GotoAID Cats - Birthing

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Birthing

While cats commonly have problems giving birth because of huge size variation, cats very rarely have problems giving birth. Most cats will prefer to give birth in privacy away from their owners. Don’t be surprised if you aren’t able to witness your cat giving birth, but you can still monitor the health of your cat and kittens afterwards. Cats showing signs of difficulty giving birth need immediate veterinary care.

Symptoms

Pregnant	Panting
Pain	Vomiting
Bleeding

Steps

To pinpoint the first stage of labor is going to begin take her temperature rectally by having someone first restrain the cat by having a second person grasp the cat by the scruff with one hand and by the hind feet with the other and gently hold her down on a table

Lubricate the thermometer with a water based lubricant such as KY Jelly and gently insert into the rectum. Normal body temperature of cats is 100.5-102.5℉ (38.1-39.2℃).

Remove the thermometer, wipe it clean and read the temperature. If the temperature drops 1-2 degrees from a normal temperature of 100 F - 102.5 F you can predict she will go into labor within 24 hours

Trim the hair around the rear end with electric clippers

If the cat continues to strain and push for 20-30 minutes with no kittens in sight, seek immediate veterinary attention. DO NOT attempt to assist delivery without previous training or experience.

Soothe her to make sure she is calm as you help

Take a dry cloth and gently apply pressure to pull it out imagining the baby is C-shaped pulling in a curved downward motion towards the mother's leg and also coinciding with the mother's pushing, making sure not to fight her body

Rotate the baby as you pull first to one side and then the other with each contraction

If you can't deliver the baby after a few min of your gently assistance you will need to get medical help

After delivery the mother will lick and clean the baby but if she does not after 30 sec of birth you will need to break open the membrane and open it up and peel it away from the baby's face so they can breathe

If the baby is not breathing within 10-30 sec then pick it up with a clean towel and vigorously rub her all over across and both sides of the chest to stimulate circulation and stop this when it begins breathing

If the rubbing does not help check inside the mouth and use a bulb-suction syringe to suck out any fluid in the mouth

If you do not have a bulb syringe or it does not go far enough to collect the fluid take your kitten and hold her upside down between your legs and swing her in a rapid arcing motion to allow gravity to clear the lungs making sure to hold the baby with a good grip

If the mother doesn't bite off the umbilical cord herself within 3-5 minutes, then obtain some latex gloves, thread or dental floss, sharp scissors or scalpel blade and some iodine. Soak the thread/dental floss, scissors/scalpel blade in a clean dish filled with iodine.

Tie thread or dental floss around the umbilical cord in a double knot approximately 1/2 - 1 inches away from the neonate’s body. Use scissors or a scalpel blade to cut through the cord on the far side of the knot you just made (away from the neonate’s body).

Dip the severed end of the cord in iodine to prevent bacteria from entering and leave the thread tied on as it will eventually dry up and fall off the body

The end attached to the placenta may bleed a little but the placenta will detach from the uterus, however if there is constant dripping of blood from the mother for more than 5-10 min you will need her checked by a vet immediately

After the babies area born give the mother some privacy so that oxytocin hormone can flow and she can produce milk

If the mother is having trouble giving milk after about 30 min you can stimulate the nipples with a warm wet washcloth and massage them gently

Have your cat and kittens checked out by a veterinarian to ensure their health.

Warnings

Ensure your cat’s privacy. Observe at a distance and give the mother a chance to do things on her own. Limit visitors and excess handling of the kittens in the first few days so the mother can bond with her kittens.

DO NOT pull the baby out straight, pull it out gently in a C-shaped method

Keep an eye for discharge from the mother for 4 weeks and if has a foul odor or there's a lot of blood in it after 3 weeks after birth there could be an infection, take her to the vet

Tips

If you have to pull out the baby it helps to have the mother standing so that gravity can help with the process

Kittens are delivered normally within 10-20 minutes of pushing. Other kittens will start to arrive within 10 minutes and up to an hour between kittens

Keep kittens warm by providing dry blankets and water bottles filled with hot water. (Be sure to wrap the hot water bottles in a towel or blanket before use)

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