How to know when a cat is ready to give birth

If you watch a cat in labor carefully, you may notice a mucus plug breaking away. This is a sign that the cat has started giving birth. A cat begins to behave strangely at first sight – it meows long and invitingly, sometimes trying to leave its birthing place. It is necessary to gently stroke your pet and hold it in its place. Cats perfectly understand human speech, so you can try to calm the cat with quiet conversations.

How to understand that a cat is giving birth: the main signs

On average, pregnancy in cats lasts 65 days (plus or minus 5 days). This period usually guarantees the birth of healthy kittens. But how to know that the cat is giving birth – the signs of this event is not known to every person. Many inexperienced owners begin to worry about the upcoming event as soon as they notice that the pet is pregnant. The owner of a cat who is going to give birth for the first time is particularly worried. Yes, and the pet itself often demonstrates anxiety. And it must be said: not for nothing.

But do not worry too much. You will have enough time to get acquainted with the peculiarities of cat's behavior in this period and to prepare the necessary accessories for giving birth at home. And first, let's try to understand what signs can be used to guess that the cat is pregnant. It will be easiest to recognize the "interesting situation" and calculate the date of fertilization, if the mating was planned, and you know from what moment to keep a pregnancy report, which is conventionally divided into three stages with characteristic features for each.

Stages of carrying kittens

For the first time a kitten can become pregnant at the age of over six months, when the first heat usually appears. But most veterinarians believe that healthy kittens can be born only by a mature female that is at least 12 months old. Pregnancy occurs in three stages:

After mating the cat's genitals are swollen, but that does not mean it is fertilized. The first signs are clearly visible from the 3rd week:

• The pet becomes lethargic, eats poorly, moves little, sleeps more;
• She vomits repeatedly for 2-3 days;
• Her nipples will enlarge and become bright pink or, on the contrary, they will become lighter;
• When palpating the cat's genitals, the veterinarian notices an enlarged uterus.

In the middle period of pregnancy the animal noticeably adds weight as the fetus is actively developing. By the 6th week, the amount of amniotic fluid increases and the kittens begin to move for the first time. Stroking the cat's belly, you can gently "feel" the future babies.

At 7-9 weeks the cat's excitement increases, it bustles around the apartment in search of its future "nest". The kittens are actively moving around, which is especially noticeable in a sleeping cat. The cat is restlessly licking its genitals.

At what age and under what conditions a cat can get pregnant

The main condition. Readiness to breed is determined by the presence of a heat. In most cats it begins at 7-9 months and lasts until 7 years of age. However, in some cases it may come earlier or, conversely, be delayed. For example, short-haired cats develop a little faster, and may show the first signs of sexual behavior as 5-month-old kittens. While some long-haired congeners mature only at 1.5 years.

Time of year. The sex drive period lasts from January-February to October-November, peaking in the spring and summer months. However, this restriction applies to cats that can go to the bathroom and walk outside. Domestic animals are able to participate in mating year-round.

Signs of sexual behavior. During the puberty cycle, the cat becomes more affectionate, starts rolling around on the floor, assuming strenuous postures and making urgent cries. This usually lasts from 5 to 8 days and repeats at intervals of 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months. The interval between cycles depends on the characteristics of the animal's body. For example, in the case of an untied cat, heat will occur more often, with an already giving birth – less often.

Pregnancy after delivery. The sex cycle resumes 2 weeks after lactation ends. However, some cats may become pregnant again while still nursing a litter.

How to tell if a cat is pregnant

Observe the cat. The first signs of pregnancy in cats are associated with changes in behavior and appearance and appear as early as 2-3 weeks from the date of the intended mating.

Increased sleepiness. The animal sleeps a lot, is reluctant to play moving games and walks slowly.

Changes in behavior. An affectionate and sociable cat can become wary and even aggressive, while an independent and aloof cat, on the contrary, constantly asks to be held and demands attention. Changes in her behavior are due to a change in her hormones. After the birth of kittens and the completion of lactation, the character of the pet becomes the same.

Delayed sexual cycle. If the heat was regular, and stopped immediately after the mating, the probability of pregnancy is very high.

Nausea. Usually a pregnant cat vomits only in the morning. If vomiting recurs more often and lasts more than 2-3 days, see your veterinarian.

Change in appetite. In the first half of the pregnancy of domestic cats, the appetite of the pet may decrease, and in the second half, on the contrary, become atypically good. The pet may refuse the usual food and show interest in something new. During this period, the cat needs high-energy food that can make up for deficiencies that occur.

