What to Do When My Cat Gives Birth
Aug 13,2024 | puaintapets
The birth of kittens is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming experience, especially if it’s your first time assisting your cat through the process. Knowing what to expect and how to care for both the mother and her kittens during and after birth is crucial. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to take when your cat gives birth, ensuring a safe and healthy delivery for all.
What Should I Do When My Cat Goes into Labor?
When your cat begins labor, you should prepare a quiet, warm and comfortable environment for her to give birth. Make sure this area is away from noise and distractions and is kept at the right temperature.
Preparing the environment for labor
Clean birthing bed: use clean towels or a special cat birthing mattress.
Secluded space: Choose a corner or room where your cat will feel safe.
Temperature control: make sure the labor room is warm, but avoid overheating.
Necessary tools:
- Clean towels or cloths: To dry off the kittens and help stimulate them if necessary.
- Sterile scissors and dental floss: In case you need to cut and tie off umbilical cords (only if the mother doesn’t do it herself).
- Gloves: For hygiene if you need to assist during the birth.
- A heating pad set on low: To keep the kittens warm (place it under a towel in the nesting area).
- A small, clean box or carrier: For moving the kittens temporarily if needed.
- Contact information for your vet: In case of an emergency.
Observing the labor process
Wait patiently: Labor may take several hours or even longer.
Help breathing: If kittens have difficulty breathing when they are born, gently wipe their nose and mouth.
Cutting the umbilical cord: About one minute after the kitten is born, cut the umbilical cord with clean string or dental floss, about 1-2 inches from the abdomen.
Remove the placenta: If the mother cat does not eat the placenta immediately, you will need to remove it carefully.
Post-natal care
Monitor health: Make sure both the mother cat and the newborn kittens are eating and defecating.
Keep dry and warm: Use a clean towel to keep the kittens warm.
Isolate sick and weak kittens: If any kittens are found to be particularly weak, they may require individual care.
Handling emergencies
Contact a veterinarian: If the mother cat or kittens show unusual symptoms, such as excessive bleeding, difficulty breathing or persistent signs of pain, contact a veterinarian immediately.
Keep in mind that the birthing process is unique to each animal and the above steps are for informational purposes only. Monitor your cat closely and seek professional help if necessary.
What Special Care Measures Do Cats Need After Giving Birth?
Cats need a series of special care measures after giving birth to ensure their health and quick recovery, as well as to help the newborn kittens grow smoothly. Here are some key care steps.
-
Provide nutritious food
After giving birth, female cats need high-protein food to replenish energy and repair their bodies. You can provide cooked chicken breasts, beef, eggs, etc., and make sure the food is fresh.
-
Maintain adequate water
Lactating female cats need more water, which can be encouraged by providing carp or chicken soup.
-
Take calcium supplements
Postpartum female cats are prone to low blood calcium, which can be prevented by feeding goat's milk or specialized calcium supplement products.
-
Cleanliness and hygiene
Keep the maternity ward dry and comfortable by changing the pads regularly and cleaning the food and water bowls. Use warm water and clean towels to help mother cats clean their bodies, especially the teats and reproductive areas.
-
Psychological support
After giving birth, female cats may experience hormonal fluctuations and need psychological calming and support. Avoid noise and unnecessary interference, help the mother cat clean her nipples and provide artificial feeding if necessary.
If the cat is delivered by Caesarean section, special attention needs to be paid to wound care, including wearing an Elizabethan ring to prevent licking, disinfecting and medicating the wound daily, and keeping the wound dry.
-
Monitoring health conditions
Closely observe the mother cat for vomiting, fever, loss of appetite or other abnormal symptoms and take timely action or contact your veterinarian.
-
Avoid bathing
The mother cat should not take a bath immediately after giving birth to avoid getting cold or affecting wound healing.
-
Environmental adjustment
Adjust the temperature of the maternity room according to the season to ensure that the mother cat and kittens are comfortable.
-
Manual Intervention
If the mother cat refuses to take care of the kittens or shows aggressive behavior, artificial feeding and intervention should be carried out promptly to protect the kittens.
Following these care measures will help your cat get through the postpartum recovery period and ensure that the newborn kittens are well cared for.
How to Handle a Cat Who Doesn't Want to Care for Her Kittens After Giving Birth?
