During the last week of pregnancy, the queen seeks a nesting area. This is usually a quiet, undisturbed spot but some house cats will demand more human contact.Mammary development becomes noticable in the last week of pregnancy, especially in maiden cats. Rectal temperature may fall a few days before parturition, but this is not a reliable indicator.
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=== Stage 1 ===
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* Restless
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* Frequently visits the site for kittening
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* Occasionally lies down and will strain unproductively.
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=== Stage 2 ===
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* Straining in lateral recumbency.
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* Rapid expulsion of kittens with a short interval between each birth.
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* Parturition usually complete within a few hours.
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* If the queen is alarmed, this may disrupt the pattern and she may move the kittens to a new area before parturition resumes.
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* Soon after birth the kittens begin to suckle.
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=== Stage 3 ===
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* Placentae usually expelled still attached to the foetus or shortly afterwards.
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* Consumed by the queen.
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* Breakdown of marginal haematoma releases biliverdin, giving the discharge a brownish colour.