The first thing to do long before giving birth is to make a nest for a pregnant cat and accustom her to it. A spacious box with an outlet that can be closed at the level of the animal's chest is perfect for the nest. It is best to cover the floor of the nest with disposable diapers, which are sold in any pharmacy. An ordinary cat's house can become a nest, but you need to take care of its day.
The place chosen for the nest should be quiet and warm, no drafts or crowds of people. There should always be clean water and food in the free access of the animal. You can give birth to a cat yourself, but you should always have at hand: a 24-hour veterinary ambulance phone, a pipette, clean scissors, a small box for kittens with a heating pad, sterile gloves, petroleum jelly, thread and any antiseptic.
The cat's behavior on the day of birth will change dramatically, the animal will become restless, the rectal temperature at this time is slightly below normal, about 2 degrees (normal 36.7).
The onset of labor is due to several signs - a swollen vagina and bleeding. The first stage lasts from 12 hours to a day. At this time, try to be close, emotionally supporting the animal, especially if she is in her first birth. The first stage is accompanied by contractions, the second is directly birth. The normal position of kittens is head first, as in humans. If the fetus moves forward with its hind legs, this is not considered a pathology and usually does not entail any consequences. The mother herself gnaws the umbilical cord of the newborn and lays it to the breast. The afterbirth that follows the kitten is eaten by the cat.
The third stage is a calm state of the uterus, in which, after a short break, labor continues.
If you do not notice any deviations from the above, then the labor is going normally.
You can give birth to a cat on your own even if: the first part of the kitten appears, but it cannot be born for a long time, the cat has not released its cub from the amniotic fluid within a minute. In the latter case, you need to cut the bubble yourself and wrap the baby in a warm cloth. Next, bend the body into an arc so that the chest reaches the knees, repeat this a couple of times so that the kitten can breathe on its own. Use a pipette to clear the airway. If after these steps the kitten is still not breathing, give him artificial respiration. The umbilical cord should be tied with a thread, cut off from the abdomen and wiped off the incision with an antiseptic.
The help of a doctor is necessary if the birth does not occur after 70 days, the cat has a fever, she has a fever. Abundant discharge, a pungent and unpleasant odor, the presence of severe contractions and the absence of labor. Remember, most kittens can die only from the fear of helping the cat, do not waste time, contact your veterinarian.
The first 2 days after giving birth, kittens should not be picked up in order to avoid emotional excitement of the new mother.
