During birth, your queen will 'cry' and sound distressed, which is completely normal. You can expect to see a kitten every 10 to 60 minutes, and it's likely your cat will eat the placentas and chew through the kittens' umbilical cords.
Licking, pacing, howling, and chirping
You might notice your cat licking her genitalia frequently – There is a discharge from the cat's vulva a few hours before birth starts. Your cat's water will break as well. Now is the time for pacing, restlessness, and howling, meowing, or chirping from your cat.
Restlessness – Around 24-48 hours before the birth, your pregnant cat may appear restless or anxious, pacing around her nesting area. Vocalisation – She might begin to meow and cry out more than usual. Don't worry. She's just letting you know the kittens are coming.
While spotting labour in a cat can be tricky, there are some signs that could indicate your cat is getting ready to give birth. The mum may become very restless, pace up and down, go in and out of the litter tray and become very vocal.
Kittens have the ability to make sounds from birth, and may be heard making little mews to let their mother know they're hungry, says Catster. Purring typically begins during week three, and kittens tend to become more vocal as they start being able to walk, play and explore their surroundings.
Try to keep her as calm and inactive as possible during this time, and encourage her to relax in her special maternity bed. Even the snuggliest soft bed might not tempt her however, and some cats will reject your suggested birthing bed for a corner of a cupboard!
In cats the average length of full parturition (delivery) is 16 hours, with a range of 4–42 hours (up to three days in some cases may be normal). It is important to consider this variability before intervening. The third stage is delivery of the fetal membranes.
Most cats would prefer to be left alone, and they definitely don't want to be pet or touched while they are giving birth. It's best to give your pregnant cat as much privacy as possible while also leaving yourself the ability to monitor the birthing process for any signs of issues or distress.
A hormonal imbalance is thought to play a central role in the development of a false pregnancy, or pseudopregnancy, in which a non-pregnant female cat shows such symptoms as lactation or nursing without producing kittens. The affected female cat shows these symptoms about a month or two after her estrus (heat) is over.
When you notice a pregnant cat meowing and restless, chances are she's just feeling uncomfortable. Much like pregnant women, pregnant cats experience discomfort towards the end of pregnancy. I want to emphasize this – discomfort NOT pain. Cats have litters of between 2 and 5 kittens.
Before a cat's birth, the feline will begin to exhibit noticeable changes in behavior. The cat may start hiding more or spending time in quiet parts of the house. Cats who are particularly close with their pet parent might become more affectionate or clingy in the days leading up to the birth of their kittens.
Step 1: Grasp the kitten with a clean towel. Step 2: Applying steady traction, gently pull the kitten at a slight downward angle. Continue pulling gently and steadily until the kitten is delivered. Step 3: If you are unable to remove the kitten, or if the mother is uncooperative, contact the veterinarian immediately.
Kittens may be passed stillborn, either before their due date or on their due date. In some cases, a deceased fetus may become mummified within the uterus. Mummification occurs when the body creates a protective membrane around the fetus, allowing it to remain encased and walled-off within the uterus.
Either way; according to Canine and Feline Reproduction, by Margaret Kustritz; once contractions are seen, a kitten should be born within four hours. If your cat's pushing hard, a kitten should be passed within 30 minutes.
Normally, delivery of a kitten from the commencement of the second stage may take from five to thirty minutes. Once the head is out of the vulva, one or two more contractions should complete the passage of the narrower remainder of the kitten's body.
The placental membrane often ruptures ("breaking of the waters") prior to the kitten being born but is not always the case and some kittens are born completely covered in their membranes.
Some rather dependent cats will deliberately delay or interrupt labour if the owner has to go out. This resting stage may last up to 24 or even 36 hours, after which straining recommences and the remainder of the litter is born quite normally and easily.
Whilst it's safe to stroke your pregnant cat, make sure that you avoid her tummy. This area will be very sensitive, and any touching there could cause her discomfort or hurt her unborn kittens. If you do have to pick your cat up, make sure to “scoop” her up from her bottom, rather than touch her stomach.
Preparing for Your Cat to Give Birth
Keep the nest in a warm place and line it with soft blankets or towels (that you won't mind throwing away). Try to find a familiar location to put the box that is quiet and out of the way, and show your cat where the box is situated.
LABOR STAGE I
This is the time when the queen becomes restless and anxious. You may notice panting, pacing, refusal of food and maybe vomiting. Nesting behavior begins.
Nesting. With around two weeks to go in her pregnancy, a pregnant cat will often start “nesting.” “She may choose a quiet place and start arranging blankets for a birthing area,” says Barrack. Your cat may also start acting more maternal, being more affectionate toward you and purring more frequently.