Pregnancy and childbirth of a four-legged pet is stress not only for her, but also for the owner. The owner of the animal, as a rule, pre-takes care of how to help the cat at the time of birth. It would seem that there is nothing complicated in feline birth. She can handle it herself. But is it? The article gives recommendations on how to give birth to a cat at home. What do you need to know to a caring and loving owner, how to behave, so as not to get confused at the most crucial moment? We will talk about this in the article.
Pregnancy duration
Pregnancy in cats usually lasts from 58 to 72 days. And until the 30th day it is not clear whether kittens are expected or not. There are no external signs. It is possible to determine whether a cat is pregnant only with the help of an ultrasound scan in a veterinary clinic.
The main signs of pregnancy
- On the 35th day, the stomach begins to appear.
- Cat's nipples gradually turn pink.
- The animal becomes demanding in food and has an increased appetite.
- The cat may feel sick, it becomes more lethargic and inactive.
- Shortly before giving birth, the expectant mother begins to choose a place for her to give birth to offspring.
The first signs of childbirth
About ten days before birth, the fruits begin to move actively in the womb. The cat actively explores all the dark places in the apartment, she is particularly interested in cabinets, a sofa compartment for storing bedding, all kinds of drawers and boxes. Other signs of childbirth in a cat are as follows:
- In about three days, colostrum begins to discharge from the nipples.
- A drop in body temperature to 37 degrees indicates that the animal will begin to give birth in 12-24 hours.
- On the day of childbirth, the cat becomes restless, rushing about in the hope of finding a suitable place for childbirth, and begins to constantly lick intimate places.
Process is approaching
What are the signs of a cat giving birth? What are they? In addition to the above, the following phenomena testify to the approaching process:
- Contractions. They can last up to 12 hours. The intensity of contractions is increasing gradually. At first they are barely noticeable and rare. As time goes on, they become pronounced and frequent. Contractions are similar to wave-like contractions of the abdomen. It feels like an excited cat is trying to retract his stomach.
- Attempts. After fights, attempts come. During this period, the cat becomes very restless. Constantly licks the genitals. Attempts indicate the onset of labor in a cat. The future mother lies on her side and in especially painful moments she can meow loudly. The attempts are weak at first, then they can be seen with the naked eye. They look like external shocks, as if someone is pushing a cat into the lower part of the side.
Childbirth
All signs of childbirth in a cat, indicating their imminent onset, have been described above. Now it is worth considering in detail the birth process itself.
Before the kitten is born, fluid flows from the cat's vagina. A kitten leaves the birth canal in a membrane called the amniotic fluid. Usually the calf goes head first, but can go out with its hind legs. This is not a deviation if birth occurs without complications. The cat, licking the newborn, releases him from the bladder. Then she cuts the umbilical cord. The kitten begins to squeak and slowly crawls along the mother’s hair to her nipples. The cat eats all released afterbirth. Care must be taken to ensure that the placenta "leave" the body of the animal.
The break between the appearance of kittens can be 24 hours, do not be scared if the cat is calm and busy with the babies born. However, if the young mother has frequent contractions, and the kitten does not rush to be born, this is a serious reason to call a veterinarian.
How to prepare for childbirth
Childbirth in a cat requires some preparation. What does it consist of?
- It is necessary to prepare a secluded place for the future mother in advance. It can be a box with high sides or a special house. The bottom is covered with disposable diapers. After the cat gives birth, contaminated diapers are thrown away. They are replaced by a clean, durable fabric.
- The house in which the cat will give birth must be in a darkened, calm place. In the room where the house is cooked, there should be good ventilation and the temperature should not be lower than +29 degrees on the first birthday of kittens. As they grow older, the temperature is lowered daily by 2 degrees.
- You need to prepare the following tools in advance: petroleum jelly or vegetable oil, manicure scissors, alcohol solution, rubber gloves, strong threads. Put all the paraphernalia in one package and get the X on the day.
- Must have a veterinarian’s phone number. A specialist who is ready for the fact that you may have to leave for a call in the early morning or late night can become the most important assistant to a tailed woman in labor.
- The presence at the birth of the host is a prerequisite. The animal will appreciate the gentle speech of the owner and his presence nearby in a difficult period.
Birth complications
Most often, a cat gives birth without complications. But what to do if it was not without them? The most common birth problems are:
- The newborn goes forward with its paws. Sometimes it happens that the paws and the back of the body come out, and that’s all. In this case, the owner should lubricate the released part of the kitten and the mother’s vagina with vaseline. The owner puts on a rubber glove lubricated with vegetable oil. And with neat, smooth swaying movements begins to pull up the kitten. In 90%, this method helps.
- The head and front of the body came out. The actions of the owner are the same as in the previous paragraph.
- With intense fights, the kitten is in no hurry to be born. The owner can help the pet. The index finger in the glove is involved in the vagina. It is necessary to grope the kitten, determine its location. If the baby is lying incorrectly (horizontally), thereby blocking the way out of the birth canal, the owner of the cat should carefully turn it.
- Two kittens simultaneously come from the birth canal. Urgently call a veterinarian. It is impossible to cope without it.
- Delivery did not begin after 24 hours, despite the contractions. In this case, the veterinarian is called.
- The interval between kittens is more than 24 hours. The steps are the same as in the previous paragraph.
- The cat refuses to release the newborn from the bladder. This is done by the host. The bubble neatly bursts, then the umbilical cord is cut with manicure scissors, previously disinfected . The umbilical cord is previously tightly tied with a thread 2 cm from the kitten's body. The wound should be burned with green. The kitten needs to be wiped with a damp, clean cloth, release its nose from the mucus and put on the cat.
These are the preventive measures when taking a birth of a cat at home.
The most important question
And how long does a cat have to give birth in time? The first kitten should be born no later than 24 hours after the start of labor.
Conclusion
Taking a cat’s birth is not so easy. What do you need to remember? First, how to prepare for the birth of a pet. Secondly, the first signs of an upcoming event. And thirdly, what to do in case of complications. And of course, the veterinarian’s phone should be at hand.