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Expert: - 6/15/2009


Question
I have a cat thats five weeks pregnant and this morning when i got up there was small puddles of watery blood over my kitchen floor its coming from her vagina shes well in her self could it be anything to do with her pregnancy and is it serious.

Answer
Emma,

Unfortunately this is a medical question, I'm not a veterinarian so I can't diagnose what's going on or provide you with a prognosis. The following information is an educated guess as to what might be happening, but you really should have mom seen by your veterinarian ASAP for a diagnosis and treatment plan tailored to this kitty's needs as well as those of her unborn babies if they're still surviving in the womb. Based on your description it sounds like mom has gone into pre-term labor or she's further along in her pregnancy than you thought - I'd be more inclined to believe the first option. This is a good time to have mom seen by a vet because she could potentially be having health problems that are causing her to miscarry or deliver prematurely. In the event that the vet performs an ultrasound and the babies have passed away it's probably going to be in mom's best interests to allow the vet to give her medications to stimulate uterine contractions so that she can deliver the stillborn kittens on her own vaginally or the vet can perform a caesarian to remove the deceased babies - if the vet does the surgery I'd suggest having mom spayed at the same time to prevent further pregnancies since the complications you've described don't happen very often and they're awfully traumatic to undergo.

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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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