Content
- 1. Preparing the environment
- 2. Looking for a safe place
- 3. Excessive licking
- 4. Restlessness and apathy
- 5. Breathing
- 6. Temperature
- 7. Contractions
- Stay tuned!
There's nothing more exciting than being by your pet's side just as he's about to have his puppies. Watching cats, so tiny yet, arriving in the world and knowing that you are there to comfort your pet and help you in whatever you need is a very pleasant memory that we carry throughout our lives.
But, a question that arises as soon as we find out that our pussy is going to become a mom is: how do we know the exact time when it will happen? They exist symptoms of labor in cats, as well as in all other species. Check in this article by PeritoAnimal the main signs, risks and necessary preparations in these situations.
1. Preparing the environment
If your kitten is with the belly and more voluminous tits and pass to lick the vulva more than normal, there is a strong chance that she is pregnant.
Take her to the vet for tests and confirmation. This way, you can also find out how many puppies she is bearing and if she is healthy enough to help her if she needs any help.
Cat gestation tends to last a little longer than two months, somewhere between 65 and 67 days, so stay tuned!
During the first month of pregnancy, the diet remains normal. After approximately 30 days, introduce the puppy food, ensuring that her body has a healthy diet in calories even if she starts to eat less food.
2. Looking for a safe place
When it is approaching time to give birth, cats tend to search for a hidden, quiet and safe place. You can anticipate and build a nest to her a few days in advance, ensuring she has everything she needs at her fingertips and feels comfortable bringing her puppies into the world.
You can take a roomy cardboard box and line it with towels and soft blankets, ensuring the space is warm and comfortable for your pet. Leave the toilet and the feed and water pots nearby and don't forget to ensure that the environment and objects do not have any strong smells. This can bother the cat and hinder recognition between her and her kittens.
The kitchen or bathroom are good options for sheltering the nest, as they are more isolated areas of the house, which will allow your pussy to feel more at ease. If your animal doesn't like the location of the nest, it will drag the box itself and move it around. Let him do this, thus choosing the corner he thinks is most appropriate.
3. Excessive licking
A few hours before going into labor, the mammary glands usually enlarge, as well as the abdomen and vulva. the cat will become lick these regions increasingly, giving one of the first signs that childbirth is approaching.
4. Restlessness and apathy
If the female starts to get restless, pacing, or engaging in listless behavior, wanting to be alone in her nest, means she is getting ready to start labor.
Pay attention and see if your cat ate normally during the day. If she hasn't eaten anything, it means that the day has come to give birth.
At this stage, it is normal for the animal's behavior to change drastically. Don't be scared if your kitten, always sly, starts to growl if you try to get close, for example.
5. Breathing
Pay attention to the animal's breathing as it tends to become faster and more breathless. Continuously crying, meowing and purring loudly and rhythmically is also common in this phase.
6. Temperature
The normal temperature for a cat is between 38.1°C and 39.2°C. when the female is some hours of going into labor, it is normal that this number drop below 37.8°C, do not panic.
7. Contractions
If possible, approach the cat lovingly and examine her abdomen. Note if the skin is sensitive and if it is doing contraction and relaxation movements, if the answer is affirmative, it means that it is time for the puppies to be born.
Stay close to the animal, but give it space to do things in your own time. Make sure the female is comfortable and let her do her part. At the right moment, the sac will rupture and soon the amniotic fluid will appear, signaling that the first kitten is on its way.
It is normal for a interval of 30 minutes to 1 hour between the birth of each pup. If you notice that it is taking longer than usual or that there is some kind of secretion, even blood, along with the liquid that comes out of the bag, call the veterinarian, as there may be some complication.
Read our full article to learn how to help your cat give birth.
Image: Reproduction/@EuDavidThomaz
Stay tuned!
O dystocic birth is the main cause of complications in the birth of other kittens and occurs when puppies cannot cross the birth canal, unable to get out. This usually occurs when they are too big or the channel is too narrow.
If you notice an interval of more than 4 hours between the birth of one feline and another, it may be because of this problem. Be prepared to take your cat to the vet, he will most likely perform a C-section to remove the rest of the animals.
After delivery, it is normal that the cat does not pay so much attention to her new children, if that happens, do not be scared, it takes a while until she starts licking them.
It's also important to remember that cats can develop postpartum depression up to 7 months later from birth. If your cat suddenly becomes skittish and changes her behavior with her puppies, not wanting to feed them, she may be experiencing this. Be patient and take her to the veterinarian, so that she has the necessary help and recovers. In these cases, castration can be indicated as a way to reduce hormones, making her become more docile.