My cat seems pregnant and looks like she has given birth; doctor, has she delivered?

A single photo cannot confirm that a cat is about to give birth; she may simply be pregnant. Whether labor is near must be judged from pre-delivery signs and the expected due date from pregnancy checks.

Typical pre-labor signs include reduced appetite and activity, nesting and digging behavior, restlessness and floor scratching from pain, and a swollen vulva with discharge and enlarged mammary glands that express milk.

About 12-24 hours before delivery the mother’s temperature drops roughly 1 degree, then returns to normal during birth. After the water breaks, kittens usually arrive within two hours; if more than two hours pass with none delivered, it is likely dystocia and the cat should be taken to a clinic.