Key Signs Your Cat Is Pregnant – What to Watch For

Cat’s Pregnancy Signs. If a cat soon brings a new litter of soft fluff balls to your home, you’re probably very eager, but also worried.

Cat’s Pregnancy Signs. There is no need to be afraid – cat cats are usually good at taking care of themselves, but they will need your careful care and attention. Often cats try to sneak somewhere to give birth to kittens, so they should be closely monitored for the last few weeks! If you are worried about your cat becoming pregnant or fighting, talk to your veterinarian. His advice should reassure you.

Cat’s pregnancy symptoms

Cat’s Pregnancy Signs. Make sure that during the last two weeks of your cat’s pregnancy, all members of the family behave calmly, do not make noise and treat her with care, especially children – of course, they are very eager to wait until they can finally play with the kittens!

At this time, try to keep the cat as nervous as possible and move as little as possible, encourage him to rest in a special bed. However, she may not be seduced by even the most comfortable bearing, and some cats don’t even look at such bearings and prefer to settle in the corner of the closet! Just make sure she can choose where to give birth to the kittens and never try to move her from the chosen place.

Get help

The cat should get the kitten smooth, but it is helpful to have help on hand in case of any complications.

Before the start of childbirth, get a veterinary phone number to contact during unemployment, as cats often give birth to kittens at night or may need urgent help. If your cat has any problems during childbirth, it may be necessary to take her to a veterinarian, so make sure you have transport.

If you think she will give birth soon, it is a good idea to take care of a few things in advance, such as preparing a clean bowl of warm water, clean towels, hygienic dental floss and disposable gloves, as well as a cat transport box and having veterinary contact details. It’s important to have these things at hand for everything!

If at any point you need to separate the kittens from their mother, you will need to make sure they do not freeze. We would advise using a bean bag that can be heated in the microwave instead of a hot water bladder as kittens with sharp teeth and claws can pierce it.

Know what signs to look out for during childbirth

It is quite difficult to see when childbirth will begin. At the start of childbirth, the cat becomes very restless, walks, as if looking for something, or starts yelling loudly. Contact your veterinarian if you do not understand if she has already started giving birth and keep an eye on her in the last weeks and days before giving birth to know exactly when and where she gave birth to the kittens. A cat values ​​privacy, especially when she is about to give birth to kittens! It is important to watch your cat give birth so that you can intervene if you have problems, especially if you are giving birth to kittens for the first time.

Stages of cat pregnancy

There are three stages in giving birth to a cat. If you think your cat has already started giving birth, you should monitor it closely. Cats usually give birth to kittens very easily, but it is important to monitor the giving birth cat to see immediately if there are any complications. However, if you interfere unnecessarily, the birth may take time or the cat may get annoyed, so it’s best to just check regularly that everything is okay and try not to interfere unless absolutely necessary. Don’t worry, cats usually give birth very smoothly, but if you’re worried, you can always consult a veterinarian. Also limit the number of participants – although the whole family is looking forward to seeing kittens born, it can annoy the kitten’s mother!

1 Stage

• You may not notice the first stage, when the cervix and uterus are preparing for the upcoming birth.

• Strokes will start, but you may not see them.

• The cat will become very restless, walk around as if looking for something, or start yelling loudly.

• She may also go to the litter box several times in vain, but hopefully she will eventually settle in the maternity bed.

• Don’t be surprised if she chooses another location because she may be unfamiliar with the maternity bed or just want to give birth to kittens somewhere else. Don’t move her – it’s always safer to let her give birth where she chooses.

• Vaginal discharge may also begin to develop.

2 Stage

• The second stage of childbirth is the birth of kittens. How great! This can take 2 to 24 hours. Double check the kit for childbirth and make sure you have everything you need.

• Some kittens are born head-forward, like human babies, but others are paw-forward, and this is normal, so don’t be afraid if that happens.

• Kittens are usually born at 30-45 minute intervals, but sometimes there is an hour difference between them.

• Observe when standing at a safe distance and only intervene if absolutely necessary, for example if you see that the cat is working hard but cannot push the kitten out, or if bloody discharge occurs, or if the kittens are born very quickly one after the other and it does not manage to clean them or tear the amniotic sac. Read on to know what to look for when giving birth to a cat and when to contact your veterinarian for advice if needed.

3 Stage

• The third stage is the removal of the kitten’s placenta – this usually happens at birth for each kitten.

• Count the number of removed placentas – there should be as many kittens as there are.

• If you notice that there are fewer placentas than kittens, it is possible that the cat ate them or that one of them had twin kittens. However, this may mean that the placenta has not been removed and the veterinarian should check this as soon as possible – call him if in doubt.

• Do not be afraid if the cat’s mother eats several placentas – this is normal, but that is why it is especially important to monitor the cat closely when she is giving birth!

Help with giving birth to a cat

When a kitten is born, the mother should help him tear open the amniotic sac (the thin membrane that covers the kitten) and clean it thoroughly. It is to be hoped that the cat will not need your intervention during childbirth, but sometimes the cat needs a little help.

If she doesn’t tear the bag open or doesn’t tear it off completely, or doesn’t clean the kittens, she may need to step in and help her take care of the newborn kittens. Using a towel (but by no means a sharp object), gently tear open the bags to allow the kitten to breathe. Gently wipe the mouth and nose, then quickly dry the kitten by rubbing against the fur with a small clean cloth or towel such as a face towel. Then rub a warm cloth firmly to allow the fur to dry and the kitten to warm up, encouraging him to take a deep breath for the first time.

A cat that is lying around usually cuts the umbilical cord, but if it doesn’t, it may need your help again. With clean hands or wearing disposable gloves, tie the umbilical cord about 5 cm from the kitten’s body, then again about 2.5 cm from the body and cut the umbilicus between these two tied places. Do not cut the umbilical cord too close to the kitten as this can be dangerous for him. The cat’s mother can chew or swallow the long ends of the umbilical cord, so be sure to shorten them! If you notice that the mother is trying to bite the umbilical cord too close to the kitten, do not let her or cut her own.

If you are worried about this part of childbirth, talk to your veterinarian well in advance so you know exactly what to do.

What to do after your cat has given birth

It may seem that everything went quickly, but the whole birth should take about 2-5 hours. Sometimes it lasts up to 24 hours! If you notice any problems with your cat at any time during childbirth, contact your veterinarian and discuss what to do next. If a maternal cat struggles in vain for an hour or more, contact a veterinarian immediately.

There are usually four to six kittens in a litter, although it is not uncommon to have more or less. When the cat gives birth to all the kittens, let her wash them and feed them. Try not to interfere too much, but don’t be afraid to gently tidy them up – this way they will socialize faster and their mom will get a much needed respite!

If, within an hour of birth, the kittens have not yet started sucking their mother’s milk, you should add them to your nipples as the kittens are probably very hungry! If the kittens have more than nipples, you should swap them in places until they learn to share.

If it appears that the mother does not care for her kittens, does not wash them or breastfeed them, consult a veterinarian immediately.

Sometimes it is necessary to feed kittens by hand after giving birth to a cat, but this is a rare case. If you have any concerns or questions about feeding your litter, talk to your veterinarian for more advice. Now there is one thing left to do – to celebrate this special event – the birth of kittens.

Congratulations!