Expert: Norman Auspitz - 6/19/2010

Question
QUESTION: Recently a very pregnant cat adopted me. Lucky me, right?. She was quite malnourished(hip points are plainly visible as well as the ability to feel all the vertebrae with zero muscle/fat covering). She's also fairly young, so I've no idea if this is her first litter or not. I'm not adverse to taking her to the vet, but it's fairly early here in Florida and the offices are not open just yet! However, onward to my question. At about 4pm yesterday(6/15/10) I noted her change in breathing and she had begun to pant on and off. I've been keeping a close eye on her as I figured she only had about 2 weeks left from the time she figured I was a good place to bestow her kittens. She'd been pacing and attempting to find a decent place to lay down and would move about a lot. Then at roughly 9:30pm she started calling loudly, I went to check on her and she had a fluid bubble (reddish brown in color) presenting out of her vulva. She still had heavy breathing at that point but was not actively contracting to my eye nor was she straining to push. The sac would receded inside again and she'd resume pacing. I kept attempting to keep her confined to one area until I finally gave up and laid down around 1AM I woke up at about 2:30am and she was sleeping soundly in bed with me. He breathing had returned to normal and the fluid/discharge was no more. She accepting food and water and is again snoozing on our porch. No rapid breathing or panting. It's about 7:30am here now, and she is still fine. I do still feel the babies and movement(I check a lot). Should I just leave her alone and allow her to do what nature does?

Thank you!

ANSWER: Marjorie,

I am sorry I did not see this until just now.  You need to get her to a vet to see what is going on.  I am concerned about her physical health and trying to deliver this litter.  I have seen the sac come out like this before and go back in with labor stopping, and, so, there are a nubmer of possiblities.

(1)  She has lkitters in two different stages of development and is purging the younger foetuses.  In this latter case, the normal kittens often come to term.

(2) She is in the process of birthing a premature litter (if they are really 2 weeks early. Anything younger than 1 week premature is usually still born or only able to live a very short time.

(3) She has a problem inside and has just stopped.

In any and all of these cases, a vet visit is advised.

Please let me know what happens with her.

Concerned regards... Norm.



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

QUESTION: Thank you for getting back to me!

Yesterday we finally had kittens. I had stepped out in the morning with my kids and came home to find out she had gotten in their room under the bed an was in the process of pushing. I had no idea how long she had been at it, but the kitten was posterior, and very dead. I'm going to assume the bag I saw was the kittens water bag because it was born without a sac, and the placenta had already detached, which was expelled directly after the birth of the still born. The dead kitten had swelled exponentially, and she had quite the time birthing it. After the main half of the body was born, I ended up aiding her in the rest of the birth.  No sooner was that kitten born than it's litter mate came rushing out. Emma(the name I gane the mother cat) Had zero interest in discovering her new baby and I aided in removing the sac and clearing the air way as the kitten was very raspy. Two more kittens were born very quickly, and again she didn't even attempt to aid the kittens, at that point she could barely lift her head. Thankfully no placenta was retained and I disposed of all 4, and the dead kitten soon after birth. Emma was very tired after her scary ordeal and I was very concerned about her health, I had no idea if she was going to make it the first night. This has to be her first litter, as she just seemed lost in the beginning about the kittens. I did place a call to my vet and explained to him the situation, he did not seem overly concerned and told me to watch her closely, which I did for the first 12 hours. This morning(6/19) I checked her at 4am and then again when I woke at 7am. She came out of her house to greet me, ate a bit of food and was very attentive to her kittens. We've a single female and two males. All kittens are nursing well and momma is up and moving. She seems a little sore, but who isn't after a birth? Especially one as taxing as hers. I'm taking mother and babies in Monday for a once over from the vet and a good worming for momma. All the living kittens, and even the dead one, seem full term. All all a good covering of hair and visible markings. I believe the issue was the dead kitten, who was slowing down the process for the rest of the litter. I've attached a photo from early today.

Thank you again!

Answer
Marjorie,

I am so glad all came out OK.  You just never know about these things.  First litters are always an adventure even for people experienced in the process.

The litter is cute and a reasonable number, not too many and not too few.

Enjoy mama and the kittens!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to contact me if anything else comes up.

Congratulatory regards... Norm.