Cat in labor - Help?

I'm kitten-midwifing via text message, and I don't know what to do with this.

My sister-in-law's cat started doing the normal about-to-give-birth stuff - Making a little nest of old clothes, etc. She was in the room by herself for about an hour. (The family's too freaked out by the miracle of life to watch..) All that's in the bucket is a kitten that didn't make it. Now the cat stopped nesting, and is being extremely cuddly.

My SIL says it feels like there are still kittens in there. Could she be going back to have more?

Aside from "relax, nature will take it's course" (which is the only thing I can think of), any advice you guys can give? TIA!

Well my first suggestion is to make sure there is someone with her. It sounds like he mother didn't know what to do with the first kitten. Whether that's why it didn't make it, we don't know, but more kittens may die if they don't go and help out. If another kitten is born hey may need to break the sac and cut the cord if the mother won't do it. The kittens life may depend on it.

As for knowing if there's more kittens, watch for more contractions. That will indicate if another kittens is coming, although there can be gaps of hours between kittens, so there could still be more to come.
And please advise your sister-in-law to have the female spayed when this litter has been spayed to prevent more unwanted litters.
Good luck!!

I agree with the above.

The kittens are in different sacks, so it is entirely possible for them to be delivered several hours apart. Thus your sis must wait, watch, and see.

This question: "there seems to be one kitten left" is quite common. And very often there is nothing. It seems only so.
It is simply difficult to know if you arent exerienced and being there.
So 99% of the time it is to wait and see as said above.

The danger, it is not a kitten but a not delivered mothercake. Seldom but happens.

But as long the mom seems contend and not in any distress, you should take it easy. Although keep watch. The forumists who phones their vet in this situation, do gets the advice to wait and see.
Of course, if the mom is apparently distressed, and it is not birth ongoing - it is hurry.


Look also out IF the mom gets high temp or gets other complications. In such a case a quick contact with a vet is necessary. Even to rush with the cat to a vet.

Not very common but it DOES happen now and then.


Good luck to you, your sis and her cat(s)!

Thanks for the advice, guys. Since last night, there was only that one kitten who didn't make it - That was about 12 hours ago. Momma cat is acting completely normal since, asking for love, roaming around the house, being herself.

What are the odds of more kittens after this much time? I know one kitten litters are kind of rare, but she's seemingly not on the verge of having more.

Originally Posted by Foofy Cat Lady

What are the odds of more kittens after this much time? I know one kitten litters are kind of rare, but she's seemingly not on the verge of having more.

Click to expand...

One kitten litters arent that rare, especielly if the mom is young or old.

As said before - they CAN come with lotsa of time apart.

There are even cases of two different litters. First one, and several weeks after - another. Both healthy and going out their normal time.
This is not common, but not entirely unique either.
One of my ex-neighbour, one of her cats is such a one "another litter".

As the mom seems happy and unstressed, it is only to wait and see. And having eyes open.

Btw - she doenst seems to mourn? Is she perhaps very young?


Good luck!