Preparation for litter
Before the birth, a box should be arranged for the litter. It is best to get the cat to sleep in the box to ensure that the litter will occur in the place you chose. Cats usually prefer a relatively small box with a 15-20 cm height to prevent the pups from crawling in. The box should be placed in a quiet, isolated place known to the cat, and the cat's food and water can be placed close to the box.
Upholstery can be done with newspaper - this is excellent cushioning because it can be replaced easily, it has absorptive capacity, and the cat can tear it while preparing the "nest" of the litter (a day before the birth). If you use blankets, towels or fabrics, wash and clean them often.
In order to know exactly when the litter will occur, it is possible to measure the heat of the cat by inserting an anal thermometer twice a day from the 60th day of pregnancy to the beginning of the birth, and the normal temperature in the anus is 38-39 ° C. About 24 hours before birth The temperature drops by almost one degree.
Lactation stages
The litter can be divided into 3 stages. The second and third stages are repeated after each puppy is sent.
Level 1:
At this point the mother seems very restless and nervous. She may refuse to eat or drink. Her body temperature begins to decline and she searches for an isolated place. She might wail loudly. This stage lasts 12-24 hours.
level2:
At this point the contractions begin. Outwardly, the contractions appear as strong waves of contraction in the abdomen, followed by the removal of the pups outside the womb. A small greenish bag containing liquid usually emerges from the vagina for the first time. Next comes the puppy and the placenta attached to it. The common position of the pup as it exits is the nose to the face and abdomen below. However, some puppies are born with the back part coming first - this is also a normal position for cats.
After the puppy comes out, the cat opens the sack with her teeth, cleans the pup and cuts off the umbilical cord.
Step 3:
This is the next resting stage after each puppy is fed. At this stage there are slight contractions of the uterus and the removal of the remnants of the placenta from the uterus. This step lasts from a few minutes to an hour. Sometimes two puppies are born a few minutes apart and then rest.
Help with littering
If the cat has not done the following, it should be helped: After each puppy is removed, remove all the membranes that cover it (first from the face to allow the animal to breathe) and clean the face (especially the nose and mouth) with a clean towel. Mop the puppy to dry it and to stimulate breathing and circulation. After a few minutes wiping, the puppy should start moving and crying out loud.
If a puppy seems to be stuck inside the vagina and the cat can not get it out, urgent veterinary help is needed!
Mother behavior
During littering and lactation, the cat may behave differently than normal. She may be very nervous and feel a strong need to protect her new family. This aggression usually disappears over time. In any case, it is best to approach the cat slowly and carefully (especially immediately after birth) to see what her reactions are. It is best not to allow strangers to approach a cat and a puppy as it may try to keep them away from the puppies and harm them.
Contact your veterinarian in the following cases:
- There is a puppy stuck in a holster.
- Strong hinges last longer than 30 minutes without a puppy coming out.
- There are weak hinges that last for more than 6 hours without leaving a puppy.
- More than 4 hours have passed and there is reason to assume that there are more puppies in the womb.
- The green discharge appears black from the vagina and within 3-4 hours there are still no hinges or pups
outside. The green-black affair is normal, but there should be a puppy's exit shortly thereafter.
Pregnancy lasts more than 67 days. - The cat is indifferent or depressed and does not breastfeed the kittens.
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