Cat Giving Birth for the First Time? Read This! How Many Kittens Are in a Litter?

This is a true story from a cat giving birth for the first time. We asked her if she would mind sharing her experience and she was happy to oblige.

If a cat gives birth for the first time, you won’t believe what you see. A cat gives birth by producing a litter of four to six kittens every eight months.

It takes about nine months for the kittens to reach maturity. But if you’re wondering why a cat might not be pregnant, keep reading!

Your Cat Decides When She Needs Your Help

The majority of pregnant female cats would rather have their babies in a quiet, secluded location. She may seek for a private, secluded area to give birth.

Your cat has to stay in the house until she gives birth, and everyone needs to be mindful of her heightened sensitivity at this time.

Cats are very adaptable when it comes to giving birth, and can happily do it in anything from a haystack to a box to a cabinet.

She is less likely to give birth in bed and may even show signs of restlessness in the hours before she gives birth. You can get her to sleep in her kittening box and get everything ready for the birth, but don’t make her.

She will tell you clearly if she needs you there to help her give birth. Some cats that are extremely reliant on their cat guardian may even wait for them to get home from work before giving birth.

You should know how to aid a pregnant cat give birth if you have a reliant mother cat. Don’t get flustered when the expecting mother constantly needs your attention and follows you around the house.

A normally outgoing cat may turn solitary during pregnancy or after giving birth to her kittens. Stay close enough to see, but out of the way at this time.

She will have Different Signs of Labor

Most cats have their kittens between the ages of 63 and 65 days after conception. The gestation period for a cat can range anywhere from 58 to 70 days.

A first-time mother cat, like mine, may lick her genitalia to encourage the birthing process. Some vaginal bleeding or odor is normal, but it shouldn’t be green or otherwise unpleasant.

When amniotic fluid begins to leak from her vagina, it means that her first kitten has entered the birth canal.

Her temperature would likewise decrease to roughly 99 degrees F (37.2 Celsius) (37.2 Celsius). Her body temperature is normal, so she must be almost ready to give birth.

Moreover, she will experience contractions spaced every two to three minutes, interspersed with rest periods. Be aware of lengthy contractions that last an hour or more.

As she nears delivery, she will lose her appetite and become irritable. She may feel compelled to investigate the attic, basement, or shed, or she may even try to excavate a hole in the yard.

Don’t try to take a trip while your cat is having her first litter; she’ll likely be too anxious to leave your side. Normally though, cats prefer to give birth in quiet and will retire to a private, secluded spot for kittening.

Your Cat Giving Birth First Time Can Take More Time

It takes between 12 and 24 hours of labor for a mother cat to give birth to her first kitten. Some women go into labor and give birth within 36 hours of starting their clocks.

On average, a pregnant cat will have four to six kittens. Scheduled births occur at regular intervals of 20 minutes to an hour.

While others continue to strain and push out the rest of the litter, some cats choose to take a break to care for their newborns.

Some cats may purposefully postpone their rest time between straining for anywhere from 24 to 36 hours, either because they are anxious or because they are waiting for their cat guardian.

She Will Eat the Amniotic Sac, Placenta, and Umbilical Cord

In case you’ve never seen a cat do this before, let me reassure you: it’s quite usual for your cat to suck off and eat (gasp!) the fetal membrane and placenta of every kitten it has.

It’s the mother cat’s way of taking care of her newborn kittens, and it needs to happen quickly after the birth.

The kitten can’t make it without first cutting the umbilical chord and rupturing the amniotic sac. If it doesn’t, you can gently break the sac with your hands and wash the kitten’s cheeks and nose to get it used to breathing again.

You Can Interfere with the Bonding Process

The mother cat will stop straining to cater to her newborn kittens, as she knows how important it is to feed them within the first hour after birth.

You can gently lead the kittens to their mother’s nipples, making sure to eliminate blockages especially in long-haired cats, if you notice the mother cat is not feeding her offspring within the first hour.

Try not to intervene in your cat’s labor and delivery if you can help it.

The attachment between the mother cat and her newborn kittens is very strong during the first few hours after birth, so please don’t interfere with this precious time.

Six Kittens Later and Your Cat is Still Straining – That’s a Red Flag

If your cat has given birth to her whole litter of kittens (four to six), but is still crouching like a lioness and hasn’t settled in with them, she may be harboring the placenta or additional babies.

