The plug came off in a pregnant cat at 59 days

Discharge

Just before childbirth, you can observe the release of the mucous plug. What does a traffic jam look like? A thick, jelly-like substance, white-brown-dirty in color, sometimes with blood streaks. After some time or immediately, the cat’s amniotic fluid breaks. Often everything goes away at the moment the birth process begins. But in most cases, the plug in cats goes away in an average of one day before giving birth, rarely in three. If labor does not begin after the mucous membrane has been removed, it makes sense to consult a veterinarian.

During the period of passage of the mucus plug, a hormone is released into the blood, relaxing not only the uterus and its cervical canal, but also the muscles of the pelvic area. The risk of paw injuries increases due to an increase in the load from body weight against the background of a weakening of the muscular system.

Any discharge from the genital opening during pregnancy is a sign of deviation from the norm. Also, any intense bloody discharge during any period of gestation of kittens (any bleeding from a cat’s loop), and especially just before birth, is considered abnormal.

A particularly dangerous symptom is considered if the cat begins to bleed before giving birth. This condition indicates the onset of pathological rapid labor or miscarriage. Go to the vet immediately!

Discharge from a cat before birth is allowed to have a mucous consistency, slightly yellowish-pinkish in color. Often they are not noticed at all - there are few of them, and the cat manages to lick itself. Discharge in any quantity should alert you if it is of the following shades:

• intense pink – a sign of a fungal infection in the genital tract;
• green – bacterial infection;
• black-green, accompanied by a sharp, unpleasant odor, are a sign of rotting (immediate surgical intervention will be required);
• cloudy yellow or yellow-green is a sign of purulent inflammation in the womb.

You can see what a cat looks like before giving birth in the photo:

Normal pregnancy process, stages and timing

In a healthy animal, the process of pregnancy and childbirth occurs without the need for intervention or assistance.
In purebred, small, problem cats, childbirth may occur with complications. In more developed countries, there is a special profession - zooobstetrician, a specialist responsible for the favorable course of childbirth, preserving the life and health of the mother and offspring. In “our realities,” all responsibility falls on the shoulders of the owners and general veterinarians. On average, a normal cat pregnancy lasts 60–65 days, but the period can vary by 7–10 days depending on the breed and body composition of the expectant mother. Conventionally, pregnancy is divided into 3 stages:

• Mating – 3 weeks: after mating, the cat experiences swelling of the mucous membranes of the genital tract, but this does not guarantee pregnancy. Clear signs are observed from the third week: Drowsiness, decreased appetite and activity.
• Requires affection and attention.
• Vomiting (no more than 3 times a day, no longer than 2-3 days).
• Distinct pigmentation of the mammary glands - from light to bright pink.
• An enlarged uterus, which can be detected by a veterinarian by palpation.

• 4-6 weeks: Rapid growth of the “babies” and “rounding” of the cat. By week 6, the amount of fluid in the uterus increases, and the kittens begin to make their first movements.
• Kittens can be “felt” when gently palpated.
• The cat eats and sleeps more, otherwise behaves as usual.

• 7–9 weeks: Kittens are actively moving. The movements are clearly visible to the naked eye, especially if the cat is sleeping.
• Swelling of the mammary glands, release of colostrum.
• Some cats have a whitish vaginal discharge, which is normal.
• Increased anxiety and making a “den”.

Once the cervix is ​​completely open, the process of “expulsion” of the kittens begins. Remember without prejudice or arrogance - the cat is in pain, it has lost a lot of strength in contractions, the animal is very worried. It is important to follow the following rules:

• Calm and support the animal no matter what happens.

• Keep yourself in control, even if this is your first birth and you don’t really understand what’s going on. The cat senses your panic and confusion well.

• Do not fuss, do not allow strangers, children, or other animals into the room.

• Provide fresh air into the room, but not a draft.

• Offer your cat warm water or milk; 90% of cats become thirsty during labor.

• If you're worried that you won't be able to cope, enlist the support of another person. But (!) there must be one person directly next to the cat. The “Assistant” will help in case of complications.

• Don’t be alarmed when the cat eats the kitten’s “place” - this is a physiologically correct process of recuperation.

