Expert: Norman Auspitz - 9/4/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi I have a cat who is pretty close to her due date.  She is acting strange.  Lying on her side and is passing a blood tinged discharge.  Her nipples are pinker and all of her babies are straight like they are waiting on being born.  Her temp is 99.9 .  Do I stay awake and watch her??

ANSWER: Liz,

It sounds to me as if the kittens are close to being born.  We usually just check on the queen about once every 1 1/2 to 2 hours, unless we hear something like kittens being born. We have the nursery in our master bathroom.

If this is a first litter, you may want to stay awake and watch her, but we tend to just check frequently.

Good luck and best regards... Norm.



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QUESTION: it has been 12 hours now and my cat still has the bloody discharge no contractons her temp is 99.7 now do i worry

ANSWER: Liz,

All you can do is wait.  Do you know when she was bred?  If so, you count 69 days, and, if she is not over 69 days, she is still within normal limits fro gestation.

On the other hand, unless she is distressed or she is over 69 days, I would not worry. We have been on kitten watch as much as 4-5 days before the kittens actually finally came.  Cats do not do birthing in a prescribed matter. Every queen does it differently.  So here are some guidelines that may help:

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.

Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Best regards... Norm.





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

QUESTION: thanks Norm well it is her first litter and she had a still birth at 1:30 this after noon and now at 8pm nothing else.  should i worry

Answer
Liz,

I was out of town virtuall all Friday and Saturday, so I am just getting to this.  I am sorry she had a stil born kitten.

If it has been 24-48 hours after the still kitten was born, and nothing more is going on, I would get her to your vet for a peri-natal exam.

Best regards... Norm.