This article has been viewed 115,354 times. If you suspect that your cat may be pregnant, but you do not know when or if she conceived, your observations and some basic diagnostic imaging will help to confirm her pregnancy and determine her delivery date. Cat in season or heat. When all the kittens are born, you will see labor stop. You do not see evidence that Stage 1 labor has started 24-36 hours after the drop in rectal temperature mentioned above. This article received 15 testimonials and 91% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. It sounds like she is indeed in labor! In felines, however, it can be much more serious and, if left untreated, can even lead to death, especially in very young kittens and senior cats whose immune systems might not be as strong. "I was reading this post while checking my cat, which was already in labor. There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. After a cat has gone through early labor, it is important to bring it in for a checkup after the three week period. (Editor's Note, Dr. Peter Kintzer: Given the large number of homeless dogs available for adoption that would be wonderful pets and companions, very careful thought and serious deliberation should be undertaken before electing to breed your dog. Right before labor, you may notice that your cat is licking herself excessively, particularly in the genital region and around her lower belly. It could be anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours. In the first stage of labor, you may notice a general uneasiness in the cat, she may either want you right by her side at all times or she may desire her privacy. Examining Your Cat. Thread starter jewelreborn; Start Date Apr 1, 2012; Apr 1, 2012 #1 J. jewelreborn TCS Member Thread starter. No, it doesn't. Instead you need to go through a lot of waiting around, a lot of false alarms, and a lot of times where you wished it were all over. Within two hours before labor, rectal temperature should drop, as much as 2 degrees. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Nesting: A day or two before labor, your cat will seek out a quiet and safe place to have her kittens. Kustritz, Margaret V. Clinical Canine and Feline Reproduction: Evidence-Based Answers: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. She is probably close to giving birth, she is likely going outside to look for a safe place to do so, and she is growling because she is feeling more defensive and protective of her unborn kittens. Active labor with straining usually lasts just a few hours. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. For starters, while your cat might not be able to sense labor per se, there's a chance they do have a pretty good idea that you are carrying a little one in your belly. An early clue is if the female cat's nipples 'pink up'. Count to be sure your cat delivers the same number of placentas as she does kittens. It is advisable, however, that you call someone first because it is not in your cat’s best interest to disturb her or to disrupt her delivery by rushing her off to the hospital unnecessarily. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. So long as, after delivery, the kittens are suckling and spend most of their time being quiet then they are getting enough to eat. ", signs of labor. Research source She may follow you around and become very affectionate or pace from room to room. However, if your cat’s temperature rises, it starts to bleed excessively, or you notice a foul smelling discharge, call your vet as soon as possible, since these could be signs of labor complications. How Do I Know If My Cat Is in Pain? It’s far better to contact your veterinarian and to be told that everything is okay than it is to not call and let a problem get worse. Once stage 1 labor starts you will notice a behavior change. In an ideal situation, a cat would give birth after 63 days of pregnancy. My cat is 61 days pregnant and she has started to wander off and not come home for a couple of hours at a time. What to Expect During Labor . At this point, the cat should be returning to normal, and it can be a sign of other diseases if the cat is still weak or sick after the first three weeks. If you have a longhaired cat, clip the fur around her bottom. Until today, I wasn't sure if my cat was pregnant. Kustritz, Margaret V. Clinical Canine and Feline Reproduction: Evidence-Based Answers: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. My cat is breathing and panting heavily and she keeps meowing and following me around and laying next to me. ", "All of it helped, my 2 female cats just had 10 kittens each! Caring for a pregnant cat is not difficult, but there are a few things you should know to ensure good health for the mother and kittens. How much longer until she goes into actual labor? Method 2 It's a case of "watch this space". This will happen 24 hours before labor begins. How to Tell if a Cat Is in Labor Method 1 If the cat is pushing hard for an hour, with no kitten emerging, then contact the vet as an emergency. After approximately 15-18 days of a cat pregnancy, you may notice that your pet’s nipples become enlarged and red – this is known as ‘pinking-up’. Lactating can begin 48-24 hours before labor. Have not ever had a pregnant cat and needed some help knowing the, "This was so helpful, now I am ready for my female cat to have her kittens. If you do not know exactly when your cat get pregnant to calculate the date of birth, using ultrasound, carrying out some measurements, a vet can fairly roughly predict the date in which she will give birth. If you know that labor should be starting soon, you can take a rectal temperature every 6 hours. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Unfortunately, she gave birth in the garden, but, "What helped me in this article is examining my cat which allowed me to come to the conclusion that she is going to. This is a common behavior in cats when they have their stomach rubbed. As we discussed in part one, towards the end of your dog’s pregnancy you should be taking her rectal temperature every day, and waiting for the sudden drop below 99-100 degrees Fahrenheit that signals that labor is close. As you can tell, it’s a lot of activity for an exhausted cat. I had 2 pregnant kitties in the same household and they were fine with one another. This also may be accompanied by total appetite loss. Why Does My Cat Eat so Much (Polyphagia)? If you keep a watchful eye for some tell-tale behavioral and physical signs that labor is approaching, however, you will be able to care for her and know whether or not queening is proceeding normally. Please consider adoption and click here for more information>). It really is. Like ripping off a Band-Aid, it's often better to just get the breakup over with, rather than delaying the inevitable. https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/reproductive/c_ct_dystocia 5 Signs To Know Your Cat Is In Labor Mammary glands will increase in size During the final week of pregnancy, the mammary glands of your cat will increase in size. Your cat goes beyond her proposed due date without going into labor, You do not see evidence that Stage 1 labor has started 24-36 hours after the drop in rectal temperature mentioned above, Stage 1 labor has not progressed to Stage 2 labor after 24 hours, The first kitten has not been delivered after 1 hour of active labor, It has been more than two hours without the appearance of another kitten, Vaginal discharge is purulent or frankly hemorrhagic, Your cat is in apparent distress or pain or seems ill or disoriented. