How common are twin births in cats? By twins,I mean two kittens sharing the same placenta...
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Twin births
- Thread starter taterbug
- Start Date
This will be cool to research. I never know to really watch for it.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
Yeah!! I have searched,but never found info about it. It's really a wild thing to see. Our baby Anna was a twin....she was much larger than the other. Unfortunately the smaller one only lived a couple of days,but they shared a placenta. I had never heard of it in cats.And it wasn't expected,for sure!
That sound neat to have gone through, but being a twin myself it is awsome and my husband is a twin and I feel bad because with him going to heaven she said a part of her is now gone
I have heard of it happening, but am not at all sure how often it occurs.
I take it no one else has either. I hope someone does. I might just have to call the Vet to ask. Curiosity is killing me
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2005
- Messages
- 1,469
- Purraise
- 2
When I was still working at the animal shelter a pregnant cat they had was going to put to sleep, so I took it home to have her kittens. Her first kitten came out and with-in 5 mins a second came out, they had shared one placenta, and both black, she had two more black ones both having their own placenta. Then she had a little grey one with out a placenta and quickly after that another little grey one so those two also shared one placenta and then one more grey one, I watched the whole time and thought she was with holding the placentas so I brought in in to the vets to get the placentas delivered. The vet said there were no placenta and there for her litter of 7 had two twins sharing placentas. I had never heard of cats having twins (other then people saying two simular kittens were twins, which of coarse they are not, unless sharing the placenta.) She was spayed so she couldn't have any more litters, so I don't know if it would have been a common trait, and if it was the dads trait she wouldn't have been able to mate with the same male any way. That was my first and only expirience with twins being born, if others had twins, we wouldn't have known, they were usually born at night with no one to see if kittens came with only one placenta, and with out seeing that I think it would be impossible to tell.
That could be why it is uncommon. I noticed Mommy's like to deliver at night or in a very dark place.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #9
True! Or maybe there just aren't many of us that sit and watch!! I've seen many litters born,but only one that produced twins. Now I'm super curious!
I hate to say it but I am so curious I think I will set up surveillance on Skittles LOL j/k maybe
Twins were discussed on a health list today, and Dr. Susan Little, says that of course true twins happen in cats, but it has never been documented scientifically.
I have watched many deliveries and have never witnessed a true twin, but it would be very exciting!!
I have watched many deliveries and have never witnessed a true twin, but it would be very exciting!!
Thank you for the info now to figure out how to get it documented
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #13
Well,I did get a picture of Anna's twin(named Cloe)but I bet that wouldn't work! And it was very exciting getting to witness it,IMO! Wonder why no one has documented it scientifically?? That would be a wonderful project!Originally Posted by momof3rugratz
Thank you for the info now to figure out how to get it documented
The vet on the health list said that she would love to see a photograph of 2 kittens sharing the exact same placenta.
By the responses on the health list, there have been quite a few members that have experienced twins, but haven't ever taken a photo. I am sure everyone would love to see the photo.
By the responses on the health list, there have been quite a few members that have experienced twins, but haven't ever taken a photo. I am sure everyone would love to see the photo.
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2005
- Messages
- 1,469
- Purraise
- 2
Damn! I wish I had taken a picture! All I figured was the cat hadn't expelled the placetas for two kittens and rushed her to the vets. I don't know what a picture would really prove though, these kittens had come out one then the other and they weren't both attached to any thing together by time they came out (or I noticed any way) Since it seems so rare, and I was young at the time mabey, she cleaned after a placenta before I really noticed. Well, I really thought I had seen two sets of twins in one litter, but now you guys are making me second guess what I thought I had really seen, lol! I couldn't have seen two sets of twins when they have never been even been seen by people who does research. And all these years I thought I had seen real twins. Now I wonder.Originally Posted by FamilytimeRags
The vet on the health list said that she would love to see a photograph of 2 kittens sharing the exact same placenta.
By the responses on the health list, there have been quite a few members that have experienced twins, but haven't ever taken a photo. I am sure everyone would love to see the photo.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #16
Umm,maybe I should have said it was taken after they were separated? Sorry...I wish I had taken one when they were born! I was so amazed I didn't think of it then. Shoot! But I will post what I have soon!Originally Posted by FamilytimeRags
The vet on the health list said that she would love to see a photograph of 2 kittens sharing the exact same placenta.
By the responses on the health list, there have been quite a few members that have experienced twins, but haven't ever taken a photo. I am sure everyone would love to see the photo.
That is too bad, but pictures are always wonderful!!
It seems like you would have to videotape the whole delivery, so you could prove you got 7 kittens, but 5 placentas, or whatever!
I've had 3 litters born here in 2 years, and none even looked like twins, except the "twins" in my current litter, who are both brown tabbies. But although I didn't witness all the births, I am fairly certain they aren't true identical twins, since one is slightly lighter than the other!
I've had 3 litters born here in 2 years, and none even looked like twins, except the "twins" in my current litter, who are both brown tabbies. But although I didn't witness all the births, I am fairly certain they aren't true identical twins, since one is slightly lighter than the other!
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2005
- Messages
- 1,469
- Purraise
- 2
That's what I meant by wondering if a picture would prove any thing, It would be easy to rig a photo. I really wonder now if I really had 7 kittens and 5 placentas or I missed her eating two, or some thing? Never know now will I?
I don't expect any thing like that again but I will have to get a vidio camera just for the heck of it for future litters.
You can always DNA the kittens, twins would have the same DNA.