Expulsion is a less painful process than contractions. Outwardly, the cat can be much calmer, watch and do not interfere unless absolutely necessary. If you understand that a problem is brewing, act:

• Four strong attempts, and the kitten’s head has not appeared - lubricate the rounded end of the pipette with levomikol and carefully insert it into the vagina. We expand, see if the fetus is visible, stroke the cat’s belly in the direction of expulsion, slightly pushing the kittens.

• The kitten was born in a bubble, but the cat does not pay attention to it - carefully open the bubble, remove mucus from the mouth and nose. All procedures are carried out in front of the cat so that she can reach the kitten and start licking it.

• The kitten has not begun to breathe - actively rub it with a towel in the area of ​​the back and chest.

• Rubbing for 3-4 minutes did not produce results - we take the kitten by the hind legs and gently shake it upside down, tapping the chest. We help in every possible way to clear the airways. If intensive resuscitation does not produce results within 25-30 minutes, unfortunately the kitten is dead.

READ We reveal the true reasons why cats carry dead animals home

Stomach

Before giving birth, the cat’s abdomen, when the process is very close (5-7 days), moves somewhat towards the back half of the back. Becomes elastic, irregularly rounded or pear-shaped, slightly sagging downwards. It becomes difficult for a pregnant woman to walk. On its surface one can see the active movements of the kittens, which literally turn over and move in the womb in the right way.

On average, 6-8 hours before the kittens are born, active contractions begin, noticeable from a distance even without touching the body with a hand. At this moment, the stomach becomes dense, its walls are stretched like strings. Inexperienced owners may think that the stomach is cramping.

What is important to pay attention to? Before giving birth, the abdomen should relax after each tension (contraction). If it remains stone, this is already a cause for concern. This happens when self-rejection of the fetus begins, intestinal obstruction or any inflammation of the genital organs, the period of exacerbation of which occurred precisely at the time of the harbingers.

The doctor's consultation

Pregnancy is one of the most wonderful states of the fairer sex. However, carrying a baby is always associated with strong emotions and anxieties. The expectant mother worries even if this is her second birth.

The plug has come out, when will labor begin? This question worries many women. It is with him that they turn to their doctor and experienced girlfriends. You will know the answer to this after reading the article.

The plug has come out, when will labor begin? It is not always possible to answer this exciting question. It is worth noting that the birth of each child occurs differently. If the first delivery took place naturally, then the second in most cases will happen the same way. However, things don't always go smoothly. In some situations, doctors have to resort to caesarean section.

The removal of the plug during the second birth can begin long before the baby is born. Also, the described lump of mucus sometimes falls out during the birth of a child. Let's consider the main situations.

If you are having your second birth, the plug has come out, when labor begins, the specialist will tell you. To do this, he needs to perform a routine gynecological examination. Doctors remind that the cork has a volume of about two tablespoons. It can come off immediately or in parts. In this case, it is necessary to monitor the discharge.

Doctors report that the reason for contacting a doctor will be the passage of a plug up to 36 weeks of pregnancy. Doctors say that you can carry a baby after this phenomenon for an average of 2-4 weeks. However, labor can begin within a few hours. Each organism is very individual.

Behavior

It is very important to closely monitor the pregnant woman during the expected dates of birth of the kittens. A cat's behavior before giving birth can be the most unpredictable, but quite typical. An attentive owner will always notice prenatal changes.

May be:

• almost constant purring and following on the heels of the owner. Murka literally requires increased attention;
• a clear call to follow her to the place where she is expected to give birth;
• when the due date approaches, try to find a secluded place and hide there, if a special place has not been equipped before this moment;
• for 10-12 hours, sitting without leaving in a place prepared by a person for newborns, it is impossible to call Murka from there;
• the cat looks tired, detached, and often does not eat anything;
• almost constantly licks his genitals;
• constantly lies down, but at the same time turns over from side to side, as if he cannot find a comfortable position;
• when meowing and attracting attention, it can look back at its stomach and show that something is starting (this is noticeable only to very attentive owners).

Signs of the onset and process of labor in a dog: how does labor begin and how long does it last?

