cat has delivered 1 kitten---feels like more kittens are still undelivered

Question
We have a cat who is 3 1/2 years old and has had 5 or more litters of kittens. One kitten had to be pulled from the birth canal in a previous litter, but she has never had any other complications. With this pregnancy she has delivered 1 kitten, and more than 24 hours has passed. It feels as if there are more kittens still undelivered. Is there a way to know for sure other than going to a vet? Will a vet be able to deliver the kittens, and possibly spay the mother without causing the mother's milk to dry up? Would the kittens still have a chance of surviving?

Answer
Chris,

We have had cats who empty one horn of the uterus and wait a bit and then empty the other horn of the uterus. Sometimes that wait is 24-48 hours.  On the other hands, if you think there are still kittens in there, a visit to your vet would be the only way to know for sure. Palpation is not a sure way of determining whether there may be kittens unless you palpate no kittens. When in doubt, the vet can take an x-ray. The vet could still deliver the kittens either by inducing labor or a c-section.

Normally spaying soes not cause mama's milk to dry up. As long as kittens are actively suckling, the milk will flow.  We use marsmallow root three days before the estimated delivery and three days after the kittens are delivered to help with milk production. In addition, an oxytocin shot after kittens are all delivered also helps with milk production as does eating at least one placenta.

Please let me know how it all turns out.

Best regards... Norm.