Birthing Kittens

Cats birthing kittens generally have problem free deliveries. Most queens instinctually know what to do to before, during, and after kitten birthing.

• Nesting Behaviors

  Twenty four hours prior to cats giving birth, felines will often gather material and look for a place to birth their kittens. Queens will choose secluded, quiet nooks to have their babies. You can help your cat out by providing her with a kittening box for this purpose.

• Restlessness

  Cats about to give birth may also appear more restless. They often show signs of increased anxiety (pacing, meowing). Comfort your cat by giving her extra hugs and affection.

• Decreased Appetite

  Cats in the late stages of pregnancy will typically decrease the amount of food they ingest. As the kitten fetuses grow inside her, a mom cat’s stomach will be compressed and hold less and less food as pregnancy progresses. Give your queen a few small meals per day as she can tolerate.

• Clingy Behavior

  Cats pregnant with their first pregnancies are especially likely to be clingy and overly attached to their owners prior to delivery. First time moms may follow their owners around the house and may genuinely appear afraid of birthing kittens. Offer first time moms-to-be support and show that you’ll be present as she delivers.

• Vaginal Discharge

  You may notice that your cat late in pregnancy has a small amount of brownish colored discharge or even may have a plug of mucus dislodge from the birth canal. This is normal.

• Increased Attention to Genitals

  As delivery approaches, queens will often spend more time focused on licking and cleaning their genitals. They are preparing for delivery that is about to occur.

Three Stages of Labor

The kitten birthing process generally occurs in three stages. The first stage is the start of the cervix dilating so that the kittens can be born in stage two. Stage three includes the expulsion of the placentas after birth.

• Stage One

  Stage one is the time when the cervix begins to dilate and a pregnant cat begins to feel the first contractions. The first stage of labor could last up to 12 or more hours. During this time, you may notice that your expectant cat is very active. She could pace or purrs loudly. She may even vomit.

• Stage Two

  During stage two, uterine contractions become even more intense and cervix dilates even more. Kittens begin to slide down into the birth canal (vagina) and the amniotic fluid sac around the individual kittens’ bursts.

  Most kittens are born head first and slide out of the birth canal without problems. Some cat breeds tend to have more problems during delivery. Persian kittens have flatter heads which can become lodged in the birth canal. Persian cat moms may need extra help to remove her kittens during birth.

  Mom cats will vigorously lick their kittens’ faces and noses to stimulate their breathing. They will then sever the umbilical cords attached to their kittens.

• Stage Three

  In stage three, the placenta is delivered. Each kitten is attached to its own placenta which provides nourishment while a cat is in the womb.

  Some mom cats even eat the placenta as a way of getting extra nutrients and to hide evidence of their kittens’ birth from predators. Eating too many placentas can cause diarrhea in cats. You also want to make sure that there is a placenta present for each kitten delivered. Undelivered placentas can cause uterine infections.

  Some queens have been known to even eat their new born kittens, particularly their first-borns. Cats may also eat their dead stillborn kittens or eat their kittens by accident when consuming a placenta. If you notice this behavior, simply separate the kittens from their mother until she delivers all of her litter or have a surrogate cat raise the litter.

  A cat mom may deliver her kittens at a space of up to 30 minutes apart. Although most cats are done birthing kittens within six hours, a queen may even deliver a few kittens over a few hours time and then deliver more kittens later that day.

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