Childbirth in a cat: what is needed, how kittens are born, how to help give birth

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Pets give their owners many pleasant moments of communication and play, but their good mood and well-being require regular monitoring of their condition. Cats in the house are not uncommon, and knowing how to give birth to a cat at home will make it possible to help her if necessary and prevent possible complications. After all, childbirth in animals, being a normal physiological process, is a crucial moment that determines the health of babies and the preservation of the full life of an adult animal.

What signs can you use to know that a cat is about to give birth?

Pregnancy in cats lasts 7-8 weeks (58-67 days). The birth itself can last from 2-3 hours to a day, depending on the number of kittens, the age of the mother and her health.

To understand how to give birth to a cat at home, you should memorize the signs that indicate that labor is about to begin.

Cat before giving birth

Harbingers of childbirth:

2-3 days before giving birth, the animal’s temperature drops sharply to 37.0-37.5 °C (the normal temperature of cats is 38.5 - 39.0 °C). But, unlike dogs, this does not always happen.
The activity of the pregnant woman noticeably decreases, but the activity of the kittens in the stomach increases. You can feel how worried they are through your stomach.
1-2 days before giving birth, the cat suddenly becomes restless, looks for a secluded place, digs, licks the genitals and stomach, and throws things out of closets.
Also, within 1-2 days the expectant mother produces milk. It can be noticed if you apply light pressure at the base of the nipple.
On the day of birth, the pet refuses to eat or eats very little.
Just before giving birth, your cat's mucus plug comes off. It is quite difficult to notice this, because usually the animal licks it off.
Next, the amniotic fluid leaves. They are yellowish in color and have a specific smell.
With the onset of contractions, the cat continues to try to hide, dig a “hole”, screams more intensely, but from time to time lies down, breathes heavily and licks the genitals.

Pets most often give birth at night or early in the morning, so you should be prepared for this.

Nuances of the prenatal period in a cat

The pregnancy time of a cat directly depends on its breed and health status. To avoid troubles, you need to monitor changes in the behavior of the expectant mother, observe the well-being of the animal, and have basic knowledge of physiology.

Signs of pregnancy. Be prepared for the fact that during the first 2.5 weeks it is impossible to detect pregnancy in a cat without an ultrasound examination. And already in the third week, certain changes begin to occur in the animal’s body. She may vomit and become lethargic, and her mood will change at lightning speed. In addition, you will notice that the nipple area has become significantly pinker. By 6-7 weeks, the belly will become rounded, and the mammary glands will greatly increase.

Duration of pregnancy. As mentioned earlier, the duration of an animal’s pregnancy depends on the health and breed of the pet. The most popular Scottish cats now bear cubs from 63-67 days from the moment of mating, and in British cats pregnancy lasts 64-66 days. Persians carry babies longer than all other breeds, and Siberian breeds give birth a little earlier. On average, this figure is 62-66 days, and in case of complications or any pathologies, the duration can be reduced to 57 days.
How is pregnancy progressing? Complications often arise when a cat gives birth for the first time, and mainly in purebred pets bred artificially. During such periods, the animal’s general condition noticeably worsens, and the expectant mother begins to whine in her sleep, stops eating, and becomes apathetic. The expectant mother does not want to get up on her paws, and she practically goes into “lying down” mode.
Precautionary measures. When pregnancy is diagnosed, try to carry your pet less often, and do not lift or press the woman in labor, especially when her stomach is already enlarged. Also, you should not knead your belly in the hope of finding the offspring, as there is a possibility of harming the pet. It happens that, without meaning to, the owners accidentally touch the cat while walking, and it hisses. This is a defensive reaction, because the mother is already trying to protect her future offspring. Try to avoid this, as there is a possibility that such cats will become aggressive after lambing.

How does the process of giving birth to kittens take place?

How cats give birth: after how long and how long does labor last?

Childbirth is a painful process, and it is possible that the cat may bite the “helping hand,” so you should not bother with the woman in labor again. If everything goes well, then she doesn’t need help with the birth at all.

Important! Kittens can be born head-first or rear-footed, both of which are normal.

How does this happen:

The onset of contractions may not be noticed, but during them the cervix opens.
The uterus continues to contract, and those kittens that are far away in the uterus “push” their brothers and sisters towards the “exit”.
The birth of a kitten occurs in one or two contractions. The kitten is born with an umbilical cord and placenta.
The mother gnaws the umbilical cord. If she is unable, then you should help her with sterile scissors.
The time difference between the birth of kittens is half an hour to an hour. If there are no kittens for a long time, but the owners are sure that more will be born, this is a reason to consult a doctor.

