Intervals Between the Birth of Kittens – Cats and Dogs in simple words

Childbirth in a cat is a natural process that ends pregnancy and involves the fetus leaving the uterus through the cervix and vagina (birth canal).

First birth of a cat

As a rule, experienced cats themselves know what to do. But if a cat gives birth for the first time, problems may arise, since the cat does not have a good idea of ​​what is happening to it. And in order to know how to help a cat give birth for the first time, you need to understand that childbirth is a lot of stress for a cat.

The first birth of a cat: what should the owner do? First of all, you need to prepare a cozy place for childbirth in advance. As a rule, a spacious box serves as a delivery room, and the sides should not be too high so that the cat can easily get inside. The “birthing room” should be located in a quiet, secluded place.

Also, to help your cat give birth for the first time, you need to prepare:

1. Surgical gloves.
2. Cotton buds.
3. Sharp scissors.
4. Clean cloth (cotton) or diaper.
5. Clean towels (terry).
6. Cotton buds.
7. Gauze or cotton swabs.
8. Boiled thread.
9. Powdered milk formula (from a veterinary pharmacy or pet store).
10. Pipette or rubber bulb.
11. Syringe.
12. Container for used materials.
13. Liquid antiseptic (veterinary).
14. Antibiotic ointment.

It is better to put everything you need in one place in advance (about a week before the expected date of birth). And don’t forget to put in a visible place the phone number of a veterinarian who can tell you what to do or come if necessary.

Cat before giving birth

Many owners ask how their cat behaves before giving birth. This is necessary to know in order to prepare for the cat’s birth and not miss its beginning.

What does a cat do before giving birth?

A few hours before giving birth, the cat begins to show anxiety. From this moment on, it is better to stay nearby in order to provide assistance to your pet if necessary.

1. Active washing, as the cat’s genitals increase in size and turn pink. The cat should not have any discharge before giving birth.

2. Decreased activity. Before giving birth, the cat's behavior becomes apathetic and detached, she looks bored. Don't try to entertain her.

3. Decreased appetite. Water must continue to be available at all times.

4. Arching as during contractions. This trait of a cat's behavior before giving birth is explained by short contractions of the uterus.

Also, a cat before giving birth may behave somewhat unusually: meow loudly, seem scared, try to hide in a secluded corner. Therefore, a few days before the expected date of birth, block the cat’s access to hard-to-reach places.

What can the owner do to ease the cat’s condition before giving birth: be nearby, stroke if the cat allows it, talk in an even, gentle voice.

How does a cat give birth?

Another common question from owners is how to tell if a cat is in labor. The beginning of labor in a cat is marked by contractions - contractions of the uterus. Contractions in a cat begin several hours before the kittens appear and increase gradually. You should take your cat to the delivery room and prepare everything you need.

Signs of labor in a cat

Owners often ask what are the signs that a cat is going into labor. The following signs will help you understand that your cat is about to give birth:

1. The cat's belly takes on a pear-shaped shape - it drops.
2. The cat goes to the toilet more often due to a more frequent urge to urinate.
3. The birth plug comes off and mucus is released.
4. The water breaks, and the cat licks itself thoroughly.
5. Breathing becomes more frequent and shortness of breath is possible.

As a rule, the first kitten is born within 2 hours after the cat begins strong contractions. If the cat pushes for 3 hours or more without success, or brown discharge with an unpleasant odor appears from the vulva, immediately take the cat to the veterinarian. Surgery may be necessary.

Preparation

The owner of a cat is obliged to prepare for her birth. The first step is to prepare a nest with low sides in which lambing will occur. To avoid injury, the cat must freely get out of the box without touching its edges with the mammary glands.

Nest for a cat with kittens

A prudent fellinologist is obliged to agree in advance with a veterinarian to provide assistance during childbirth or conduct consultations by telephone. The following tools should be on hand:

• Veterinarian contact number.
• Aseptic gloves.
• Pipettes.
• Sterile thread.
• Disinfected scissors.
• Antiseptics.
• Box for newborns with a heating pad.
• Gel lubricant to facilitate the exit of the fetus from the birth canal.
• Clean cotton diapers.
• Cat milk replacer.

