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Is there anything i can do or i should know about my cat giving birth? she's due anyday now, thanx Danielle x
Danielle,
Exciting isn't it?? I am including some links to good articles about pregnancy and birth. They cover quite a bit of information that should be helpful to you. If you still have questions or concerns after reading the information then feel free to write back.
(copy and paste, or type the whole links into your address bar)
http://cats.about.com/od/reproduction/tp/catsreproduction101.htm
http://cats.about.com/od/reproduction/a/birthprocess.htm
http://cats.about.com/cs/pregnancybirth/a/pregnancybirth_3.htm
http://www.2ndchance.info/felinelabor.htm
Some cats don't want you to leave them, and some prefer to be by themselves. It all depends on your cat's personality. If she is a first time mother, they periodically aren't quite sure what to do and they can do some bizarre things. Kittens in the same litter can be by different fathers if more than one tomcat bred the mother during her cycle so sometimes a kitten can be born up to 24 hours later. That is not anything to worry about. Mothers tend to move the kittens at least once. Let her be where she feels the safest and most secure. Nursing mothers need to eat about 4 times as much food as they normally would for good milk production and to replace what the babies deplete from her. It is good to give her kitten chow until she weans the babies (about 8 weeks). It is high in protein and has what extras she needs.
I hope this is helpful to you. And don't worry, everything (probably!) will be fine!
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
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* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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