Everything in the world of nature is arranged so that most animals can take care of themselves. This applies to pregnant cats, but during labor it is necessary to closely monitor them. With any problem, you need to contact the veterinarian, in advance get the support of a doctor, just in case. Let you have his phone, it is possible that most of the questions will disappear after a telephone consultation. If you have insufficient experience in this matter, then additional information will not hurt you. Here we will look at the main points and questions that will help you to arise.
Preparation.
Cats carry kittens for about two months (58-65 days). The abdomen is rounded, depending on the number of kittens, at 5-6 weeks. For 10-14 days you can feel the perturbations, and sometimes even see. It is at this time and it is worth starting preparation for childbirth. It is advisable to limit the interaction of cats with other pets and to enter the street, in order to avoid infection with certain infections. Prepare the cat a spacious box with high edges. The cat should be able to stretch out in this box while feeding the kittens and rest against the walls during childbirth.
The height of the walls should be such that the cat could easily jump there, but the kittens could not get out from there within the first 2-3 weeks. On the bottom you can put newspapers, and on them an old cloth. Be prepared for the fact that you will need another cloth to change the litter, when there will be kittens for delivery. Accustom the cat to this box. The box should be placed in a quiet place, hidden from drafts. Better somewhere in the corner, or so that the furniture would shield from extraneous views. Where there will be kittens, the temperature should be at least 22 degrees. A cat may not agree with your choice, but during delivery it is necessary to put it there, then most likely it will remain there.
By the time of delivery, you should be all set and lie in one accessible place. What should I cook? It's necessarily clean napkins, thread, scissors, sterile bandage and gloves, petroleum jelly, doctor's phone, carrying. If the kittens are thoroughbred, and most likely will be the same color, prepare colored thick threads to know the order of birth, and a notebook to write it down.
The first stage of labor.
You may not notice this moment, but with close observation you can see the signs that different cats manifest with varying intensity. The cat worries, finds no place, constantly walks, does not lie in place, can caress, can "cry", can hide, especially on cabinets, can visit several times its box, can rake the litter (as if making a nest), may appear vaginal discharge. In primipara cats, this period can last quite a long time. Do nothing, just wait, do not bother, but you can caress, it's better to do it in her box. To the generic set, add a bowl of warm water.
The second stage of labor.
It's actually childbirth. Kittens are most often born forward, but can also paws. At this stage it is easy to see fights. If everything goes well, then just watch. The first kitten can be born longer, on average, as the head appeared, the kitten is born for 2-4 fights. Break between kittens is from 30 minutes to an hour. When the kitten was born, the cat gnaws the bladder, licks the kitten, and it must be squeezed. Then she bites the umbilical cord. Next, the kitten must be sucked. The cat eats both the latter and the amniotic sac. There must be as many kiddies as there are.
Interference is necessary in the following cases:
- if the cat strains heavily, and the kitten is not born. You can stroke your stomach and even massage in the direction of the exit. If the kitten is already seen, but then it does not go on, put on a glove, cut off a piece of bandage, gently grab the kitten and pull it during the fight. Immediately tear the bladder and wipe the muzzle off the mucus. If squealed - give the cat.
- If the kittens appear one after another and the cat does not have time to eat amniotic sacs. Help her to release the kittens from mucus and apply them to the nipples.
- if the cat does nothing with the kitten after his birth. This happens in young primipara cats with the first kitten, then usually gets better. But there are bad moms, then you have to do everything for her. Tear the bag, free the kitten from the mucus, wipe it in circular motions to squeak. If the cat continues to ignore the kitten, pull the liquid in the umbilical cord to the kitten, tie the cord with a clean thread 1cm from the kitten and after another 1 cm, cut after the kitten's long sash. Massage it, make sure it's breathing, put it on the nipples, it should suck.
The third stage.
This is the output of the placenta, or the placenta, we described it above. I think everything is clear. The main thing is that the number of successions is equal to the number of kittens.
That's all, do not worry much, you will surely cope!