Content
- Some data about the pregnancy of the cats
- The moment of delivery of a cat
- The development of childbirth
If, as cat tutors, we have the opportunity to live with a cat we suspect is pregnant, it is important that we have the basic knowledge needed, not only about pregnancy, but also about how to know if a cat is in labor, since it is a transcendental moment that we must know how to identify, especially if there is any problem that requires our intervention and even a possible transfer to a Veterinary clinic.
In this PeritoAnimal article, we provide the keys so that you can correctly identify it. How do I know if my kitten is in labor? Find out below!
Some data about the pregnancy of the cats
Cats can get pregnant during most of the year, from January-February until, approximately, the month of October. In many, idleness it will be very evident and we can hear them meowing, almost to the point of screaming, rubbing against everything and, in general, they get nervous and restless.
They also have a induced ovulation, which means that it is during copulation with the male that the stimulus for the egg's output occurs. If fertilization occurs, the cat will carry three to five kittens for approximately two months. In general, during the cat's pregnancy, she will maintain her normal life and we will only notice an increase in her belly size. Of course, as soon as we know your status or want to confirm it, it's advisable go to a veterinarian.
Also, we should start feeding her with a special food for puppies children under one year, as their dietary needs will change during pregnancy. After pregnancy, the moment of birth will come. In the next section, we'll look at how to tell if a cat is in labor.
The moment of delivery of a cat
towards the end of the two months approaching pregnancy, we should expect delivery to begin at any time. If we have taken our cat for a veterinarian check-up, it is possible that this professional has provided us with a probable date of delivery, although we should know that determining that day is not an exact science, so it may advance or delay a few days without involving any pathology.
During the last few days, we can notice that our cat is calmer and passes more time resting. Her movements get heavier and she can start to eat less. It is also possible that we see a drop of milk in breasts. We must not manipulate them. When the day finally comes, we can tell if a cat is in labor by paying attention to different aspects.
Symptoms of childbirth in a cat:
- The cat is restless.
- We see a brown or bloody discharge from the vulva.
- Our cat often licks the region of the vulva, which may indicate that there is secretion, as we mentioned, although we cannot see it.
- Breathing can become choppy, even with the mouth open. It is usually a sign that contractions started, which are the movements that the uterus makes to bring the pups out.
- Sometimes, if we look at your abdomen, we can even see these contractions.
- The normal thing is that our cat has chosen a quiet and safe place for this moment. It's what's known as "nest". We can provide you with an easily accessible box of towels or tampons so that it is easy to clean if you want to use it, although it is not uncommon for you to choose another place. Also, delivery usually takes place at night, so we will likely get up one morning and find the new family.
These clues give us an idea that our cat has already started labor. Next, we will describe its normal development.
The development of childbirth
Now that we've seen how to know if a cat is in labor, once it starts, we'd better stay in the background to intervene only if our help is needed, for example, if the birth is interrupted, there is significant bleeding or a kitten does not breathe.
Normally, the little ones are born wrapped in their bag, approximately every 30 minutes. It is the mother cat who is in charge of breaking it and ingesting it along with the placenta and the umbilical cord, which she will cut in this gesture. We will also observe that she immediately starts vigorously licking her little ones, cleaning them, clearing their nostrils of possible secretions, stimulating their breathing and encouraging them to start breastfeeding, with which they will enjoy the so important colostrum.
When ingesting the remains of childbirth, the bed is very clean, even so we can put a new tampon and remove fabrics that are stained. Once the mother and babies are calm, we can offer food and especially water for our cat. We must avoid manipulating the family, but we have to make sure everyone is perfectly fine.
Now that you know how to identify when a cat is in labor, in this article you can give some advice on caring for kittens.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.