The structure of a cat's uterus differs from that of a human - kittens are attached both in the ovarian tubes and in the body of the uterus itself.

Note! It is necessary to monitor the number of afterbirths. There should be as many of them as there are kittens. If the birth is over, but not all the placenta has come out, you should visit a veterinarian without delay.

1-2 afterbirths can be given to a cat to eat; they contain a lot of vitamins, hormones and nutrients. It is better not to feed all afterbirths, since an excess of hormones causes vomiting and diarrhea.

Between the birth of kittens, the cat actively licks them, and the kittens crawl to the breast to feed. If a cat ignores its children, you can put them under its nose and to its stomach, but you should not insist too much. The mother may be very exhausted from childbirth, and she simply has no time for kittens.

The structure of the cat's reproductive system

What help a cat may need during childbirth

Sometimes a cat cannot give birth on its own, and in such cases it needs human help. But you should not always call the veterinarian immediately; in most cases, you can do without the help of a specialist. It is important to understand that if the animal is in normal labor, you should not interfere, since a “nervous mother” may eat one of her children.

Did you know? A cat's hearing system is so developed that it can detect ultrasonic waves. A mustachioed companion can eavesdrop on the “negotiations” of rodents, even if they do not move. The fact is that mice and rats communicate with each other in the ultrasonic range.

So, let's figure out how and in what cases you need to help a cat during childbirth:

If the contractions are not strong enough for the cubs to come out, then it is necessary to help the animal. To do this, you should massage the cat’s back and belly, do it actively, but not with all your might.
If the baby is stuck in the mother's birth canal, you need to help get it out. This must be done very carefully and under no circumstances should you grab the baby by the head, as you can break the cervical vertebrae and kill the kitten. You need to pull it out by the paws (alternately pulling the right and left ones). Another option is to pull out the folds that form in the neck area of newborns.

It also happens that all the amniotic fluid leaks out of a cat, and the babies are born with great difficulty. In this case, you need to lubricate your fingers with Vaseline oil and help the cubs. You should not pull too hard and not in a perpendicular direction to the mother, as this can cause serious injury to her birth canal.
Sometimes during childbirth the paws appear first, instead of the head. In such cases, you need to put your paws back into the cat, and after a minute the baby will change position and come out normally.
With each kitten, the placenta must also be delivered. If this does not happen, then the owner needs to remove the placenta himself, otherwise the cat may experience an acute inflammatory reaction. When a baby is born in the placenta, and the cat does not immediately chew it, the owner must tear it apart himself, because otherwise the baby may suffocate.
At the moment of placenta rupture, the little kitten always tries to take the first breath, but he is still all wet, and there is a lot of liquid in his nasal passages, which, when inhaling, can easily penetrate into the lungs. To prevent this from happening, immediately after the placenta ruptures, take the baby in your arms and lower it head down, when you hear a small squeak, which means the kitten can already breathe on its own.
Immediately after birth, examine the newborn's mouth, especially the tongue. If it is pink, everything is fine, if it is blue or purple, the baby has hypoxia (lack of oxygen). In case of hypoxia, the kitten needs to massage the chest area until it begins to breathe normally. As a last resort, call a veterinarian.

Important! If during childbirth the cat’s temperature rises above 39.5 °C or drops below 37

°
C, then you need to urgently call a veterinarian.

Sometimes a cat is unable to gnaw the umbilical cord, or simply forgets to do so. In such cases, your help is needed; for this you will need: thick silk thread, sharp scissors, antiseptic. We tie the umbilical cord with a thread at a distance of about 2 cm from the baby’s tummy, then cut it with scissors and treat it with an antiseptic.
Once labor begins, several warm heating pads should be placed on the newborn bed.

Sometimes a cat gives birth with great difficulty, various unforeseen situations may arise, and in such cases the owners are lost and do not know what to do. To prevent this from happening, consult your veterinarian in advance about first aid for cats during childbirth. Also get the number of the nearest veterinary clinic so you can call for emergency help if necessary.

Preparing to give birth to a cat

Proper preparation for childbirth is the key to the success of this entire event. If cat owners have the opportunity to give birth in a veterinary clinic, then the need for preparation disappears. All you need to do is bring a couple of hot water bottles and clean sheets. It is possible to give birth to a cat at home, but you should prepare for this in advance.

