How do I know when my cat is going to give birth?

My cat is pregnant, and I'm not sure when it happened. I have 3 male cats in the house with her and I am afraid they will try to hurt her kittens. I plan to put her in a kennel to keep this from happening but I don't know when. I've been told they get more affectionate right before, but she has been since she went into heat. What should I do to protect her and her little ones?This is her 2nd litter but I wasn't there the first time and the kittens died...I don't know what happened to them.

Give her a refuge to have them in, with only one entrance. She'll barricade herself in there when she's ready.

put her in the kennel now on next week because who knows when she will give birth. go to the vet to get a check up then you will know when to put her in.

The cat may follow you around everywhere when she is ready, it is usually about 60 days total.

Take her to the vet and they can do an ultrasound. That's what they did for my cat before they fixed her. Also, when my can't gave birth, she went into hiding for a week or so before and I didn't see her for more than food and water for like 2 weeks later. Cats have a wonderful ability to find a hiding spot. But I would take her to the vet. And you should really get your males neutured....

she'll wander of behind the sofa or into a little used room as they like privacy and tend to get on with it one their own. If possible try to keep a low profile unless you cat appears to be in distress.

THEY USUALLY DON'T EAT THE DAY BEFORE. THEY LOOSE THERE PLUG ANY WHERE FROM 2 TO 3 DAYS BEFORE GIVING BIRTH. THEY DO GET MORE AFFECTIONATE AS I LIVE ON A FARM AND I'VE HAD WILD NOT TAMMED CATS START RUBBING ON MY LEGS WANTING ME TO LET THEM IN WHERE ITS SAFE. WE' VE HAD 4 MAMA CATS GIVE BIRTH ALREADY THIS SPRING & 4 MORE TO GO, HERE REAL SOON.GOOD LUCK - KITTENS ARE SO CUTE AND FUN TO WATCH AS THEY GROW.

a cats cycle is 60 days . maybe 65. she will ask for own room or kennel , immediately after conception. she will ask u. keep her isolated until, kittens are 4 wks old. then let them visit with the other animals. she will be less stressed and well fed/while maturing.

Her temp will drop and she will begin to "nest". She may be off of her feed. She can lose her plug and become more aggressive towards any other animals in the house.

when she stops eating

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64-69 days. She will become very restless and pace around as if looking for something when she is getting close. She may also become very vocal. She will probably make many trips to the litterbox right before the birth but produce nothing as she will feel the urge to urinate (just like human mothers) from the pressure on her bladder. Eventually, she will go to a maternity area. Hopefully, you have one of these ready? I wouldn't use a kennel to be honest. I'd try to put her in a room by herself with her kittens away from the other cats for several days. Can you do that? She may become aggressive in that last few days as many mothers do. Give her a litter box in then (preferably an uncovered shallow box) and her own food and water bowls (anything but plastic). As you're watching for the last days here, make sure you look for any signs of problems. Bleeding could indicate a problem. Also, if she goes too far beyond her due date, that could be a problem. So, if you notice the signs above for more than a day or two, it's time to call a vet. You can create a really nice maternity area from a cardboard box. Make it 2 X 3 feet wide and about 1 1/2 feet high. A top on the box is handy to keep the kittens in and to add some darkness. Cut a hole in one side large enough for your cat to crawl in and out of. Shred some newspaper and cover the bottom with it (about 2-3 inches), then cover that with an old blanket or shirt that smells like you and your house to make your kitty feel comfortable. Put this box in a nice quiet, warm, and dark-ish place in your home. Show your kitty so she knows where to go when she is ready. For the birth, you'll need the following handy: clean cloths/towels, vaseline, small scissors (preferably sharp), gentle disinfectant in a bowl with warm water, and some dental floss. A heating pad would be great to have on hand too which you can put over the side of the box after the birth to keep everyone warm inside. When she finally goes to the maternity area, she will want to be left alone. Let her do this and don't try to move her. She may stand or sit depending on what is comfortable for her. The labour may last as little as 2-3 hours or up to 12 hours and she may cry out if this is her first litter. Don't be alarmed. She's just getting used to the pain of labour. If she appears to be having trouble getting the kittens out, you can put some of the Vaseline onto her and that will help the kittens slide out more easily. This is really handy if she's a first time mother. The kittens may come out head first or feet first .. neither are a problem. Each kitten may take 10-15 minutes to be born. She may have only 2 kittens if it's her first litter, or as many as 4-6. Here's where you may need to help. Your cat should break the amniotic fluid as each kitten is born. If she doesn't for any reason, you'll need to take your scissors and do it so the kitten can breathe. She should also cut the umbilical cord herself. If she doesn't, again, you may need to step in and that's where dental floss comes in handy. Tie it around the cord oh about 1 inch from the kitten's body and then cut on the inside (nearest to your cat). Your cat should clean the kitten off. If she doesn't, you'll need to help her out. If any kitten appears to have trouble breathing, you can hold it upside down, insert a small syringe (without a needle) into its mouth and pull out any fluid from the mouth with the syringe. This should help. You'll need to watch closely to make sure she is taking care of the kittens, encouraging them to nurse. Kittens are born blind and deaf and sometimes, they can't find a nipple. Feel free to help them out finding one as their mother will be exhausted! Watch your cat for any bleeding or discharge after the birth. If she doesn't take care of the kittens or she leaves them, you will want to contact a vet immediately. Good luck. I hope it all goes well.

Put her in a wire pet cage in small utillity room, shop,or garage with a litter box. Get her a pet bed. You will know when she has them. Will take 6-8 wks.

We had a cat when I was young that was pregnant several times. (Wish mom knew what I know about the importance spaying and neutering) anyways she always made sure we knew I was with her for every birth. Sometimes it would be the middle of the night she would meow... a lot... and purr and act like she wanted to follow us to a little bed she had. There she would have the kittens. If you are close with your cat she'll want you with her and insist that you are. If you think she may be close I would put her in the kennel if you have to leave the house, just in case your not there.

Check out this web site. It's a good one all about cat pregnancy, what to look for, signs that birth is near, care of the pregnant cat, etc.http://cats.about.com/od/reproduction/a/pregnant_signs.htm

trust me, YOU WILL KNOWmeow! meow! meow! what's the cat ... oh geez...