If as cat keepers we have the opportunity to live with a cat that we suspect may be pregnant, it is important that we have the necessary basic knowledge, not only about pregnancy, but also about how to know if a cat is in labor, since it is a transcendental moment that we must know how to identify, especially in case there is a problem that requiresour intervention and even a potential transfer to a veterinary clinic
In this article on our site we give you the keys so you know how to identify it correctly. How to know if a cat is in labor? Find out below!
Some facts about cat pregnancy
Cats can get pregnant for a good part of the year, from January-February until approximately October. In many, zeal will be very apparent and we will be able to hear them meowing, almost to the point of screaming, rubbing against everything and, in general, appearing nervous and restless.
They have a induced ovulation, which means that it is during copulation with the male that the release of the egg is stimulated. If fertilization occurs, the cat will gestate three to five kittens for approximately two months. In general, during the cat's pregnancy, she will maintain her normal life and we will only notice an increase in the size of her belly. Of course, as soon as we have knowledge of its condition or want to confirm it, it is advisable to go to our veterinarian
In addition, we must start feeding her with a special feed for puppies under one year of age, since during pregnancy her nutritional needs will be modified. After gestation, the moment of birth will come. In the next section we will see how to know if a cat is in labor.
The time of delivery
Towards the end of the approximate two months of gestation, we should expect labor to be triggered at any time. If we have taken our cat to a veterinary check-up, it is possible that this professional has provided us with a probable date of delivery, although we have to know that the determination of this day is not an exact science, so it can be brought forward or delayed a few days without involving any pathology.
During the last few days we can notice that our cat is calmer and spends more time resting Her movements become heavier and she can eating less It is also possible that we will see a drop of milk on the breasts We should not handle them. When the day finally arrives, we can know if a cat is in labor by attending to different aspects.
Symptoms of labor in a cat
- The cat is restless.
- We observed a brown or bloody discharge from the vulva.
- Our cat frequently licks the vulva area, which may indicate that there is discharge, as we mentioned, although we cannot see it.
- Breathing may be labored, even with the mouth open. It is usually a sign that the contractions have started, which are the movements that the uterus makes to bring the puppies out.
- Sometimes if we look at your abdomen we can even see these contractions.
- It is normal that our cat has chosen a quiet and safe place for this moment. This is known as " make the nest". We can put at her disposal an easy access box with towels or pads, so that it is easy to clean, in case she wants to use it, although it will not be unusual for her to choose another place. Also, labor usually occurs at night, so it's likely that we'll wake up one morning and meet the new family.
These signs give us an idea that our cat has already started labor. Next we will describe her normal development
The course of childbirth
Now that we have seen how to know if a cat is in labor, once it begins, it is best to stay in the background, to intervene only if our help is required, for example if labor is interrupted, there is significant bleeding or a kitten is not breathing. Discover on our site 4 problems in giving birth to a cat.
It is normal for the little ones to be born wrapped in their bag, approximately every 30 minutes. The mother cat is in charge of breaking it and ingesting it together with the placenta and the umbilical cord, which she is going to cut herself in that gesture. We will also observe that she immediately begins to vigorously lick her little ones, cleaning them, clearing their nostrils of possible secretions, stimulating their breathing and encouraging them to start suckling, with which they will take advantage of the all-important colostrum
By ingesting the remains of childbirth, the bed is quite clean, even so we can put a new underpad and remove the tissues that are find stained. Once mother and babies are calm, we can offer food and, above all, water, to our cat. We must avoid manipulating the family, but we do have to see that everyone is perfectly fine. Find out more on how to care for a cat and her kittens.