Preparing the birth site

How to help a cat give birth at home

If you do not prepare a place for the cat to give birth in time, she will find it herself. This is not always convenient, since a cat is a secretive animal, and it will hide with special care. Some cats leave home altogether and return, bringing kittens one at a time.

The ideal cat place would be a box or large basket with high walls, covered with a towel, blanket or diapers. The box should be placed in the most quiet and secluded place so that the expectant mother will not be disturbed by anything.

Important! It is worth showing the cat the place in advance. If she still stubbornly seeks shelter, ignoring the prepared place, you should take her to the box when the birth process has already begun.

Place for birth

Necessary materials and equipment

For home birth you will need the following:

telephone number of a veterinarian who can be contacted at any time;
clean strips of fabric - you can tear a cotton sheet;
disposable diapers;
sterile threads (pre-soaked in alcohol);
sterile scissors with blunt ends (can be boiled for 10-20 minutes);
gloves;
alcohol antiseptic or alcohol for hand treatment;
container for placenta;
warmer;
baby bulb or pipette for suctioning mucus.

You should prepare as much as possible for childbirth, so as not to be terrified of searching around the house for everything you need.

Possible complications after childbirth

Childbirth in a cat does not always go smoothly. Sometimes complications occur, some of which can even threaten the pet’s life. The owner must recognize them in time and try to eliminate the consequences.

Dead kitten

The causes of stillbirth in a cat can be either intrauterine death or death from asphyxia during passage through the birth canal. If a kitten is born without signs of life (does not move, does not squeak for 10–15 minutes), then it should be removed from the cat and other healthy kittens.

I just had a situation where a kitten got stuck in the birth canal and died. We were at work all day and that's when the cat started giving birth. When we returned, at first we didn’t suspect anything. But the cat had some kind of dense lump sticking out under its tail. After about twenty minutes we realized that not everything was going smoothly. My husband got down to business, he performed some manipulations, and the lump was born, but, unfortunately, already lifeless. Fortunately, the next two babies were born without problems.

The kitten can't get out

If the kitten cannot pass through the birth canal and is stuck there, then the cat must be injected with 0.2 mg of oxytocin. When the medicine does not work and the situation is not resolved, it is necessary to urgently contact a veterinarian to solve the problem surgically. It is unacceptable to pull a kitten yourself - this can cause harm not only to the baby, but also to the cat.

The kitten got out, but there is a bubble sticking out

The cat can cope with this problem on its own, however, in the event of a difficult birth, if the animal is too tired, veterinary care may be required, the absence of which is fraught with dangerous consequences.

How to deliver a cat

The most important thing in helping a cat is a positive attitude and lack of panic. Childbirth, although a natural process, is important to control it to the maximum. Especially if the cat is purebred. For example, in British and Scottish cats, births rarely occur naturally over the last 2-3 years. Increasingly, these breeds are being delivered by caesarean section. This is due to the structural features of the pelvis and the absence of contractions.

At the stage of contractions and pushing

How long do cats live at home?

With a natural birth, the kitten comes out in 1-2 contractions. You can pull the kitten lightly and very carefully, but only when the cat is in a fight. To understand when a contraction is occurring, you should place your other hand on the cat’s stomach and try to feel when it tenses.

However, it is better not to interfere with the cat again.

Important! If more than two hours have passed since the start of contractions, and the cat still cannot give birth to her first kitten, this is a reason to contact the veterinarian and immediately go to the clinic. If the head or hind legs and pelvis have already been born, and then there is a pause of more than 20 minutes, you should also contact your doctor.

How to understand that labor will begin soon: signs

There are several main signs by which you can determine the imminent labor activity in your cat:

a few hours before the birth process begins, the pet begins to behave restlessly, refuses food, and in every way avoids contact with strangers;
Colostrum gradually appears on the nipples. In addition, characteristic vaginal discharge may appear;
About a day before the onset of labor, a pregnant cat's belly drops.

Important! To stimulate contractions, 0.3 ml of oxytocin can be administered intramuscularly every half hour. But it should be remembered that more than three injections are unacceptable.

Based on the above signs, you can know with 95% probability that the cat will give birth soon. The approximate date of birth can be calculated if you know the exact date of mating. Labor activity often begins on days 59-70.

Possible complications during lambing

Complications during lambing can occur at any stage of birth in both mother and kittens.