Thermometry
A responsible cat owner should perform thermometry on a cat who is about to give birth. 1…3 days before lambing, T° drops below 37° C. At this time, the cat actively licks the genitals. The expectant mother becomes isolated in her own experiences.

Arching your back signals that contractions will occur in 4...8 hours. The animal is worried, meows invitingly, calling its owner, or hides. Lost appetite. The cat independently chooses a place for lambing; it is impossible to convince her otherwise, so you should arrange a place that your pet likes. Firstborns can kitten anywhere, scattering kittens throughout the apartment.

You should start preparing to give birth to your pet about a week before the kittens are born. First of all, you should find a suitable box with an open top or a removable lid, put a rag or a disposable diaper there, and under them you can put a washable rubber or cork mat. Ideally, it should be open not only at the top, but also on one side, so that the female, weakened after childbirth, does not have to jump into it.

A house for a pregnant cat can be made from any suitable box

It is advisable to place the box in a place that the cat herself chooses (to do this, you need to note where exactly the cat begins to nest), but at the same time, the “dwelling” should be insulated from cold, heat, children and other pets. You need to place bowls with food and water nearby, and gradually accustom the expectant mother to the new place.

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A day or two before the expected birth, you should acquire materials and tools that may be useful in the process:

• sterile gloves (2-3 pairs) and disposable diapers;
• a small syringe or large syringe for sucking out mucus from the mouth and nose of kittens;
• thick threads for tying the umbilical cord;
• scissors with sharp, disinfected blades in case the umbilical cord needs to be cut;
• clean and ironed pieces of cotton cloth for wiping kittens;
• Vaseline oil and pipette;
• water container;
• cotton buds;
• several disposable syringes with a volume of 2 and 5 ml;
• brilliant green or other antiseptic for cauterizing the umbilical cord.

A baby syringe is necessary for sucking out mucus from the mouth and nose of kittens

In addition to materials and tools, the owner is recommended to acquire medications that will help avoid problems and serious complications.

Table 1. Drugs that are recommended to be purchased before the birth of kittens.

In addition, you need to find out the coordinates of the nearest veterinary clinic and think about how to quickly get to it in an extraordinary situation.

How long does it take for a cat to give birth?

Another popular question from cat owners is: how long does it take for a cat to give birth?

The duration of labor in a cat should normally not exceed 12 - 18 hours (from the moment the first kitten appears).

If a cat's labor lasts longer, this is a bad sign. If the duration of labor (from the first to the last kitten) takes more than 24 hours, this is also a sign of pathology and a reason to seek help from a specialist.

If a cat’s labor lasts more than 48 hours, the probability of getting live kittens is almost zero. To save a cat and kittens, surgery is most often needed in such cases.

Maternal care

As a rule, there are no special recommendations for caring for healthy, newly born kittens with a mother present. The programs of maternal instincts in cats are laid down at the highest level, so it is better to take care of a pet who has devoted a lot of effort to the complex birth process.

Once a cat begins to feed its cubs with milk, it needs good nutrition, rich in proteins, vitamins and beneficial microelements. If there is an acute issue about the distribution of offspring, babies can be taught to eat independently from the age of three weeks.

Giving birth to a cat at home

It is useful for owners to know how to organize the birth of a cat at home and how to help a cat during birth at home.

What can an owner do to help a cat during childbirth?

First of all, closely monitor the birth and keep the veterinarian's phone number handy. If you see that something is wrong (for example, if the first kitten does not appear within 7 hours of the onset of strong contractions), seek professional help as soon as possible.

Stay calm and, no matter what happens, do not scream or flash in front of the cat's eyes. Ask that no one else enters the room until the cat gives birth. Talk to your cat calmly and affectionately.

How to deliver a cat

Another popular question from owners: how to deliver a cat? Make sure that when giving birth to a cat at home, the placenta does not remain inside the animal. The placenta remaining inside can cause an inflammatory process.

Please note that after each kitten there is an afterbirth, which the cat usually eats. But don't let your cat eat more than 2 afterbirths - this will cause digestive upset.

