How to understand that a cat is going into labor: the first signs and assistance

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

As a general rule, most cats are able to give birth without human assistance, so the role of the owner is usually to observe the process of childbirth and in both it is necessary to know how to understand that the cat is going into labor in order to help your pet in the event that something goes wrong.

At what age do cats give birth

From the age of 7 months, the cat begins to be interested in the opposite sex and becomes sexually mature. In the event that you want to get he althy offspring, veterinarians advise breeding the animal at the second estrus.

Cats can give birth until old age, but pet owners should stop their pet's sexual life in time so that the quality of the offspring and the he alth of the cat are not affected. After all, abusing the ability of a cat to give birth, people often think only about their own wallet. Thus, in order to avoid problems, veterinarians recommend spaying or neutering the animal at the age of 6-7 years.

How to understand what yourthe cat is pregnant

Signs of pregnancy in a cat can be observed 3 weeks after conception. Some people who let their cats out for walks can track this period on the calendar (as a rule, the cat does not spend the night at home and does not appear in the eyes of the owners for 3-4 days). Those owners who specifically breed a cat with a cat can also calculate whether the cat has become pregnant. How many months will have to wait for replenishment, we will tell further. The most difficult thing to predict pregnancy is for those owners whose cat walks on the street on their own.

You can determine that a cat is pregnant by the following signs:

• the cat's appetite has changed: it happens that favorite treats remain intact, and any food intake ends with vomiting and severe weakness;
• changes in behavior: the cat sleeps more than before, and moves less (if the cat used to be wild, could bite, now it should be affectionate and calm);
• breast swelling and redness of the nipples;
• rounding the belly.

Cat Pregnancy

Pregnancy in a cat lasts 65-70 days (9-10 weeks, or 2.5 months). In the event that you cannot independently determine whether the pregnancy has occurred and how many months the cat still has kittens to bear, seek the advice of a specialist.

In the last week before giving birth, the cat begins to choose a place for herself, to put her “things” there. Owners are advised to think about creating favorable conditions for the animal from the very beginning of pregnancy:a spacious box, put diapers or cloth rags on the bottom. The mother-to-be should get used to the nest you made for her.

The duration of pregnancy in cats may vary depending on the number of kittens, the age of the animal and the conditions in which the pet is in the last month of the term. So, if the cat is stressed, then the gestation period may be delayed, and if the pregnancy is multiple, then the birth can begin ahead of time, in this regard, it is extremely important to know how to understand that the cat is starting to give birth.

In the event that the deadline is postponed a week earlier or a week later, you should not panic, as this is quite natural.

Problems may arise if childbirth begins before 60 days (the kitten is born weak, incapable of life) or after 80 days (there is a possibility of developing pathologies in the offspring).

Signs of incipient labor in a cat can be determined a day, or even 1-2 hours before the start of the process itself.

Stages of pregnancy

Cat pregnancy is usually divided into several stages:

• 1 stage - the first three weeks of pregnancy. The mammary glands and genitals swell, cats begin to sleep more, there is no appetite as such, activity is at zero. The animal requires attention, sleeps with the owner, clinging to him, the animal may have a gag reflex to eat, an increase in the size of the uterus on palpation.
• 2 stage - from the fourth to the sixth week. Kittens begin to be active, move. The expectant mother has a good appetite, a lotresting. The cat may refuse her favorite food, prefer dairy products. If a cat is throwing up, it's best to take her to the vet.
• 3 stage - from six to nine weeks. Kittens actively move, it is best seen when the animal is sleeping. The abdomen is large, the mammary glands are enlarged, colostrum is possible. Hair falls out on the cat's stomach, internal organs are displaced due to the large size of the kittens. The cat moves carefully, once again tries not to jump, sleeps on its side. So that the pet does not gain excess weight, it is transferred to fractional meals (4-5 times a day).

How the belly changes during pregnancy

20 days after conception, the nipples change color. If there have already been childbirth, then the nipples may not change much. The belly grows as the kittens grow and develop. But if 1-2 kittens develop and grow in the mother's belly, then the belly can be small until the last weeks.

Before giving birth, the cat's stomach drops. As a rule, this happens in 7 days, while the stomach takes on a pear-shaped shape. This is due to the fact that the kittens are already preparing for the birth, taking the necessary position for this.

It should also be noted that the future woman in labor is not soft, but hard, which means that the body is ready for contractions and childbirth.

What you need to prepare before giving birth to a cat

For a comfortable bearing of kittens and their comfortable maintenance in the first weeks after birth, a cat should create all the conditions and prepare a cozy nest. This place is best placed in silence,away from a noisy room and children, otherwise the cat will look for another place for itself and kittens.

It is also necessary to organize a spacious maternity place in which the mother and kittens will stay for about two months.

