How to Help a Cat Give Birth

Ready to help your mother cat birth her kittens? The big day has arrived, so what do you need to do? This process is technically called queening. Chances are that you will not need to do anything to help with the birth process except to be with your cat to encourage her. You may even wake one morning to discover that your pregnant cat has given birth during the night, and is comfortably nursing her kittens. However, you should know how to spot potential problems and what action to take, should she need assistance with the birth process.

Signs of Impending Labor

• Nesting: A day or two before labor, your cat will seek out a quiet and safe place to have her kittens. You may try to prepare a birthing area for her from a cardboard box or laundry basket lined with towels or blankets. However, your cat may choose something else entirely.
• Behavioral Changes: These include restless pacing, panting, excessive grooming (especially in the area of her genitals), and excessive vocalization.
• Physical Signs of Labor: There may be a drop in normal body temperature. The cat may vomit. The abdomen may drop a few days before labor, and the nipples may become larger and pinker.
• Active Labor: Contractions will start and you will see the appearance of the amniotic sac. You may also see a discharge of blood or other colored fluid

Supplies for the Birthing Area

• Absorbent pads to line the delivery box.
• Clean towels for helping to clean and stimulate the kittens, if necessary.
• Paper towels for the same purpose.
• Depending on the number of kittens expected, you may need an extra box for placing the kittens in while the queen is still birthing. Place a heating pad in the bottom of the box with a blanket or several towels over it. The idea is to keep the kittens from being chilled, without burning them. Never place them directly on a heating pad. Drape another clean towel over the top of the box to hold the heat in and to keep out drafts.
• A laundry basket or extra box for discarding soiled towels

What Happens During Kitten Birthing?

The cause of the induction of the birth process is still unknown, but factors include the size and weight of the uterus, size, and weight of the fetus(es), and hormonal balances of both the fetus and the queen.

During the birth process, rhythmical uterine contractions gradually increase to push the fetus out of the uterus and into the birth canal. The placentas may be expelled at the same time as the kittens, or within 24 hours after birth.

The kittens are born within their amniotic sacs, which the queen will remove. If she ignores the kitten and it is still in its sac, it will be up to you to carefully cut the sac and stimulate the kitten's breathing by rubbing it gently with a rough dry towel. It is a good practice to count the placentas to make sure all are expelled. If a placenta is retained, veterinary intervention is needed.

The mother cat will stimulate the kittens to breathe by washing them with her rough tongue. She will also sever the umbilical cord by chewing on it approximately one inch from the kitten's body. At this time, she may eat the placenta. The kittens will immediately gravitate toward a nipple, latch on, and nurse.

About 10 to 60 minutes may pass between births, but longer periods of time are not uncommon. If there is a delay of over two hours and you are sure there are remaining kittens, the queen should be examined by a veterinarian.

The mother cat and kittens should be examined by your veterinarian within 24 hours of birthing. Unless the mother cat should be spayed as soon as the kittens are weaned (unless this a quality purebred cat and you are an experienced, professional cat breeder).

Length of Time for the Total Birth Process

In general, it may take up to six hours for a queen to give birth to all her kittens. The first kitten should arrive within an hour of the start of active labor. Subsequent kittens will take anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes. She will rest for several minutes between kittens, and during this time she should be allowed to nurse and clean the kittens that have been born. If you have been keeping the kittens in another box, move them back with the mother cat and help them find a nipple. This is also a good time for you to offer her food, kitten milk replacement, or plain, unflavored yogurt. Although in rare cases a healthy kitten is born after the seven-hour period, you should take the queen and her kittens to the vet for a checkup once seven hours passes and you are sure there are other kittens inside.

Problems During Labor

Fortunately, most queens are able to deliver their kittens without human intervention. However, some complications may occur.

• Extended Contractions without Birth: If your cat is having more than 30 minutes of strong contractions, she should be seen by a veterinarian. Take her and any kittens to your vet.
• Retained Placenta: If your cat does not pass each placenta, it can lead to a uterine infection. It is important to count the number of placentas (one per kitten) to keep on top of this potential problem. Note that your cat may eat the placenta; this is normal. If any have not passed, contact your veterinarian.
• Kitten Lodged in the Birth Canal: A kitten that is lodged in the birth canal for more than 10 minutes is in distress, and your intervention may be necessary. Don't wait this long to intervene. Contact your vet if a kitten is lodged in the birth canal for more than two minutes. Note that although most kittens are born head first. Breech (tail-first) births occur about 40 percent of the time and are considered normal.
• Stillborn Kittens: Sadly, this sometimes happens. All you can do is to remove the baby from the area so the mother can continue uninterrupted with birthing the other kittens.
• Postpartum Hemorrhaging: Although some bleeding after giving birth is normal, excessive hemorrhaging is an emergency and calls for veterinary intervention.

Once all the kittens are born, your queen will normally be caring for and feeding them. Make sure she has ample quantities of kitten food now and for the rest of the time until the kittens are weaned. If anything seems amiss with either your queen or the kittens, seek veterinary care immediately.