Expert: Jessica - 4/16/2010

Question
QUESTION: I took in an outside cat because I knew she was pregnant. She seems to be very close to giving birth because of the signs I have been told to look for such as nesting and restlessness. Everything has been going to plan until today. I woke up to a couple spots of blood on the floor. Not many and they were not dark, kind of like a mucus blood I guess? I was wondering if that is normal or if I should take her to the vet?

ANSWER: Hi Taryn.  This can be a sign of the onset of labor.  Generally this will occur no longer than 24 hours before delivery.  If the kitty hasn't entered hard labor by tomorrow morning, with obvious contractions, and hopefully, a delivery, I would consult a vet.  Though some cats experience light bloody discharge for up to a couple days before delivery, bleeding for too long could indicate a problem, and I certainly have seen more than my share of problem deliveries.  Always better to be safe than sorry.

Thanks for taking in this kitty, and enjoy the litter!

Jessica



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

QUESTION: Thank you for all your help. This isn't really a question but I wanted to let you know when I woke up this morning she had had a kitten:) She feel like theres more in there so I'm going to wait and see! I am a little concerned that shes not letting the kitten feed off her tho...

Answer
It's good she had a kitten!  But the feeding is a valid concern.  Kittens really need to nurse immediately.  If they go two hours without nursing, they begin to face a very real risk of starvation.  If she still isn't feeding the little one and the baby is still alive, I would urge you to get some kitten formula right away and start feeding the kitten with an eye dropper or syringe.  Be sure the formula in the syringe stays at body temperature, since cool formula will be a catastrophe in the digestive system.  Hopefully mom will feed the baby when the rest of the litter is born (coincidentally, nursing encourages the delivery of the rest of the litter, so it would really help if she'd just let the baby feed!).