If your cat is having trouble giving birth after the sixth kitten, or if she has been straining for more than two hours without success, you should have the placenta removed by a veterinarian.

She Can Lose Her First Kitten

An inexperienced cat mother may need more time than expected to give birth. To complicate matters further, a cat’s first pregnancy might be complicated by factors such as old age, stress, illness, obesity, and medication.

After hours of labor, the queen may become fatigued, leading to ineffective contractions. If your cat’s labor is dragging on, you may need to call your vet to help it along.

Large kittens might be difficult for your cat to birth for a number of reasons. In addition, while most kittens are born head first, there are always a few that are awkwardly positioned and require extra help from mom to be delivered.

A kitten may die in its own amniotic fluid if it is born with its tail facing upwards. Kittening difficulties can also be caused by the birth canal being too small or the uterus not being ready.

Treat Her Like a Queen

Some pregnant cats may accept food and drink all the way through their labor and even after they have given birth to their kittens.

Keep her favorite food and the litter box nearby, although some cats have aversions to having the two things so close together.

Do not interact with your cat or her kittens right after they are born. While your cat and her litter are bonding, it is important to replace the bedding promptly if necessary.

Do not disturb her while she is tending to her new kittens; instead, make sure she is feeding.

After giving birth, keep an eye out for symptoms including dark vaginal discharges, dark masses on her mammary glands, shaking, and unusual restlessness.

Cats seldom have postnatal complications, but if you see any of these signs, contact your vet immediately.

Birth Problems are Increasingly Common in Selectively Bred Cats

Selective breeding has led to health problems in kittens, especially in Persian and Siamese cats. The probability of a difficult birth is 7-10% higher in selectively bred cats compared to cats with normal conformation.

You should have a veterinarian on call from the moment your cat is born to ensure its health and well-being.

Newborn Kittens Need to Be Close to Their Moms

For the first 12 weeks of their lives, newborn kittens should stay with their mother. Kittens require their mother for protection and food when they are first born.

Not until the child is four to six weeks old should weaning begin. Kittens can have their worming done at about 8 weeks of age.

It is important to remember that brand young kittens have little control over their body temperature and hence will not shiver if they feel cold.

Keep an eye on the mother to check whether she is taking care of her new kitten by cleaning it off soon after birth. If she takes too long, the kitten will become cold and you’ll have to dry it.

Signs to Look out for That Labor Is Starting

Knowing your cat is about to have kittens must put you on edge; I know I would be. Try to put yourself in her shoes. Knowing the symptoms of labor might help ease your anxiety. Here are the three most important things to watch out for:

Making a Nest

Your cat is probably getting ready to give birth if she creates a comfortable nesting space in a quiet, dark place. Additionally, this is usually a hint that you have a few days to prepare.

If I had to do this all over again, I would make sure my cat had a number of safe places to nest. However, cats being cats, they will likely pick a different location. Yet making an effort is never wasted.

Changes in Behavior

Some obvious shifts in demeanor precede the onset of labor. Among these are:

• Restlessness
• Panting
• Pacing
• Having a stronger voice, and
• Grooming to an extreme

It might be any one of these indications, or a combination of them. You may be sure of it without waiting for any of these things to happen.

Knowing your cat like the back of your hand, you’ll be able to tell when she’s showing signs of labor.

Physical Signs Labor Is Starting

Keep an eye out for physical signs like a woman’s belly button descending, her nipples swelling and becoming pink, and the possible appearance of contractions and the amniotic sac.

It’s natural for your cat to throw up once in a while. Fluid will be expelled as well, usually just before labor begins.

Stages of Labor and Delivery For Cats

Cats go through three distinct phases of labor and birth.

All the symptoms I listed above are the first ones you should look out for when you think your cat is going into labor, which is the first stage.

In the subsequent phase, the kittens will be born. The average time it takes for a mother to give birth to her entire litter of kittens is between six and seven hours. However, you can anticipate a delay of up to 24 hours.

Assuming you went into active labor at your due time, you should have seen the first kitten within an hour. Kittens often emerge 30–40 minutes apart. The kittens will be nursed and cleaned by mom during this period.

During the third stage, the placentas become visible. Find out how many placentas there are in total. Each kitty needs its own. If that is not the case, there are a few reasons why that may be.

Possible explanations include placenta sharing among the twins or ingestion by the mother cat. It’s critical that you investigate this, since a retained placenta might be fatal for your cat if not removed.