During the birth of puppies, a dog really needs human help and support. You shouldn't rely on nature. You should prepare for childbirth in advance. If your pet is giving birth for the first time, you need to make an agreement with the veterinarian so that he can come in case of an unusual situation.

The first signs of labor in a dog

Many dogs refuse food the day before labor begins . Some dogs love to eat even before this important process. It is not recommended to feed heavily, as it may cause difficulties with the appearance of puppies.

A drooping stomach, heavy breathing and pacing around the apartment indicate the beginning of the process. You can notice how the bitch is trembling from periodic cramping pains.

The real harbinger of the onset of labor is considered to be the departure of amniotic fluid . It appears that the dog has peed itself, but at the same time it is licking off the liquid. Already at this moment it is worth placing the dog in a place prepared for birth.

Choosing a place to give birth

Choosing a place to give birth can be quite difficult. A small dog can be placed in a large box, but for a large one it is better to provide a playpen or even a sofa.

It is much more convenient for the owner if the woman in labor lies on the bed or sofa . Childbirth can be delayed, and it is difficult for a person to remain on the floor all the time. A table with the necessary accessories is placed near the sofa. Be sure to equip bright lighting; it can be shaded in the intervals between the appearance of offspring.

General condition of the body

• The main thing is that the cat’s temperature decreases by 1-1.5 degrees and is 37-37.5°C. This is an important indicator that indicates that the animal will begin to give birth in the next day or two. It is recommended to measure your pet’s body temperature daily, starting from 60-61 days of pregnancy.
• Decreased activity and appetite, but normal thirst. A cat eats extremely little or not at all before giving birth. Metabolism slows down, the body begins to accumulate and save energy for childbirth.
• Before the birth of kittens, the cat has a reflexive feeling of fear, so the animal may periodically shake, breathing and heartbeat quicken. This is especially pronounced 6-8 hours before the start of the process.
• Diarrhea. In a cat, diarrhea before childbirth occurs as a natural cleansing of the body literally within a day before the start of the most important process. But it is necessary to inform the veterinarian, because... In addition to the body’s natural reaction to childbirth, diarrhea can be a symptom of poisoning or infection - only a specialist or an experienced breeder can accurately determine. It is important that diarrhea does not affect the general condition of the body.

Postpartum care

After giving birth, the mother cat licks her babies and eats the placenta. It contains many vitamins. Veterinarians do not recommend allowing your pet to eat more than two afterbirths.

Mommy needs peace and good care. The most important thing is to monitor the condition of your nipples. Hardening in the mammary gland is a sign of the development of mastitis. If you find lumps or reddening of the nipples, you need to contact a veterinarian.

The cat must receive adequate nutrition. It is recommended to give her special food for lactating animals. It is easily digestible and contains all the necessary components. Kittens stay with their mother until they are ten weeks old. After 14–15 days, their eyes open, then the babies begin to explore the world around them.

Delivering a cat's birth is not that difficult. The main thing is not to panic and prepare in advance everything you might need if problems arise during the process. In most cases, human participation is not required; animals act instinctively. However, representatives of artificially bred breeds sometimes have complications during childbirth.

What not to do at the end of pregnancy

A cat requires special treatment during pregnancy, and especially in the period just before giving birth.

What not to do:

• make your pet nervous. Loud noises, shouting, noisy parties and numerous guests are all serious stress for the cat’s body;
• attempt to palpate the abdomen in order to determine the presence or quantity of offspring. A person without experience can cause injury to both the cat and the kittens in the womb.
• independently administer any medications without consulting a veterinarian. All preventive measures must be carried out before a potential pregnancy - flea and tick treatment, vaccination, treatment of chronic diseases, medical examination. If Murka, while pregnant, fell ill, then any appointment should be made only by a specialist;
• ignore any unusual abnormalities in behavior or health: bleeding, vomiting or diarrhea, sudden loss of appetite;
• Allowing a cat to climb and sleep at a height, jumping from a height - the risk of not only bone injuries, but also harm to the offspring;
• allow pregnant Murka to come into contact with strangers or stray animals;
• ignore the rules of hygiene for keeping an animal: you cannot pick up a cat with dirty hands, allow it to sleep in the owners’ outdoor shoes, regularly brush out and change the bedding in a pregnant woman’s sleeping place;
• use aggressive solutions of household chemicals for cleaning the house, which can poison the cat or harm future offspring;
• transfer the woman in labor to another place if the process does not begin where it should be. It is better to bring bedding, and then after giving birth, move it to a secluded place with the kittens.

