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Cats/Mother Cat not going to toilet

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Expert: - 9/6/2008


Question
My cat has just given birth to 5 kittens about a day or so, since that time she has not used her litter box to urinate or pass stools, is this normal? She is eating when I feed her only, rest of the time is spent with her litter.

Answer
Taibah,

A mother cat should still urinate and defecate after giving birth. I am concerned that she hasn't done so as it can indicate complications with the birth like having a kitten stuck in the birth canal or even a deceased kitten in her womb. Just to rule out these potentially life threatening possibilities I would recommend that the whole family be assessed by a veterinarian. Other than the issue with passing urine/feces the other issue that worries me is that the cat isn't wanting to leave her litter. I'm assuming that you are hand feeding mom while she is nursing her kittens, if this is the case it may be in mom and her litter's best interests to place her in a quiet room that is dimly lit with food, water, a comfortable place for the family to sleep (a cardboard box lined with a blanket or old towels works fine, but be sure to change the bedding if it becomes soiled) and a litter pan. This may help to decrease stress levels, especially if your household is active or the kittens are being handled too much or by several different people. Newborn kittens are extremely vulnerable to contracting viral and bacterial infections and it is best to wait until they are slightly older (7+ days, then only 1-2 people should be handling the kittens and only a few times a day) to handle them. When handling a mother cat who has just given birth or her litters be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with hot water and soap to reduce the risks of passing on any germs that may cause infection to mom or her babies.

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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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