queen bleeding before due date

Question
QUESTION: My queen isn't due til 4-1 or 4-4. Yes, I noticed a small, but considerable amount of very fresh blood discharged on her hind fur this evening.
She is not acting abnormally, has strong appetite, active, and after a thorough search, we have not found any kittens.
Queen is <1 year old and this is her first litter.
Litter is to be 2-3 kittens count.
Is this a normal event? What should I do? OMG! Please advise!

ANSWER: HI Ananda

Keep a close eye on her.  Are the kittens still moving in her?

It may be that she will deliver a few days early and though not ideal at this stage, assuming they are due 1st April, they could still be viable kittens.

As long as you can see movement, every day she keeps them in the womb is a bonus and whilst its not ideal, it is not unusual to see some blood or discharge.  

Please be aware that I am in the UK so any replies may have a time lapse so if you are concerned you really need to go to the vet as I may not pick up your message until it is too late.  The vet is in a better position to make a judgement as well, as I cannot see or feel.

Regards

Marcia

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

QUESTION: After closer observation (as you recommended) we did discern movement of one lump/fetus.
We were SO relieved to discover this!
We were grateful to hear that it was NOT out of sorts to see bloody discharge... even many days prior to her due date.
You were spot on, and we greatly appreciated your response.

After several hours desperately clinging to My side, and the intermittent labor pains...
The queen delivered A kitten at 6:30pm E.S.T on 4-4 (as expected)... 2 yowls under My bed alerted Me to check on her.
I discovered her tending to her kitten properly (cleaning and consuming the after-material).
Yes, only one, a solitary kitten delivered! (odd indeed)

She is looking worse for the wear now (as expected), but is active, playful, relaxed, behaving normally, being a good mum, and her appetite is still great, etc. (appetite never changed)
She spends more time away from her "nest" than I think she should, but that is remedied by shutting her in the small room alone with her kitten.

I've palpitated her abdomen numerous times since the birth, on different days and times.
She has a slightly "bloated feel" but not a "bloated look" to her.

I cannot detect any fetal presences nor movement. What the heck happened to the other "lumps" we felt?!?!
How could I (and others) feel at least 2 fetus' in her, only 1 arrive (as scheduled) and now there's nothing more? Truly perplexing.

My only concerns now for this young, 1st time queen are:
1) tend to her kitten in spite of her desire to spend hours relaxing on My bed instead
2) potential for other (possibly aborted) fetus' to still be present within, that might cause her a terrible infection.
I do hope that we are in the clear now (1 week after delivery).

If you believe that there should be no more action on My part other than to observe her, I will not trouble you for a response. Please accept our thanks for your attention and advise. :-)

However, if there's anything else I should be aware of or watch for, please do share!

~~~~~Ananda and Queen Lily Belle,
~~~~~Atlanta, Georgia USA

Answer
Hi Ananda

I am pleased to hear you have a kitten and that Mum is being a good mum.  Yes sometimes the attention span with only 1 kitten can be a little less than if she had a whole litter.  I don't know what your set up is but if you could bring the kitten into your main living area where Mum  wants to be then she will probably spend more time in with the kitten.  I had a girl with only 1 kitten and it worked really well for us.  Where she went the kitten went (yes she carried the kitten with her) and she really loved that kitten.  However, as long as the kitten is gaining weight steadily then don't worry too much about how long she is spending out of the nest - some Mums are like that but are still good Mums.  I have a girl who would have her kittens, feed them and go for a good tour of the house and come and demand love and attention.  She would go back when she was ready to feed her babies.

It may be that for some reason your girl reabsorbed the other foetuses - I'm not sure anyone really understands why that happens but it may have been due to an infection or some other reason.

I think if it is now a week since the birth of the kitten, it is unlikely that there is anything left in the womb - any debris may have broken up and come away naturally.  If there had been any infection, by now your girl would have been feeling ill or discharging pus.  If neither of these things have happened I don't think there will be any complications.  I would suspect that she has now stopped bleeding from the birth?  If so, then just relax now and enjoy the kitten which I am sure will be thoroughly spoilt.

Regards

Marcia