Young cat just went into labor help please

[mommyofsimba]

Hi this is my first time with a pregnant cat. I didn't expect her going into labor today. I am in panic mode. I don't feel prepared. I am worried if God forbid one comes out as a stillborn or needs to be resuscitated or a cord has to be cut. I don't know what to do. Simba is a stray off the street I took in as a kitten and when I checked quick thought was a male. She was taken to vet for her shots and microchipped as a male. The vet never checked because she was very afraid and scratched him. She is very very nervous with everyone except me. She was supposed to be spade/neuter but escaped my house and got pregnant. She was a feral kitten when I got her. She loves being outside so keeping her inside I feel is distress. Please any advice. And yes this will be here first and only littler and she will be fixed after I think when I researched it said 8 weeks. I am really worried.
I took a drawer from my dresser for last 2 weeks and put wee pad in it and towel over it. She doesn't like cat or dog beds I've tried. She likes hard floor. It's a miracle she is in the drawer. It's bigger then the boxes I've seen so I hope that she feels safe. It's behind my bed I moved my bed up and curtains. That's her spot. I had the drawer in another quiet place but I moved it there because that's her spot and now she is inside.

Please if you all can offer support and help. I am doing this by myself. I recently lost my dog to cancer he was 13 years old. I don't think I can handle stillborn kittens I am very emotional. I know it's common.

Her diet has been 2 cans of kitten food because I read leading up to the birth that it's good to give kitten food. Plus she loves it. Also she was eating dry food and treats. Food and water available always. I did move the water next to where she is. I'm praying everything goes good.

She jumped on my bed and was very loving. Then I heard some gas from her and the stomach contracted. This all started at 2pm. I am trying to not keep going near her. I have gloves and I boiled got water and sanitized a pair of scissors but I don't know where to cut. So in case she doesn't clean the kitten off or a cord needs to be cut where do I cut it from her or kitten.

Thank you all in advance. I'm praying everything goes good. Also does anyone know how long the labor process is till I see first kitten?

 

[mommyofsimba]

I am worried because I haven't seen milk from nipples. Nipples didn't get larger and fur around has lessened but still there. If she doesn't produce milk I did buy a kitten bottle and also the needleless syringe to put the milk I bought from supermarket for kitten and adult cats. I don't know If that's for newborn cats there is one for newborns at petco. How do you know if when the kitten comes that when latched to nipple if there's milk coming out or not.

 

[daishain]

First step, calm down. Feline labor by comparison to what human women have to deal with is easier, less painful, and much less risky. What's more, your cat can pick up on your stress and become stressed herself, which we don't want.

Labor process is unpredictable, it could be hours or minutes before the show really gets going. The first kitten usually takes the longest, the remainder will come fairly quickly afterwards.

Make sure that the space your cat is in is warm, quiet, and free from anything the mother might perceive as a threat to the newborn. I'm not kidding about the warmth, kittens can't regulate body heat very effectively at this stage. If the room temperature is comfortable for you, its probably at least a little too cold to be ideal (having the place at normal room temperature is probably fine, this is just added help)

The mother will probably bite or tear off the umbilical herself, if she doesn't cut it relatively close to the kitten. Be prepared to deal with any bleeding by tying off the stem somehow.

If the mother will let you, you can check for milk by massaging a teat.

Each kitten has its own placenta, which will be delivered separately and in an unpredictable pattern. Try to keep track of the number of placentas vs the number of kittens

The mother will want to clean the newborns by licking them, let her. Kittens should be moving and breathing within seconds of this treatment . If not, do not allow the umbilical to be severed, and see if there's any kind of airway blockage. Rubbing a kitten with a towel can help jumpstart breathing.

She will probably also attempt to eat the placentas, let her do that too. She may begin feeding milk right away, or wait until the rest of the litter is born.

Concerning stillborns. It can happen, and if it does you almost certainly not to blame in the slightest, the best that can be done is minimize the chances. If it does happen, focus on the living creatures before you that you can still aid.

