the kitten has arrived and no further kittens appear after an hour; the cat suddenly seems weak; there is excessive bloody discharge or greenish discharge without a kitten. Giving the mother enough time to grieve on her own is the best thing you can do to comfort a mother cat who lost her kittens. Work for us Finally, a more general drying lick and some attention to the posterior part of the abdomen and anal area is given to start the bowel and bladder movement going. Contact us Cats often give birth unsupported and are private creatures, so watch quietly from a distance in case you need to help or call the vet. When you have your peace of mind, you can explore the different possibilities that led to the dead litter of kittens. Usually the veterinary practice or crematorium is happy to look after them for several weeks until you feel able to do so. 203644 (England and Wales) and SCO37711 (Scotland). If you are not sure of the number of babies expected you should get the mother examined for other kittens stuck in her abdomen. You can have her neutered around eight weeks after giving birth once her kittens are fully weaned, but discuss this with your vet as they will be best placed to advise you based on your cats circumstances. Each foetus is contained within its own membranes and has its own placenta through which it derives nourishment. Stillborn kittens and death in kittens shortly after birth is not uncommon in cats. Accessibility Complicated cutting and tying of the cord are not necessary. So watching quietly and discreetly from a distance is the best approach. Purrfect Delivery: A Guide to Helping Your Cat Give Birth. Suspected abnormalities of joints and limbs should be viewed with caution unless utterly self-evident such as severe shortening of a limb. a red-brown vaginal discharge may be seen for up to three weeks after the birth. The kitten is usually passed eventually. Saynamore said: Right, this is going to be shock, horror, to some but there you go If you have a full litter stillborn like I have had recently, what I do is get a supply of flannels (5 for a quid at poundland) and wrap each poor kit in its own flannel and then put that in an empty marg tub and tape that up, then pop in the wheelie bin. Maine Coon Ragdoll Mix - Everything You Need To Know! My goal is to find the most informative content on anything feline-related and share it with fellow hardworking kitty lovers. An additional consideration is that the rejected kitten may well be a defective kitten (mother may know best) in which case hand rearing will not be successful. We do our best to help you better understand your cats, but the information on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Initially, the cat is noticed to be straining and uncomfortable despite the completion of parturition. Nutritional deficienciesoccur when the mother doesnt receive enough vitamins and energy sources essential for labor and nursing. She will accept food and drink and is in every way completely normal except that it is obvious from her size and shape, and the presence of foetal movement, that there are still kittens waiting to be born. Ask anyone in your closest circle whether theyve ever seen a cat panting. Te prturitio of ewly litter of kitte i much-anticipted evet for y cat-o'-nine-tail ower. Be very calm and quiet and do not disturb a mother with very young kittens unless necessary, if the queen seems to ignore or reject one of her kittens, putting some of the birthing fluids on the kitten may help her to accept them. There are occasions when you should completely prevent the mother from contacting the dead baby. In an individual cremation, a pet may be cremated in the crematory on its own or commonly on an individual tray with other pets on individual trays. Once you are sure the cat is dead, contact the local vet and let them know you are coming in with a dead cat. The appearance of the invaginated uterus at the vulva is self-evident. There is no mum in the picture, so the first point will not apply here. Some cats may even eat up their dead kittens to protect them from being eaten by other animals. If an abscess is present, the cat will become anorexic, dull and feverish, and in addition to pain and swelling in the gland, a pointing, or purplish area of fluid pressure from the accumulation of pus will be seen. If you have a blanket, wrap the kitten in a blanket or a cardboard box and head over to the vet. The process might go on for quite a while before she starts to focus more on the live kittens again. Pull and traction are probably misleading words to use here to convey the sensitivity required to co-operate with the cat as she strains and rests momentarily in between, so that progress continues without fear of injury to cat or kitten. The most difficult decision usually concerns the kitten persistently rejected by its mother, despite its apparent normality. The instincts of