Much is said about the care that a cat requires during pregnancy and childbirth, but sometimes it seems to go unnoticed the postpartum phase, which is also a delicate period that needs our careful observation in case any problem arises.
In this article on our site we will specifically explain why a cat continues to bleed after giving birth. Although spotting is normal, we will see in which cases we should go to our veterinarian.
Labor in cats
Gestation in cats lasts approximately 60 days. After that time, delivery occurs. Usually this will take place during the night, the cat will have found a quiet place and will give birth without any help. If we have the opportunity to observe it, we may notice it restless. It is normal that she has stopped eating
Soon the first kitten will appear inside her bag, the cat will tear it with her teeth, eat it and cut the umbilical cord. In addition, will lick the kitten to clean of secretions. In a few minutes the next one will be born and this process will be repeated until all the little ones have come out. It is normal to see secretions and blood
In the following sections we will explain why a cat would continue to bleed after giving birth.
How do I know if my cat has finished giving birth?
If during the pregnancy we have done an ultrasound or X-ray, it is possible that the vet has told us how many kittens our cat is going to give birth to, so by counting them, we will be able to know when the birth has ended. The figure usually ranges between 3-5 pupsIf we do not know the data, the usual thing is that the cat, when she finishes giving birth, remains calm and relaxed, with the little ones of her suckling. In this case we would consider labor to be over and start the next phase in which we will focus on explaining why the cat continues to bleed after giving birth.
On the other hand, if we observe the cat make unproductive efforts, that is, without any kitten being born, she eliminates some through the vulva green or bloody discharge or we notice it bothers us, we must notify the veterinary immediately, emergency if needed.
The postpartum of cats
After giving birth, the cat will dedicate herself to caring for her kittens, which she must feed, keep warm, since at first they are not able to regulate their temperature, and clean themselves, because in the first weeks they need the cat to stimulate their genital area with their tongue to cause the exit of feces and urine.
Therefore, the cat will spend practically all her time with them, getting up only to use the litter box, eat and drink. As the days go by and the kittens grow and increase their independence, the cat will leave them more time alone. We will see that the cat bleeds after delivery, since with kittens the placenta detaches, causing a small wound at the site of its insertion into the uterus.
That is why it is recommended that we offer the cat an easy-to-clean "nest" for the moment of delivery, such as a box with towels, old sheets and underpads, which we can discard and replace when get dirtyAs we can see, a spotting, which the cat will lick, is normal. Now we will explain why a cat continues to bleed after giving birth.
Cat sick after giving birth
Although normally everything runs smoothly, in some cases we may observe symptoms that should alert us, such as following:
- More than 24 hours pass and the cat does not drink, eat or urinate.
- She has a fever or, on the contrary, she is cold.
- She continues to labor although no kittens come out.
- Mucous membranes are not pink.
- There is vomiting and/or diarrhea.
- The secretions eliminated by the vulva do not subside.
This last assumption is what explains why a cat continues to bleed after giving birth. A uterine infection, with discharge that will also be foul-smelling, or a placental or fetal retention that prevent the recovery of the uterus are responsible for hemorrhages that do not stop and are usually accompanied by other symptoms such as those described.
Of course, any of them is reason for veterinary consultation because it is necessary to medicate and even intervene surgically.
