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Expert: - 11/23/2008


Question
Hello. I was wondering what to do about my Cat. She is very young. Only 11 months old now but she's giving birth. This morning around 2 Am i saw a bubble that looked like it was filled with liquid come out but then it popped while she was contracting and then there was no more. She had gone into the box herself when I can back home and i knew she was going to give birth so I stayed by her side because if i went away she would give a loud meow!! and i would come back. She rarely meows so this was another sign that she would give birth. Now it's 6PM and there still haven't been any kittens. But she lays in the box all day or comes out to eat and use the bathroom or even go into another box. (Her mother had taken care of her in a little green box we still have and she lays in there sometimes.) Should I take her to the vet? or is there anything i can do at home? or is she fine. The kittens are still moving inside her. she doesn't seem to be in pain. she was contracting before though but right now she's sleeping. If i have to take her to the vet I can't until an hour from now when I get my car.
Is she okay? She's acting the same but I dont know why her bubble popped and then nothing. =[ I'm really worried. I thought she would have her kittens by now.
-Sonia

Answer
Sonia,

This is a medical emergency and this cat must see a vet immediately. I strongly suspect that this cat will need a c-section because the amniotic sac on one of the kittens broke. I recommend having a cat assessed by a vet if she has been contracting for more than an hour and fails to deliver a kitten. If your kitty requires a caesarian then it is extremely important to request that she be spayed at the same time. I am not optimistic about the kittens and their survival chances since this was (and still is) a medical that wasn't promptly treated by a vet, in this case it might be a case of delivering deceased kittens and spaying mom to save her life.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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