Childbirth started prematurely

If the cat’s labor began 3-5 days earlier, there is nothing to worry about. Gestation periods differ for different breeds. Thus, pregnancy in Siamese cats lasts approximately 70 days, and for some elite breeds the norm is to lamb on the 55th day of gestation, although it is believed that cubs born before the 60th day are not viable.

Causes of premature birth in cats:

• fear, stress;
• intrauterine infections;
• fall, blow to the stomach;
• fetal freezing;
• placental abruption.

Attention! If your cat's contractions begin prematurely, it is better to invite a veterinarian or take the animal to the clinic. Using an ultrasound, you can determine whether the kittens are alive in the womb and whether labor needs to be stopped or not.

When to expect kittens

It is important not only to know how a cat behaves before giving birth and what is happening in its body, but also to roughly navigate the potential dates for the birth of kittens. For this, there is a special calendar, according to which you can determine the approximate day of birth of kittens, knowing the date of conception.

To determine the approximate period when you need to start expecting kittens and pay attention to the behavior of a pregnant cat before giving birth, you can use a special calculator table.

The first column contains the date of conception (accurate or estimated), next to it will be the estimated date of birth. Give or take a few days and the entire period will be outlined when the owner should begin to pay attention to the pet’s behavior and special symptoms - precursors. For example, if conception occurred on April 12, then around June 16 you need to expect kittens (plus or minus a few days). If a cat was mated with a male on September 8, then kittens may appear within November 12.

How to prepare for the birth of a cat?

A cat does not need a birthing room like a human, but a special place will have to be arranged.
A special box, which you can make yourself or buy at a pet store, is suitable as a “maternity box”. A cardboard box lined with newspapers or an old blanket will do just fine. If the cat has access to the street, then in the last stages it is better not to let her out in order to prevent birth on the street. Also in the last days it is worth ensuring peace, absence of noise and other irritants and monitoring whether the animal’s condition changes.

In case complications arise during childbirth, it is better to prepare some supplies in advance; here is the necessary list:

• Any antiseptic
• Towels
• Treated scissors
• Pipette
• Sterile medical gloves
• Veterinarian phone number

The veterinarian should be chosen taking into account the possibility of a house call and preferably around the clock, because labor can begin at any moment. If it is not possible to call a veterinarian in a given locality, you can consult by telephone and follow the doctor’s instructions.

How to understand that something is going wrong before giving birth

A day or two before the start of the long-awaited process, changes may occur in the body that are unusual for a healthy pregnant cat and the normal course of pregnancy. When is it time to call a veterinarian for help:

• intense bleeding is detected;
• “movements” in the stomach cease to be felt at the end of pregnancy;
• after the mucus plug came off, labor did not begin in the next three days;
• there are contractions, but the birth canal does not open;
• the stomach does not relax after contractions, being constantly in good shape;
• the cat constantly sleeps, does not respond to the owner’s call, is lethargic, indifferent to what is happening around.

Author:

Grinchuk Ekaterina Andreevna veterinarian

The cat's plug came out when she's about to give birth

The plug has come out - when is the due date?

Women who are nearing the end of their pregnancy (especially first-time mothers) often panic, worrying that labor could begin at any minute.

The passage of a mucus plug is one of those moments that causes anxiety in many pregnant women. Noticing that their plug has come off, they immediately begin to worry about when labor will finally begin. Some even hastily pack their things and call an ambulance to go to the maternity hospital. This behavior cannot be called correct.

Let's try to sort everything out, as they say, “on the shelves,” in order to understand how to behave if the mucus plug has come off and when to expect labor to begin.

From the moment pregnancy occurs, the cervical mucus produced by the cells of the cervix during each ovulation thickens and forms a dense clot, which is necessary to close the cervix for the period until the child leaves the mother’s womb in order to protect the fetus from all kinds of infections.

