Labor and Delivery
There are a number of signs to let you know when your queen is about to give birth.
- Nesting
- Decreased activity
- Milk discharge from the nipples
- Restlessness
- Calling as if in heat
- Licking of the vaginal area
Even if you know when she is ready to give birth about the best you can do is to protect her quiet and privacy. Keep fresh water and food nearby. Mover her litter box to an easily accessible spot, but not too close to the maternity area. Just before the first kitten is delivered she'll start to pant heavily. As soon as it arrives, she will clean the envelope that covers it away, and lick the newborn vigorously to stimulate its circulatory and respiratory systems. Then she'll usually eat the afterbirth. Don't interfere with this process: it contains nutrients she needs. Between kittens she may get out of her box and walk around or eat and drink a little. Kittens may arrive a few minutes to a couple of hours apart. Then entire birthing process can take from 2 to 6 hours depending on the number of kittens, age of the mother, and whether or not this is her first litter.
Your assistance won't be needed or desired unless the mother fails to clean the fluid-filled sac away. In that case, puncture the sac with your fingers and remove all matter from around the kittens face and nostrils with a piece of sterile cotton. Tie sterile string around the umbilical cord about 1 inch from his body. Cut the cord on the side of the knot away from the kittens body. Dip the end of the cord in a small amount of iodine. Give the baby immediately to the mother to lick. If she refuses rub the kitten vigorously yet gently with a dry towel.
Chances are that your pregnant cat will have a completely normal pregnancy and delivery. However, there are times when you need to seek veterinary care.
- A delay of greater than 3 hours between the kittens
- A kitten lodges in the birth canal that cannot be gently removed
- The mother is in hard labor with abdominal contractions for greater than an hour with no signs of a kitten
- Greenish discharge or excessive bright red bleeding (if at any time after birth you see a greenish foul smelling discharge call the vet immediately)
- The mother appears weak or sick
- A placenta is not seen for each birth.