Complications from the parturient side may be the following:

ruptures of the birth canal due to hypertension;
bleeding;
refusal of kittens - the cat is not interested in newborns and growls if they are placed near her;
sepsis;
uterine prolapse;
retention of placenta;
acute mastitis – inflammation of the mammary glands;
cannibalism.

Newborn problems:

congenital malformations - cleft palate, development of internal organs outside the body;
intrauterine infections, due to which kittens are stillborn or die in the first few days;
abnormal position of the fetus - in such cases the cat will not be able to give birth on its own;
aspiration (inhalation) of amniotic fluid, pneumonia.

Cleft palate in a kitten

How you can help:

Before mating a cat, it is necessary to thoroughly examine her and the future father of the kittens for the presence of infections and pathologies that are transmitted genetically.
During pregnancy, transfer the cat to specialized food for pregnant and lactating cats.
Take an x-ray a week before the expected birth - this way you can accurately find out the number of kittens in order to understand when the birth should end. It is impossible to determine their number by ultrasound.
Create the most sterile conditions for childbirth.
Find “your” veterinarian and enlist his support.

A breed such as the Scottish has two variants of the phenotype - fold-eared and straight-eared. And it requires a special approach when breeding.

It is very important that only one of the parents has lop ears. If you cross two fold cats, then 100% of the kittens will be born with articular pathologies and will hardly live to be three years old. These will be disabled animals. This disease is called osteochondroplasia of Scottish fold cats and is associated with a mutation of cartilage tissue.

What you should always remember

Your task is to maintain “Nordic” calm. Even if you have never seen a cat give birth before, there is no need to panic. Believe me, our pets perfectly sense the emotional mood of their owners. If you are nervous and panicky, your cat will also be under a lot of stress. This will not help the birth in any way.

Let us immediately warn the “cleanies” that the birth of kittens is a dirty process. There will be blood, mucus, birth waters. Remember that the birth of a kitten wrapped in a kind of “bag” is normal. These are the placental membranes.

A cat that gives birth must definitely tear this sac for each kitten, since otherwise the baby may well suffocate.
Each kitten will have an umbilical cord. As with the placenta, the mother cat must chew the umbilical cord.
The mother will eat the placenta and umbilical cord. This is also completely normal and nothing to worry about. Eating placentas is a physiological mechanism. In the wild, it prevents other predators from discovering a cat's lair.

Always remember that your cat may behave uncharacteristically during labor. She will probably meow loudly, scream, and make other sounds that are uncharacteristic for her. If you hear them, there is no need to panic. Try to remain quiet during labor.

The calmer your pet is, the greater the likelihood of a successful birth. From time to time you can talk to your pet. The sounds of its owner's confident voice will calm the cat down.

Difficulties are rare, but we must not forget about them!

More than 99% of cat births are completed successfully and quickly, even without the intervention of a veterinarian or the owner himself directly at home. But still, never forget that childbirth is a complex process, so the possibility of complications can never be ruled out.

We immediately warn owners: trying to help an animal give birth without having the appropriate experience and qualifications is a very bad idea.

If you don’t know a veterinarian who can come to your aid at any time of the day or night, find the number for 24-hour veterinary help in advance. Ideally (especially if the cat is primiparous), it is generally worth agreeing with a specialist so that he can supervise the entire birth process. Most likely, such a service will not be too cheap, but still the health and life of your pet is much more important.

In addition, it doesn’t hurt to take care of the availability of transport in advance so that, if necessary, you can quickly bring the cat to the clinic. If you don’t have your own car, take care of a quick taxi phone number: in severe cases, the time can be calculated in minutes.

Always try to use the services of the most experienced and competent veterinarians, since poor-quality obstetric care may well lead to the development of extremely serious postpartum complications.

Finally, it doesn’t hurt to set aside a certain amount for veterinary care for your pet and her kittens. Please note that if you call at night and supervise the birth, you may need to spend a little more money. Remember that if necessary, you may need formula to feed kittens (cow's milk is absolutely not suitable), so think about where you can buy it in your city.

What to do with newborn kittens

Normally, the cat immediately chews the bladder and umbilical cord of the newborn and begins to actively lick the kitten in order to warm and dry it. A healthy kitten begins to cry almost immediately after birth, its lungs open due to the cry.

Newborn kittens

If a cat does not pay attention to newborns, then all worries about the kittens fall on the shoulders of the owners.

