How to Handle Kitten Births

There is a specific word that has been given to the process of kitten births. It is called queening. When you know your cat is going to give birth to kittens in the near future, then you should start the preparations well in advance, generally about two weeks before the birth is supposed to take place. Of course, you should always be working closely with your veterinarian to make sure the birth will be safe and the kittens will be healthy.

Things You'll Need

  • Boxes
  • Blanket
  • Heating pad
  • Fleece pad
  • Towels
  • Newspaper
  • Paper towels
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Instructions

    • 1

      Line a box with soft bedding, such as a blanket. The box is where the birth will take place. A laundry basket works well. The blanket should not be torn or have holes. Kittens can easily be caught in such areas. Let your cat sleep in the birthing box for a few weeks before the kittens are born. Make sure nothing disturbs your cat in this area.

    • 2

      Set up a second container to put the kittens in after they are born. Put a heating pad in the bottom and cover it with a fleece pad. Put at least two folded towels on top of that. Make sure the towels feel warm, but not hot.

    • 3

      Get your cat into the birthing box as soon as the process begins. Never let the birth take place in the litter box. The kittens could pick up diseases. For 12 to 24 hours before giving birth, your cat is likely to be restless, moaning, meowing, licking, panting and visiting the litter box often. These symptoms will heighten when the first kitten is about to arrive. Have plenty of newspapers ready to line the box with between births. As the newspapers are saturated, replace them with new ones.

    • 4

      Expect 15 to 30 minutes of contractions before the first kitten is birthed. Each kitten after that can take minutes or hours. Your cat can actually stop giving birth if she's disturbed or perceives a threat, which is why it's very important for the birthing container to be in a safe, quiet spot with no disturbances.

    • 5

      Let the kitten stay with the mother for a short time after the birth. Your cat will clean off the kitten, remove the umbilical cord and stimulate breathing. Clean off each kitten once the mother is done. Use paper towels to remove all discharge and placenta. Pick up the kitten in a head down position to let fluid out of the lungs. Then place the kitten in the second container. Handle the kittens as little as possible.

    • 6

      Watch the kittens in the box closely. If they are moving around a great deal, they are either hot or cold. Adjust the temperature. If they are bobbing their heads, this means they are hungry. Try to get them back in with your cat as soon as possible. If there is a lot of time between births, you can put the kittens in with the mother cat temporarily until another birth begins.

    • 7

      Remove placenta from the birthing area after your cat has eaten a few. Eating the placenta is natural, but eating too many can cause discomfort, vomiting or diarrhea.