mother cats dont only apply to taking care of their live kittens. Sometimes planning isnt possible if your cats death is sudden, but if you can think ahead you may find it helpful, each veterinary surgery has different options available so check what is offered by your veterinary practice, if your cat is going to remain at the veterinary practice for any length of time, theyll be kept in cold storage. If your cat gave birth to a dead kitten or more dead kittens she needs some time to sniff them and count them. In cats, it often occurs three days after giving birth. Midwives should have provided, as far as possible, the ideal kittening bed which should be warm, comfortable and safe, but should also be observable, ie, a happy medium between confinement and relative freedom within the confined area. Dig up about 3 feet (should be deep enough to keep the remains safe from predators), place the kitten in the hole, say a few words (if you want to), and cover the hole with mud. Never touch a dead kitten after birth with bare handsbecause there is a high risk of getting an infection and spreading it. Rub the kitten in small circular movements to get them breathing, if the mother does not bite through the cord, you can tie it off twice with clean sewing thread around 3cm from the kitten's body and gently tear between the two ties. Often, in any real hold-up, a Caesarian operation is the preferred method and provided that the cat is neither desperately ill nor very exhausted, it is a safe and routine procedure. Required fields are marked *. If she feels unsafe for any reason, or if where she currently is isnt warm enough for her, she may choose to move her kittens. Early cases are well known in the bitch. Genetic defects and toxin exposureare responsible for abnormal conditions in the form of congenital defects. One option is to bury the kitten yourself. Diagnosis and treatment of the serious dystocia must be in the hands of the veterinary surgeon. You might want to find out if your local and state laws allow it lest you get fined for it. By licking and smelling their babies, cats figure out if the kitten is alive or not. Your email address will not be published. Turned out that my cats diet was the problem. She might want you to fix the kitten or to take care of it because she cant. If they are not all passed within four to six hours, call your vet for advice. As bad it may seem to leave the dead kittens lying on the floor or the bedding you simply will need to for the sake of the grieving mother. Removing a dead kitten after birth too fast can leave her agitated and she may even try to bite you when attempting to move the body. If nothing can be felt at the vulva and the hold-up is evidently further forward, then it is time to send for professional help. The towels will become soiled quickly as the kittens defecate. Terms and conditions Privacy policy Dystocia (difficult birth) can be classified as either maternal or foetal in origin, depending on whether it is caused by problems with the queen or kittens. Talk to your vet if your continuously medicated cat gets pregnant. Dead kittens get stuck inside a cat all the time. CP Portal, website by Below are some of the signs your kittens may show to indicate an ailment that can potentially lead to early mortality: Abruptly stop nursing. Your purchase directly supports the leading global cat welfare charity, International Cat Care. The lack of a wedge-shaped muzzle increases the risk of the head becoming deflected to one side, downwards between the forelegs, or onto the chest. The same rules apply to the vet examination and burial/cremation when its only a single kitten born. According to some studies,7 percent of kittens are born deador die a week after. She will be very protective over them and might not want you touching, so its best to respect her space unless something is wrong. The normal mother cat will generally make a much better job of cleaning and drying her kittens than any human, so do not interfere unless necessary. When you lose a pet for one reason or the other, it can be a devastating blow to you. Foetal malpresentations, malpositions and malpostures may all lead to dystocia. The best choice would be what seems suitable to you and what fits your needs. While a lot of cats will have a perfectly healthy birth, there are some problems that could happen you should keep an eye out for. Sitemap Follow this, if the mother is ill or not co-operative, by contact with a warm, well-covered hot water bottle and conserve heat with a covering blanket. However, your cat may experience a difficult birth and there are some things you can do to help: You should call the vet for advice during the birth if: In some cases the kittens may need to be delivered by caesarean section. So, when the kitten is dead, the mom will keep licking it, expecting to stimulate breathing. She will be dull and lethargic, ignore her