Pregnancy and Delivery in Cats

Cats can usually go through pregnancy and labor without to many problems. However, if the cat is under a year old, or you have an older cat that has gone through multiple births, there could be problems ahead. This article will give you tips on how to tell what a normal pregnancy is, and what to look for should a vet need to intervene. It will also tell you how to prepare for an emergency, which if you have a pregnant cat in your home, you should always plan on there being an emergency. Then perhaps, there won't be!

Gestation Period

Gestation or the length of pregnancy of a cat averages 64 days. It is generally between 62 and 67 days or about nine or ten weeks. If your cat has been pregnant more than 67 days, consult your vet immediately!

If you would like to be present when your cat has her kittens, begin to take your cat's temperature two weeks before her due date. Do it at the same time every day. Your cat's temperature should be between 101 and 102. Fahrenheit. When your cat's temperature drops below 100F (98- 95F) she should deliver her kittens in less than twenty-four hours. The temperature is best taken rectally, ear thermometers though less invasive, are not all that accurate. Lubricate the thermometer with petroleum jelly. Gently and slowly insert the thermometer into the rectum about 1inch. If it does not slide in easily, do not force it.

Items you need prior to labor

• Clean towels (plenty of these!).
• Blunt scissors (to cut the umbilical cord should the momcat not chew it off).
• Dental floss (to tie off the kitten's umbilical cord).
• Baby's suction bulb (to clean out the mucous from the mouth or the nose of the kitten).
• An adjustable heating pad and thick cover to go over it (to set the newborns on and keep them warm).
• A small cardboard box lined with thick towels (for the kittens if mom rejects them).
• Your vet's phone number.

Nesting area

You should provide your cat with a dry, quiet, warm area with nesting materials such as towels or blankets 4 to 7 days before labor is estimated to begin. This allows your cat to become familiar with her surroundings. This location should be free of other cats or excessive human activity.

Moving a pregnant cat or changing her environment may delay labor, or cause her to move her kittens. She may even neglect her kittens.

Stages of Cat Labor

• Twelve to forty-eight hours before the onset of labor your cat will seem more anxious and restless. She will often begin looking for a place to nest and have the litter. Cats that are about to go into labor will usually lick their abdomen and vagina persistently.
• There is often a discharge that precedes birthing but the mother may lick it away before you see it.
• You may notice that she stops eating, although some cats will eat throughout the entire process.
• You may see her breathing become more rapid. In some cases the mother will sit with her mouth open and yowl loudly or pace.
• As her labor progresses and uterine contractions begin she will lay on her side and frequently squat and press downward to push the kittens out.

What happens next?

• The first kitten should arrive within an hour after the onset of contractions.
• Additional kittens could arrive immediately or up to 2 hours in between.
• Not as common, but possible after delivery of the first kitten(s) labor and contractions will cease for 24 to 48 hours and then labor will begin and more kittens will be delivered.