What not to do before childbirth

In order for the birth to go smoothly, pay attention to the list of things that you should not do:

• irritate a woman in labor with loud screams, numerous guests, parties;
• actively palpate the abdomen, as you may accidentally injure the cat or kittens;
• to give the cat drugs on his own without consulting a specialist;
• ignore vomiting, discharge and changes in pregnancy behavior;
• let your cat come in contact with animals whose he alth status you don't know;
• letting sleep in a dirty place, picking up an animal with dirty hands, changing bedding frequently in a cat bed;
• use chemicals to wash the house.

What to feed a pregnant cat

A pregnant cat needs to be fed high-calorie food enriched with vitamins and minerals.

In the first two weeks of pregnancy, the cat's appetite will increase, so the amount of food should be increased by 10%. The animal must be fed 4 times a day in small portions.

From the 3rd week of pregnancy, the cat's appetite is maximum. It is necessary to increase the volume of food by 50%, but in no case should she be allowed to overeat, she must be fed 5-6 times a day.day in fractional portions.

A cat's diet should include:

• meat (chicken, beef, turkey);
• egg yolk;
• vegetables (carrots, cabbage);
• dairy products (kefir, cottage cheese, curdled milk, sour cream);
• cereals and cereals (buckwheat, rice, wheat);
• a small amount of fish.

If you feed your pet dry food, then choose food for pregnant cats, and then for nursing mothers.

To increase a cat's lactation, give her fresh nettles, but first pour boiling water over the grass so as not to burn the internal organs and mouth of the cat.

Characteristic signs before childbirth

It is extremely important to know what signs to look out for in a cat before giving birth:

1. The animal loses its appetite: the cat refuses solid food, eats a small amount of liquid foods (broth, milk, cream, etc.).
2. Weakness: the cat spends almost all the time in the place where she plans to give birth.
3. Kittens begin to get active in their stomachs: this happens 2 days before birth, as they try to get into the correct position for birth. The more kittens, the larger they are, the earlier they begin to move and behave more actively.
4. The cat often licks the genitals.
5. The body temperature of the animal decreases, which helps prevent severe bleeding during and after childbirth.
6. Nipples swell, milk comes out.
7. When labor begins, the cat meows and tries to hide.
8. 4-6 hours before birth, falsecontractions.
9. The waters are breaking. This is the main sign of the onset of childbirth in a cat. Don't go far, the pet may need your help.
10. The cat's cork has come off. When will the birth start? A day before delivery, a white cork comes out as a discharge. The cat can lick it, so keep an eye on the animal so you don't miss this moment.
11. The cat often goes to the toilet.
12. The pet begins to walk with shortness of breath, breathing heavily in sleep.

How to tell if a cat is going into labour

Throughout pregnancy, the cat behaves like all animals of its kind: it eats excellently, sleeps a lot.

Usually the question "how to understand that a cat is going into labor" does not arise from the owners, since everything becomes obvious from the changing behavior of the animal. When the day of birth comes, the cat shows the first signs that signal the readiness of the animal to give birth - a symptom of the first contractions: the cat screams unnaturally, refuses to eat, walks from corner to corner, looks into the eyes of the owner. The cat looks tired, constantly licks her genitals, "points" to her stomach, as if she wants to say that she needs help.

Birth

How a cat goes into labor:

1. The cat lies on its side.
2. Starts to arch his back.
3. Pushing (tighten the stomach). If you put your hand on your stomach, you can feel it.
4. Meows loudly as contractions increase in strength.
5. Passage through the genital tract: the cat pushes, the muscles of the abdomen and thighs contract. Later4-5 attempts a kitten appears.
6. Kitten emerges with or without amniotic sac.
7. Breathing stimulation: cat bursts bladder, licks kitten, frees airways from fluid.
8. Rupture of the umbilical cord. The cat gnaws the umbilical cord and eats the afterbirth. Be sure to check that there are as many descendants as kittens.
9. Lactation: immediately after birth, the kitten clings to the mother's nipple.

Helping a cat during childbirth

The animal needs care and support at the time of birth. Therefore, the following is required from the host:

• calm pet throughout the process;
• sit near the place where the cat will give birth;
• bring a supply of water so that the cat does not walk around the room once again, because she will want to drink anyway (it is necessary to regularly offer the animal to drink warm milk or water at room temperature so that there is no dehydration);
• isolation of the room where the lambing takes place from other pets and children, it is best to stay alone with the woman in labor - so will she, and you will be calmer;
• do not forget to ventilate the rooms, but without creating a draft;
• call your veterinarian if there are complications or if you are afraid that something will go wrong, and also if you are not confident in your abilities and are afraid that you will not be able to help your pet

It is impossible to ignore the first signs of childbirth in a cat, despite the strong opinion that a cat can give birth without problems without helphuman.

How to give birth to a cat?

