Female Abortion

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the board, but have been breeding for 20 years now, and on Valentines day my 12 month old gave birth to 3 dead babies. She wasn't due until the 25th, but I thought I may have gotten the date wrong and was excited to have Valentine babies. She did really well delivering the babies, but then I noticed that they were a jelly-like texture with no hair. When the second baby was born and not breathing too, I called the vet and he said it sounded like she was aborting all the babies. I've never had this problem EVER in 20 years, and was wondering why???? What do ya'll think?

I'm so sorry I've onlyheard about such things and it's not usual. A female can abort late if being stressed or if infected with something. If you haven't done it already, take the female to the vet and have him/her take som tests. She might have an infection that needs treatment.

The vet checked her and he would only do test if she was still running a fever after a week of antibiotics. He said it was probably mal nutrition, or it was her first time.

I'm really sorry about your babies. If you've been breeding cats for 20 years, I can't really see it happening due to her malnutrition. However about a second opinion?

Well, if she were mine, I would get her spayed. Losing those babies was not only hard on you, but also on her.

Just to remind ya'll that posted to me, I said I have been doing this for 20 years and my 12 month old gave birth to 3 dead babies. The vet said maybe because it was her first time. It's not like I've been breeding her for 20 years.

I'm pretty sure Hissy understood...however, I have to agree with her...it may be a case where this cat just isn't breeding material..especially if this is the only time you've had a female who aborted the entire litter in 20 years.

Katie

I hope you are not offended but have you tested her for feline leukemia?- it is one of the major causes of feline abortion. It is also spread through sexual contact so even if she was clear before she was bred, was the male?

From breeder to breeder here ...

It is my understanding that if a queen doesn't produce a viable litter on the first attempt, the standard way of thinking is to allow her time to heal and regain her resources, then attempt the breeding again on the second estrus cycle. If the second attempt does not yield a viable litter, then the queen should be retired from the program.

I do agree that having her tested isn't a bad idea. And if you don't own the male who bred her, make certain he either has been tested recently or is tested now. If this happened in my cattery, that would be the absolute first thing I would do. For your girl, I would have my vet do a complete analysis of both blood and urine as well as testing for the common viruses, a fecal including a fecal float and microscopic inspection to be repeated after two to three weeks, a thorough physical and perhaps a nutritional evaluation while I was at it.

What and how much of it were you feeding her pre-breeding and during the gestation?

I agree with gayef. I don't see why this female should be spayed "just because" she's lost her first litter. One time doesn't mean anything when it comes to the females breeding qualities. If it happens again, the cat should definately be spayed. She should of course get plenty of time to recover from losing this litter.

Originally Posted by bocluzeo

Just to remind ya'll that posted to me, I said I have been doing this for 20 years and my 12 month old gave birth to 3 dead babies. The vet said maybe because it was her first time. It's not like I've been breeding her for 20 years.

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*grin* So, according to the birthdate listed in your profile, you've been "doing this" (breeding cats) since you were 7 or 8 years old???

Tell me a little more about your cats? What breed do you work with? Did this girl receive any medications or vaccinations immediately prior to being bred? How about the male? How old is he? What, if any, medications or vaccinations did he receive immediately prior? Was your girl at the vet at any time during her pregnancy? Did she have any other health issues or problems while she was pregnant? How about the male?

While your vet probably knows more about your cats than I do, I have to disagree with him that she aborted because it was her first time - there are scads of females who do just fine on their first litter. It has to be something else and I am thinking something external.

Originally Posted by hissy

Well, if she were mine, I would get her spayed. Losing those babies was not only hard on you, but also on her.

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I just brought my cat back from the vets...she had to have her 3 kittens removed via c-section. they were also dead. I had thought she was beginning labor and after an hour of nothing i called the vet, he said give it all day and all night, call me in the morning if she hasn't had them. i called in the morning, and he was out in the field. finally, he got in around 330 that afternoon, and returned my call. he said bring her in. after examining her, he said she needed sugery and the kittens were probably dead. he asked me if i wanted to have her spayed while he had her open. i told him only if it showed it would be risky for her to have babies. he said ok. the next day he explained that it appeared that the kittens were almost full term, but that they died before they were completely developed, and they began to decompose. because of that, it also began to break down the tissue of the uterus, making it unviable. which he felt would cause her to risk her life going into heat and breeding.

all this to say...you might also consider getting your cat spayed, because those kittens were obviously decomposing in her uterus as well, which would break down the tissue of her uterus. surely you don't want to risk losing her for the chance of a few possible kittens. this cat of mine was just over a year and this was her first litter. i was very much looking foward to not only her kittens, but her mothering them, as she showed promise of being a natural born mother. but i value her life more. it is just a though.

Originally Posted by ToyBaby

i was very much looking foward to not only her kittens, but her mothering them, as she showed promise of being a natural born mother. but i value her life more.

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Yes, great pity. Her excellent genes will not go on.

But her excellency as natural mother you may use still. If you have other queens, you can have her as helpmother. It is only good to the kittens to know more cats then own mother.

Or have her as fostermother for kittens who lost their own mother.
(but see to she is fully vaccinated first!).

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This labor was quite terrible for you and your queen, almost two fully days. One consolation is though the smalls didnt die because the vet was not there in time. This would feel terrible!

They were already dead and gone before the labor began.

Yes, i am very much comforted in knowing the kittens were already dead. and i do not in the least blame the vet. i tend to worry overmuch when any animal of mine goes into labor as i have experienced and heard so many "gone wrong" stories. i just never know when i am being over fretful, or if my worries have something real to base them on.i guess it is a good thing i shall never be a grandmother....i would be worse than the father...lol. also thank you for the helpful suggestions for my queen, only i guess she isn't considered a queen any more, huh.