If the kitten begins to breathe inside the bubble, it may stop breathing. Take the kitten (carefully!) in your hand, lower the head down a little so that water flows out of the spout. If that doesn't help, shake your baby a little. Make sure your breathing is normal. The kitten's tongue should be pink. If he turns blue, wrap the baby in a diaper and hold him upside down for a while. As soon as the kitten squeaks, it can be given to its mother.

If your cat does not chew the umbilical cord, your job is to cut the umbilical cord for her. Pull the umbilical cord with a thread (about 2 cm from the kitten’s tummy) and cut it with disinfected scissors, wipe the cut area with an antiseptic.

Dry the babies with a soft diaper and place them on a heating pad covered with a bedding.

As a rule, after the birth is complete, the cat looks relaxed and peaceful and begins to feed the kittens. At this point, the best thing you can do to help your cat give birth is to leave her alone, after changing the bedding. Make sure your cat has food and water in his bowl. Keep other animals away from your children, including a cat if it lives in your house.

How to distinguish normality from pathology, and how to help your cat

Normally, the most important part of childbirth occurs as follows: the kitten emerges from the birth canal head first, in the amniotic sac, which ruptures on its own or is ruptured by the cat. After this, the mother intensively licks the baby, clearing it of any remaining amniotic fluid, gnaws the umbilical cord, eats the afterbirth that follows the kitten, and places the baby closer to the stomach so that it begins to suck colostrum. The birth of one baby takes about 15 minutes.

Normally, a cat gnaws the umbilical cord itself and cares for newborns.

If everything happens this way, the newborns begin to squeak, move and suck milk, and the cat looks normal, the owner can only count the cubs and the placenta - they need to be equal in number (the placenta remaining in the uterus can cause an inflammatory process and other complications). Help for a giving birth cat is only necessary for complications, which can be mild or severe - in the first case, the owner of the animal can cope on his own, and in the second, the help of an experienced veterinarian is required.

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At the beginning of labor, the cat requires practically no assistance - the owner can talk gently to the woman in labor, and also lightly stroke her back and stomach. This will calm the animal and at the same time stimulate labor. For individuals with long hair, you can loosely wrap a piece of gauze around the base of the tail so that the kittens do not get confused, and it is easier to control the process. If the female becomes restless or aggressive, it is better to leave her alone and watch the birth from the side.

The cat should be lightly stroked on the back and belly

The following stages of lambing are distinguished:

• First stage. Characterized by an increase in pain. Bloody excreta appears from the swollen vulva. Contractions begin. The duration of stage I is 12…24 hours.
• The second stage is the birth of the first kitten. An amniotic sac (bubble) appears. Liquid flows out of it, the cub moves forward with its head or hind legs. The cat frees its cub from the bladder, licks it, bites the umbilical cord. The kitten takes its first breath, accompanied by meowing. The mother applies it to the nipple and eats the afterbirth.
• The third phase is manifested by a temporary cessation of contractions after the release of each kitten and placenta. It is not recommended to let your cat eat more than two placentas. After 10...15 minutes, new attempts and the birth of the next one follow.

The cat releases the kitten from the amniotic sac.
It is necessary to count the released placenta. Their number should be equal to the number of kittens born. If any of the placentas do not come out, you need to contact your veterinarian. In total, the second and third stages of labor last 2...6 hours, with an average of 3...5 kittens being born.

Delayed birth is considered a variant of the norm. The cat is busy with the kitten, and suddenly, after 1/2…3/2 days, labor resumes.

The amniotic sac comes out

How many kittens can a cat give birth to?

Another logical question from owners: how many kittens can a cat give birth to at one time (the first time or the maximum number)?

As a rule, for the first time a cat can give birth to 1 – 3 kittens, since the cat’s reproductive system is not fully formed. Older cats also give birth to a small number of kittens - their reproductive function fades.

How many kittens can a cat in her prime give birth to at one time? Typically up to 6 kittens. After all, nature has endowed a cat with only 8 nipples, which means that it is difficult for a cat to feed more than 8 kittens.

However, there are exceptions. No one knows exactly how many kittens a cat can give birth to, but there have been recorded cases of the birth of 12 kittens.

