I was posting to you, I was also watching news videos of oil washing up on Gulf beaches and oil-covered birds and other animals -- what a heartbreaker!

Please keep us informed about Crystal. Hheath's rescued cat Edith had kittens over ten weeks ago. She has posted on this board a new batch of pics of them every Monday. She's our pregnant cat expert!

The first kitten is already born now... I had to assist... miss wondergirl... you have everyright to get on to me as too what I was panicing... see I speak before I think... and I need to change that... thank you for your comment cause it made me think too... now the kitten is fine I took and pulled gently... danny my boyfriend had to hold her gently and pet her to keep her from biting me... there was lots of blood though... it was the same amount my other kittens had... I do not want to go through this again... so they are getting fixed no matter what..,. I will go get a loan lol... the placenta is still inside... what do I do just let her push it out... ok crystal is solid white with an orange tabby tale organge ears... the kitten is black with white around her eyes... she has a white spots on the underside an orange spot on his head... he has white stripes all on her body... her face is like a white mask... she is beautiful... I already have claims on her... I will keep posting... diasy

the placenta should follow naturally. If it doesn't follow immediately after the baby, then just keep count and make sure there's the same number of placentas as kittens.

a good guideline for sexing the babies; all babies with black AND orange markings will be female. The genes for black and orange markings are both carried on the X so, to have both colorings, they need two X's.

The second one is born all the same colors... it is twins... this one is a male... the placenta didn't come out... should I be worried now or will they pass... it took her 30 minutes to have the first one and 30 minutes later trying to have the second one... rather fast... I thougt they were known to be an hour apart... that is the way it was with the others... will the two placents eventually pass... oh and the second one has fecies with him... I thought she was over due... but she is cleaning him up now... I try to let her do it all... but when the kittens head tries to come out last... then that is when it seems to hurt the most she wants to get up and growl at the kitten... so I had to assist this time too... hmmm she is going to be a good mother... I once had a cat that had kittens with fecies and she abandoned the kittens... so I had to bottle feed them... surprisingly they made it cause I know even when you have the best kitten formula on the market... they still need the mothers milk during the first week... the vet wanted me to bring them in to let him put them down cause he said they didn't have a chance... I wanted to give them a chance... I prayed for them and the lord blesses our animals too... wow I am going to have lots of cats... consider lesson learned... will be getting them homes as soon as I am able... please post again... about the placenta thank you... daisy

So that answers the question I didn't have to ask lol... I was wondering about why you don't see very many male callys... thanks for the info... she is resting... how do I know when she has too much blood she looses... you know it has been 13 years since I have delivered babies... I am surprised at how much I forgotten... I think I am going to go to school for vet tech... thank you all for your support and now she is pushing antoher out... not quite here yet... but is this happening rather too quick... daisy ps boy delivering horses is a big difference... only delivered two in my life... ummmmiss wondergirl can you tell me information on birthing moms for cats... is it a profession or just something you do to help people thanks daisy

The two placenta's came out and the third kitten is on the way... lol I am happy... I am always happy when new life comes into my home my grandbabies are gorgous... daisy

Kittens can be as close as a few seconds apart. The last kittens in the litter seem to come closer together then the first ones.

As long as she's not BLEEDING, she should be OK. If the blood you're seeing is more like bloody water, then it's normal. If it's thicker, like actual blood, and in larger amounts, then you might have to worry.

If it doesn't seem to be a study flow of blood, then wait until all the kittens are born. If the bleeding continues beyond spotting after that, then do your best to get her to a vet. She might have torn something during the birthing and may need stitches.

I sure will... I will be up all night... and I thank you for all your responses
Diasy... I felt there is one more moving... he or she is in her ribs... so he still has to move and get in line... I hope I am right... daisy

If it's not born tonight, then don't worry too much about it. It may have been conceived a few days later than the others and needs the extra time.