Check the health condition
First confirm whether the mother cat is unable to take care of the kittens due to ill health. If the mother cat has postpartum complications or malnutrition, she should contact the veterinarian for treatment.
Provide a safe and comfortable environment
Ensure that the delivery room is quiet and clean, and that the temperature is properly adjusted to reduce the stress of the mother cat. Soft pads and warm blankets can be used to create a comfortable environment.
Manually assisted care
If the mother cat does not clean up the kittens, you will need to manually help clean up the kittens' feces by gently wiping them with cotton swabs or wipes to keep them hygienic and prevent bacterial infections.
Stimulate maternal behavior of the mother cat
Encourage the kitten to suck the mother's nipple frequently, which can stimulate milk secretion and enhance the mother's maternal behavior. If needed, the kitten can be hand-fed with a bottle to simulate the sucking action of the kitten.
Monitor interactive behavior
Observe the interaction between the mother cat and the kittens. If the mother cat shows aggression or neglects the kittens, consider temporarily isolating the kittens from her to protect the safety of the kittens.
Seek professional help
If the mother cat continues to be unwilling to care for the kittens, further evaluation and assistance from a veterinarian or animal behaviorist may be required. In some cases, long-term artificial feeding may be required.
Be patient and attentive
It may take time for a mother cat to adjust to her new role, especially if she is becoming a mother for the first time. It is important to provide patience and attentive care during this process.
How to Provide Suitable Food and Water for Female Cats Just After Giving Birth?
Female cats that have just given birth need high-protein, easily digestible food to help regain strength and support lactation. You can provide the following food.
High-quality cat food: Choose cat food specially designed for lactating female cats, which are rich in a variety of nutrients to help her recovery and lactation.
Wet cat food and canned cat food: these foods are high in water content and help to replenish the moisture needs of the mother cat after delivery.
Fresh meat: boiled chicken, beef and other high-protein meat foods, with bones and fatty parts removed to reduce the burden on the digestive system.
Egg yolks: cooked and stirred into food, egg yolks are a high quality source of protein.
Soups: such as carp and chicken soups, but do not add any flavorings.
Providing water for female cats that have just given birth
Ensure that the mother cat has access to fresh water at all times, as lactation will increase her hydration needs. Multiple water bowls can be placed around the delivery room so that the mother cat can drink easily.
Precautions
- Food should be placed within easy reach of the mother cat, but avoid placing it directly next to the kittens to prevent contamination.
- If the mother cat loses her appetite, try mixing the food with her favorite freeze-dried or canned food for added appeal.
- Monitor the mother cat's appetite and weight changes to make sure she is getting enough nutrition after giving birth.
- By providing these nutritious foods and adequate hydration, you can help the mother cat recover quickly after giving birth and provide plenty of milk for her newborn kittens.
When to Call the Vet
While most births proceed without complications, there are times when veterinary intervention is necessary.
Identifying Complications
Contact your vet immediately if:
- Labor lasts more than 24 hours
- The mother is straining for more than 20 minutes without producing a kitten
- A kitten is stuck in the birth canal and cannot be delivered
- There is heavy bleeding or a foul-smelling discharge from the mother
- The mother refuses to eat, drink, or care for her kittens after birth
- The kittens appear weak, are not nursing, or are showing signs of distress
Seeking Help
In case of any doubts or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian. Early intervention can prevent complications and ensure the health of both the mother and her kittens.
FAQs
When Do Cats Start Eating Solid Food After Giving Birth?
Cats will usually start eating solid food within 24 hours after giving birth. This is because during labor, the mother cat needs to regain her strength and meet her energy needs, and eating helps this recovery process. In the first few hours after delivery, the mother cat may show a loss of appetite, but will then gradually resume eating. To facilitate the recovery of the mother cat, easily digestible food such as boiled chicken or fish fillets can be provided and adequate water supply can be ensured. If the mother cat shows reluctance to eat after giving birth, she can wait a little and continue to provide food until she is willing to eat. If you are concerned about the health of the mother cat or the recovery of her appetite, you should consult your veterinarian.
How to Know if Cat Needs to be Artificially Assisted in Labor?
Artificial assisted birth may become necessary during a cat's labor, especially if the mother cat fails to deliver successfully for a long period of time. Below are some criteria to determine whether artificial birth assistance is needed.
