Queening

Queening, or kitten birth, is usually an uneventful process. There are some points, however, that may help you and your cat get through the process a little easier and safer.

General Information

The gestation length of cats averages 66 days. Normal litter size is 2-5 kittens. The mother cat, or queen, should be fed a high quality growth formula food during the pregnancy, particularly in the last 2-3 weeks when the kittens will be growing rapidly. She should also be fed the growth formula while nursing the kittens.

Before the kittens arrive, you should prepare a location for the cat to have her litter. Most cats prefer a quiet, darkened area such as a closet. Unfortunately, some cats will choose their own spot despite your best effort to prepare one for them.

Most cats become anorexic, or refuse food 24-48 hours prior to giving birth. If she refuses food any longer than that, she should be examined by your veterinarian.

Labor

There are 3 stages of labor. During the first stage the cat will appear restless and show nesting behavior. This may last 6-12 hours.

The second stage of labor is when the kittens are delivered. This stage is characterized by active, yet intermittent contractions. If the cat is showing constant, unrelenting straining for more than 30-60 minutes you should contact your veterinarian immediately. In contrast, if the cat is comfortable and caring for her litter, she may go an hour or more between kittens.

Stage three of labor is the passing of the placentas. Normally, a placenta is passed 5-15 minutes after each kitten. While it is ideal for all placentas to pass, some may not. This may cause the mother cat to become ill. Contact your veterinarian if you are concerned.

Delivery

As the kittens are born, the queen should remove the membranes surrounding the newborn, sever the umbilical cord and possibly even eat the placenta. If she doesn’t clean up the kitten quickly, you may need to help her out by clearing the kitten’s nose and mouth. Vigorously rubbing the kitten with a soft cloth will stimulate breathing and activity. If the mother doesn’t sever the umbilical cord, you can use dental floss to tie a knot around the cord about 1/4 inch from the kitten’s belly. Be sure to cut the cord on the placenta-side of the knot.

Problems

Dystocia, or difficult birth, is characterized by protracted or strenuous straining for more than 1 hour without a kitten being born. This is an emergency. Both the well-being of the queen and her kittens are at risk.

Responsibility

Having a litter of kittens is fun, hard work and a big responsibility. Due to the tremendous cat overpopulation problem in this country, we strongly recommend spaying all female cats. This can be done soon after the kittens are weaned to prevent another litter.