Momma cats labour not progressing.

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the board but not new to pregnant cats. I've fostered for our local shelter for over 3 years.
I have a momma cat who was in the shelter and they didn't know she was pregnant until today when she had bloody show. I brought her home in hopes that a quieter environment would help.
So far, she continues to have a few spots of blood, there's bloody mucous around her hind end but no contractions.
She is not cleaning herself at all...which worries me. I've had her for about 8 hours now.
This is not her first litter. By the looks of her teats, she has had a few. She does seem tense but seems to enjoy when I sit with her. She relaxes and purrs quietly.
If she hasn't done anything by tomorrow morning, I'll call the vet. However, any ideas or words of encouragement? I'm most worried that she's not cleaning herself...most cats are very viligant about that.

Hi and welcome to the Forums!

I got an impression this is no delivery but an spontan abortion... So when the foetus come out they will prob be dead.

Why? If they, experienced cat people, hadnt not noticed she was pregnant although handling her every day, so she isnt high preg.

Second, this "bloody show". Normal deliveries arent not so much bloody, not in the beginning in any case. Some bloody discharges perhaps, red mucouse as you mention, but not often lotsa of bloody works.

I think I would more call it for a haemorrhage, followed by a spontan abortion.

So I would really contact the vet already now, at least phone and ask. If I had access to a vet.

The plus here, is successfull homeless are of much tougher wood than most home cats. This not because of lotsa of fresh air and much exercise is strengheing your health. It is because of the sorrowfull fact all the weak and unlucky ones do die off in the first year... So all those who had made it on their own more than one year, are the tough survivors...

Good luck!

Ps. I saw your others posts as newbe were answers and advices here in this forum.
The advices are good and well adequate.
I hope you want to continue!

So I want to welcome you again to the Forums in general, and this one Pregnant forum in particular.


Welcome and good luck!

Thanks for the advice and the welcome.
There was no change overnight. Although her belly is full and dense, I do not feel any fetus' or movement. (I'm not a professional but can usually feel a head or two)
She def needs to be seen by a vet. I will be calling today.
There is no colostrum when I try to express her... I'm having second thoughts on whether she is truly pregnant or as you say..the kittens have died.

So...an update. Last night she "gave birth" to what looks like a sac but no kitten. She's finally eating her kibble and drinking. (she had only been eating wet food I put in front of her) She is still not cleaning herself..yuk. I am taking her to vet in morning.

Originally Posted by Levi68

So...an update. Last night she "gave birth" to what looks like a sac but no kitten. She's finally eating her kibble and drinking. (she had only been eating wet food I put in front of her) She is still not cleaning herself..yuk. I am taking her to vet in morning.

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Good news. Some of the dangers are over I think, but the vet visit still needy. She perhaps need some after-cleaning. I suspect she may need some antibiotics to prevent after infections.
With such an unclear abortion / haemorrhage-bleeding the risk is big for infections and or inflammations.

So she wasnt drinking well? If you can handle her, perhaps try even with some water-force-feeding. She surely needs water and fluids.
Do you have access to goat-milk? Use it.

Good luck!

Yes, I agree, I'm sure a round of antibiotics is in order. No she wasn't drinking but was eating the moist and seemed alert. I tested for dehydration and there was still alot elasticity. She has definitely drank in the past 12 hours, as I measured the water I had put out for her.
I will attempt to bath her today but she's a real Nervous Nellie so I'm not sure how that will go. lol
I did comb quite a bit off her butt last night but she was only so so tolerent of that.

BTW... My girlfriend has a goat farm so I do have access to goat milk!

Originally Posted by Levi68

BTW... My girlfriend has a goat farm so I do have access to goat milk!

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Splendid!

goat milk works for many sorts of sensitive stomach; humans, kittens, puppies, some other animals...

both small kittens and tired convalescens...

Some egg yolk in this goat milk, if you can safely get the eggs salomonella-free is even better, but sorrowfully, in most countries it is not 100% safe, even if you do take precautions, and thus - cant be recomended as "the remedy for all".

Went out for a few hours today and came home to a kitten. Kitten was not alive and I don't think it ever was. It's quite premature. Developed but furless.
There was no sac so I don't know if the sac this morning was it or whether she ate this one..but I doubt that. I think she needs to be spayed tomorrow and on some good antibiotics. She goes in first thing...

Aww... oh no.. :[
If it were me, I wouldn't wait till tomorrow, because if there is another kitten/sac stuck up in there, it could kill her :[

Edit: Especially since she's probably had a dead kitten inside her for 3 days..