You may now relax, allow her some room, and take in this miraculous display of nature. If the mother appears weak, you may want to give her some food or, even better, some kitten milk, which is packed with nutrients.

Potential Problems Cats Face During Labor

With any luck, things will go swimmingly. When it’s time to have kittens, most cats can do so without assistance and have a smooth delivery. It’s good to be prepared, so here are some of the most typical difficulties cats face during labor and delivery:

Kitten Stuck in Birth Canal

You should act quickly if you see a kitten is trapped in the birth canal for more than two minutes. This requires you to physically remove the kitten, therefore I advise reading this post now so you’re prepared.

A medical expert’s backing is preferable. However, you couldn’t wait around for help to arrive.

Failure to Deliver Kittens

Problems arise if your cat has been in labor for more than three hours, with or without breaks, or for more than thirty minutes of continuous hard labor. Please consult your veterinarian immediately regarding this matter.

Placenta Stuck/Missing

Inquiries on the optimal number of placentas for a given litter’s birth are not uncommon. Each kitten needs its own own placenta.

In extremely unusual cases, the mother may consume the placenta, or two cats may share it. If you look closely, though, you will notice this.

There is a chance that the placenta will be retained inside the Queen if the number of placentas does not match the number of kittens.

The only solution to this potentially fatal condition is to get them checked out by a veterinarian. Call your veterinarian to find out how long you should wait after the delivery.

Stillborn Kittens

Sadly, stillbirths are not uncommon. The stillborn kitten may or may not cause a disruption in labor.

Unfortunately, I have never witnessed one of my cats give birth, but I have heard that it is preferable to let the mother see her stillborn kitten.

There doesn’t appear to be a right or incorrect answer, and I’ve read arguments on both sides of the issue. The correct response is to deal with this whatever you see appropriate.

Some of the Commonly Asked Questions About Cats Giving Birth

How Many Placentas Do Cats Have?

Only one placenta is created for each kitten. Keep count of the number of placentas as you watch a queen give birth to her kittens; it might be very harmful if one of the placentas remains within the mother cat after birth.

It is possible, albeit unusual, for two kittens to share a placenta. Sometimes, during labor, sometimes not, the mother cat will devour the placenta.

If you are worried that some of the placentas may be missing, you should count them and then contact your pet.

Read this page on how many placentas cats have if you’re interested in learning more about this issue.

How Many Kittens Are in a Litter?

There is no clear solution to this problem. The average litter size for a cat is between two and five babies.

Cats between the ages of three and four, considered to be “prime,” typically produce bigger litters, consisting of four or five kittens.

In contrast, most litters consisting of only two or three kittens will be born to younger cats, first-time moms, and elderly cats.

How Long Does It Take for a Cat to Give Birth Between Kittens?

The average time between births is 10-60 minutes. Again, it’s difficult to predict how far apart the kittens will emerge, so don’t be shocked if they appear within minutes of one other or more than an hour later.

When cats enter what is considered a “resting state,” they are essentially sleeping. During this time, which can range from a few hours to a few days, cats are resting and taking a vacation from giving birth to kittens.

How to Tell When a Cat Is Done Giving Birth?

From personal experience, I can tell you that it is immediately apparent when the Queen has through giving birth. She will cease panting and licking herself; her contractions will end; and she will give her full attention to cleaning her newborns.

Because of the wide variety of cat behaviors, it’s difficult to provide a universal list of red flags. It’s simpler to just claim that her behavior will shift after she’s done.

In this article, I go into further depth on recognizing when a cat has finished delivering birth.

How Long till Kittens Open Their Eyes?

Kittens don’t open their eyes for the first time until they’ve been with their new families for about 7-10 days. However, they still need another 9-10 weeks to reach complete visual maturity.

This page will provide you additional information about how long it takes for a kitten to open its eyes. Read this page if one of your kittens opens its eyes before the typical age of 7-10 days.

When Do Kittens Ears Open?

Cats and kittens are especially adorable when they still have their ears tucked behind their heads. Around the third week of life, you’ll observe that the baby’s ears begin to protrude.

Just a few days after birth, their ear canals will have begun to expand, allowing them to hear even before their ears fully develop.

Conclusion

A cat giving birth to her first litter could be a good omen for those who wish to have a healthy and happy relationship.

They say that a new relationship begins with a new love, which is why it is important to enjoy the company of your beloved cat and ensure that they are not lonely.

source https://catshint.com/cat-giving-birth-for-the-first-time-read-this/