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. As a general rule kittens come around two weeks after you first see/feel them moving, so if you know when that was then that may help you have a better idea. Whether you are breeding purebred cats for a living or you are responsible for a cat that has become pregnant in your care, it is important to know what to do when the cat goes into labor and begins to give birth to her kittens. The first thing to know is that a cat's pregnancy lasts longer than two months, specifically, between 63 and 69 days. Therefore, the things you can do is keep the food at a satisfactory level, make sure the cat … A cat cannot give birth healthily over several days, so if labor takes more than 24 hours it will be necessary to see a specialist to assist with any complications. Letting her kittens nurse. The kittens will eat three times every hour. You might also notice it eating less and less. If you are with your cat when the labor begins, know it is a process and … Your normally quiet and serene kitty also may become significantly louder in the very late stage of pregnancy before labor -- much to your chagrin. In “our realities” all responsibility rests on the shoulders of th… If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets. Think of all your favorite feline "kisses," from her rubbing up against your leg to headbutting you. My friend's cat is pregnant and I want to be able to help her out. A domestic cat has a gestation period of approximately 63 days. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. She can go into labor at anytime, any day. But for now, you need to watch for the signs that she is ready to give birth so you'll be well-prepared for the kittens' arrival. The cat’s temperature will also drop a degree or 2 just before it gives birth. Knowing the exact time of conception, however, is difficult since a queen can be receptive to the male before and after ovulation. If she chooses a different location, you should just support her there. ", http://www.banfield.com/getmedia/91094b94-7950-4008-b924-a022b9bf1a36/Queening-and-Whelping.pdf, http://cfa.org/Breeders/Articles/BirthingandRaisingKittens.aspx, http://www.sunshinerescuegroup.org/PregnancyInCats.pdf, http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2139&aid=919, http://www.merckvetmanual.com/pethealth/cat_disorders_and_diseases/reproductive_disorders_of_cats/management_of_reproduction_of_cats.html. "Everything I have read has been helpful. Another physical sign that your cat is in labor is that her temperature will drop two days before her delivery day. (Most cats are known to lick the newborns to remove the membranes and to stimulate breathing, but not all of them will. Jessica N. DVM. I've never had a cat get pregnant(I'M 20) and if anything happens to my cat it'll break my heart. Pre-labor: One hour to a full month or more before labor 1. If bright red blood emerges from the birth canal, with a flow lasting longer than 10 minutes, or the vagina emits a very foul smell, call the vet. In addition to the date, there are other signs that labor is near that can be detected by looking at the behavior of the animal. Sometimes the best thing you can do for a cat who is nearing the end of his life is provide warm, cozy place to rest. If you notice her pushing hard for more than half an hour with no kitten expelled, or if she's in normal labor for more than … Your cat could have had several partners if out of the house, and you may have the … My cat has been in labor just over 3 days, but she shows no sign of being ready to deliver. Know what to expect. You may notice a vaginal discharge. Her mammary glands are arranged in 2 parallel rows running along the outside body wall that extends from the groin area up … When your cat reaches the second stage of labor -- the actual delivery -- her contractions become strong and painful and she pushes out the kittens. Labor in the clinic is recommended if there is a serious problem requiring medical support during the process (for example, the cat … For cats, pain encompasses more than just the “I hurt” sensation, but also the overall distress that it can cause. Observe the cat looking for a nest. Your cat goes beyond her proposed due date without going into labor. Still a nervous mom, but know more on what to expect! of 3: How to tell if your cat is pregnant. If she is a first time mom, she may be on the upper end of this scale. This article has been viewed 115,354 times. How long does it take for a cat to give birth? Watch the mother (queen) cat during labor, but give her space. You will also notice her nipples will start lactating. Related Articles. Rectal temperature of a pregnant cat varies between 100.5 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit. If you notice your cat licking its genitals and nipples, it’s getting ready to go into labor. How do I know if my dog is going to give birth. X Make sure that she has towels in multiple out-of-the-way places in the house so that she will have somewhere to have her babies. So, then, how do you know if the relationship is truly over, and it’s time to move on? )How do you know if there is a birth problem that requires medical intervention?Dystocia (or difficulty giving birth) can be a serious problem for both mother and kittens. ", "It has helped me to help my friend, who has a pregnant cat. Cat Diarrhea: When is it Serious and How Do I Stop It? Either way; according to Canine and Feline Reproduction, by Margaret Kustritz; once contractions are seen, a kitten should be born within four hours. But when our feline friends become ill — or in this case, are due to give birth to kittens — we begin to feel very anxious and out of control as we realise that we simply don’t know … In a normal non-pregnant cat, her nipples are small and not particularly noticeable. I'm worried she's not going to give birth at home, what should I do? Gestation Period for Cats. Looking for Behavioral Signs. % of people told us that this article helped them. You may want to give your cat a nesting box, and you can make one at home fairly easily – just cut a hole in the side of a large cardboard box, include a towel or blanket, and place the box in an area of your home that's not too loud or bright. The good news is that cat birth comes naturally, so your pet will instinctively know what she needs to do. It shouldn't be too long though! To tell if a cat is in labor, keep an eye out for physical and behavioral changes. My cat started labor and having kittens around 3:30 pm and has had 4 kittens so far. 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Vet will need to know the signs and how do you know that labor should be soon! No accurate way to determine this, earning it our reader-approved status a common behavior cats... May follow you around and become very affectionate or pace from room room...