Changes in color and size of nipples. Nipples of pregnant cats swell and become bright pink or coral-red in color, and the hair around them thins.

Rounded abdomen. The changes will be noticeable both when viewed from above and in profile. But most likely only with a multiple pregnancy (more than 5 kittens). The main thing is not to try to palpate the fetuses with your fingers yourself. This can traumatize both the fetus and the mother cat.

How to know if your cat is pregnant

Signs of pregnancy in a cat can be seen 3 weeks after conception. Some people who let their cats go for walks outside can track this period on the calendar (as a rule, the cat does not sleep at home and does not appear to the owners for 3-4 days). Those owners, who purposely bring the cat with the cat, can also calculate whether the cat is pregnant or not. We'll tell you how many months you'll have to wait for a new addition. The hardest thing to anticipate is pregnancy for those owners who have a cat that walks outside on its own.

• the cat's appetite has changed: sometimes the favorite treats remain untouched, and any food intake ends in vomiting and severe weakness;
• Changes in behavior: the cat sleeps more than before and moves less (if before it was wild and could bite, now it should be gentle and quiet);
• Swollen mammary glands and reddened nipples;
• rounding of the abdomen.

Cat Pregnancy

Pregnancy in a cat lasts 65-70 days (9-10 weeks, or 2.5 months). If you have difficulty in finding out yourself whether the cat is pregnant or not, and how many months to carry kittens, you should consult a specialist.

In the last week before the birth, the cat begins to choose a place for itself, to put its "stuff" there. Owners are advised to think about creating favorable conditions for the animal from the very beginning of pregnancy: find a spacious box, put diapers or cloths on the bottom. The expectant mother must get used to the nest that you have built her.

The duration of pregnancy in cats may vary depending on the number of kittens, the age of the animal and the conditions in which the pet in the last month of the term. For example, if the cat is stressed, the term of carrying may be delayed, and if the pregnancy is multiple, the birth may start early, in this regard, it is extremely important to know how to understand that the cat is going into labor.

In case the due date is a week early or a week late, you should not panic, as it is quite natural.

Problems may arise if the birth begins earlier than 60 days (the kitten will be born weak and unable to live) or later than 80 days (there is a chance that the offspring will develop abnormalities).

Signs of the beginning of labor in a cat can be detected 24 hours before or even 1-2 hours before the actual process begins.

Stages and duration

On average, labor in cats can last up to 26-36 hours if they pass without complications. At the same time, the entire process is divided into 2 stages:

After each baby, the placenta must come out, which the cat usually eats immediately (as well as the stillborn kittens, if any). This process must be monitored, otherwise after eating several afterbirths the cat may get an upset stomach.

Also, monitoring is necessary to see if the number of placentas corresponds to the number of cubs being born. An unexpired afterbirth could cause internal inflammation.

Possible complications

Calving does not always go well. Possible complications during parturition in cats can be caused by a variety of reasons. Some difficulties can be managed by yourself, but most problems require urgent intervention by a veterinarian.

Call the vet immediately if any of these situations arise:

• The duration of exertion exceeds 1 hour, and the kittens have not begun to be born;
• The animal has become weak, apathetic, lies motionless or meows incessantly and is in great pain;
• the number of placentas is less than the number of newborns;
• a clear bloody discharge has appeared;
• the body temperature differs considerably from normal in one direction or another;
• contractions are sluggish and rarely recur (with an interval of 30 minutes or more);
• the amniotic bladder has burst and the kitten is stuck in the birth canal.

Most of these signs are symptoms of uterine dystonia or atony, which requires urgent veterinary care, often involving a Caesarean section. Any delay can be fatal to the cat and cubs. But in simpler situations, it is possible to help a mother in labor on her own.

A stuck kitten

In such cases, the clinic resorts to a caesarean section. To help yourself give birth, you should rub your abdomen in tact with the pushing. You categorically can not pull the newborn by the head, otherwise you can just twist the neck. The baby should be pulled by the skin or torso. The movement should not be directed perpendicular to the animal's body, but from side to side.

Premature birth

To determine the date of calving, the breed of the animal and some subjective factors must be taken into account. In non-bred cats, premature births usually go on without negative consequences for the mother and newborn babies. A purebred cat can not only lose its kittens, but also die itself.

Antecedents of labor in sphinxes

Don and Canadian sphynxes are exemplary and caring mothers to their little kittens. The gestation period lasts from 58 to 72 weeks. In most cases, the cats of this breed give birth to 3 to 5 kittens per calving.

