When cats give birth to kittens. Take your cat to the vet once you realize she is pregnant. As with humans, it’s a good idea to have her cat checked out to make sure she’s in good health. Also, your vet can help you determine the due date so you can be prepared. The gestation of a cat lasts about 8.5 weeks. After 3-4 weeks, the vet should be able to tell with just their hands if the cat is pregnant. They can also do an ultrasound, but it will cost more. Tell your vet you think your cat is pregnant when you make an appointment so she can be prepared. Signs that your cat may be pregnant include her becoming more vocal and affectionate, shedding around her belly, and morning sickness. You may also notice that she is gaining weight.
When cats give birth to kittens – check with your vet before giving your cat any treatment
Cats should not be vaccinated during pregnancy, so let your veterinarian know your cat is pregnant before working with her. Also call your vet if you need to give him other treatments, such as flea or tick medication, before giving him the dose. Some medications may not be safe for pregnant cats.
Give your cat more food during the last half of her pregnancy
When you reach the fourth week of pregnancy, start adding a little more food to your cat’s diet. In a week or two, you’ll want to diet 50% more than you gave him. Do not start giving too much food early in the pregnancy, as this will make the cat fat. During the first few weeks of gestation, the kittens will get all the nutrients they need from the mother’s usual diet.
When cats give birth to kittens – switch to a food made for kittens for several weeks
Around the same time you start adding food to the cat’s diet, start replacing it with cat food formulated for kittens. This will ensure that the mother and kittens get the nutrients they need. To change it slowly, replace part of your food from the first day with the new food. Each day add a little more of the new food and a little less of the old food until you have changed completely. You can do this in about 2 weeks.
Establish an isolated nesting area
Choose a location away from traffic in the house. If you have other pets, try to keep them out of this area. Lay out clean blankets, sheets, and/or towels to create a nesting area. Cats often like enclosed spaces, like a laundry basket or box, to give birth. Choose one with low sides so mom can get in and out easily. Make sure you choose blankets and towels that you don’t mind getting dirty and that you can wash easily.
Keep your cat indoors the last few weeks before birth
If your cat is not yet exclusively an indoor cat, you should ensure that she stays indoors around 6-7 weeks of pregnancy. This way, you can keep an eye on her during labor and be close to her if something goes wrong. In addition, you will be able to take care of the kittens if necessary. If your cat has kittens outside, it can be difficult to find and care for them, which can be dangerous if it’s too hot or too cold. In addition, predators can cause problems for the mother and her young even in good weather.
Watch for the first stage of birth
This stage can take up to 36 hours. Your cat may seem restless and may continue to wander back to the nesting area. You should not see any tension, even though the mother is having contractions during this time. As calving time approaches, she may touch litter in the nesting area. She may also come to you for extra caresses and love. Within 24 hours before birth, she can stop eating.
When cats give birth to kittens: look for the first membrane that appears in the second stage
At this point, your cat’s contractions will be stronger. You can see the membrane first, then it will explode. The kitten that comes out will still be covered with a membrane even after the bladder has burst, and the kitten’s head will appear first, followed by the rest of the body. The cat can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes to give birth to each kitten, so the process can take some time.
Let the mother take care of the new kitten.
The mother will chew the bag that the kitten is wrapped in and lick it off. This process allows the kitten to start breathing on its own, so let the mother do her job. The mother will also chew on the umbilical cord. If the mother does not, she wipes the membrane with a soft towel, making sure to clear her nose and mouth. She rubs the kitten in circular motions to help her start breathing. If the mother doesn’t, you should talk to your vet once you’re done.
If the mother does not cut the cord, tie it within an inch of the kitten’s body with clean string. Tie it back 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) down, then she uses your hands to separate the lace between the places where she tied it. Wash your hands before starting this process. Most litters will have between 4 and 6 kittens, although a cat can have a litter of up to 9.
Monitor the third stage, after birth, with each kitten. After each kitten is released, the mother will expel the membranes and placentas. In some cases, 2 kittens will come in a row and the
the placenta will follow both instead. Once they are born, move the placentas out of the mother’s reach if you can. Count them to make sure you have the same number as the kittens. If you leave the placentas within reach, the mother will eat them to hide the evidence. If she doesn’t have enough placentas, she should talk to the vet because placentas that aren’t evacuated can cause infections.
Don’t panic if the mother stops in the middle of having kittens.
Some cats interrupted the work. They can stop giving birth between kittens. They will eat, take care of other kittens and drink water. The chat can take up to 24 hours to start again. However, you won’t know that labor is aborted unless you’ve had an ultrasound to determine how many kittens your cat is carrying. There is no sign that your cat is done having kittens, because even if she stops trying, she may have more later on. However, you should call your vet just to make sure everything is okay! She should not strain during this time.
When cats give birth to kittens – be on the lookout for problems
If the mother is having trouble passing a kitten, either because she is too tired or because she seems stuck, you can gently pull the kitten. Don’t yank on it, though, and once the kitten is out, call the vet. If it is obvious that pulling the kitten is causing the mother pain, stop immediately. So if the cat struggles for 20 minutes and doesn’t see a head, call her vet. If you see a head and it still hasn’t been expelled after 10 minutes, call your vet.
