What supplies should I have on hand?

• Kittening box. This can either be a sturdy cardboard box or a commercially available kittening box.

• Several pairs of sterile surgical gloves.

• Eyedropper or syringe to aspirate the mouth & nose secretions.

• Dental floss or cotton thread for ties.

• Antiseptic to apply to the umbilical stumps.

• Scissors.

• Clean towels.

• Your vet's phone number.

• An emergency vet's phone number.

• Kitten milk replacer.

How do I know my cat is going into labour?

Below are some indicators that labour is imminent.

• The mammary glands increase in size during the last week of gestation.

• Around two days before the queen gives birth she will start producing milk.

• She may start nesting.

• A day or two before birth, her temperature drops to 99F.

• Change in behaviour. During the last week or so your queen may become either reclusive & seek out a secluded place or she may become more affectionate, especially if she is particularly bonded to one carer.

• Restlessness & pacing.

• Frequent trips to the nest.

• Licking at the genitalia frequently.

What happens during labour?

During the last week of pregnancy, the kittening box should be placed in a warm, quiet, draft free room which is off limit to children & other pets. She should be encouraged to sleep in this box.

Obviously, food, water & a litter tray also need to be placed in this room.

The kittening box can be lined with old newspapers which can easily be changed or an old blanket. Make sure that the blanket isn't going to snag the kitten's claws. The bedding should be changed regularly.

The cat's uterus (womb) has two horns which come together with a central uterine cavity. The cervix is at the end of the uterine cavity & during pregnancy is closed.

Developing kittens lie within the horns, and are attached to the mother via the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is attached to the placenta, which joins mother & kitten together. The role of the placenta is to transport  nourishment from the mother & and takes away waste from the fetus (unborn kitten).

Labour is divided into three stages;

First stage labour:

Birth begins with the onset of uterine contractions. During this stage the cervix begins to dilate (open). A clear, odourless discharge from the vagina is usually apparent. This discharge is known as the mucus plug & was in the cervix during pregnancy sealing the uterus from the vagina. As the first stage progresses, contractions will become closer & closer together.

Second stage labour:

Contractions become stronger & closer together & the cervix is fully dilated. The queen is ready to give birth. The kitten moves down the birth canal. Pressure   on the cervix initiates an urge to push from the mother. You may see her visibly straining to push the kitten out.  The kitten's water bag (or bubble) is normally seen at the vulva, these burst & some fluid will be cleaned up by the queen. It takes around three pushes for the kitten to be delivered.

The queen will tear & lick the membranes from the face & body which will stimulate breathing.

Second stage usually takes around 5 minutes to 1 hour. If a hasn't been born after an hour it is time to call your veterinarian.

Third stage labour:

Immediately following the kitten's birth, the placenta is normally delivered. Once the queen has cleaned the kitten & breathing has commenced normally the queen will chew the umbilical cord in two & quite often will eat the placenta.

Note: When the kitten has been delivered it is important that you pay attention to the delivery of the placenta. Even have a pen & paper close so you can make a note of how many placentas have been delivered, if you feel you may lose track due to the excitement of the birth. This is important because a retained placenta will lead to infection which is life threatening.

Resumption of labour:

Once the kitten is cleaned up, the queen will push it towards a nipple. Contractions will resume & delivery of the next kitten will usually happen between ten minutes up to an hour after delivery of the previous kitten.

All in all, it may take up to 6 hours to deliver a litter of kittens.

When should I call a veterinarian?

There are many possible problems your queen may encounter during birth, which are too numerous to cover in this article. A week or so prior to the birth you should take your cat to the veterinarian for a final check up & discuss the birth & potential problems with him or her. They will be able to advise what is 'normal' and what requires veterinary attention. Some problems you should be watchful of include;

• If you notice a foul smelling discharge from the queen's vagina.

• Vaginal bleeding.

• Prolonged labour.

• Prolonged straining - If the queen has been straining for longer than an hour.

How involved should you be?

The majority of cats are quite capable of giving birth without assistance, therefore it is your role to take a backseat & not to interfere in the birthing process unless a problem is encountered.

Too much involvement can be stressful to the queen. Allow her to give birth to her kittens & care for them as newborns as undisturbed as possible.

Photos kindly provided by Vicki or Coonhaven Maine Coons.

Further resources:

Acute Metritis in Cats, Desexing Your Cat, Estrus in Cats, Pregnancy in Cats, Raising Orphaned Kittens, Raising Premature Kittens, Postnatal Care for Cats

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or behavioral) in your pets. 

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.