Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
Step1
Contact your veterinarian if you think your cat is pregnant to ensure that you will have professional help if needed.
Step2
Choose a quiet, warm location to place a basket or box lined with clean towels large enough for the mother cat to lie in and stretch out with her kittens. The sides should be at least 4 to 6 inches high'high enough to keep 4- to 6-week-old kittens from escaping, but low enough so that the mother can get in and out easily.
Step3
Avoid disturbing the mother during delivery, but observe her closely every few minutes to see how she is doing. Delivery should begin within 20 minutes of the first strong contraction; birth of the first kitten may take up to 60 minutes, but you should call your veterinarian if a kitten has not been delivered within 30 minutes since it may take a while to track down some help. Signs of labor include licking of the genital area, and straining in general.
Step4
Watch for amber fluid or a bulge (the amniotic sac) protruding from the mother's birth canal'this indicates that a kitten should be delivered within a few minutes.
Step5
If the mother has not removed the amniotic membrane within 1 minute after delivery, intervene and gently grasp the kitten in a clean towel and pull away the slimy material. Be certain the nose and mouth are free from fluid and tissue.
Step6
Rub the kitten with a towel along the shoulders and back to stimulate breathing. A healthy meow indicates an unobstructed airway.
Step7
If the mother has not chewed through the umbilical cord, sever it about 2 inches from the kitten's body, using sharp, sterilized scissors (sterilize with isopropyl alcohol). Gently pull the afterbirth from the birth canal.
Step8
Expect kittens to be delivered 15 to 45 minutes apart, but call your veterinarian if strong labor continues for 30 minutes without producing a kit-ten. Average litters contain three to six kittens.
Step9
Make sure that nursing begins in a few minutes. It is essential for the kittens to nurse from the mother to provide protection against disease.
Step10
Supplement with commercially prepared milk replacer, available wherever pet supplies are sold, following your veterinarian's advice.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 8/31/2006 Your cat should know what to do. Try not to intervene, unless she's having problems. Also, after the kittens are born, she might try to move them to somewhere she finds safer. Don't bother moving them back to where they were before, she'll just take them back to her safe spot.
Anonymous said
on 4/12/2008 I have a cat that I rescued when she was about 2 months old. We found her on my window ledge, lost and hungry. She is now a little over 1 year old and just gave birth to a litter of 4 kittens (so far). These articles helped me totally get through this. I have never seen a cat give birth before, and I had no idea what to do. Thank you for all the helpful information and helpful hints.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 I am studying to be a veterinary technician. I think you can help the cat deliver, but stay in the room and don't let anyone else near her. Speaking to her in a gentle voice can help calm and relax her. If she does have complications, she will know you are there by her side. It is tough giving birth. Imagine if you had to give birth alone. Wouldn't that be hard? Your cat is giving birth to a litter, and someone being around will help keep her calm and relaxed. Gently pet her while she is hurting. Pets love their owners, and trust them with everything they go through. Do not mess with her kittens unless she doesn't eat the birth sac.
Anonymous said
on 12/23/2005 Sometimes, such as in the case with my new Momma-cat, the mother prefers to have someone she trusts right on hand.
My cat, Lilly, refused to settle into her birthing box until I was laying down beside the box, constantly scratching and petting her.
I also noticed that I could help 'pace' the contractions by using a very slight pressure when petting the side of her stomach.
New mothers often need to be calmed as they give birth, since they frequently aren't at all sure of what's going on and why they are in pain. Speak softly to them, and show them lots of love and comfort. Remember that while a purr isn't always a sign of comfort, it is a huge comfort to the newborns.
If the mother becomes hostile, leave her be, but keep an eye on the babies--if she's too nervous, she might ignore, or kill them.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 A few days after kittens are born, and ONLY if the mother cat does not seem to mind, gently and carefully pick up each kitten and hold it for a very short time. This should only be done by an adult, and only in view of the mother cat. Hold the kitten with both hands, close to the mother while showing her you are not going to harm it or take it from her. Be sure to stroke the mother cat and speak to her in sweet low tones.
Then gently place the kitten back with the litter. This will begin the imprinting process and help to make the kitten less fearful of humans. In my experiences, kittens that have been gently held and talked to, at an early age, have become more loving and well-adjusted pets.