Cat Pregnancy – Should You Help When Your Cat Is Giving Birth

by crsan – christianholmer.com under CC BY

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Cat Pregnancy and birth is usually problem free and the majority of queens that will give birth without any trouble. However there are always those that will need help, either once or during each subsequent birth. We know that cats feel they are an integral part of our homes and are often closer to one person. Sometimes queens appear to not want to give birth unless that special person is present. This could be by following the person around until they stop, or by crawling into bed with them to give birth there. This has happened to me on more than one occasion and it is a humbling and wonderful experience.

If you have a cat that is like this, make sure you keep a close eye on her when she is due to give birth. It can be a bit like when we need the reassurance that someone is close by in case we need them. It steadies us and it does the same to the queen, especially if it is her first litter. During your cat’s pregnancy, an excellent ebook called *How To Take Care Of Your Pregnant Cat will give you some excellent tips to make sure all goes according to plan.

There should be no reason for you have to handle your queen when she is giving birth. In fact it is better if she is left to do this herself. Having you there is a psychological help – she knows she can trust you to look after her if necessary. Talk to her while she is in labor, the sound of your voice and the gentle tone will be encouraging. If you must do something, gently stroke her between contractions, preferably on the head and neck only. Remember, the first litter will be the hardest for your queen and yourself. Don’t interfere unless you are sure that something is wrong.

Cat Pregnancy – Signs of Labor

You will know your cat is in labor when you see rhythmical movement in her flanks which are contractions. Just like with humans, they should start with some minutes between them then become more frequent as birth becomes closer. The contractions will become stronger as she pushes the kitten, in its amniotic sac, out. The total length of time of labor will vary due to the number of kittens to be born, the size of each kitten (larger kittens will take more effort) and the muscular tone of the queen. Some queens rest between the birth of each kitten so don’t become alarmed if you see this. It is a good idea to have some fresh water close by so the queen can drink if she needs to.

Cat Pregnancy – Problems During Birth

You should not interfere unless you see signs of exhaustion in your queen. Don’t worry about the time being taken, many queens rest for a good deal of time between each birth. If your queen appears exhausted and unable to push the kittens out, contact your vet immediately. He will be able to assess the situation and if necessary, either give the queen an injection to speed labor along or, in the case of pedigree queens, perform a Cesarean section. While it is normal for kittens to be born head first, some times they can be in the wrong position such as feet first (breech birth) or rarely, butt first where the head becomes turned downwards towards the underside of the queen. The more she pushes this kitten, the more the kitten is turned the wrong way. Medical intervention is necessary to save both queen and kitten if this happens.

Once each kitten is born the mother will bite the umbilical cord and piece the amniotic sac to lick the kitten. If she is unable to do these due either to exhaustion or because of the impending birth of the next kitten, help must be given for the kitten to survive. To sever the umbilical cord, hold the cord firmly around two inches from the kitten’s body to make sure there is no pull on the kitten, and use the thumb and forefinger of the other hand to pull the cord. If the amniotic sac is not punctured soon after birth the kitten will die from asphyxiation. To split this sac, just pinch it using the thumb and forefinger. Do not use any instruments including blunt nose ones in case you damage the kitten.

Occasionally a queen’s waters will break some time before she goes into labor. If this happens contact your vet immediately as she will have great difficulty and pain with a ‘dry’ birth.

Remember, cat pregnancy and giving birth is a natural phenomenon and the majority of queens will do it without any help. Keep an eye on her when she is in labor and only intervene if you know what you are doing. Reassurance for your cat will be of more help than trying to help without knowing the correct thing to do. You should soon be the proud owner of a beautiful litter of kittens, just as nature intended.

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