Cat Labor Tips

One reason why the domestic cat is such a successful species is because female cats (or queens) are such good mothers. They rarely have trouble giving birth, also known as "kittening." Although PetEducation.com reports that the average litter size for a pet cat is three to five kittens, the world record for a litter of kittens is 19, although only 15 survived. First-time queens generally have smaller litters than experienced mother cats.

  1. Due Date

    • Cats go into labor anywhere from 60 to 71 days after conception. But if the cat goes into labor before the 60th day, the kittens will be too premature to survive without veterinary intervention, according to "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook." Twelve to 24 hours before she will begin giving birth, her body temperature will drop to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

    First Stage

    • The first stage of kittening in queens can last up to 12 hours, although "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" reports that this stage may last longer in some cats. The cat will become restless, may walk around crying pathetically, pant, suddenly purr and go to the litter box and squat, but nothing happens. She should be taken to a quiet, warm nesting site at this time.

    Kittens Arrive

    • The queen's water will break about a half hour before the first kitten arrives. This can be yellow or transparent liquid. Kittens usually arrive about 15 minutes apart, according to "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook." After each kitten is delivered, the afterbirth, or placenta, comes out. This is a strange-looking blob of dark red material. It is normal for the mother cat to immediately eat this, but it can cause digestive upsets, so remove the afterbirth. Kittens should immediately wriggle to the queen to latch onto a nipple and nurse.

    When to Call a Vet

    • Call a veterinarian if the cat has been in labor after the water breaks for more than 24 hours; if really bad smelling placenta is discharged before a kitten; if more than one hour passes and the cat clearly has another kitten in her; or if the queen continually vomits and is so weak that she has stopped bearing down. PetPlace.com also notes that if a pregnant cat has not gone into the first stage of labor after 71 days from her breeding date, then the kittens may have died. She needs to see a vet immediately.