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Jessikka2011 · May 26, 2010, 12:17 PM

A few hours ago my cat started going into labor and having contractions. But it has been an hour and a half since the last one. I was wondering if this is a bad thing or if cats can have a false labor.

tickle · May 26, 2010, 12:20 PM

Cats can appear to go into labour and deliver one kitten, appear normal, and then more over a period, so don't be surprised at what you see.

Jessikka2011 · May 26, 2010, 12:22 PM

But she hasn't had a kitten at all. It was just contractions and then.. nothing.

hheath541 · May 26, 2010, 12:43 PM

Cats can stop their labor for up to a full day if they don't feel safe. If she doesn't seem distressed and there's no kitten in the birth canal, just give her time and space. She may not actually deliver until sometime tomorrow.

tickle · May 26, 2010, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Jessikka2011

But she hasn't had a kitten at all. It was just contractions and then.. nothing.

She could be in labour on and off for 48 hours, so sit tight. She will be okay.

Jessikka2011 · May 26, 2010, 01:02 PM

Thanks guys =]

tickle · May 26, 2010, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Jessikka2011

Thanks guys =]

Keep us posted ! HH just had a litter of kittens and is still playing with them; so possibly had first hand experience !

Tick

Jessikka2011 · May 26, 2010, 01:11 PM

She has started having contractions again, and now is panting and meowing loudly. Also, I was sitting by her and she was having slient contractions, where she didn't meow at all, so I'm wondering if she has been having them and we just didn't notice it because she wasn't making any noise. Another question I have is, she can't reach her backside to lick anything away, should we help or no?

Wondergirl · May 26, 2010, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by tickle

HH just had a litter of kittens

Actually, her cat Edith was the one who had the kittens. :D

tickle · May 26, 2010, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Actually, her cat Edith was the one who had the kittens. :D

Haha, okay, yes but you would think HH was the mother the way they are cared for.

Tick

hheath541 · May 26, 2010, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Jessikka2011

She has started having contractions again, and now is panting and meowing loudly. Also, I was sitting by her and she was having slient contractions, where she didn't meow at all, so I'm wondering if she has been having them and we just didn't notice it because she wasn't making any noise. Another question I have is, she can't reach her backside to lick anything away, should we help or no?

That may spook her into stopping labor again. Just keep an eye on her. As she has the kittens, she'll be able to reach better and better.

It may take as long as a couple hours before the first kitten is born. The rest should come more quickly after that.

Just make sure that each kitten gets it's nose and mouth cleared right after it's born. If the kittens are coming too close together for mommy to do it, wrap the tip of your finger in a soft towel and VERY gently wipe it's nose and mouth clear so it can breathe.

If she lets you, now would be a good time to get mommy used to you handling the kittens. Just pick each one up after mom's done cleaning it and make sure that it's face is properly cleaned and that the umbilical cord is cut about an inch, or so, from it's body and everything looks OK.

Jessikka2011 · May 26, 2010, 01:27 PM

Does anyone know if her not being able to lick herself down there(because she got to big) is a bad thing?

tickle · May 26, 2010, 01:32 PM

Jessika, just leave her alone to deal with her labor and delivery. I don't agree with messing with natural processes when animals (cats and dogs) know how to deal with it better then us. Don't go near her, don't touch her, don't touch the kittens, don't try to clear their airways, don't do nuthin. Let nature takes it course. It isn't the first time in many years I have had cats and dogs deliverying. We try to over simplify our pet's daily lives too much when they can handle a lot that we can't even imagine.

The only time I haven't followed my own advice was a breach birth in a mare.

Tick

hheath541 · May 26, 2010, 01:33 PM

It shouldn't matter. Like I said, she'll be able to reach better as the kittens are born. If she's that big, then you're either expecting a lot of kittens, or a few very large kittens. If they are large, then she may have problems giving birth.

Is she a small cat? I assume this is her first litter, at least with you. Do you have any idea who the father(s) is? A large tom might mean large kittens.

tickle · May 26, 2010, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by hheath541

it shouldn't matter. like i said, she'll be able to reach better as the kittens are born. if she's that big, then you're either expecting a lot of kittens, or a few very large kittens. if they are large, then she may have problems giving birth.

is she a small cat? i assume this is her first litter, at least with you. do you have any idea who the father(s) is? a large tom might mean large kittens.

It could have been several 'toms'

Jessikka2011 · May 26, 2010, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by hheath541

it shouldn't matter. like i said, she'll be able to reach better as the kittens are born. if she's that big, then you're either expecting a lot of kittens, or a few very large kittens. if they are large, then she may have problems giving birth.

is she a small cat? i assume this is her first litter, at least with you. do you have any idea who the father(s) is? a large tom might mean large kittens.

She is a very small cat, maybe part Siamese but we are not sure. And yes, this is her first litter. We do not know who the father is because she had gotten out one night and came back four days later. It is mostly my mother and father who are concerned and I'm asking questions for them.
Right now it seems like she is trying to push, and she is panting a lot. Plus much more contractions much quicker than before. Personally I think they are going to be coming soon.

Wondergirl · May 26, 2010, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by tickle

you would think HH was the mother the way they are cared for.

True. Hheath is doing all the work while Edith just lies around. I wonder how the potty training is going.

hheath541 · May 26, 2010, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by tickle

It could have been several 'toms'

I know. Every kitten in a litter can have a different father.

tickle · May 26, 2010, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

True. Hheath is doing all the work while Edith just lies around. I wonder how the potty training is going.

I have never had a new kitten, as young as some of them have been, that didn't train themselves given the opportunity. It was never a problem.

hheath541 · May 26, 2010, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by Jessikka2011

She is a very small cat, maybe part Siamese but we are not sure. And yes, this is her first litter. We do not know who the father is because she had gotten out one night and came back four days later. It is mostly my mother and father who are concerned and I'm asking questions for them.
Right now it seems like she is trying to push, and she is panting a lot. Plus much more contractions much quicker than before. Personally I think they are going to be coming soon.

Don't worry too much if it doesn't seem like she's in distress. It was about an hour and a half between the placenta being visible and the first kitten actually being born with my cat.

If she wants to get up and walk around, or use the litter box, let her. She'll know when it's time to lie down and REALLY push. The first kitten should take the longest. The rest should be born with only a few minutes of pushing, each.