Gestation period and number of kittens

Owners are concerned about the effect of the number of offspring on the duration of pregnancy. Although there is no scientific confirmation of this, it is still noted that the more kittens, the shorter the gestation period. In this way, nature protects the mother’s body from exhaustion. The variation in the number of kittens is quite large. This is influenced by many factors, the main one of which is the physiological characteristics of the animal.

The length and number of kittens a cat bears depends on the breed.

For example, the Siamese breed is characterized by multiple births: up to 13 babies are born in one lamb. Gestation time is 8-9 weeks. Large breed cats give birth to four kittens, which last a long time. The female of the Scottish breed carries her offspring from 8 to 10 weeks.

Also, the number of cubs depends on the age of the pet. A first-time cat gives birth to 1-3 kittens; her body is not yet ready for multiple pregnancies. In the future, she can bear up to 6 cubs. An aging cat may give birth to one or two kittens.

Cat after birth

What to do after giving birth to a cat?

This is also a popular question among owners. The birth can be considered complete if, 1.5 - 2 hours after the birth of the last kitten, the cat has no contractions, the stomach is soft and all the placenta have come out. During this period, the main thing is to feed the cat properly and protect it from stress.

If the birth took place without complications, as a rule, after 14 days the cat recovers completely, and the kittens grow significantly.

When can a cat become pregnant after giving birth?

Owners often ask how quickly a cat can become pregnant after giving birth and can a cat become pregnant immediately after giving birth? It must be taken into account that giving birth and feeding kittens is a huge burden on the cat’s body, which exhausts the animal and can lead to diseases.

So after giving birth, the cat needs a recovery period. On average, a cat comes into heat 1 – 2 months after giving birth. But even if the cat is ready to become pregnant immediately after giving birth and begins to ask for a cat, take measures to prevent pregnancy from occurring.

The maximum number of births a cat can give birth to is once a year. In this case, the cat has the opportunity to recover from previous births and raising kittens.

When can a cat be spayed after giving birth?

Sometimes owners are interested in whether it is possible to sterilize a cat after giving birth and when can a cat be sterilized after giving birth? Veterinarians cannot answer this question unequivocally. The answer to the question of how long to sterilize a cat after giving birth depends on whether the cat is nursing kittens. If your cat is nursing kittens, you should not spay her immediately after giving birth. As a rule, veterinarians say that a cat can be sterilized no earlier than 2 months after birth. Sterilizing a cat after birth is fraught with serious complications (including death) and is possible only in exceptional cases.

The cat does not have milk after giving birth

There are several reasons why a cat does not produce milk after giving birth:

1. Stress.
2. Infection. In this case, treatment with antibiotics is necessary.
3. Lack of maternal instinct - occurs, as a rule, in a young cat.
4. Poor nutrition. Give your cat more dairy products, vitamins and protein.
5. Hormonal imbalance.

In any case, you need to contact a specialist and follow his recommendations.

What to feed a cat after giving birth

Many owners are concerned about the question of what to feed their cat after giving birth. How to feed a cat that has given birth?

During the first 10 to 12 days after birth, the diet of a nursing cat should include only nutritious, natural and easily digestible foods: fermented milk, cereals and vegetables. If your cat really lacks meat, you can give boiled dietary meat.

It is better to exclude dry food: a large amount of salt and a small amount of liquid makes it difficult for a cat to produce milk after birth. However, if a cat has allergies, a sudden change in diet is contraindicated. In other cases, familiar foods are introduced into the diet of a nursing cat on the 14th day. Please note that after giving birth, your cat needs to be given foods that contain magnesium and calcium. Ask your veterinarian which supplements to choose. It is important that food for a nursing cat is always fresh. Water must be freely available.

Problems during childbirth that you can solve on your own

As soon as the second, most important phase of childbirth begins, the cat’s owner must be nearby at all times in order to notice possible pathologies in time and provide assistance to the animal. With regular contractions, you can give an injection of calcium gluconate (1 ml) at 3-4 different points on the cat’s body, and another injection after birth - this will help the cat endure contractions more easily and prevent eclampsia.

Help for a giving birth cat is only necessary if there are complications.

