Cats are able to breed several times a year, so birth for it is absolutely normal. They do not pass so painfully as a person, and at the time of birth the animal may not even utter a sound. Loving owners with all their might try to help their favorite and organize a place for delivery, store clean towels and keep a veterinarian's phone ready. However, all preparations can go wrong if you do not know the signs of the onset of labor in a cat. How does the behavior of the animal change during childbirth and how can it be helped? About this below.
Symptoms of childbirth in cats
The cat's pregnancy lasts about 9 weeks. The period may be slightly less depending on the health and breed of the cat. In bald and short-haired breeds, the pregnancy lasts less than for long-haired cats. If the animal has more than 5 kittens, then the birth occurs earlier, but if the birth occurred before the 60th day of pregnancy, the small kittens are too weak and rarely survive. When you already know for sure that the pet is pregnant , you should start to study how the birth of a cat begins. Characteristic features are:
- restless behavior;
- genital licking;
- the cat is restless, always jumping into the nest;
- lowering of oral temperature to 37 degrees;
- hard breath;
- swelling of the genitals, characteristic bloody discharge.
These manifestations last 12-24 hours and relate to the initial stage of childbirth. It happens that the animal really needs a host, especially if the birth occurs for the first time. A cat can beg for affection, walk around the owner, call it to the basket. In this case, it needs to be reassured, put in a prepared nest and sit next to it, stroking your tummy.
Some animals on the contrary seek privacy and hide behind sofas and in cabinets. In this situation, you should leave the pet alone and look every 15 minutes. At the time of delivery it is desirable to be near.
Birth of a cat
It is characterized by the release of the amniotic fluid and the appearance of the fetus. Kittens can go forward with their head or hind legs. Both cases are not pathologies. After the appearance of the young the mother releases them from the elastic bladder, gnaws the umbilical cord and lickens.
It happens that after the birth of several calves the birth is interrupted for one day (+/- 12 hours), after which the birth resumes and other babies appear. From the point of view of animal physiology, this is absolutely normal.