 

[mommyofsimba]

Hi thank you so much . 3 so far. I don't see milk I tried to stimulate. One latched on I don't know if that 1 nipple is working. The first kitten if it worked but the 2nd hasn't fed yet. I even have bottle but she won't latch on. Third just born. Do they need to feed right away. She did not cut the cord I cut the first kittens not 3rd yet. I cut in middle of cord many inches from the babies. Do I tie it? How?
Do they start eating right away. I am remaining calm but dying inside. I don't know if I,m doing it right. I, looking for heating pad but I can't find it. How do I keep them warm they feel chilly. I have gloves on.

 

[handsome kitty]

You don't need gloves.  You can use dental floss to tie the umbilical cord and can use your nails or blunt scissors to cut it.  It only needs to be an inch long from the kitten.  The mom will nurse the kittens after all have been born, so far they should be fine.

I have a feeling this isn't her first litter.  You're doing fine so far.

 

[mommyofsimba]

Hi

the cords are longer then inch should I recut? Dental floss tied at ends? So far 3. They were crying I put on nipple but they weren't taking but they seem snuggled up. I've had her since a few months old and she was inside. This is her first litter. She didn't eat the placenta or eat through the cord. For fear of infection I through out the bloody towels with placenta. Do they eat it later or right away? Is it a good sign if they stopped crying they were but now near mom I don't know,if all nipples are giving milk. The nipples aren't that big. I don't really know how to stimulate a nipple. It was quick 2pm started and it's 330pm. I'm worried they are cold.

 

[sweetlynn86]

Also, I'm guessing the milk you bought from the supermarket is catsip? That is a treat food and won't sustain kittens if you ever need to feed them. The milk you need is KMR and can be found at Walmart, along with many other places.

 

[handsome kitty]

You can put the kittens by the nipples.  Their sucking will bring the milk in.   For the first couple days the mom will be producing colostrum.

What is the mom doing?

@sarthur2

 

[mommyofsimba]

Ok will get it ASAP the 4th came she isn't bothering with it. I cleaned him I tried to clear air ways the 4th is very small and weak but alive she isn't paying attention I moved he's crying the little one. Moving weakly but crying what do I do

 

[handsome kitty]

Can you put him by a nipple?

 

[handsome kitty]

How is it going?

 

[mommyofsimba]

Hi 5 little bundle of joys!

 

[mommyofsimba]

She did not cut the cord I cut with sterilized scissors but wondering if I need to recut? They are a few inches apart. Is it ok for now?

 

[handsome kitty]

I would leave it for now. 

Is the mom nursing yet?

 

[mommyofsimba]

I think the tiny one she wasn't paying to much attention too. I tried to put on a nipple. I don't know if the milk is coming out. I hear one crying but then the one stopped. I will posted pics. I ran within 15 mins to petco and got the milk for newborn powder just in case and more nursing bottles. She didn't eat the placenta. I through out.

 

[mommyofsimba]

They seem to be getting nurses. But there's a lot of moving around I just don't want any kitten to starve to death. But I was ringing all of them the the nipple and they weren't grasping at first as each came out. But now that the pregnancy is over she seems to be nursing. I don't hear crys then I hear a few crys from the small one but I tried to bring to nipple. If they cry for more then a few minutes should I use the newborn formula milk.

 

[handsome kitty]

Make sure the smallest are latching on and not getting pushed aside by the bigger kittens.  If they keep getting pushed off, that's when you need to step in and feed.

 

[mommyofsimba]

@handsomekitty yes I will thank you. Do they nurse every few hours. They seem all near her sleeping I don't hear crys. They calmed down. What can I expect now. Thank you so much. I was shaking and trying my best. If it wasn't for this thread and the kind people I wouldn't know what to do.

 

[mommyofsimba]

I would like to post a picture but don't know how

 

[handsome kitty]

Here is the tutorial

 [article="24985"]Image And Video Tutorial​[/article]