NORMAL BIRTH IN CATS
(Kindling, Queening)
Preparation for Delivery:
You should begin to prepare for birth of the kittens
before the queen gives birth. A box should be provided so that
the mother becomes accustomed to sleeping in it and will deliver
the kittens there. Most cats prefer a covered delivery box. Food
and water can be kept nearby. Place the box in a secluded yet
familiar area of the home, away from family traffic, to allow
mother and kittens solitude and rest. Newspapers make excellent
bedding because they can be changed easily, are absorbent, and
can be shredded by the mother as she makes her "nest."
If such materials as old quilts, rugs, blankets or mattress pads
are used, they should be laundered frequently.
If you want to know more precisely when delivery
is near, check the rectal temperature twice daily, starting on
the 60th day. Rectal temperature drops below 100 Fo within 24 hours
before the onset of labor. Normal rectal temperature ranges from
100.5 to 102 Fo.
Labor and Delivery:
During the first stage of labor, the mother cat (queen)
seems uneasy and restless. She may refuse food or water. The cat's
rectal temperature drops, and she seeks dark, secluded places.
Considerable howling may occur. This stage lasts 12 - 24 hours.
In the second stage, contractions and expulsion of
the kittens begin. Delivery starts with a small, greenish sac
protruding from the vaginal opening. This is followed by a kitten
and the attached placenta. The normal presentation of the kitten
is nose first, lying on its abdomen. Some kittens, however, are
born hindquarters first. After the delivery, the mother normally
opens the sac by licking and biting, cleans off the kitten and
severs the umbilical cord. You may have to perform these functions
for the mother if she refuses to do it herself (see Obstetric
Care below). Make sure the sac is removed from the kitten immediately
if the mother doesn't do so.
The third stage of labor is a resting stage, which
follows delivery of each kitten. This stage may last from a few
minutes to one hour. Occasionally, 2 kittens are delivered within
a few minutes, followed by resting.
Obstetric Care:
After each kitten is born, remove all membranes covering
the kitten, clean off its face, and remove mucus from its nose
and mouth. Rub the kitten with a clean, dry towel to dry it and
to stimulate breathing and circulation. After a few minutes of
rubbing, the kitten should begin to squirm and cry. The umbilical
cord should be tied about 1 inch from the body with fine thread
and cut on the side of the knot away from the kitten. Apply a
drop of to the cord end after it is cut.
Assisting with the Birth:
If a kitten seems to be lodged in the birth canal
and the mother cannot expel it, assistance is necessary. There
may not be time to call your veterinarian and drive to the hospital
if you wish to save the kitten. Grasp the kitten with a clean
towel and exert steady, firm traction toward the hock (the back
leg's "elbow" joint). Do not jerk or pull suddenly.
The best place to grasp the kitten is by the skin of the back,
but gentle traction on the legs may be necessary.
We hope that you will find this information helpful in your quest
for better pet care. If you have any questions or comments, please call your
veterinarian's office, or feel free to
e-mail us.
David E. Hammett, DVM
and the Staff of All Creatures Veterinary Clinic, PC
