Panting after delivery

Question
QUESTION: Hi!
My cat gave birth to 4 adorable kittens just a few hours ago. I think all her kittens are born but she won't stop panting and I'm afraid it's serious. What should I do ? How long do I wait before consulting a vet ?
Also, one of the kittens is missing a limb, what should I do ?
Thank you !

Milena

ANSWER: Relax Milena! (smile)

A cat can have a kittens up to 24 hours later. This is due to the mating of different males at different times during her breeding time.

The mother will stop panting shortly after delivering the kittens and unless there is a kitten left inside, she should settle down to taking care of her new family.

To check whether there is a kitten remaining in the birth canal, place your fingers on the cat's abdomen, on the underside of the pelvic area. If there is a kitten in the canal, you should be able to feel it. If there is, leave cat alone for a few hours. She should expel it. If she does not then give the vet a call.

The mom cat may also be tired and hot which will make her pant for awhile. Keep an eye on her. It's too soon to be too concerned. If she is straining, laboring, and getting weak....then it's time to be concerned. But if she is OK besides the panting, and reasonably taking care of the kittens, let her be for awhile.

As far as a kitten without a limb, it happens. The kitten will get around just fine since it doesn't know it was supposed to have one.

Feel free to write back with any more questions. Mom should be fine, and if there IS another kitten, she will deliver it when she's ready. BUT be ready to take her to an emergency vet if there are any signs of complications.

Type: after cat gives birth

in your search box (Google?). You will get a lot of articles you can read on what happens during and after the birthing process.

Keep me updated on her progress and condition.

Carol




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

QUESTION: Thanks Carol !

Besides her panting she's fine, but she won't let me leave her side (she's wanted me close all day) and she won't let me move her away from her kitten, even though she lets me hold one every now and then. Also, all of her attention is on the kitten, she feeds them and licks them constantly so that's fine.

I searched on the web a bit and they suggested taking her temperature, which I did, and she had a temperature of 39.3 celcius (102.7 f) and my vet said it was ok. However, she recommended to feed her and make her drink. Since she won't leave her kitten, I'm supposed to feed her and give her water directly. How often should I do that ? Also, I saw on the net that I could give her ice cream or yogurt. I have strawberry ice cream, should I give her a bit too ? And if yes, should I keep it frozen or should I let it melt first ?

Thank you very much for your help ! This is my first cat and she got pregnant at 10 months old so we are both new at this and I just want to make sure I'm doing everything I can for her and her kitten.

Milena


Answer
Milena (pretty name!):

Sounds like things are progressing fine. I had a cat once that was like yours, wouldn't let me go anywhere. If I did go out of the room, she would follow, even when she was delivering....with a kitten hanging out her behind! That is sweet that she needs you and your reassurance. She's scared now because she doesn't know why it hurts so much! And she's scared you are going to leave her.

When she gets the hang of being a mother, she'll be fine.

My personal opinion is that I wouldn't give her any ice cream. Ice cream has milk which may give her diarrhea or give it to the kittens. And what she eats the babies get (just like people), and you don't know if one of the kittens may be lactose-intolerant.

The mother cat may become so absorbed in her kittens that she will refuse to eat. Some mothers have been known to go twenty four hours or more without eating. Some won't leave the babies for any reason, except a quick trip to the litterbox, for a couple of days. That's normal.

Keep fresh water near the cat at all times. When she wants food, she'll let you know. Feed her a high quality kitten chow until she weans the babies. Let her have free choice (as much as she wants). A nursing mother will eat up to 4 times her normal amount. The nursing babies will take a lot out of her and she needs a lot of food so she doesn't get thin and so she produces a lot of milk.

She will produce milk as long as the babies nurse. I've had 'babies' nurse on mom when they were BIGGER than mom! When she's tired of it she will wean them. Sometimes they will be eating solid food and still nurse. It becomes a comfort thing for both mom and babies. All normal.

Another thing to keep in mind is that your mother cat CAN get pregnant again in as little as 7-14 days after giving birth! So you may want to contact a spay clinic to get her fixed as soon as the babies are weaned.

After she settles down, leave her be for awhile and give her some time to bond with the babies and regroup. She probably will move them a couple times also.

Each cat is different in personality and actions, so there aren't any 'tried and true' rules that fit every cat. Kind of play it by ear. Mother Nature knows more than all of us!

You'll probably have more questions so don't hesitate to ask. And....congratulations!

Carol