Expert: Norman Auspitz - 3/17/2009

Question
QUESTION: my clinic is now closed. my cat was induced. how long does it take for this oxytocin to work? and will she go straight in to labor or will this still take 24-48 hours? i am so anxious and nervous! they are my grand-kitties! lol please help. thanks!

ANSWER: Nikole,


I am sorry, I am just getting to e-mail for today.

Labor should have begun within an hour of getting the oxytocin shot.

If it takes longer, I would be concerned.

I am surprised they gave your cat the shot and sent her home in case there might be complications.

Please let me know how things went.

Best regards... Norm.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: ok... last night we went to the er because the vet was concerned. they xrayed her, sonogrammed her, checked her progesterone leve and it is 8.5. they said even though she is due and has been due the babies are not ready and a day can make a difference with the gestational period of 9 weeks.the vet said he would not be surprised if she lasted until thursday! i almost feel like i am waiting on my child to be born. i am so anxious! my whole household has came to an abrupt halt because of this and i have been living on my couch since wednesday! she has tried to fight with my cat chloe and now they are separated and if i sleep in my room prego howls at my door until i come out. thank god i am recovering from surgery and can be home through out this process! i will let you know when something happens. thank you!

Answer
Nikole,

I know you are not really asking a question, but I am going to do a bit of an information dump to help give you some guidelines:

Cat gestation is normally 65-67 days with 63 days being a normal minimum and 69 days being a normal maximum.  Anything over 69 days would mean a visit to the vet!  You should be able to see and feel the kittens moving in the last week and a half to 2 weeks of pregnancy. We start counting the second day of breeding.

Here is the problem.  Every queen seems to want to do it a little differently, so the best I can do is give you guidelines.

Anywhere from a week before birth up until the onset of birth or anywhere in between, she will get her milk in.  In this time frame she may also have a mucous/bloody discharge. (Although these events may start at different times during this time frame).

Anywhere from a few days before birth up until the onset of birth or anywhere in between, she may exhibit nesting behavior and restlessness.  Also, in this time frame her kittens will form hard knots and begin to move backward and downward in her abdomen.  This is really the very early stages of labor. (Although these events may start at different times during this time frame).

Anywhere from a few hours before birth up until the onset of birth or anywhere in between, her water may break and she will have what are called positioning contractions where she begins to get the kittens in line for birth.

You will know hard labor when you see it.  Once she starts her birthing contractions, it is usually about an hour before the first kitten is all the way out.  About 50% of the kittens are breech, so although it is a bit tougher, it is normal for the first kitten to be breech.

A couple of things you want to have handy are a roll of paper towels, a bottle of isopropyl alcohol, scissors (in case you have to cut the cords), and a soft face cloth to clean the kitten's face if mama does not do it immediately.

I like to use a "jumbo" cardboard storage chest (10" X 16" X 26") as a birthing box.  Put some old sheeting or toweling in side.  Put it somewhere you can easily get to, in a warm spot away from drafts, and away from young children and other pets.  You can half cover it with a towel, so it seems more den like.

Make sure your vet knows what is going on, so, in case she has trouble, you have arrangements about what you must do.

I sure hope this is helpful.  Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Best regards... Norm.