How To Help Cats Give Birth

Keep distance. Almost the whole process of giving birth to the mother cat does not need you. However, your presence, at least near this area, will reassure it.

• Keep a distance far enough for the mother to focus on giving birth, but close enough to intervene when necessary.
• Be prepared for the risks and know the signs of complications.

Know when your cat is about to go into labor. Become familiar with the signs that your cat is about to give birth. This phase 1 usually lasts 12 to 24 hours with the following signs: ^[10]

• Lethargy or restlessness, looking for a place to hide (show the cat a nest)
• Licking carefully, especially the vulva
• Go slow and gasp
• Moaning and crying loudly
• Body temperature drops by one to two degrees from the normal 38.9ºC
• Stop eating
• Vomit
• If you find your cat has vaginal bleeding, get professional help right away. Prenatal bleeding is a sign that something is wrong and your cat needs medical intervention.

Clean and disinfect your hands in case help is needed. Remove the watch and ring then use antibacterial soap to wash your hands. Rub soap on the back of your hand and on your wrist. You must rub the soap on your hands for at least 5 minutes. Use a nail brush or an old toothbrush to clean underneath the nails.

• Do not use hand sanitizer! It doesn’t kill bacteria completely, and you don’t want the other cat to lick the ingredients in the hand sanitizer that are still on the kittens, making the whole cat sick.
• Hand washing is preventive only and the mother cat should be self-advocating throughout the process. Only intervene if a kitten is in trouble, then resettle it as soon as possible.

Keep an eye on each time a kitten is born. Once the mother cat is in the nesting box and begins to labor, the best thing you can do is to remain quiet, ready, and closely monitor the whole process. Remember that you and the environment around your cat’s labor area should be very quiet because if there are any distractions, another animal nearby, or the mother cat being moved to an unfamiliar place, childbirth will be delayed. The subsequent transition to Stage 2 labor will typically develop as follows: ^[11]

• The cervix dilates and the mother cat begins to contract the uterus.
• The contractions are intense and the first kitten will enter the birth canal. This happens for 2-3 minutes, usually the mother cat will choose a squatting position. It can moan loudly and gasp.
• Amniotic fluid (discharge) comes out first, then the kittens (head or paws out first).
• Once Phase 2 begins, it will last for about half an hour to an hour and the first cat will be born. Each cat is about half an hour apart, sometimes up to an hour.
• If the mother cat has calmed down for more than an hour and continues to push hard without the kittens coming out, it doesn’t seem to be okay. Observe for anything in the mother cat’s vulva. If nothing happens, it’s best to call the vet. If there are signs of kittens, let the mother try for another 5 minutes. At this point still not going well, you should help. Wash your hands thoroughly and then grasp the part of the kitten you see, pulling gently at the same time the mother is contracting her uterus. If the kitten still does not slide out easily, contact your veterinarian. ^[12]

Make sure that the mother cat breaks the amniotic fluid and licks each kitten clean. It will lick hard to break the membranes so that the kitten can breathe and move at the same time. ^[13]

• If the mother cat does not do so quickly, you must intervene, put on sterile gloves and break the membranes so that the kitten can breathe. Wipe the kitten’s face with a clean, dry towel.
• Return them to their mother by placing the kittens under the mother’s nose. If it remains lethargic and the kitten begins to tremble from wetness, you must dry it by wiping it with a clean dry towel. This is intended to make the kitten cry, attracting the mother’s attention and interest. This is the right time to put the kitten in the nest with the mother.

Check the placenta. Each kitten will come with a placenta and it needs to be removed from the mother cat’s body. Pay attention to each placenta because if left in the belly, it will cause an infection and the mother cat will die.

• DO NOT TRUST THE PREGNANCY OUT. If you pull the umbilical cord, the mother’s uterus will be torn apart and death is inevitable. Take the mother cat to the vet if you suspect the placenta is still in her womb.
• You need to know that it is normal for cats to eat the placenta again. The placenta is full of nutrients and hormones that can replenish the mother’s body, so don’t interfere with this process. Just make sure he’s not trying to eat your baby as he may not have had any experience with giving birth.
• Only a few placentas should be fed to the mother cat, the rest should be taken away because too much nutrients at once can cause diarrhea or vomiting.

The umbilical cord should not be cut. Many people think that we should NOT cut the umbilical cord of the placenta. Most mother cats will chew it on their own. If the mother cat doesn’t do it, consult your veterinarian. ^[14]

• Do not cut the umbilical cord if it is still inside the mother. Because the umbilical cord is attached to the placenta, the placenta can get stuck inside the cat’s abdomen and not be eliminated on its own. This will lead to infection and the mother cat in danger. Instead of trying and not sure, call your doctor and follow the instructions.

Make sure the kittens are suckled as soon as possible. The initial breast milk, also known as colostrum, has nutrients and antibodies that are very good for kittens.

• Newborn cats are both blind and deaf, and they reach the mother’s breast through smell and touch. Sometimes they do it right away, sometimes they recover for a while after giving birth before starting to breastfeed.
• The mother cat can wait until all the kittens are born before nursing them. However, if it shows signs of refusing to breastfeed, use the formula and feeding bottle you have prepared to feed the kittens yourself. ^[15]
• If the kitten is trying to suckle while meowing, the mother may have a problem with milk production. In this case your veterinarian can stimulate her milk glands and in the meantime you should continue to bottle feed the kitten. ^[16]

Cat health care. Always keep an eye on the cats to make sure they are adjusting and adapting well.

• If a kitten is making sounds like hissing or choking, there may be fluid in its airways. Place the cat between your hands, head resting on the tips of your fingers, with the other hand holding it firmly (imagine a crossbow to shoot birds). Remember to use gloves and be very careful as newborn cats are very slippery. Gently shake the cat up and down. This will help keep fluid out of his lungs. Use gauze to clean the cat’s face.
• If the mother cat shows no interest in the kittens, try rubbing her own scent on the babies. If it still doesn’t work then you must take care of the kittens yourself including regular feeding and brooding them in cages. There are too many details on this to include here so consult your doctor.
• Don’t panic if a cat is stillborn (dead). You must make sure it is really dead before handling. Try stimulating it by rubbing it with a warm, damp washcloth. Or you can raise and lower its paws and breathe into the cat’s face and mouth.

Take care of the mother cat’s health. Place a generous amount of nutrient-rich food with clean water near the nest after the birth is complete. The cat may not want to leave her pup or even use the litter box, so keep all of that as close to her as possible so she can meet her needs without straying too far from her cubs. The mother cat needs to eat to provide her with energy and nutrients to breastfeed.

• The first few days after giving birth, the mother cat may not be able to get up, so keep the food close to the nest.
• Check the mother cat’s recovery and care for her baby.