Shortly before the birth process begins, the passage for the baby should open, that is, the mucus plug should leave the cervix. The detached plug looks like a lump of mucus of a transparent or whitish-yellowish (beige, pinkish) color, sometimes with blood streaks of blood.

If the plug comes out before giving birth, the woman may feel like something has come out of the vagina. It is not always possible to notice how the plug came out. After all, this can happen during the morning toilet or shower. In this case, the woman can remain “blissfully” unaware and not bother herself with the constant question of when to give birth?

Without hormones

Surgical abortion as people imagine it is not possible for cats. The uterus of cats consists of two horns, is large and contains several embryos - the surgeon simply cannot remove all the fetuses from the uterus without violating the integrity of the organ. Is it possible for a cat to have an abortion without using hormonal drugs?

Yes, but in fact it will not be an abortion, but sterilization: the doctor will make an incision, extract and remove the ovaries and uterus along with the embryos growing in it. This manipulation is more dangerous than planned sterilization, since the uterus during pregnancy is enlarged in size, thickened and dotted with many blood vessels.

Can cats be aborted without the use of hormones in the later stages? Yes, but the longer the period, the higher the likelihood of serious complications. If the owner decides to sterilize a pregnant pet, the procedure should be carried out as soon as possible. Pregnancy can be confirmed by performing an ultrasound two weeks after mating.

Since it is impossible to abort a cat in the usual way for humans, veterinarians use various hormones to prevent or terminate pregnancy.

Pregnancy and vulnerability - unique defense mechanisms

Even if you don’t notice anything, from the moment the eggs are fertilized, changes occur in the cat’s body. The body of the expectant mother is preparing for bearing kittens, giving birth and feeding.

As kittens grow, the body literally turns on defense mechanisms that help keep the offspring healthy. Each kitten develops in an individual bubble and is surrounded by water. This mechanism allows the kittens to remain independent from each other.

During pregnancy (quite often) some embryos die. The process of death of one embryo does not in any way affect the development of other babies. To eliminate intoxication, quite aggressive conditions have been created in the uterine cavity that allow the dead embryos to be resorbed. If a kitten dies, its remains most often do not decompose, but are mummified.

Note! The death of the entire litter followed by decomposition indicates problems with pregnancy. Normally, the cat’s body is ready to eliminate dead embryos.

In the first stages of development, fertilized eggs develop in the horns of the uterus. As kittens grow larger, they gradually descend into the uterine cavity and become more vulnerable. To protect the uterine cavity from infections, a mucous plug forms in its cervix . The plug blocks the cervix until the body begins to prepare for childbirth.

This is interesting! The larger the kittens become, the more the walls of the uterus thicken. Despite the stretching of the tissues, the walls become thicker and are in good shape almost around the clock. In this way, the mother’s body protects the kittens from external influences.

To fully provide for the offspring, the mother’s body begins to produce additional blood and fluid from the moment of fertilization. The liquid surrounds the babies, protecting them. Additional blood is produced to saturate the walls of the uterus, placentas and body of each kitten. Kittens are fed through the umbilical cord. Simply put, the blood goes through a full cycle through the mother’s body with a slight “turn” towards the kitten. At the same time, the mother’s body is responsible for purifying the blood and saturating it with useful substances.

Possible problems during childbirth

In medicine, difficult births are called pathological.

The first pathology is a violation of the position of kittens before birth. Presentation can provoke birth injuries and pathologies in the future. This is preceded by a lack of calcium, as the cause of asynchronous contractions of the uterine muscles.

This pathology can occur during contractions (first stage), then when the body begins to push out the fetus (second stage), and when the kitten emerges from the genital opening (third and final stage). The animal may hiss and scream loudly.

The second pathology is more related to the cat itself. If the postpartum membranes do not come out during childbirth, they will cause apathy and a bad mood for the cat. The consequence of this will be refusal to care for children, bad mood, lack of appetite and brown discharge. True, for Thai and Sphynx cats, discharge and licking are not always a symptom, because the nature of the animal differs from simpler cats (British or Scottish, for example).

Obesity

These are just 2 of the most common pathologies; they can be caused by poor health, obesity, large fetuses and dozens of other reasons. As a rule, most pathologies can be detected by ultrasound.

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