Delayed labor
If the birthing process of the mother cat has started for more than 2-3 hours but has not delivered the cubs, this may indicate the need for artificial assistance. Usually, the mother cat will show signs of paroxysms and abdominal contractions before labor.
Persistent contractions
If the mother cat frequently scolds angrily and makes painful noises for more than half an hour or so and still does not see the kittens being born, this may be a sign of difficult labor.
Visible fetal parts
If kittens or vesicles can be seen at the vulva and the kittens have not been delivered for more than 15 minutes, this is also an indication for assisted labor.
Abnormal discharge
If the contractions are normal, the amniotic fluid has been discharged for 2-3 hours without the fetus, or the fetus enters the birth canal and cannot be delivered, and a red or greenish fishy-smelling fluid is discharged from the vaginal area, these may be indications of the need for artificial intervention.
Behavior of the mother cat
The mother cat keeps crying and licking and biting the pubic area, or appears to be extremely fatigued and unable to complete delivery within a reasonable time, these behaviors also suggest that artificial assistance may be required.
Before performing artificial birth assistance, you should prepare the necessary tools and places and seek veterinary help if necessary. If you are unsure if you can safely perform an artificially assisted birth, it is best to contact a professional veterinarian as soon as possible.
How to Know if a Female Cat is Suffering from Postpartum Hypocalcemia?
Diagnosis of postpartum hypocalcemia
Postpartum hypocalcemia is a metabolic disorder that can occur in female cats after giving birth and is primarily characterized by a decrease in blood calcium concentration, leading to a range of neurological symptoms. To determine whether a mother cat is suffering from postpartum hypocalcemia, the following clinical signs can be observed.
Mental abnormalities: the mother cat may show extreme restlessness, excitement or depression.
Muscle spasms: stiffness of the limbs, persistent tonic muscle spasms or twitching may occur.
Dyspnea: rapid or irregular breathing, sometimes accompanied by foaming at the mouth.
Circulatory symptoms: heart rate increases and body temperature may rise or fall.
Neurological symptoms: such as eye tremors, dilated pupils, and impaired consciousness.
If your female cat develops one or more of these symptoms after giving birth, contact your veterinarian immediately for an examination. Your veterinarian may perform blood tests to confirm blood calcium levels, as well as other related tests to rule out other possible causes. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are critical to preventing the condition from worsening.
How Long Does it Take for A Cat to Give Birth to All Her Kittens?
The entire birthing process of cats usually includes three stages: the opening period, the expulsion of the fetus and the expulsion of the fetal coat. The average length of the entire labor process is about 2 to 10 hours. Starting from the birth of the first kitten, the interval between births of subsequent kittens is usually between 20 and 60 minutes. However, this timeframe may vary depending on the individuality of the cat, the number of kittens and the health condition of the mother cat.
Under normal circumstances, the mother cat will be able to complete the delivery of all kittens within 6 hours after labor begins. If the mother cat shows fatigue or abnormal symptoms during labor, such as prolonged failure to deliver kittens or signs of obstructed labor, she should contact her veterinarian for professional medical assistance.
Is It Normal For The Mother To Eat The Placentas?
It is a common natural behavior for female cats to eat the placenta after giving birth. The placenta is rich in nutrients such as proteins, vitamins and minerals, which can help the mother cat quickly recover her strength, increase her resistance, promote wound healing, and may stimulate milk secretion, which will help the mother cat better nurse her newborn kittens. Eating the placenta can also help the mother cat mask the odor of the placenta and reduce the risk of attracting predators, thus protecting the newborn kittens. Although most female cats will eat the placenta, there are exceptions and some may not eat it or may only eat a portion of it.
In some cases, if the mother cat does not eat the placenta, or if the placenta is retained in the body, artificial intervention may be needed to avoid health problems such as uterine infections. Therefore, cat owners should closely observe the behavior of the mother cat after delivery and provide assistance if necessary.
Conclusion
When your cat gives birth, being prepared and knowing what to do can make the experience smoother and safer for both the mother and her kittens. By setting up a comfortable nesting area, monitoring the labor process, and providing the necessary care after birth, you’ll help ensure a healthy start for the new family. Remember to stay calm, observe closely, and seek veterinary help if needed. With the right care, your cat and her kittens will thrive.
Also read:When Can I Get My Cat Spayed After Having Kittens: Health Considerations
Comment
