Content
- Cat reproduction
- Birthing a cat: how to help
- How to know if my cat is in labor
- My kitten can't give birth, why?
- kitten stillborn
- dystocia
- Loss of strength of the uterus
- Placental remains not expelled
- How to know if you still have puppies to be born
The birth of a cat is a moment of joy and emotion, because soon playful kittens will come into the world and will become excellent pets. All this, bearing in mind that the birth was desired and not by accident. To avoid unwanted births, the best option is to spay your cat.
Anyway, even if the intention is to make your furry friend a mother, and despite the births of these animals are generally not problematic, there can be some complications. In this article by PeritoAnimal we will talk about the 4 complications of cat birth and how to help.
Cat reproduction
The female cats that reach sexual maturity at just half a year of life are seasonal polyestric animals, that is, they have several estrus cycles of just under a week, which are repeated every 2 or 3 weeks. In principle, this heat occurs in spring, although it depends on the animal's living conditions, since those who live in apartments have more constant light and temperature conditions and it is more complicated for the cat's organism to recognize the change of season.
Usually, pregnancy lasts 65 days., although, as the saying goes, biology is not an exact science, therefore, it may vary slightly in some cases.
Birthing a cat: how to help
If you suspect that your cat is going to have puppies, it is advisable visit a veterinarian for many reasons:
- First, to ensure that this is not a pregnancy psychology. The most common method is the ultrasound as it is simple and without side effects, however, depending on the animal's personality it can be a little complicated.
- Second, it is important to perform a physical examination of the mother-to-be and prove that she is in good health and can give birth without any problems.
- Third, it is interesting to know how many puppies she carries and if they are alive. An ultrasound is very helpful in these cases.
How to know if my cat is in labor
If you don't know exactly when your cat got pregnant in order to calculate the birth date, through an ultrasound, taking some measurements, you can predict, on a very approximate date, when your furry friend will give birth and try to avoid complications in the delivery of cats.
Besides the date, there are others signs of approaching childbirth and can be detected by observing the animal's behavior. For example, when the date approaches, the cat may be more emotional, meow constantly and find a secluded place to make a nest. Another very specific sign is a drop in temperature: the rectal temperature, which is obtained by inserting a thermometer into the anus, is reduced to at least one degree when labor is approaching. As each animal's rectal temperature can vary slightly, it is advisable to measure it regularly a few days in advance to see what your particular cat's is like.
The expulsion of the mucus plug, which is detected as a whitish or yellowish flow coming out of the vulva, is a sign that delivery is near. It's good to have an emergency veterinarian's phone number at hand if you need their services at the time of delivery and know how to help give birth to a cat.
My kitten can't give birth, why?
When a cat has difficulty giving birth and is even unable to expel any of the puppies, in general, this condition can be caused by one of the following most common problems in giving birth to a cat, which should be resolved with the help of a veterinarian:
kitten stillborn
To trigger birth, the puppies must be alive. If this is not the case, the birth does not occur and it will be necessary to resort to medication. If they don't work (which is very likely), a cesarean should be performed.
dystocia
At complications in the delivery of cats are called dystocia. In female cats that give birth to several small-sized kittens, dystocia is less frequent than in other animals that usually give birth to a single larger kitten, such as cows or sheep. If you see the signs that childbirth is imminent and it has been some time since any kittens have come out, you should go to the vet who will try to reposition them and, if that is not possible, perform a caesarean section. The administration of oxytocin is not recommended, a hormone that favors the expulsion of the contents of the cat's uterus, without first being verified that the position of the puppies is correct. Otherwise, the uterus will contract trying to expel the pups, and if it is not possible to expel them because someone is trapped, the organ can rupture by force. The indiscriminate administration of oxytocin is something that some guardians do and is a very serious mistake that can have severe consequences for the mother.
Loss of strength of the uterus
in very long deliveries, where it has been difficult to expel any offspring or in those with a large number of offspring, the uterus may lose strength as the process progresses. In that case it may be advisable to administer oxytocin, however, only after making sure the babies are placed in such a way that they can easily exit. If that doesn't work, a cesarean is the solution.
Placental remains not expelled
Other problems that may arise are that, after delivery, it remains some lifeless cub inside the cat or placental remains. Therefore, if you notice that, after birth, your cat has difficulty recovering, and has fever, signs of weakness or other symptoms of illness, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian to rule out these problems (through a physical examination and a ultrasound) or give them treatment, as appropriate.
How to know if you still have puppies to be born
In general, the birth interval between one kitten and another is usually less than an hour, so if a new kitten doesn't show up after a few hours, the birth is likely to have ended. In addition, at the end of delivery, the mother he usually gets up and dedicates himself to licking and taking care of his puppies.
Although, in some cases, cats may interrupt the birth and resume it after many hours, they are different from a birth that has not been completed in that when the birth is over, they get up, take care of the kittens, drink water, etc. . When the birth of a puppy has not been completed, the mother will continue to lie in the same place. If this is the case and you suspect your cat has difficulty giving birth to a kitten, remember to go to the vet as soon as possible to confirm or rule out any of the previous problems in giving birth to a cat.
Finally, if the birth occurs normally, find out: How many days do cats open their eyes?