The first signs of birth in sphinxes appear 2 days before the upcoming event. Two days before parturition the temperature in the rectal passage goes down to 36.7 degrees. The cat begins to actively nurse and scrub the genital area.

A few hours before labor, the cat begins to arch its back and show pronounced anxiety. Otherwise, the signs of beginning labor are similar to other cat breeds, and the labor process itself takes about 12 hours until the last kitten comes out.

Please note! If contractions last longer than 3 to 4 hours without any pushing, you should contact a veterinarian for help.

Signs of labor in British and Scottish breeds

In most cases, there is no difference between births in other cats and pedigree cats. British breed cats are more attached to their owners, so before the birth, the pet begins to follow its owner, trying to find support, for fear of being left alone.

It is very important to prepare for the birth of a Scottish cat in advance, and it is better to have her under the supervision of a veterinarian or professional breeder if the cat is giving birth for the first time. As a rule, kittens in this breed of cat are large, and complications may arise in the process of delivery. Due to the breed peculiarities of British and Scottish cats, they can get a pelvic fracture when giving birth, and bleeding may occur.

How do I know when a cat is giving birth?

It is impossible to predict when a cat will give birth, since each cat's pregnancy proceeds according to its individual characteristics.

However, there are a number of signs that can be used to determine when kittens are about to be born:

About a week or a few days before the birth, the cat's behavior changes, becoming more nervous and even aggressive. It may avoid contact with people or, on the contrary, it will attract attention and call its owner.

During the same period, the cat is looking for a secluded corner, it may climb into cabinets, hide under the bed. The owner should arrange a suitable place in advance and show it to the cat so that it gets used to it.

The cat may purposely pull the hair around the nipples to facilitate access to milk for future kittens.

One to two days before delivery, the cat's mammary glands swell and produce some colostrum (the first milk, which is rich in antibodies that strengthen the kittens' immune system).

The cat's appetite decreases up to complete refusal of food, she also drinks less.

Activity decreases. The cat lies more, may look apathetic and indifferent.

The day before labor the cat begins to actively lick itself – this is due to the fact that before the birth of the genitals the protective mucous plug comes out of the genitals.

A few hours before labor (about 5 hours) the cat has a characteristic curve of its back, this is due to the occurrence of short contractions of the uterus.

Cat labor often occurs at night. To ensure that the birth is under the control of the owner, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the pet not only during the day, but also at night.

Preparation for labor, behavioral changes

With a normal pregnancy and no health problems, the following kit should be prepared in the home by the 50th day of your term:

• A sturdy box with a low rim. The cat should be free to go in and out of the "nest" without the belly clinging to the rim.

• Several pairs of sterile, latex surgical gloves.

• Medical pipettes or suction, for forced airway cleaning if kitten does not cough up on her own.

• Sterile or boiled floss.

• Surgical or antiseptic-treated cosmetic scissors.

• Liquid and powdered antiseptics purchased at a veterinary pharmacy. Human preparations can be toxic to mom and kittens.

• Zelenka and cotton swabs to lubricate the umbilical cord.

• Clean cotton diapers, baize. Several small terry towels for rubbing kittens.

• Levomikol ointment or equivalent – in case the fetus stops moving in the birth canal.

• A clean bowl of water.

• Dry infant formula from 0 months – cat milk substitute.

• Pre-arranged terms of the vet's visit and phone number for remote consultation.

• Oxytocin or analogue – stimulation of contractions and labor activity.

• Sulfocamfocaine – stimulation of cardiac activity.

• Potassium gluconate – support in case of prolonged labor. A subcutaneous solution of up to 10% is given, anything above that should be given intravenously!

Take note! For fluffy and "hyper-clean" cats be sure to prepare: dry and wet wipes, diapers absorbent. If you don't provide cleanliness for "fastidious" cat she will wash, crawl from place to place and childbirth will not take place in the last place.

Antecedents of labor

Precursors are considered to be changes in the animal's vital activity, during the 24 hours before labor. A cat's uterus is arranged in the shape of a "Y" – the "horns" are the place of the kittens, the "tail" is the cervix. The main changes occur in it, accompanied by discomfort or pain. Miscarriage and spontaneous labor are accompanied by the same symptoms, with one difference. Signs of preterm labor in a cat, most often occur 1 to 2 times faster.

As soon as you notice the cat's restlessness, pay attention to the following aspects:

• Most often, before the beginning of contractions, mucus plug comes out of the cervix – a small clot of transparent, yellowish, greenish color, small brown flecks are considered the norm. You need to understand that the rejection of plugs can not notice. It may come out during urination or be rejected in parts – the cat is licked, no excretion is noticeable.

