A Guide to Daily Care of Dogs

If you have a female cat that hasn't been spayed yet, there's always a chance that she may end up pregnant. If so, it's important for you to understand what to expect from her labor and delivery. In fact, the most important information you can learn ahead of your cat's delivery is the warning signs that her labor is distressed. The sooner you can recognize these problem signs, the sooner you can get her to an animal hospital for the proper emergency care. Here are a couple of things to be attentive to.

Make Sure That Labor Is Progressing

Your cat may nest for a couple of days before her labor actually starts. You may notice her starting to create a bed or a safe space to have her kittens. During this time, she may also seem restless and become more vocal. You'll also likely find that she seeks attention and comfort from you more frequently. This will typically continue until her labor starts.

Once you notice that your cat is showing discharge, that's a sign that her labor has started. You may even notice that her belly starts to tighten periodically. From the time that these signs appear, you need to be attentive to how much time passes. Your cat should start delivering kittens within four hours or so. If more time than that passes, you should call your emergency vet and take your cat to the local animal hospital.

Recognize Signs Of Delivery Problems

In addition to recognizing stalled labor issues, you also need to be able to identify the signs that your cat is having trouble delivering the kittens. When you start seeing the signs of contractions and your cat starts to push, you'll notice it in her behavior and her vocalizations. At this point, she should deliver her first kitten within around an hour of starting to push. If she's been pushing longer than that with no signs of progress, you should take her to the local animal hospital for support.

Understand The Birth Emergencies

Sometimes, kitten births can be problematic. This is especially true for first-time cat mothers. If you notice that one or more of the kittens are stillborn, or if the mama cat seems to be in significant distress, either of these issues should warrant a call to your local animal hospital for emergent care. 

If you find out that your cat is pregnant, you should reach out to your local veterinary office or animal hospital for ongoing treatment. Contact an animal care hospital for more information.