The birth of a cat is a moment of joy and excitement, as you will soon arrive in the world playful kittens that will become excellent pets. All this, considering that the birth was desired and not by accident. To avoid unwanted births, the best option is to sterilize your cat.
However, although the intention is to make your furry friend a mother and, although the birth of these animals is not usually a problem, there can be complications. In this Animal Expert article, we’ll talk about the 4 complications associated with cat delivery and how to help.
- Cats that reach sexual maturity with only six months of life.
- Are seasonal polystric animals.
- That is.
- They have several long cycles of just under a week.
- Which are repeated every 2 or 3 weeks.
- In principle.
- This heat occurs in spring.
- Although it depends on the living conditions of the animal.
- Because those who live in apartments have more constant light and temperature conditions and it is more difficult for the cat’s body to recognize the change of season.
In general, pregnancy lasts 65 days, although, as they say, biology is not an exact science, so it can vary slightly in some cases.
If you think your cat will have puppies, it is recommended that you consult a veterinarian for several reasons:
If you do not know exactly when your cat got pregnant to be able to calculate the due date, by means of an ultrasound, performing some measures, you can predict, on a very approximate date, when your four-legged friend will give birth and try to avoid complications when giving birth to cats.
In addition to the date, there are other signs that childbirth is approaching and can be detected by observing the behavior of the animal. For example, as the date approaches, the cat may be more excited, I have to have constantly and find a secluded place to make a nest. Another very particular sign is the temperature drop: the rectal temperature, which is obtained by inserting a thermometer into the anus, is reduced at least one degree as the work approaches. The rectal temperature of each animal may vary slightly, so it is advisable to measure it regularly a few days before to know what your particular cat is.
The expulsion of the mucous plug, which is detected as a whitish or yellowish secretion of the vulva, is a sign that childbirth is near. It’s good to have an emergency vet’s phone handy if you need your services at the time of delivery and know how to help a cat give birth.
When a cat has difficulty giving birth and is unable to expel one of the puppies, usually this condition can be caused by one of the following most common problems when giving birth to a cat, which must be resolved with the help of a Veterinarian:
To trigger birth, puppies must be alive. Otherwise, delivery is not carried out and medication will be required. If they do not work (most likely), a C-section should be performed.
People are called dystocias. In cats that give birth to several small cubs, dystocias are less common than in other animals that normally stop a single larger puppy, such as cows or sheep. If you see signs that childbirth is imminent and the kittens have long gone, you should go to the veterinarian who will try to reposition them and, if this is not possible, perform a C-section. Administration of oxytocin, a hormone that promotes the expulsion of the contents of the cat’s uterus, is not recommended without first checking that the position of the puppies is correct. Otherwise, the uterus will contract when trying to expel the puppies and, if it is not possible to expel them, because someone is trapped, the organ can break by force. Indiscriminate administration of oxytocin is something some tutors do and it is a very serious mistake that can have serious consequences for the mother.
In very long births, when it has been difficult to expel a baby or those with a large number of babies, the uterus may lose strength as the process progresses. In this case, it may be advisable to administer oxytocin, however, only after making sure that babies are placed so that they can leave easily. If this does not work, the C-section is the solution.
Other problems that may arise are that after delivery, some puppies are left lifeless inside the cat or placenta remains. Therefore, if you notice that after birth your cat has difficulty recovering, fever, signs of weakness or other symptoms of illness, it is advisable to consult with a veterinarian to rule out these problems (through physical examination and ultrasound) or treat them. , if necessary.
Usually, the birth interval between a kitten and another is usually less than one hour, so if a new kitten does not appear after a few hours, the birth is likely to be over. In addition, at the end of childbirth, the mother usually gets up and is dedicated to licking and caring for her young.
If, in some cases, cats can stop giving birth and resume after several hours, they are different from a delivery that is not finished since, at the end of delivery, they get up, care for the young, drink water, etc. When the birth of a puppy is not yet complete, the mother will remain lying in the same place. If this is the case and you think your cat is having trouble giving birth to a puppy, consider going to the vet as soon as possible to confirm or rule out any previous problems when giving birth to a cat.
Finally, if childbirth occurs normally, ask yourself: how many days do cats open their eyes?
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