FleaFree Feline

If you have a pregnant cat (queen), and it looks like she is ready to birth her kittens (queening), chances are that you will not need to do anything to help her give birth except encourage her. You may even wake one morning to discover that your cat has given birth during the night and is comfortably nursing her kittens.

Although nature has a way of taking care of itself, you should know how to spot potential problems while your cat is in labor and what you might need to do to help.

Signs Your Cat is About to Give Birth

The duration of a cat pregnancy is roughly 65 days, give or take five days. If you are not so sure how far along your cat is, review the telltale signs that birth is imminent.

Nesting

A day or two before labor, your cat will seek out a quiet and safe place to have her kittens. She may choose a spot you make for her or look to hide out in the back of a closet or under a bed.

Behavioral Changes

You may notice your cat will begin restless pacing, panting, excessive grooming (especially in the area of her genitals), and excessive vocalization. She will also stop eating.

Physical Changes

Your cat's rectal body temperature may drop below 99 degrees Fahrenheit and she may vomit. You might see the abdomen "drop" a few days before labor, and the cat's nipples might get larger, darker, or pinker.

Active Labor Signs

Contractions—the uterine movements that move the kitten down the birth canal—may make your cat yowl through the pain. You may also see a discharge of blood or other fluids.

Supplies for the Birthing

Your cat might want to hide to give birth. However, you can prepare a birthing area, such as a cardboard box or laundry basket lined with towels or blankets. If the cat uses this spot, it will be easier for you to observe and attend to the birth.

• Absorbent pads: Get absorbent pads to line the delivery area. 
• Towels: You will need clean towels or paper towels to clean the area and stimulate the kittens, if necessary.
• Nesting box: If you have brought your pregnant cat to the vet, and you know how many kittens to expect, get a nesting box large enough for the brood. Although a cat can have from one to 12 kittens, an average litter is about four kittens. A standard, 8-pound cat should be fine with a box that is 16 inches by 24 inches. The larger the cat, the bigger the box it will need.
• Heating pad: Put a heating pad in the bottom of the box with a blanket or several towels over it to prevent the kittens from getting chilled. Never place the kittens directly on a heating pad; it can burn them. If the box does not have a lid, then drape a clean towel over the top to hold the heat in and keep out drafts.
• Trash Can: You will have a bunch of soiled towels after the birth, so have a laundry basket, plastic bag, or extra garbage bin ready for discarding them.
• Dental floss and clean scissors: If the mother cat does not break away the umbilical cord, you will need to tie it off with dental floss and cut the cord.

The Kitten Birthing Process

The trigger for the birth process is unknown, but factors include the size and weight of the uterus, size and weight of the fetuses, and the hormonal balances of the fetuses and the queen.

During the birth process, rhythmical uterine contractions gradually increase to push the fetus out of the uterus and into the birth canal.

The birth of one kitten can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes. The kittens are born within their amniotic sacs, which the mother cat will remove. She will stimulate the kittens to breathe by washing them with her rough tongue. She will also sever the umbilical cord by chewing on it approximately one inch from the kitten's body. She may also eat the placenta. The kittens will immediately gravitate toward a nipple, latch on, and nurse.

If the mother cat ignores the kitten and it is still in its sac, you will need to carefully cut or tear the membrane pouch and stimulate the kitten's breathing by rubbing its nose and mouth gently with a rough, dry towel. If the mother cat has difficulty biting off the umbilical cord, tightly knot dental floss around the umbilical cord 1 inch from the kitten's body and cut the umbilical cord on the mother's side of the tie.

If a placenta does not come out with each of the kittens, make sure it expels within 24 hours after birth. Each kitten should have one placenta. It is a good idea to count the placentas. If the placenta remains in the cat, you will need to see a veterinarian.

About 30 to 60 minutes may pass between births, but more prolonged periods are not uncommon. If there is a delay of over 4-6 hours and you are sure there are remaining kittens, the mother cat needs examination by a veterinarian. Whether the birth went smoothly or not, the mother cat and kittens should be examined by your veterinarian within 24 hours of birthing.

Length of Time for the Total Birth Process

It takes, on average, half a day for a mother cat to give birth to all her kittens. The first kitten should arrive within an hour of the start of active labor.

In between kittens, the mother cat will rest and should be allowed to nurse and clean the kittens that were born. If you have been keeping the kittens in another box, move them back with the mother cat and help them find a nipple. A break in birthing is a good time for you to offer her food, kitten milk replacement, or plain, unflavored yogurt.

Problems During Labor

Fortunately, most queens can deliver their kittens without human intervention. However, some complications may occur.

• Extended contractions without birth: If your cat is having more than 60 minutes of strong contractions without any progress, take it and any kittens to your vet.
• Retained placenta: If your cat does not pass each of the placentas, it can lead to a uterine infection. Count each of the placentas, even if the queen eats it. The number of placentas should equal the number of kittens.
• Kitten lodged in the birth canal: Most kittens are born head-first. Breech (tail-first) births occur about 40 percent of the time and are considered normal. A kitten lodged in the birth canal for more than 15 minutes is likely in distress. Call your vet if a kitten is lodged in the birth canal for more than 10 minutes or if you see green discharge without a kitten following within 15 minutes. Your vet will give you the next steps to follow.
• Stillborn kittens: It is not uncommon for one to two kittens to be born stillborn. Remove the dead kitten from the area so the mother can continue uninterrupted with birthing the other kittens.
• Postpartum hemorrhaging: Although some bleeding after giving birth is normal, excessive bleeding or hemorrhaging is an emergency and requires immediate veterinarian attention. If ignored, the mother cat can die. If the regular bleeding continues for more than a week after birth or if the bleeding stops for a day and then starts again, seek veterinary assistance.

Once all the kittens are born, your queen should be caring for and feeding them. During nursing, your cat's caloric needs will increase greatly. Make sure she has ample kitten formula food. A high-quality kitten formula will meet your cat's high-energy nutritional needs.

If your cat is not nursing or eating, seems to be in pain or is lethargic, something is not right. Also, a foul odor along with frequent bleeding indicates an infection or retained kitten. If this is happening to your cat, seek immediate veterinary care.