kittens, refuse food, become polydipsic, and may vomit. Her appetite will probably be poor and a brownish vaginal discharge may be seen. While many authors believe that problems in parturition (birth) are rare in the cat, others feel that with the progression of selective breeding these problems are becoming more common. Put air holes in the sides of the box so that the kitten has abundant fresh air. This way you prevent the mother from spotting and digging up the body and ensure there is no disease transmission. I am Eleanor Price. Once the cat stops paying any attention to the lost kitten you can remove it. Your email address will not be published. What if you came across a dead kitten in the bushes when taking a hike? As a quick guide, heres what to do with a dead kitten. I am working hard on this blog to provide you with valuable information on everything cats. If your cat is struggling, unwell or has rejected any of her kittens, you may need to intervene and handle them sooner. She may be positively hysterical, and in such cases, immediate relief may be obtained by the use of tranquillisers. Kittens are vulnerable to parasites, bacteria, and viruses which can be contracted from the placenta, the milk, the environment, all of which can cause a cat to have stillborn kittens. While, ideally, they should be chosen according to culture and sensitivity, first-line treatment usually consists of a broad-spectrum antibiotic, eg, amoxycillin-clavulanic acid, or a cephalosporin. Mother cats tend to get weak after giving birth. Sometimes a mother cat will dig the ground where it will bury its dead kitten. The queen may be off colour, poor appetite, excessive drinking or vomiting, awkward or clumsy movement, twitching or collapsing, licking her newborn kittens, nuzzling them and purring, moving her kittens. These nutrients will help her support the surviving kittens by getting dissolved into her milk. A lifelong cat lover, now based in South East Asia, Christian and his wife are the proud parents of an 11-year-old son and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper. Joints at birth are very incomplete structures and most apparent double-jointedness or rotation of limbs right themselves by the time the kitten is really becoming mobile. Time between delivery of kittens is usually 10 to 60 minutes and stages two and three are repeated. The cat would chew it through, providing a blunt crushing action to prevent bleeding; tearing it between the first two fingers and thumb does much the same thing. Due to the fact that a lot of energy is needed for such an action, your cat might start breathing heavily. Hi! Using disposable gloves place the dead kitten (along with the placenta) inside a freezer bag that can be sealed. Very rarely, your cat might struggle to care for her kittens. Bear in mind that the queen will usually eat the placenta to hide evidence of the birth and protect her kittens. Normal kittens should suck for the first time within 2 hours of birth - they can absorb antibodies from the queen's milk during the first 16-24 hours of life and it is vital they suck well during this period both for good nutrition and also to receive this critical maternal-derived immunity (MDI, or maternal-derived antibodies - MDA) to protect Pay a lot of attention to her and when you talk use a calm tone and a lot of praise. Related Post: Can You Put A Dead Cat In The Bin? The cats first act is to see that the kittens nose and mouth are clear. The question of what to do with a dead kitten has several possibilities. Foetal causes of obstructive dystocia may result from malpresentation, severe foetal malformation (eg, hydrocephalus, Siamese-twins), foetal oversize or foetal death. Links Your cat will naturally provide her kittens with all they need, so try to keep your distance if you can so she can settle into motherhood. keep other pets away from your cat and her kittens, make sure the kittens are feeding this should start almost immediately after birth. Blow very gently and allow a pause for expiration. 203644 (England and Wales) and SCO37711 (Scotland). If her stomach is hard, then there may be more kittens coming. Support International Cat Care from as little 3, Sign up to our monthly newsletter and free e-magazine Intelligent Cat Care, Sign up to our monthly charity newsletter, Reg Charity 1117342 (England and Wales) Place Farm, Chilmark Road, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6LW, You are now being re-directed to an external website www.thecatgallery.co.uk. Their behavior toward that kitten might surprise you. That means she will often leave the body alone for hours, just in case the kitten revives. keep an eye on the kittens to make sure they are feeding but try to keep at a distance your cat is comfortable with. Featured Image Credit: schubbel, Shutterstock. Communal cremation chambers mean that the pet is cremated at the same time as other animals