Childbirth and help at birth
Childbirth at a cat: preparation
The birth of a cat is an event that is important not only for itself, but also for its owner. And it depends on you at this moment whether your pet will easily give birth, and whether she and her kittens will suffer in this process either.
Helping a cat in childbirth begins with the preparation of the place where the “nest” of the young “family” will be in the future. To do this, choose either a special cat’s house, or just a clean cardboard box, which at the same time should not have any odors and be spacious enough. The walls of the box should be high, on top of it you need to cover the lid, and at the level of the chest of the animal you need to cut through a convenient entrance so that the cat can easily climb into its shelter.
Inside, the box needs to be lined with a not too soft cloth so that the kittens do not get tangled in it, and before the childbirth, lay the fabric harder: it will be possible to determine the first signs of birth in a cat. A cat will not simply lie on a rigid fabric, but if you see that, in spite of this, it still does not come out of the “nest”, then the time has come.
Another aspect is that the box for cats with kittens should stand in a semi-dark place, and in the first days after birth you need to maintain a temperature in it not lower than 29 degrees. Then within a month the temperature drops by 3 degrees weekly.
Signs of childbirth in a cat
Cat genera have several manifestations, both behavioral and purely biological. The main signs of cat birth: changes in the pelvis, the appearance of mucous secretions and the release of colostrum. At this point, the cat is actively looking for a “nest”, and also practically does not move away from its owner. Just before the birth, the cat will try to lead you to the “nest” so that you can help her to take the kittens. Therefore, the owners are encouraged to independently calculate the time of the onset of labor and try not to leave the animal alone during this difficult period.
How to take birth in a cat?
Births last several hours, and sometimes drag on for a day. If you are concerned about how to take birth in a cat, then be prepared for the fact that usually the animal copes with everything by itself, helping itself if necessary. However, you also need to be prepared. First of all, try to choose the necessary medical instruments and accessories:
– scissors, which may be needed for cutting the umbilical cord (the cat usually gnaws on her own, but the cases are different);
– silk or cotton thread, which then the umbilical cord will be tied,
– iodine or brilliant green, with which the umbilical cord can be cauterized (not necessary).
It may also be necessary to use a small syringe or eye dropper, with which you can clean the mouths of newborn kittens from mucus if necessary, although the cat itself can usually do this. And, of course, prepare soft fresh newspapers and clean towels. And even if you never knew how to take birth in a cat, remember the main rule: at this moment you need to be very affectionate with the animal and try to calm him down all the time, for which your cat will be only grateful to you.
