Make mine tortie.

catmom5 -
     Sorry about Sassy's diarrhea.  Taking care of that comes first, though, so, as always, when it comes to food, sometimes you have to do what is best and not what you like.  I'm sure she will be just fine until she adapts to a "regular" diet and indoor life.  Maybe you should check with the vet and make sure the x-rays will be okay?  They are not recommended for human pregnant moms, so I don't know about kitties.  Ultrasound would, of course, be better, but not worth spending the money probably.  We could just be surprised and let nature take its course!     But, I know, curiosity......   

Don't we have a former x-ray tech on the forum?  Was it Carol?  Do they use less radiation for a small animal than a person or exposure time or? 

I didn't know there was such a thing as a safe x-ray.  It's radiation.  I even put off full mouth dental x-rays as long as I can, I'm so worried about it.  If they are safe, why do they cover me with a shield and go hide outside the room?

Sorry to be so blunt. 

Thanks for the links. The reason for knowing how many babies is more than curiousity. It helps to know whether they've all been delivered and if you have the right number of placentas,  too. I'm trying to get smart about birthing kittens, even though Sassy will hopefully do all the work. I'm nervous, but getting excited, too.

AND (drumroll) the no-kill-foster-only rescue that took Linus will take Sassy and the babies after they are born. It's a good rescue and I trust them to find a wonderful home for all of them. They all will be spayed/neutered and adopted only to good indoor homes with the understanding that they will take them back at any time if it doesn't work out. (Not even going to talk about my meltdown when I have to give her up.)

For now, I'm just going to try and keep her healthy and help her to have healthy babies. I'm getting a birthing box and towels from my sister tomorrow so will start getting her set up, even though delivery of OUR BABIES is likely a couple of weeks away yet.

Keep those guesses coming, folks . . .
And thanks for your support here. It's been a bit of an emotional roller coaster ride for me trying to manage all these catkids and keep everyone sane. Couldn't do it without you. (Most of my friends and family just do not get it!!)

catmom?

Super news on the foster home!

As far as counting the placentas, be aware that the mom usually eats them.  If she chooses to give birth when you are not around (they often do), you may find no placentas at all.  It's amazing how they clean things up!  (I learned a lot of things when Phantom had kittens.)

She will probably purr while she is in labor.  I'm being completely honest about this.  It's normal.  No screaming involved.  If the cat screams, something is very wrong, and she needs to go (with any kittens that have been born already) to the ER fast.

Generally, when she is in the early stages of labor, the mom will sequester herself and become quite quiet.  This is because her body temperature is dropping.  When she is in active labor and producing kittens, there is usually a pause between kittens.  During this time the mom usually breaks the umbilical cord, cleans the kitten, and eats the placenta, membranes, cord and all.  She may even go to get a drink, but will usually stay with the kitten.  Then the next kitten will be born, same process.  If the kittens come too close together, she may need help to get the membranes broken on the later kitten.  Your vet can instruct you in how to do this.

I can remember while in labor with my firstborn ...the delivery room was next to my labor room and after hearing hours of different woman scream like they were being mutilated...I decided that I wanted to just go home and forget the whole thing! lol..lol..I was never so scared in all my life....lol...until he grew up!

Great news on the foster home! It's been years since I was around any cat about to have kittens, I am following this minute by minute....