In this case, the action plan is as follows:

Gently break the bubble in which the kitten was born with your fingers.
Tie the umbilical cord with a sterile thread at a distance of 5-7 cm from the kitten. With a quick and precise movement, cut the umbilical cord so that the tied part remains with the kitten.
If the kitten does not cry, suck out the mucus from its mouth and nostrils using a baby bulb or pipette.
If there is no scream, you should carefully and firmly grasp the kitten's head so that the neck is fixed and the kitten's mouth is open. It will be more convenient to place your index finger on the kitten’s head, the thumb holds the mouth open, and the middle finger holds the neck. The ring finger, index finger and palm hold the kitten's body. It is important to check that the tongue does not stick into the throat. Next, you need to make a strong and sharp movement with your hand from top to bottom, as if shaking out mucus from the kitten’s throat and repeat step 3).
If the kittens' movements and cries are weak, you should rub the withers between your fingers with force - this stimulates the kittens to scream louder and the lungs to open better.

Note! Points 3 and 4 can be attributed to resuscitation actions, when the kitten does not show signs of life for more than 3-5 minutes. Resuscitation is effective for the first 10 minutes. Kittens with visible developmental pathologies should not be resuscitated.

Childbirth is coming soon, getting ready

However, there is no need to worry ahead of time: as practice proves, cats are hardworking and diligent mothers (and, alas, very fertile), and therefore they do not need much help. In almost 100% of cases, childbirth goes well without any human intervention. True, this in no way relieves the owners of the responsibility of caring for the pet during its pregnancy, as well as the task of feeding it properly.

We advise you to start preparing for childbirth about a week before your expected due date.

You will need:

Fabric stock. Veterinarians and experienced breeders advise using fleece or flannel rags. Please note that kittens constantly crawling around their “den” can become entangled and suffocate if the fabric is too fibrous. For the same reason, we would strongly advise against using cotton wool as bedding.
Notepad or smartphone. It never hurts to carefully document the birth process, carefully noting the time of birth of the kittens, as well as the number of placentas delivered. This data will be very helpful in further communication with the veterinarian (if your pet needs his help).
Sharp nail scissors and, ideally, surgical tweezers may be required. All this is necessary in cases where it is necessary to cut the umbilical cord.
Antiseptic solution. A regular alcohol tincture of iodine is quite suitable.
Gauze bandages.
Unwaxed dental floss (even better - regular silk thread ). It may also be necessary when trimming the umbilical cord.
Disposable gloves. This is a matter of prime necessity. They are needed both when providing birth care (which we do not recommend doing on your own), and when caring for newborn kittens (if the cat is very tired and cannot do it on her own).
In principle, a special milk formula for feeding kittens and a special bottle would not hurt. If you couldn’t find the latter, an insulin syringe (without a needle, of course) is ideal. However, all this can be bought later, if the need arises (usually a cat does an excellent job of feeding her offspring on her own).
Also, a kitchen scale . They may be required if there is a suspicion of premature birth (the potential and viability of babies is determined by their weight).

But, no matter how strange it may seem to you, the emotional preparation of the owner is of great importance. If you run around a giving birth cat in a panic, nothing good will come of it, believe me.

How to care for a cat after giving birth

The best care is to feed the mother sufficiently and provide her with warmth and rest. A cat may refuse to eat up to 24 hours after giving birth and this is normal. However, fresh food and water should always be available to her.

For the first week, it is better not to touch the kittens so that the mother does not get nervous - the cat can easily move the children to a more secluded place, in her opinion, where it will be impossible to find or get them.

Cat with kittens

The cat started giving birth, what should I do?

No need to panic. This is a natural process. It can last from 45 minutes to 5 hours. The cat begins to purr, breathing quickens. Discharge from the vulva begins. In some cases, a small amount of blood comes out.

The timing of this stage depends on which cat is giving birth. Experienced or for the first time. In a young cat experiencing childbirth for the first time, this stage can last for hours.

The next stage is accompanied by contractions. Ideally, they last between ten and thirty minutes. If the kittens do not appear after 5 hours, then the help of a veterinarian is necessary. Or you can give an injection intramuscularly - Gamavit 0.5 ml.

How do kittens appear?

The kittens follow one after another. The mother cat immediately begins to lick them. She gnaws the umbilical cord and begins feeding.

There are also cases when a cat can continue to give birth two days after the birth of the first kittens. This is called superfecundation. This phenomenon is normal and is due to the fact that kittens born later have a different father. That is, they were conceived some time after the first conception.

