Expert: Marcia Owen - 2/11/2009

Question
Hi - my cat is 6.5 wks pregnant - last Friday she had a scan & is expecting at least 4 kittens. Half an hour ago I noticed some mucus type dark blood coming from her vagina - just like at the end of a nosebleed - she's eating well and seems fine and she's definitely not further on in her pregnancy

Answer
Hi Cathy

Its not normal but not unusual for this to happen.  It may be that one of the kittens has not developed and has died and it is the body's way of getting rid of it.  If it is this then it is possible for the rest of the pregnancy to continue to full term.

Obviously as I am not a vet I cannot diagnose and prescribe, but can say that if it was my cat I would be asking the vet if he would prescribe something like Synulox, Clavamox or Noroclav (depending on the country) to give to her for the rest of the pregnancy.  This would be because the uterus has obviously opened for a reason and there is the risk of infection entering the uterus which I would want to combat.  These antibiotics are safe to give in pregnancy and will not harm the babies.  It would be worth discussing this sort of strategy with your vet.

However if for some reason she is aborting then there is little you can do to stop this.

Keep an eye on her and try not to worry if you see a small amount of bloody discharge.  Obviously if there is a lot then I would say she is aborting.

Regards

Marcia.