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PREGNANCY
The average gestation for
a queen (mother cat) is 63 days, but a normal pregnancy can range from
56 – 69 days. In relaxed, cooperative queens, your veterinarian may
be able to palpate a fetus in the uterus during the 4th to
6th weeks of pregnancy. Accurate diagnosis of fetal age is
most reliable with ultrasonography. Radiographs are helpful for
determining litter size after the fetal calcification at around 45
days gestation.
Very little extra care is necessary
during the pregnancy, but it is important to feed a high quality,
well-balanced diet since the queen’s caloric requirements will
increase by 25-50% during pregnancy and may double while nursing.
Preparing For the Birth
Prepare a simple nest in a warm, dry,
secluded area about one week before the queen is due to deliver. A
large box lined with layers of old towels makes a nice nesting box.
Introduce her to it daily, but do not be disappointed if she chooses
another place when the time comes.
Labor and Delivery
Labor: As uterine contractions begin, the
queen may stop eating, seek seclusion,
and repeatedly visit the nesting box. She may purr loudly, pace,
pant, vocalize, and become restless
12-24 hours before birth. Some cats will
exhibit this nesting behavior for up to 48 hours. You may see a small
amount of vaginal discharge during this stage of labor.
Delivery: The first kitten may take
as long as 30 – 60 minutes to be born. The entire litter is usually
born within 2-6 hours, but it may take as long as 12 hours. Kittens
may be delivered rapidly within minutes of each other or at 30-60
minute intervals. About 1 in 3 kittens is normally born breech.
The queen should not be disturbed
except to check occasionally that all is well. If she has been having
strong contractions for more than two hours, and no kittens
have been born, call your veterinarian. Human intervention and
interruptions can significantly delay the birthing process!
Between deliveries the queen removes
and eats the placental tissue, severs the umbilical cord, cleans the
kittens, and licks her perineal area. Do not try to help the
mother clean the babies or to cut the cords; it is extremely rare for
a mother cat not to handle these procedures perfectly. However, she
may stop these normal functions if you interfere.
Postpartum
The new family should be left alone in warmth,
quiet, and solitude. As long as the mother cat is around, there is
seldom any need for you to do anything for the kittens, since she will
attend to their training and needs.
It is natural for mother cats to move
kittens; she will move them one-by-one to their new location. She will
not forget about her kittens, there is no need for you to help.
Potential Problems
Call your veterinarian
if the
mother cat does not eat after 24 hours, is restless, refuses to allow
the kittens to nurse, has a thick, smelly discharge from the vagina,
trembling or convulsions. Hungry kittens cry a lot at first, their
bellies sink in and sick kittens stop nursing, do not move around and
lose weight instead of making the approximate ½ oz per day gain
healthy kittens make in the first week.
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