When the birth process is going well, there is no need to interfere. You can just calmly observe without disturbing the cat.

Cat needs help giving birth

So, you felt that everything did not go as desired and your help during the birth of a cat is needed. Your finest hour has come. Now everything is in your hands. Remember we mentioned items that need to be prepared in advance? Now you may need them.

Tips for delivering a cat:

Wash your hands and get started.
Tear the birth sac, very carefully. But only if it is intact. The umbilical cord should not be touched yet. (All these actions should be performed if the cat does not do this herself. Usually she chews everything herself.)
Make sure the kitten starts breathing.
Clear mucus from your nose. You can use a pipette. Use a towel.
There are no signs of breathing after you remove the mucus. In this case, start rubbing until the kitten is breathing.
Dry with a towel.
Take the threads and tie the umbilical cord. You need to bandage it in 2 places. The first one is from the kitten’s tummy at a distance of 2.5 cm. and then another one.
Take scissors and cut the umbilical cord between the bandages.
Disinfect the ends of the cut umbilical cord.
Take the kitten and place it on the mother's nipple.
Make sure he starts suckling his mother's milk.

Let's remember in what cases you will have to seek help from a veterinarian:

A pregnant cat begins to give birth before 55 days.
The period is more than 65 days. Labor does not begin.
The cat started having contractions and has been going on for an hour and a half, but the kittens are not appearing.
A kitten was born. Over the next 3 hours, nothing happens and no new kittens are born, although contractions continue.
Before labor begins, you notice yellow or greenish discharge.
The cat and newborn kittens are very lethargic. When examining their mucous membranes, a white coating was discovered.
If uterine prolapse occurs.
24 hours have passed since the cat gave birth, her temperature is 39.5C. She is not eating anything and has a foul-smelling discharge from her vulva.

A story from veterinary practice on giving birth to a Persian cat

A Persian cat arrived. About one and a half years old. She gives birth for the first time. She started giving birth on the 60th day, after a successful mating with a male cat. When the first signs were discovered that labor was beginning, Gamavit 1 ml was administered. intramuscularly.

After 35 minutes, the amniotic fluid began to recede and along with it, we saw the first kitten. She gave birth well, did not reproduce any suffering or sounds indicating this.

At the time of birth, the discharge was transparent. There were no blood impurities. The afterbirth came out without any problems, as it should be with a kitten. The mother cat herself began to handle the newborn. When she chewed through the umbilical cord, he found and grabbed the nipple and began to actively suck.

10 minutes later, another kitten appeared. The actions were repeated. The total birth time for the two kittens was 25 minutes. She rested for the next 35 minutes. Next, another 1 injection of Gamavit 0.5 ml was given.

The next kittens did not take long to arrive and after 13 minutes we saw 3 kittens. The fourth one came out next. The total delivery time took about three hours. The babies turned out to be cheerful, actively looked for nipples and began to eat milk intensively.

After the birth, another 0.5 gamavit was administered. The afterbirth also came out without any problems almost together with the kittens. The mother was in a good mood. She had enough milk. After 24 hours, the babies had already scattered throughout the box and were sleeping freely.

How to prepare for a cat giving birth

You need to prepare for lambing in advance, before the cat herself has set up a nest somewhere in the closet or under the bed. If this happens, it will be inconvenient to care for a mother with children. About 2-3 weeks before the expected date of birth, you need to arrange a cozy place where the babies will be born.

You can use various objects as a nest. The main thing is that the whole cat family can stay there. Let's consider several options:

a spacious cardboard box or box with several ventilation holes;
a special birth box, which is sold in pet stores;
a small children's play tent in the form of a house or cube.

Requirements for the nesting area - free access from above, the presence of an entrance for the cat. It should be located at a height of 10 cm from the floor so that the kittens cannot go outside on their own. You need to put oilcloth inside, and a clean old sheet or unnecessary rags on top.

Attention! You cannot use newspapers, cotton wool, or fabrics with frayed edges as bedding - kittens can get tangled in the threads and suffocate.

The box is placed in a dark place in the apartment, protected from drafts. It is advisable to place it where household members are least likely to visit. The room should be warm, but not stuffy.

Show the expectant mother a ready-made nest for lambing, let her sniff everything and lie there. If you notice that closer to the birth the cat is trying to arrange another place, it is better to move the box there.