Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Preparing for delivery
• Part 2 of 3: Helping during delivery
• Part 3 of 3: Helping after childbirth
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Whether you are breeding purebred cats as a profession or you are caring for a cat that has become pregnant, it is important that you know what to do when the cat is about to give birth. The gestation period for cats is normally 65-67 days, so once you learn that your cat is pregnant, it is important to start preparing for labor. You do that like this:

To step

Part 1 of 3: Preparing for delivery

1. Look for signs of pregnancy. There are a few signs you can watch out for to determine if your kitty might be pregnant.
   • Common indications are enlarged pink nipples, a swollen stomach and a stop in heat.
2. Take your cat to the vet. Once you know your kitty is (or suspects she is) pregnant, take her to a licensed veterinarian for a medical examination.
   • The vet can confirm that the pregnancy has no complications and can advise you on the preparations for the delivery.
   • Especially if it is a female who is overweight or has had health problems before, it is important to see a vet if you suspect she is pregnant as she is more likely to have complications.
   • In some cases, the vet may determine that it is dangerous for the mother to continue with the pregnancy and that it is best to spay her.
   • The vet can also estimate the number of kittens to be expected, which is helpful in determining if all kittens have been born and whelping is complete.
3. Adjust the cat's diet in the last 3 weeks of her pregnancy. When a pregnant female enters her last three weeks (after about 42 days of pregnancy or when her belly is visibly swollen) she needs a different type of nutrition, so make sure she is getting adequate nutrition and nutrients.
   • Feed her normal food for the first 42 days of pregnancy.
   • After 42 days, switch to a higher calorie diet for kittens in a concentrated form. The uterus presses against the stomach, reducing the ability of the cat to eat, so kitten food is ideal for keeping her well-nourished.
4. Make a nest. Cats need a warm, quiet, and safe place to give birth. Your cat will look for such a place. Normally, a female shows a tendency to nest a few days before giving birth. This is the perfect opportunity to show her the nest you've prepared for her.
   • The laundry room or bathroom are good places to set up a nest. Do not allow children or dogs to enter this area. The mother cat should feel safe and relaxed in her nest.
   • The cat must have easy access to fresh water, a little food and the litter box (about half a meter away, because closer is a risk of disease).
   • Find a large cardboard box with high sides and fill it with soft old cloths that can get dirty, such as towels, fluffy blankets, newspapers, etc.
   • Whatever you use as a material, it should not have a strong odor, because the mother cat and the kittens recognize each other by their scent.
5. Prepare your cat for delivery. Give her a normal, good quality diet and make sure that her appetite is not waning, which is normally a sign that labor is about to begin.
   • If you have a long-haired cat, you can trim the hair around the pubic area beforehand (a few days or a week before birth). Some people recommend clipping the hair around the nipples as well so that the kittens have better access to drink.
   • If you can't cut your kitty's hair beforehand, don't do it at all, as the kittens will recognize their mother by her scent after they are born.
6. Prepare for delivery. In addition to a whelping box, food, water and a litter box within reach of your cat, you must also have equipment ready for emergencies.
   • Keep a cat carrier handy to use in case of complications and you need to take the cat to the vet.
   • Make sure your cell phone is charged and keep the vet's number on hand or programmed into your phone in case complications arise during delivery.
   • Keep a stack of clean dry towels handy in case you need to clean the kittens.
   • Buy cat milk powder and kitty-proof bottles from the pet store to have on hand if you have a problem nursing the kittens.
7. Keep an eye on the duration of the pregnancy. There is a margin in gestation, particularly as it is difficult to determine the exact date of conception, but a female who has been pregnant for more than 67 days should be examined by a veterinarian.
   • The vet can scan the kitten's belly and see if the kittens are healthy. He can give them an extra 4-5 days. If the kittens have not yet been born, it may be necessary to perform a Caesarean section.
8. Look for warning signs that indicate complications. Abnormal discharge or illness are signs to watch out for.
   • Abnormal discharge: discharge from the vagina is not normal during pregnancy. A greenish-yellow discharge can indicate a uterine infection, a light green discharge can indicate placental rejection, and a bloody discharge can indicate a ruptured placenta. Immediately notify the vet if you see such a thing.
   • Illness: pregnancy puts a lot of pressure on the body and can weaken the immune system. Have the vet examine the mother cat if she is unwell (vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, loss of appetite).

