Content
- Signs that the cat is going to give birth
- How long does the cat's delivery last?
- How long does it take for a cat to give birth after she breaks her purse?
- Can a cat give birth in several days?
- When the cat's birth spreads out
- How to help the cat to give birth?
- How to know if the cat has finished giving birth?
O birth of a cat it is one of the periods that most cause doubts for caregivers, perhaps because it is a process that occurs mainly internally, so it is difficult to control it at first glance, which increases uncertainty and the fear that this is not happening within the normality.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we will see how long does the delivery of a cat last to help caregivers identify whether the process is proceeding normally or, conversely, whether it is necessary to go to the veterinarian.
Signs that the cat is going to give birth
The cats have pregnancies of about 62-65 days, and generate an average of four kittens. They can give birth several times a year, usually in the brightest months. It is recommended to carry out a veterinarian monitoring during this period, which will help to prevent problems, establish an approximate date of delivery and control the good development of the pregnancy. We also need to change your diet to adapt to new needs. We will note that your intake increases, although it decreases or even stop eating during the days before delivery.
The approximation of births is related to changes in body temperature. So, measuring the temperature we can get an idea of the probable date of birth. Likewise, another symptom that indicates that a cat will give birth soon is the preparation of the nest, so it is normal for the cat to look for a protected and safe place for this moment. We can make a bed with materials such as sheets, towels or absorbent mats and place it in a location of your choice. Even so, she might prefer to find her own nest.
On the other hand, before giving birth, we can notice that it is restless, scratching the ground, turning in on itself, lying down and getting up, etc. We will also notice that her activity decreases and she spends more time lying down. So, now that we have a clear idea of how to tell if a cat is in labor, in the next section we'll look at how long a cat's birth lasts.
How long does the cat's delivery last?
The question of how long a cat's delivery lasts can only be roughly answered, since it is not a process that responds to fixed rules. Even so, it is possible to offer estimates that can serve as a guide for caregivers in determining whether the birth is proceeding in the usual way or whether there are delays that could lead to problems.
We must know, first, that childbirth is composed of a first phase of dilation, when uterine contractions are opening the cervix to allow passage of the pups, and a second expulsion phase, in which the little kittens are born. To know how long a cat's delivery lasts, we must first keep in mind that the dilation phase can be prolonged. It is possible that, before birth, the cat will lose the mucus plug, which is the substance that seals the uterus during pregnancy to prevent infections. This tampon may fall between 7 and 3 days before delivery, although we can't always see it because it's normal for the cat to lick it. If more days pass, we should consult the veterinarian, as well as if a greenish discharge is produced not followed by the birth of a young.
How long does it take for a cat to give birth after she breaks her purse?
It is important to differentiate between the plug and the secretion of amniotic fluid from the stock market break. The time it takes to give birth to a cat once the bag has been broken should not exceed 2-3 hours, that is, before that time, we must observe birth signs. Puppies are usually born at half-hour intervals, although there are especially quick deliveries where a kitten is born every minute. On the contrary, births can take up to an hour. More time than that is reason for consultation.
Can a cat give birth in several days?
Although the dilation period may last longer than the expulsion period, normal delivery happens quickly. A cat cannot give birth in several days, so if the delivery takes longer than 24 hours, you will need to see a specialist to see what is happening.
When the cat's birth spreads out
Once we've explained how long a cat's delivery takes, we'll look at some cases in which we'll need veterinary intervention:
- Once the contractions have started, if more than 2 hours go by without them.
- Very weak contractions for 2-4 hours.
- Very strong contractions in the expulsion phase without birthing any offspring in 20-30 minutes.
- Regardless of time, if we observe any obstruction in the birth canal.
Any of these signs could indicate a problem in the babies or mother, and we will need to contact our veterinarian. One cesarean can be indicated.
How to help the cat to give birth?
Cats usually stop quickly and don't need help, but just in case, these are some tips to make the task easier:
- prepare one comfortable nest, safe and quiet above all.
- don't disturb her not touch it.
- Observe her discreetly to ensure everything runs smoothly.
- When the kitten is born, its mother takes it out of the amniotic sac, licks it clean, and cuts the umbilical cord. If we observe that the cat does not perform any of these actions, we should, with clean hands, break the bag and bring the puppy to the mother. If she still doesn't lick it, we'll have to clean her nose and mouth, insert a finger and gently rub it to stimulate her breathing. Let's leave it on one breast to start breastfeeding.
- Any sign like the ones we've described is a reason to call our veterinarian.
How to know if the cat has finished giving birth?
As we've said in the previous sections, the time between one kitten's birth to the next one usually doesn't take more than an hour, so in general if two hours after the last birth there are still no signs of another one, we can deduce that the cat's delivery is over. If we did any radiographic checks during her pregnancy, we can know the exact number of puppies she was carrying. In this case, we will know how many kittens we can consider giving birth to.
A sign that can tell us that a cat has finished giving birth is her attitude, since when she has given birth to all her offspring she usually dedicates herself to them, licking and checking if they are feeding, or if she gets up to drink water and recover. a little strength. If the cat is still lying down or she is very agitated, it is possible that she still has a kitten inside her and is having difficulty expelling it. We emphasize the importance of calling the veterinarian in these cases.