You Have A Cat Giving Birth? Here's What To Do!

If you have a cat giving birth, you should rely on her maternal instinct. Stay at her side and monitor what happens. Only take action if something goes wrong.

First, make sure everything is ready for a cat giving birth. About two weeks before the expected date of birth you should have a box placed in a location your pregnant cat frequently visits.

Your cat wants to have a cozy nest for her children.

Make sure the room is warm. The box should contain paper or a material that can be shredded. A cat giving birth is happy with paper. A blanket is only needed once the kittens are born.

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Other necessities include towels, clean scissors and hemostats. The Pregnant Cat Care Course provides you with a full list of supplies that cat breeders use.

Keep doors closed. Your cat should not give birth outside.

Labor should start no earlier than day 61 of cat pregnancy. Otherwise chances are the kittens will not survive.

During the last days of feline gestation, you should watch your pregnant cat carefully. Several signs indicate that birth is imminent.

• Drop of temperature with 1°C (or 2°F). Normal is 38.6°(101.5°F).
• Restless behavior. Your queen searches for a place to give birth.
• Milk production from her nipples. Most queens have eight nipples.

Once labor begins, your cat will start to purr rhythmically and breathe heavily. Delivery can be imminent, but it is also possible that it still takes a few hours before the first kitten arrives.

Contractions will increase. Calm her down by saying kind words. It is normal when fluid and some blood appear from her vulva.

If she’s having strong contractions for over two hours without any sign of kittens appearing, you should call the vet.

Maybe two kittens are ‘struggling’ to be first and block the opening.

Eventually the first kitten is delivered enclosed in a bag filled with fluid. The sac may burst while coming out. The mother will start to lick the kitten. Soon the newborn feline will breathe normally and cry for the first time, just like a human child.

Here are three videos that might be helpful:

A mother cat gives birth to one of her kittens while the keeper of the cats helps the little pet start breathing.

See a cat owner help his cat giving birth while holding the camera

Clear film of Jasmine getting her third litter

Usually the queen will cut the umbilical cord with her teeth.

Only in case she doesn’t, you may gently cut the cord with a pair of scissors, but make sure you tie the cord first between the cat and the kitten. It's important to do this well not to endanger your kitty's life.

This is only one of many things that could go wrong during birth. It is extremely important that you are well-prepared for birth.

The placenta appears immediately after the kitten’s birth or shortly afterwards. Most of the time, a cat giving birth eats it.

There should follow a placenta after every kitten. A placenta that stays behind can cause a serious infection.

Once the kitten breathes and is licked clean, place the little cat close to the queen’s nipples. Normally it will start to suck.

A cat giving birth won't get into trouble as long as everything goes as it should, and you know how to recognize complications.

You want to know more about birth, cat pregnancy and kitten care?

In How To Take Care Of Your Pregnant Cat professional breeders and specialized vets tell you in detail how to safely deliver a litter and raise happy healthy kittens.