Caring Tips During Birth Of The Kittens

Birth of the kittens can be changed into a wonderful experience, by not making the entire pregnancy event a big deal. All you need to do is to get everything that you need for cat's health as well as for the health of unborn kittens. The entire process of birth of the kittens, also technically known as "queening", becomes more convenient if you let your cat's natural instincts handle most of the details.

Labor Stage

Labor stage starts on about 65-70 days after the cat's pregnancy. In case you are aware of the exact conception date, then it would be better to prepare well in advance. The labor stage can last for about 24 hours and the cat becomes restless with excessive grooming and vocalization. Drop in normal body temperature, vomiting, abdomen drop, larger and pinker nipples are some of commonly observed physical signs of labor. Once the contraction period starts, it will gradually become more frequent until the birth of the kittens. Your role is to prepare the birthing area and place your cat into it.

Delivery Phase

Some cats prefer to be left alone during the delivery phase of pregnancy. Your cat might also want to be in some dark area to give birth to her kittens. However, some cats, giving birth to kittens for the first time, may need your support and encouragement. Encourage and reassure her during this painful period and make sure that you keep kids and other pets away from her.

Items Needed For Birthing Area

There are certain essential items you would need to prepare the place for birth of the kittens. Newspapers are required to be stacked at the bottom of the delivery box and removed one after the other as they get soiled. You will also need clean towels and paper towels to stimulate the kittens once they are born. A separate box is needed to place the kittens as they are born. Make sure a heating pad is placed at the bottom of the box, with a blanket, to prevent new born kittens from becoming cold. Never place them directly on the heating pad. Also keep a laundry basket to discard the soiled towels.

Timing Of The Birth

It normally takes about 20 minutes for a cat to deliver the kittens after the contraction period. Sometimes the kittens come out rapidly, and some take longer. A typical kitten litter size is about four kittens. You can offer the cat small amounts of food, if the delivery lasts for a long time.

Complications

If the contraction period lasts for more than one hour, then it is a veterinary emergency. In some cases, the placenta is retained, which may result in a uterine infection. You need to keep a track of placenta per kitten to overcome this problem. Certain complication may arise if a kitten gets lodged in the birth canal during the birth of the kittens. Breech kittens, i.e. kittens born with tail first, are often considered as normal.