Childbirth in cats can be of three levels of difficulty:

Light: the cat does not require much attention and care of a person, mostly manages itself. But the owner must observe and control the process so that the cat does not crush her kitten, so that the afterbirth comes out. It takes her less than one hour to give birth to a kitten. The cat's secretions the day after birth should be free of mucus, pus, and blood

Medium: The cat had complications when the kittens were born, which the owner can help with, without the help of veterinarians. Light stroking of the abdomen from the sides to the uterus may help. If the mother does not want to cut the umbilical cord, then it is necessary to cut it with disinfected scissors (a few centimeters should remain before the navel), and then treat the incision site with iodine. If the kitten was born in an amniotic sac and the mother is in no hurry to tear it, you need to do it yourself so that the baby does not suffocate. To do this, with clean, disinfected hands, tear the film, wipe the baby dry. If the kitten is not breathing, you need to turn it upside down and, holding it with both hands, shake it to remove water from the respiratory tract

Severe: in this case, it is necessary to call a qualified specialist for help. If the cat cannot lamb for more than 5 hours, you can give an injection of "Gamavit" (0.5 cubes), which will intensify the contractions. If after an hour the medicine does not work, then an injection of "Oxytocin" (0.5 cubes) should be administered. In this case, you need to massage the stomach towards the uterus to make surethat your cat can be given this medicine, you should consult your veterinarian. Your pet's he alth depends on you. If the woman in labor is barely moving, then sodium gluconate should be administered. The volume of the administered drug depends on the weight of the cat

Premature birth

Most preterm births are due to a miscarriage, nonviable pet, placental abruption, or trauma resulting in dead kittens. If the cat gave birth prematurely, then examine it with a specialist to understand the condition of the animal.

Late delivery

There are also situations when a cat does not go into labor. What to do? If the animal does not give birth for more than 70 days, you should make sure that the pregnancy is not false. If the pregnancy is still real, most likely, it froze, which means that the cubs have already died. It is necessary to check the cat with a specialist and perform an operation, which will avoid infectious diseases and damage to the uterus.

Unpleasant consequences after childbirth

Unfortunately, childbirth does not always go smoothly, there may be various unpleasant consequences. So, the first thing you need to pay attention to after childbirth is discharge. Any colored, unpleasantly smelling discharge is a deviation from the norm. If the cat's discharge is intensely pink, this is a sign of a fungal disease of the genital organs. If they are green, it is a bacterial infection. If the discharge is black-green with a sharp unpleasant odor - rotting. If cloudy yellow or yellowgreen - purulent inflammation in the womb.

Possible watery discharge, which can be caused by accumulation of blood in the uterus, uterine rupture, open stitches (during caesarean section).

If after giving birth the bleeding does not stop for 15 minutes, you should urgently take your pet to the veterinarian and provide qualified assistance.

Another problem after childbirth may be the lack of milk. The reason may be the stress of the woman in labor, so you should create comfort and peace for mommy, feed her heartily and give her milk to drink.

It often happens that after giving birth, a cat has a hanging belly. The reason may be that there is a dead kitten in the stomach. You need to gently feel the cat's stomach and take the animal to the vet.

It is best to feed a cat after childbirth with easily digestible food, milk with the addition of fish oil and calcium. Water supplies must be constantly replenished.

British cat giving birth

British cats cannot cope with childbirth on their own, so the responsibility lies on your shoulders. Therefore, it is so important to thoroughly understand the question of how the birth of a British cat begins.

If the due date is approaching, you must carefully monitor when the cork (white-pink clot) comes off.

For the duration of pregnancy, it is better to exclude seafood from the diet of your pet, because they destroy vitamin B, which is necessary for kittens.

As a rule, complications can occur in cats that give birth for the first time, so youneed to prepare in advance:

• diapers that will need to be changed as they get dirty;
• antiseptic;
• sterilized scissors;
• sterile disposable gloves;
• cotton pads;
• vaseline oil;
• 2 and 5 ml syringes;
• calcium gluconate (to induce labor).

If something went wrong during the birth of a cat

You should know that the birth process can be interrupted (up to a day), do not worry, it will continue after a while.

Secondly, there may be times when a cat has a pelvic fracture during childbirth, bleeding has developed, the kitten is stuck in the birth canal, the cat is very obese after birth - all these situations require the intervention of a veterinarian.

If a mechanical blockade occurs during childbirth, in no case give the cat stimulant drugs, otherwise the internal organs will rupture.

If uterine atony occurs during childbirth (the intensity of the contraction is low, as a rule, this happens when there are more than 3 kittens), to help your pet, inject Oxytocin yourself.

If the kitten came out by itself, and the placenta remains, you must put on sterile gloves and carefully remove it from the cat's vagina.

If the head is visible, but the kitten does not come out, it is necessary to lubricate the genitals with vaseline oil, then the process will return to normal.

We told you how to understand that a cat is going into labor. We hope you can provide the necessary assistance to your pet and get he althy offspring.