• During pregnancy, kittens lie down on the principle of "compactness," and for a proper birth they need to turn their heads downward. Large "babies" may not have time to do this, but during the process, there is active fetal movement – kittens turn and push, causing the mother a lot of inconvenience.

• The first contractions are barely visible but palpable, if you put your palm on the cat's belly – the opening of the cervix begins, the process can take up to 8 hours.

Preparedness #1! Signs of an early delivery in a cat – strong contractions, visible without feeling, the cat lays down on its side or squats and arching its back – between 5 to 60 minutes the first "baby" will appear.

How to find out if your cat is pregnant

This article was co-authored by Natalie Punt, DVM, our regular contributor. The regular contributors to wikiHow work closely with our editors to ensure that the articles are as accurate and complete as possible.

Number of sources used in this article: 7. You will find a list of them at the bottom of the page.

Typically, a cat's gestation period lasts about nine weeks, with changes in the animal's physical condition and behavior evident soon after gestation begins. [1] X Source of Information Knowing how to identify these changes will help you know if your cat is pregnant. However, the best and most surefire way is without a doubt a visit to the veterinarian. It is advisable to have the cat spayed unless you breed cats professionally, since due to the large number of stray animals, many of them are euthanized.

Signs of fertility readiness

• As a rule, the sexual activity of domestic cats increases with the duration of daylight hours and warming, i.e. in spring and summer.
• Periods of heat (fertility readiness) can begin in a cat when it reaches about 80% of its weight at maturity, and begin usually with warming weather. This means that in some, rather rare cases, a cat's heat can start as early as four months of age.

• Before the onset of heat, the cat begins to show signs of anxiety, becomes more affectionate, she makes low noises and exhibits an increased appetite. [3] X Source of Information
• With the onset of heat, the cat begins to "howl," that is, purr and meow frequently and persistently; the animal often loses its appetite in the process.
• During the heat period the cat becomes much more affectionate towards people; it rolls on the floor and also mounts its back up, stomping on it with its hind legs and hanging its tail to its side. [4] X Source of information [5] X Source of information

• If you notice that your cat has recently been in heat, it is possible that she has become pregnant.
• After the heat period, the cat goes through a "quiet phase," lasting about 8-10 days, during which time the animal calms down. However, this phase is followed again by a heat phase, and this can continue from April until September. [6] X Source of information
• To prevent periods of heat and unwanted pregnancies, the cat should be spayed by choosing the right time for the operation.

How to examine a cat

Keep an eye on the cat's physical condition. When a pregnant cat's delivery date approaches, her nipples and mammary glands will enlarge. The cat may also begin to lick her nipples. Other physical signs of impending labor include a lowered abdomen and an enlarged and soft vulva. All of these signs are easy to spot with a visual inspection. [9] X Source of Information

Pay attention to the way the cat breathes. If you suspect labor is approaching and the cat lets you get close to her, listen carefully to her breathing. The cat's breathing may become rapid, it may even become short of breath. The cat might also begin to purr rhythmically and prolongedly. [10] X

Look to see if the abdomen feels tense to the touch. When labor is about to begin, the cat goes into labor. You can tell by gently feeling her belly. Tension in the abdominal area is most likely a sign that labor is starting. You may even see your cat's abdomen tensing and relaxing. At this time, the cat may be lying on her side and it will be easier for you to examine her. [11] X Reliable Source Cat Fancier's Association Go to Source [12] X Source Information [13] X Source Information

How to recognize the signs of a problem birth

If labor is delayed, call your veterinarian. Most cats give birth quietly on their own. But it's always worth keeping an eye on your cat in labor. If by all indications (e.g., you see contractions) your cat is in the active stage of labor, but nothing happens within an hour, call your vet immediately. The vet can determine what kind of help your cat needs. [14] X Reliable Source Cat Fancier's Association Go to Source [15] X Source Information

Keep a close eye on your cat if her temperature rises. By checking your cat's body temperature, you can not only be aware of an impending labor, but also of potential problems. Usually a cat's body temperature drops toward labor. If the opposite happens and your cat's body temperature rises, keep a close eye on her and take her temperature a second time as soon as possible. If it is still above normal, call your veterinarian. [16] X Reliable Source Cat Fancier's Association Go to Source

Watch for any suspicious discharge. Small amounts of blood may be secreted during labor. Mucus plugs and amniotic fluid will also be among the secretions of a laboring cat. But if you notice heavy bleeding or discharge with an unpleasant odor, contact your doctor, as these signs may indicate a problem. [17] X Source of information