Part 2 of 3: Helping during delivery

1. Keep your distance. Make peace with your cat not needing you for the most part. However, your presence can make her feel comfortable.
   • Keep your distance enough to give her space and not hinder delivery, but stay close enough to intervene if necessary.
   • Be prepared for potential complications and know the signs.
2. Know the signs that labor is about to begin. Recognize the signs that your cat is about to give birth. The start of labor is called phase 1 and usually lasts 12 to 24 hours. Watch for the following signs:
   • Lethargy or restlessness, looking for a place to hide (show her the nest)
   • Excessive washing, including licking the pubic area
   • Polar bears and panting
   • Spinning out loud and crying
   • The temperature drops about two degrees, compared to the normal 38.9ºC
   • Stop eating
   • Throwing up
   • If you discover that your cat is shedding blood, get the help of a vet right away. Bleeding before delivery usually indicates that something is wrong. Go to the vet right away.
3. Keep an eye on every delivery. When the mother enters the nest and labor begins, it is best to stay calm, be prepared, and monitor the kitten's delivery. Keep yourself and the environment calm. If disturbances occur or other animals are present, or if she is moved, this will stop the delivery. Phase 2 of labor normally goes like this:
   • The cervix begins to relax and uterine contractions begin.
   • Contractions accelerate when the first kitten enters the birth canal. Contractions come every 2-3 minutes and the mother cat is probably in a squatting position. She may be crying and panting.
4. The amniotic fluid (the water bag) comes out first, followed by the cat (head first or hind legs first).
   • When stage 2 of labor begins, it takes about 30 minutes to an hour for the first kitten to be born. Each subsequent kitten comes every half hour, sometimes up to an hour away.
   • If the cat has settled in before giving birth and pressed hard for an hour without a kitten emerging, something is probably wrong. See if you can see anything in the pubic area. If you don't see anything, it's best to call the vet. If half a kitten is hanging out, let the cat squeeze for another 5 minutes. If there is no progress, wash your hands and gently grasp the kitten and pull it out gently, preferably at the same time as the contractions. Notify the vet if the kitten does not come out easily.
   • Make sure the mother cat removes the amniotic sac and cleans each kitten. The mother usually removes the membrane from the amniotic sac by licking the kitten vigorously. The kitten should then begin to breathe and move within seconds.
   • If she does not remove the amniotic sac quickly, you can remove the fleece from around the kitten's face with your disinfected hands in rubber gloves so that the kitten can breathe. Wipe the face with a clean and dry towel.
   • If possible, return the kitten to the mother cat as soon as possible and place it in front of her nose if necessary. She then starts licking the kitten. However, if the mother cat ignores the kitten, it stays wet and starts to shake, dry the kitten yourself by rubbing it vigorously with a clean, dry towel. This causes the kitten to cry, which attracts the mother's attention and piques her interest. Now return the kitten to the mother.
5. Look for the placenta. There is 1 placenta per kitten, which must come out after each kitten. Check each placenta, because if a placenta is left in the mother, it can become inflamed and cause death of the mother if she does not receive medical attention.
   • DO NOT TRY TO PULL OUT A PLACENTA. If you pull the umbilical cord and tear the uterus as a result, the mother can die. If you suspect a placenta has not come out, see the vet.
   • The mother normally eats the placenta. It is full of hormones and nutrients that her body needs, so don't interfere in this process. Just be careful not to eat the kitten at the same time, for lack of experience.
6. You can have her eat the first two or three placentas and remove the rest, as too many nutrients can cause diarrhea or vomiting.
   • Clean and disinfect your hands. Take off your watch and rings and wash your hands with antibacterial soap. Rub the soap on the back of your hands and past your wrists as well. Rub your hands with the soap for at least 5 minutes. Use a nail brush or an old toothbrush to clean under your nails.
   • Do not use hand gel! Hand gel does not kill all bacteria. You also shouldn't have your cat lick the kittens' hand gel ingredients, as it can make her sick.
   • Washing hands is a precaution. The mother cat must have the opportunity to deliver and care for the kittens herself. Only intervene when a kitten is in need and put it back as soon as possible.
7. Do not cut the umbilical cord. It is generally advised NOT to cut the umbilical cords of the placentas. Most mothers will chew the umbilical cords themselves. If she doesn't, call the vet.
   • CUT THE NAVEL STRING NOT BY IF PART OF IT IS STILL INSIDE THE MOTHER. The umbilical cord is connected to the placenta, it can get stuck inside, preventing it from coming out. This can cause an infection, possibly resulting in the death of the mother cat. Do not get started yourself, but call the vet and follow his / her instructions.

