Tips on What to Do When Your Cat Gives Birth

According to Ron Hines, DVM, Ph.D. at 2ndchance.com, more than 99 percent of cats will give birth easily without complications or the need for assistance. Complications during cat pregnancy and birth are most commonly witnessed in Persian cats. Though your cat may not need any assistance at delivery, you may feel comfortable being present at the event and previously educated on what to expect.

  1. Detecting Labor

    • If you have a busy schedule, keep track of when labor will begin in order to be present for the event. Cat gestation typically lasts 9 to 10 weeks, so once you notice the signs of cat pregnancy you can estimate the feline's due date or take your cat to the vet to get a closer due date estimate from a professional. Like human infants, kittens will not always arrive precisely on their due date, so you will still need to monitor your cat for signs that labor is imminent. One way to determine the proximity of labor is to monitor the mother's temperature; a feline's temperature is normally between 101 and 102 degrees F, so a drop in temperature to 100 degrees F indicates that labor will begin within 24 hours. Other signs of imminent labor include restless behavior while the mother searches for a delivery site and seepage of milk from the cat's nipples.

    Preparing for Labor

    • If you plan to be present for the delivery, prepare yourself and any children who will witness the event for what will happen. You may want to lay a towel or old blanket under the cat's chosen birth site to protect your floor or other surface from a messy stain. Continue to watch your cat for signs that labor is about to begin; the cat will begin to purr rhythmically as well as breath heavily as labor begins. If you plan to record the event, have your camera ready to go long before labor begins.

    Know What to Expect

    • Your cat does not necessarily need you to be present for the delivery, so bear this in mind during labor. You should only intervene when there are complications; know what to expect so that you only intervene when necessary. As labor begins, fluid and blood will appear and discharge from the cat's vulva. When the first kitten emerges, it will be covered by a fluid-filled sac that may burst during delivery or be licked off of the kitten by the mother. Once the sac is removed, the kitten will begin to breathe and cry like a human infant. If the mother has strong contractions for over 2 hours before giving birth to the first kitten, there may be two kittens attempting to exit the mother at once, creating a block; if this is the case, contact your vet to intervene with the delivery.