The cat is one of the most popular pets around the world. It is believed that it was these mammals that were among the first to be domesticated by humans. However, what a difference! When a cat purrs, curled up in your lap, everything else doesn't matter. Our tailed friends are considered quite easy to care for, but sometimes special situations happen. What to do if your pet is going to please the owners with a replenishment, how to understand what a cat gives birth to?
Pregnancy at home pussy
If the expectation of offspring from an ordinary
yard cat can greatly puzzle the owner, then kittens from thoroughbred pets are looking forward to. On average, pregnancy in these animals lasts about 60 days. Therefore, with the planned mating, it is desirable to remember the date of the proposed conception.
You can determine the onset of pregnancy in a cat at the end of the third week. At this time, the future mother’s stomach begins to grow, she eats with great appetite and sleeps more and more. In the later stages, you can even notice the movement of kittens or their protruding heads / limbs.
Attention! You can not palpate the belly of a pregnant cat. The owners of the animal should pay special attention to their pet during this difficult period:
- Create a more nutritious diet and stick to it.
- From time to time, play with the tailed mother - the movement is very useful for her.
Day X: how to understand that a cat will give birth soon?
The most difficult thing is to determine the approach of childbirth in the event that conception occurred without the knowledge of the owner. Usually noticeable movements of the offspring in the womb of a feline are a sign that the kittens will soon begin their independent life.
Take a look at the behavior of the animal. If during a long gestation period the cat almost completely stops eating and moving, most likely, there are only a few hours left before delivery. Sometimes the question of how to understand what a cat gives birth to is asked even by experienced breeders. Do not forget that our pets are all like people. Accordingly, each pregnancy can proceed differently than the previous one.
And yet, most often, shortly before birth, the cat begins to look for a secluded corner. The animal instinctively seeks to give birth to offspring in some cozy place, hidden from prying eyes. You can provide the cat with a cardboard box lined with disposable baby diapers for this purpose. But do not expect your pet to agree with this option. The owner's task is not to let the animal out of the apartment, otherwise you run the risk of having to subsequently pick up your pet from the basement or from the attic.
Closer birth: physiological signs
In a matter of hours before the appearance of the kittens, the mucous plug is released from the cat . The host can notice this in the form of vaginal discharge. By the way, if the animal does not behave too friendly, it is better not to bother with inspections once again. And you can notice the passage of the mucous plug due to the fact that the pet licks too hard under the tail.
How to understand that a cat will give birth soon, by changes in her body? There is another noticeable sign. If less than a day is left before childbirth, nipples swell in the animal, and colostrum may appear. And interestingly, not all cats tend to hide from prying eyes. Some individuals, on the contrary, require increased attention from the owner on the eve of childbirth. It is desirable to satisfy this need, do not be too lazy to take a mini-vacation at work and constantly monitor the tailed parturient.
Cat birth
Do not listen to those who advise against disturbing your pet when offspring are born. If possible, try not to miss the cat’s
birth . As soon as you understand that the kittens will be born very soon, do not let the animal out of sight. This is necessary in order to have time to take action in the event that something goes wrong.
Normally, in a cat, childbirth is the same as in most mammals. You will stop wondering how to understand what a cat gives birth to when water begins to drain. If possible, immediately wipe the floor.
After this, the animal will begin to push, while you can see visually how much the stomach and sides shudder. The cat itself can meow and rumble - all these are normal signs.
As soon as the first kitten is born, the animal will definitely not go anywhere, but will continue to give birth in the chosen place. Normally, a tailed mother herself gnaws the umbilical cord, helps her children to get rid of the films, and then licks them. But sometimes the animal is so exhausted physically or is so stressed that it requires the help of a person in these actions.
What the owner should be ready for
It is advisable to collect a mini first aid kit in advance. The cat before childbirth may too actively demand the attention of the owner, so prepare a set of medicines and accessories and keep it at hand. Put sharp scissors and tweezers in the medicine cabinet (pre-treat them with an antiseptic), the smallest rubber pear (to remove mucus from the airways), silk thread, cotton-gauze swabs. If the tailed mother herself is not going to help her offspring, the owner's task is to process the newborns:
- First, the kitten must be freed from the film-shell.
- After that, the umbilical cord is pulled by a thread, and then cut.
- At the end, wipe the baby with a cotton-gauze swab or a disposable diaper and put the cat under the stomach.
If the tailed mother copes herself, it is better not to touch the kittens once again.
Your cat after birth
It is advisable not to touch newborn kittens and their mother for several days. Put a clean diaper in the chosen shelter and only occasionally observe the brood. But you can’t touch the kids. A cat after childbirth can behave quite aggressively. This is normal - do not show the animal with offspring to guests and try to minimize all possible stresses for your pet.
Normally, delivery in cats does not require observation or intervention by a veterinarian. But if within ten days after the kittens were born, you notice your pet’s appetite problems, general depressed state and lethargy, as well as blood discharge, it makes sense to show the animal to a specialist.
Now you know how to understand what a cat gives birth to, and what to do in this situation. We hope that your pet and its babies will be fine!