If your cat is not sterilized and has access to the street and therefore other cats, sooner or later you will become pregnant. Although instinct tells them exactly what to do, even for cats that are first-time moms, it doesn’t hurt to give a little extra help at this important time.
There are three phases of care: before delivery, during childbirth, and after delivery.
- In this Animal Expert article we will show you the different steps to follow in each phase.
- This way you’ll know how to help a cat give birth.
If you think your kitten is pregnant, you should take her to the veterinarian for confirmation. The signs to watch for are: the swollen belly, enlarged breasts and the cat licking the vulva a lot.
If the veterinarian confirms the pregnancy, you must be ready by this time. Over the next few months, the veterinarian will monitor the gestation and at the appropriate time determine how many kittens will be born.
It is very important to take into account the care of a pregnant cat so that the whole process is carried out in the best possible conditions and that the cat has a perfectly healthy gestation.
You have to be prepared in case things don’t go as planned
The gestation of a cat usually lasts between 65 and 67 days.
During the first month and a half of gestation, you should continue to give your cat the usual diet. After that, you should switch to puppy food because it’s a more calorie diet, which allows for more energy intake with less food. Fetuses put pressure on the cat’s stomach and the cat has less appetite.
On the day of delivery you will notice that she is very agitated and eats nothing. Start welcoming you with great calm and tenderness to the nest you have prepared for the birth.
If you notice a secretion or a green or bloody liquid in your vulva, tell your veterinarian immediately and follow the instructions provided. Unfortunately, this is not a good sign and serious complications are very likely to occur and you may need to put the kitten in the baby carrier and go to the clinic.
If you don’t see unusual signs, keep your distance and let nature play your part. The cat instinctively knows better than you what to do. Don’t stress it, but look closely.
Before starting work, you will observe the cat meticulously licking the vulva to clean it. After that, contractions begin.
When the time comes, the water will burst and the cat will expel the amniotic fluid. Soon, the first puppy will be born. If all goes well, each puppy will be born with an interval of 30 to 60 minutes. If it takes too long, call your veterinarian right away.
You should check if the cat breaks and releases the puppy from the amniotic sac and cleans it properly. If you see that the cat is not doing this, put on gloves (after washing and disinfecting your hands) and carefully break the bag on the puppy’s face. Using sterilized gauze, clean the puppy’s face and snout so he can breathe properly. Return the puppy to the cat to feel it and finish cleaning it.
It is very important to check if the cat expels and eats the placenta after delivery. Each child has a different placenta and needs all the nutrients in the placenta.
The cat will cut the umbilical cords with its own teeth. If not, call your veterinarian and tell him how to act.
Puppies are born with an interval of 30 to 60 minutes as we have already told you. It is very important that no puppy or placenta remains inside the cat, as this can be fatal.
After being properly washed by the mother, the cubs look for the mother’s breasts to feed. This first diet is fundamental to the life of cats, as is the case when they ingest colostrum. Colostrum is essential to the immune system of puppies.
If you notice that there are descendants who are not breastfeeding, there is probably a blockage. Take the puppy very carefully and place it face down. Shake gently to expel fluids from the lungs.
If absolutely necessary, that is, if you cannot suck directly from the mother, give the kitten milk with the bottle.
Be careful in the first few hours after delivery and make sure the cat is calm. It is totally discouraged that all family, neighbors, friends and acquaintances come to visit the cat in the first days. During the first week, it is very important that neither the mother nor the children have problems. It only takes one person to make sure everything goes well.
Fresh water and good food can not be missed at any time. Place the sandbox nearby so you don’t have to travel far. Make sure the box is always meticulously clean.
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