Things You'll Need:
- Feline Nursing Bottles
- Telephones
- Clean Towels
- Cat Beds
- Scissors
- Scissors
- Clean towels
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Step 1
Contact your veterinarian if you think your cat is pregnant to ensure that you will have professional help if needed.
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Step 2
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.
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Step 3
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.
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Step 4
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.
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Step 5
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.
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Step 6
Rub the kitten with a towel along the shoulders and back to stimulate breathing. A healthy meow indicates an unobstructed airway.
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Step 7
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.
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Step 8
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.
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Step 9
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.
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Step 10
Supplement with commercially prepared milk replacer, available wherever pet supplies are sold, following your veterinarian's advice.










Comments
plumberi said
on 8/12/2009 Good stuff. Thanks
wildmtnwoman said
on 7/29/2009 Good informative article...the only thing I would add is that animals (and humans!) do the best with little to no intervention. Animals and humans have a natural instinct to know what to do and how to do it. Formula should only be used if the mother is sick or has died.
christinesboyz said
on 5/13/2009 I just helped my cat through her labor for the second time. Same scenario, she comes to me and meows and I follow her to the back of the closet. She lays down on her back and lets me rub her belly as she purrs. This goes on for 30-45 minutes, then she starts contracting. After the first kitten is born, I just sit there with her and observe, in case anything goes wrong. It's just so amazing to me that she has to have me right there with her! She had 3 kittens and we already have good homes for them. I'm taking her to be fixed asap!
tinkerjan said
on 1/26/2009 My cat gave birth to 2 kittens so far...the first one was dead... its real sad! this is my first time seeing and helping a cat deliver...
JOLYNN said
on 7/15/2007 Thank you for the excellent information! It helped answer all my questions.