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Question
Hi. I recently moved house & 'inherited' the previous owners pregnant cat. Not knowing when she was due, but obviously close , I have spent the last week watching her closely as I have no idea of her previous history. Tonight at 10.15pm she gave birth to her first kitten, followed by another two in the hour to follow. It is now 2.02am and the count still stands at three kittens. She is still round looking and her belly still hard to touch, I feel something like bubbles/indigestion sensations in her belly when I lightly lay my hand there. Every so often she appears to 'scrunch' up like she's pushing , maybe a contraction? Should I start to worry or is this just normal? My last cat was very small yet she birthed 6 kittens on her first litter in under an hour , so I am very unsure as what to do here! Please Help.
Nicole,
Once they have had kittens, I would wait no more than 24 hours before getting them to a vet to see if there is anythiong still inside.
Some females will empty one horn of the uterus, wait 24 hours and then empty the other horn. We have no idea what determines litter size.
Best regards... Norm.
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Answers by Expert:
Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
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