Originally Posted by Minka

Aww... oh no.. :[
If it were me, I wouldn't wait till tomorrow, because if there is another kitten/sac stuck up in there, it could kill her :[

Edit: Especially since she's probably had a dead kitten inside her for 3 days..

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Point taken however, I have been keeping a very close eye on her. After she passed the placenta this morning I noticed she seemed to be feeling better. Eating her dry kibble where as before she had only ate the wet food I offered.
I have also heard that they can abort a fetus and go on to deliver healthy kittens. I am concerned about infection but she would be obviously ill and she's been alert and purring.
I have some good news though, she cleaned herself!! Which I take as a sign that she's feeling much better. She's continuing to eat and drink. I still think she has babies but I'm more hopeful that perhaps she might be able to carry the rest to term.
I'll see what the vet says in a few hours...

So, Shyla is back from the vet. He gave her a long acting antibiotic shot but feels it's too risky to operate. She is to be kept quiet and let nature take it's course. I'll be watching for signs of infection such as lethargy and refusing to eat/drink.
He thinks there might be one or two more in her but hard to say. The first sac did have a fetus but it was very tiny. I think she passed something last night but saw no remenants of it. Just alot of fluid on her bedsheets.
It's been an interesting foster experience!!

OK... Do you have a good way to take temperature? the termometers on the ears are best, but there is also the old way in the behind.
Or, knowing the cat, holding the cat (kissing with lips safest way of feeling difference, as our lips do have always the same temp).

Rise in temp more than a little = danger - thus an additional "warning system".


Good luck!

Shyla is doing awesome. She passed another premature kitten last night around supper time. I felt so bad for her. She had cleaned it off and everything.
Since then her hind end has been clean with no further bleeding or drainage.
She"s eating and drinking well and seems content.

IMHO if I went to a vet that said 'there are some kittens stuck up in there, but we'll just let them pass'... I'd go to another vet.

I still STRONGLY urge you to get the kittens out NOW.
http://www.best-cat-tips.com/cat_pre...eterinary_Care
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...1132456AABXJZo
http://www.2ndchance.info/felinelabor.htm
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80724
http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cats/ca...hem-83671.html

Originally Posted by Minka

IMHO if I went to a vet that said 'there are some kittens stuck up in there, but we'll just let them pass'... I'd go to another vet.

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the vet meant perhaps the other may be alive, and with a little luck, will be delivered healthy when their time comes.

The tread starther herself hoped for something such.
And sure, it happens.

If the mom doesnt got any real infections nor further bleedings (as now - seems not) it can yet end happily and well, for both mom, children and the rescuer.

But it is of course necessary to watch closely.

Good luck everyone!

Originally Posted by Minka

IMHO if I went to a vet that said 'there are some kittens stuck up in there, but we'll just let them pass'... I'd go to another vet.

I still STRONGLY urge you to get the kittens out NOW.
http://www.best-cat-tips.com/cat_pre...eterinary_Care
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...1132456AABXJZo
http://www.2ndchance.info/felinelabor.htm
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80724
http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cats/ca...hem-83671.html

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The kittens are not "stuck up there". She aborted non viable kittens over a span of 4 days which does increase her chance for infection. However, she is not sickly and has been given a shot of antibiotics. I agree with the vet at this point.
As Stefan pointed out, cats have been known to abort a kitten and still go on to deliver full term kittens.
If her health starts to decline in any way...I will take her to the vet promptly.

Originally Posted by Levi68

The kittens are not "stuck up there". She aborted non viable kittens over a span of 4 days which does increase her chance for infection. However, she is not sickly and has been given a shot of antibiotics. I agree with the vet at this point.
As Stefan pointed out, cats have been known to abort a kitten and still go on to deliver full term kittens.
If her health starts to decline in any way...I will take her to the vet promptly.

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By 'stuck up there', I didn't Literally mean stuck. But that they are still in her and not coming out.
Like I said, it's just my opinion that if my cat was in labor for 4 days, I'd get an immediate c-section.

They are coming out though. She's had four over the span of two days. Sun and Monday. This is a shelter cat, so I also bide by their recommendations.
We are in Ontario and we get no government funding. It's all donations.
Although, if it came down to her well being, I would spend my own money and take her to my vet. Which I have done on many occasions. At this point, I'm confident that she's holding her own. I do appreciate your input and concern though!