Part 3 of 3: Helping after childbirth

1. Make sure the kittens start drinking as soon as possible. The first milk contains valuable colostrum with antibodies for the kittens.
   • Keep in mind that kittens are born blind and deaf, so they seek out their mother's nipples by touch and smell. Sometimes they do that right away and sometimes they wait a few minutes to recover from the birth.
   • The mother sometimes waits for all the kittens to be born before allowing them to drink. But if she looks like she's rejecting the kittens and won't let them drink, prepare the milk powder you bought and feed the kittens yourself with the kitten feeding bottles.
   • If the mother lets the kittens drink but no milk comes out, you will see the kittens trying to drink and meowing at the same time. If no milk appears to be coming out, see the vet who may be able to stimulate milk production. In the meantime, feed the kittens with milk powder and the special feeding bottles.
2. Pay attention to the health of the kittens. Monitor the kittens after birth to make sure they are behaving normally.
   • If a kitten is making choking or gulping noises, there is fluid in the trachea. Hold the kitten between your hands with its head on your fingertips (swing your hands). Gently rock the kitten forward. This is how the fluid drains from his lungs. Use gauze to wipe his face. Use rubber gloves and be careful as a newborn kitten is very slippery.
   • If the mother cat doesn't seem interested in her kittens, try rubbing her scent on them. If she's still not interested, you will have to take care of the kittens yourself. This means feeding them constantly and having an incubator. It is too extensive to discuss in this article, ask the vet for advice.
   • Don't worry if one of the kittens is stillborn. Make sure he is really dead before disposing of him appropriately. Try to revive a limp kitten by rubbing vigorously to stimulate him. Use a warm damp washcloth for rubbing. You can also move his paws up and down and blow on his face and mouth.
3. Watch the health of the mother. After giving birth, put enough good food and fresh water next to the whelping box. The mother cat will not want to abandon her kittens, even to eat or go to the litter box, so placing it as close as possible will allow her to take care of herself and be close to her kittens at the same time. It is very important for her to eat so that she has enough energy and can transfer nutrients to her nursing little ones.
   • She may not get up the first day; keep the food as close as possible.
   • Check that she is recovering well from childbirth and that she is approaching and taking good care of her kittens.
4. Make a note of each throw. Write down the time of birth, gender, weight (use kitchen measurements) and when the placenta came out.
   • This information may be useful later as medical records or for documentation if you are a breeder.

Tips

• When labor is coming, you can put dark sheets and blankets on your bed, because even though you've carefully prepared a whelping box, she may decide that the perfect place to give birth is on your bed because she's comfortable there and feels safe.
• Do not get close to the cat during labor if you don't have to. She may bite and scratch. Only come near her if she needs help giving birth.
• Unless you breed cats, consider spaying your cat for her own benefit and that of her kittens (many unexpected kittens become feral or starve to death, or are killed). Sterilization reduces the risk of pyometra. Pyometra is a uterine infection where the uterus fills with pus after an oestrus cycle. This infection can lead to death if the cat is not treated in time.
• Do not bother the mother cat if she is not having problems giving birth.

Warnings

• If your cat is in labor and hasn't had the first kitten after 2 hours of active pushing, you should call a vet right away, as something could be wrong. This also applies when there is more than an hour between each kitten. If that happens, don't panic, stay calm with the mother cat and her kittens and call the vet for advice.
• Consult a vet immediately if you see any of the following warning signs:
  • When the first kitten still doesn't come out after an hour of severe contractions.
  • When the mother starts to give birth, but the kitten only half comes out.
  • When the mother begins to lose light red blood from the vagina.

Necessities

• Disinfectant (eg Betadine). You should sanitize anything that comes near or touches the cat, such as the scissors and forceps, and to sanitize the umbilical cord once it has been cut.
• A small forceps (ask a vet or a reputable pet store for advice)
• Scissors (bone)
• Gauze compresses
• Thin rubber gloves
• Clean old towels, sheets or blankets to cover the whelping box
• A high sided cardboard box the size of a cat bed for the mother and the kittens
• Milk powder for kittens and bottles (for when the mother has no milk)