Recognizing and Managing Pregnancy Complications in Cats – Expert Guide

Pregnancy Complications in Cats are rare, but they do occur. To help your cat bring fur balls into the world easily, the NAUGHTY CAT pet care team shares tips on how to spot warning signs of danger as early as possible.

When your cat is cowardly, you experience great excitement. We understand that as loving pet owners, you may have to worry at this time and want to hug them with even greater gentle, loving care. Fortunately, cats tend to take great care of themselves, so there’s nothing to worry about.

It is very important to know how you can help a cat with a cat. NAUGHTY CAT provides expert advice to owners on how to help pets during this period.

Several symptoms may indicate that your cat’s pregnancy is not developing smoothly. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice any of the following signs:

Problem warning signs

Pregnancy Complications in Cats. When a cat prepares to kitten, it becomes restless before the kittens are born. You should keep checking on the performance of the crawling cat, but you don’t have to be with it all the time. It is only necessary to intervene and contact a veterinarian if:

• Kittens do not appear 3-4 hours after farrowing.

• Strong contractions last more than an hour, but the cat did not give birth to any kittens. You can understand this from the tension in the abdominal area.

• The cat has not given birth to all the kittens within 24 hours of the start of the farrowing (if you do not know how many kittens it is expecting, it should be examined by a veterinarian).

• Less placenta has been removed then the cat gave birth to the kittens – this may indicate that they have remained inside.

• You see a kitten on the external genitals, but the cat does not give birth to it even though it is tightening.

You may be upset, but it’s quite common for some kittens to fail to be born, and that shouldn’t depress the mother. If one or more kittens die during farrowing, it is not necessary to contact a veterinarian.

Signs warning of postpartum problems

Pregnancy Complications in Cats. Congratulations – your cat has become a mother! She should recover quickly and get used to motherhood soon. However, watch for any signs and contact your veterinarian if:

In a few hours

• Mom shakes, does not feel numb, or is restless – this may indicate low calcium levels (eclampsia).

• After giving birth to all the kittens, the mother is still struggling.

In a few days

• Mom feels unwell, does not eat, vomits, or has a temperature. Fever is usually indicated by loss of appetite, depression, lack of energy, decreased thirst, tremors, or increased breathing.

• You notice that your discharge stinks or contains fresh blood (it is normal to be black or pink for a few weeks after farrowing).

• The mother’s mammary glands are red, hard, or obviously painful.

• Any stinky, brown, or bloody discharge from the mother’s nipples.

After few weeks

• You notice “fading” kittens. So-called kittens weaken, do not gain weight, eat poorly or look very quiet. This can happen at any time in the first few weeks after birth.

Cats are no longer interested in food. Appetite may be reduced just before farrowing, but the cat should otherwise be in a good mood and healthy throughout the period.

She appears to be suffering, restless, snarling more than usual, or actively licking the external genitals, but not giving birth to kittens.

Pregnancy Complications in Cats. At any stage of pregnancy or farrowing, you notice unusual smelly vaginal discharge or bleeding. She more often goes to the toilet, urinates blood or lands, but does not urinate. This can indicate inflammation of the uterus – if left untreated, kittens can suffer.