What to do, if:

• The kitten is stuck in the genital tract and comes out with its back or tail first. This happens when the fetus is malpresented or in situations where the kitten is quite large. If left to chance, the baby may suffocate in the birth canal, so the owner needs to put on disposable gloves, lubricate his fingertips with Vaseline and carefully pull him out. It is better to pull not by the paws (there is a high risk of breaking or damaging them), but by the skin on the withers, grabbing it with three fingers.
• The amniotic sac did not rupture. In such cases, the cat must rupture the amniotic sac itself, but sometimes it cannot perform its functions due to inexperience or weakness, and then the “obstetrician” must release the kitten. The bubble should be broken close to the baby's nose, being extremely careful not to scratch its delicate skin.
• The cat did not bite the umbilical cord. Females do not bite the umbilical cord immediately - usually after the baby is completely cleansed of tissue and water residues. If this does not happen 15-20 minutes after the baby comes out, you need to cut it yourself. To do this, the umbilical cord is tied with a clean thread, 4-5 cm away from the kitten’s body, after which it is cut from the side of its abdomen next to the constriction. After completing the procedure, you should make sure that the cat begins to lick the incision site - if she refuses to do this, you need to cauterize it with an antiseptic.

Females do not immediately bite the umbilical cord

• The cat does not care for newborns. Licking kittens immediately after their birth is necessary not for reasons of hygiene, but for the start of normal life of the offspring. If the cat has not started grooming the kitten, you need to rupture the amniotic sac, cut the umbilical cord, then wipe the baby with a clean cloth and use a syringe to remove mucus from the nose and mouth. Next, it is advisable to place it on the cat’s nipples - it will begin to drink colostrum, massaging the stomach and nipples with its paws, and the whole process will go faster.
• The kitten is breathing unevenly or not breathing at all. Most often this happens in cases where he inhales a certain amount of amniotic fluid. The kitten should be picked up, held head down for a few seconds and gently shaken - after which it should squeak. To make sure that the baby is in normal condition, you can examine his tongue - it should be pink, which indicates normal saturation of the body with oxygen.

The kitten should be picked up and its viability checked

• The placenta does not come out of the uterus. If at least one placenta remains in the genital tract and does not come out approximately an hour after the birth of all kittens, you need to carefully pull it out by wrapping your fingers in a clean bandage.

After all the kittens have been born, you need to remove all garbage and dirty diapers, cover the box with clean bedding if necessary, and make sure that all the babies have access to their mother's milk and are sufficiently active. If the cat is in no hurry to show maternal instinct, runs away from the kittens, does not want or for some reason cannot feed them, you should buy a special milk formula and a feeding device (sold in veterinary pharmacies).

After giving birth, you need to make sure that the cat and kittens are healthy

How to feed a newborn kitten if the mother cat refuses to do so

The cat can't give birth

Normal birth in a cat lasts no more than 18 hours. If the process is delayed, it means that the cat cannot give birth normally. What to do if the cat cannot give birth?

First of all, seek help from your veterinarian. There are many reasons for birth pathologies, and only a specialist can properly help your pet.

If 24 hours have passed since the start of labor and the cat is still unable to give birth, the kittens are most likely dead. And in this case, surgery is necessary. But first, X-ray diagnostics may be needed.

The main rule: if you see that something went wrong during the cat’s birth, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible!

Not all kittens were born: what to do?

Sometimes the process of giving birth to furry babies drags on for a long period. This often happens for the first time in cats, and even more often in the case of numerous offspring. Is it possible to use some signs to understand whether all the kittens have been born or not? What should you do if one or more babies remain in the womb, and the cat is not going to give birth anymore? The following manifestations may be reasons for concern:

• the animal behaves strangely;
• when palpating the cat’s abdomen, a lump is felt that is the size of a kitten;
• the size of the abdomen does not decrease;
• body temperature rises to 39 degrees;
• A greenish fluid is released from the vagina.

It often happens that a cat takes a “time out” after the birth of 4-5 kittens. During the rest period, she begins her new maternal responsibilities of caring for the already born babies, and after a certain period of time, the cat cubs temporarily remaining in the womb will be born. In this case, you should not worry.

However, if one of the above signs is present that there is a kitten left in the pet’s womb, the owner’s actions should be clear: it is necessary to urgently contact specialists. You cannot hesitate, because you will have to save not only the fetus, but also the cat.