How to know if a cat is in labor?

If as cats’ keepers we have the opportunity to live with a cat that we suspect may be pregnant, it is important that we have the basic knowledge needed, not only about pregnancy, but also about how to know if a cat is in labor, since it is a momentous moment that we must know how to identify, especially in case there is any problem that needs to be our intervention and, even, of a potential transfer to a veterinary clinic.

In this article we give you the keys so that you know how to identify it correctly. How to know if a cat is in labor? Discover it below!

Some facts about the pregnancy of the cats

Cats can get pregnant for a good part of the year, from January-February to approximately October. In many, the zeal it will be very apparent and we will be able to hear them meow, almost to the point of screaming, to rub against everything and, in general, to be nervous and restless.

They have one induced ovulation, which means that it is during copulation with the male that the exit of the ovule is stimulated. If fertilization occurs, the cat will breed three to five kittens for approximately two months. In general, during the pregnancy of the cat, she will maintain her normal life and we will only appreciate an increase in the size of her belly. Of course, as soon as we have knowledge of your state or want to confirm it is advisable see our veterinarian.

In addition, we should start feeding it with a I think special for puppies under one year since during pregnancy their dietary needs will change. After pregnancy, the moment of birth will come. In the next section we will see how to know if a cat is in labor.

The moment of delivery

To the end of the two months Approximations of gestation, we must wait for the birth to be triggered at any moment. If we have taken our cat to a veterinary review, it is possible that this professional has given us a probable date of delivery, although we must know that the determination of this day is not an exact science, so it will be able to get ahead or be delayed a few days without involving any pathology.

During the last days we can notice that our cat is calmer and passes more time resting. Your movements get heavier and you can eat less. It is also possible that we see some drop of milk in the breasts. We must not manipulate them. When the day finally arrives we can know if a cat is in labor attending to different aspects.

Symptoms of birth in a cat:

• The cat is restless.
• We observed a brown or bloody discharge from the vulva.
• Our cat frequently licks the area of ​​the vulva, which may indicate that there is secretion, as we discussed, although we can not see it.
• Breathing can be agitated, even with the mouth open. It is usually a sign that the contractions, which are the movements that the uterus makes to get the puppies out.
• Sometimes, if we look at his abdomen we can even see these contractions.
• The normal thing is that our cat has chosen a quiet and safe place for this moment. It is what is known as “make the nest” We can put at your disposal an easy access box with towels or soakers, so that it is easy to clean, in case you want to use it, although it will not be unusual for you to choose another place. In addition, labor usually occurs at night, so it is likely that we get up one morning and meet the new family.

These signs give us an idea that our cat has already started labor. Next we will describe its normal development.

The development of labor

Now that we have seen how to know if a cat is in labor, once this begins, it is best that we stay in the background, to intervene only if our help is required, for example if the delivery is interrupted, some important bleeding occurs or a kitten does not breathe. Discover in 4 problems in the delivery of a cat.

The normal thing is that the little ones are born wrapped in their bag, approximately every 30 minutes. It is the mother cat who is responsible for breaking it and ingesting it next to the placenta and the umbilical cord, who is going to cut herself in that gesture. We will observe, too, that he immediately begins to vigorously lick his little ones, cleaning them, clearing his nostrils of possible secretions, stimulating his breathing and encouraging them to start sucking, which will take advantage of the important colostrum.

By ingesting the remains of the birth, the bed is quite clean, even so we can put a new soaker and remove tissues that are stained. Once mother and babies are calm, we can offer food and, especially water, to our cat. We must avoid manipulating to the family, but we do have to observe that everyone is perfectly. Discover more on how to care for a cat and its young.

This article is merely informative, in .com we do not have the faculty to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to How to know if a cat is in labor?, we recommend you to enter in our section of Pregnancy problems.