so you cant get any ashes back. If you do, heres what to do with the dead kitten: take the cat to the pet clinic and have it cremated. In pregnancy, the foetuses are spaced along each horn of the uterus. The most common reaction is to lick the kitten to find out any movement or activity. There are a lot of things to consider when you end up dealing with one or even a whole litter of dead kittens. The decision can only be made by the breeder after full consideration of the circumstances. Work for us Neonatal mortality, or fading syndrome, involves the death of a kitten at an early age of life (generally, less than two weeks). A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (06772997). All of these situations may give rise to either a temporary delay and necessitate extra efforts by the cat or, at worst, result in complete obstruction. Examination of the cat mother usually includes: While your visit to the vet clinic the discussion of differentways to dispose of the body/bodies might come up. In a way, this act is similar. Have clean towels, a warm water bottle, a feeding bottle or syringe and some specialist substitute cat milk replacement - not cow or goat milk - ready in advance. It is also necessary for her to clean away the placenta and liquid that might be blocking the kittens lungs from taking in the air they need. 1. This serves as both protection and lubrication and provides a distending, stretching and dilating force when the uterus relaxes in front of it and contracts behind it during the course of parturition. What Happens If Cats Eat Slugs? Put the first sealed bag in another sealable bag. Lewes Road, You want to fill the hole with mud lest your dog digs her way in. Not only will it lick the dead kitten, but the mother cat will also cuddle it as well, waiting for it to respond. Please consider making a contribution, big or small, to keep our content free, accurate and relevant. Talk to your vet about when is the best time and read our free neutering advice. What To Do If Dead Kitten Gets Stuck Inside A Cat? Are Slug Pellets Dangerous For Cats? However, it is still an instinct, and although its rare for a domestic cat, dont be shocked if that happens. If problems are anticipated the veterinary surgeon should have been alerted and given the probable parturition date before the event and informed of the start of labour so that if a call for help becomes necessary it is expected and can be promptly answered. Using disposable gloves place the dead kitten (along with the placenta) inside a freezer bag that can be sealed. Whole-body burial is also pretty common among pet parents. WARNING: contact your vet if your cat has been straining for 20-30 minutes without producing a kitten, is crying out in pain, or you are concerned at any point. Christian is the Editor-in-Chief of Excited Cats and one of its original and primary contributors. Or the one the mother cat has tossed aside. The uterus may be considered as a muscular, sausage-shaped bag, capable of contracting both around its diameter and along its length. When a mother cat licks a kitten over and over again and notices that it is dead, she can do any of the following. The narrow pelvis is a concern in younger cat mothers and large kittens are a problem when the father is way larger than the mother. Liquid is usually cleared up by the cat, active straining starts and the kitten usually comes out head first, once the head is out, one or two strains from the cat should push out the kitten, the mother breaks the bag and chews through the cord and licks the kitten. Lewes Road, Manymedicationsfrom steroids to cardiovascular drugs can cause a cat to give birth to stillborn kittens. Is your cat due to give birth? However, she does this to stimulate the kitten to breathe because it won't feel natural for them at first. The first stage of kittening lasts up to 36 hours and is usually shorter for queens that have had kittens before. The human imitation can follow much the same plan with additions in a real emergency. Breathing into the kittens airway through a small endotracheal tube or drinking straw may help to reduce the risk of over-inflating the kittens lungs, and be more hygienic than direct mouth-to-mouth. The general rule for burial is to put the body at least 4-5 feet (1-1.5 meters) deep in the ground. If this fails, an emergency ovariohysterectomy (spay) may be required. You can choose between a pet cemetery, your backyard (if allowed by law), and human cemeteries with designated pet sections. Related Post: 20 Amazing Female Cat Facts. Give her some time days, or in some cases even weeks, and also space to explore around the house and become more comfortable with how she feels about this. Generally after death, pets are cremated or buried. The Cat Gallery has partnered with International Cat Care to host the charitys online shop and manage the distribution of shop bought goods to customers.