OK my cat is VERY pregnant....due ANY day and i have so many questions i need some help please. 1.do all cats meow and "yell" when they are in labor? because she is a pretty quiet cat and i didnt know if that was definetely going to happen. 2. she got outside onto the patio with me yesterday and she came back covered in dirt and fleas so is it bad this close to labor to give her a bath or will it cause too much stress? 3. she has been nesting since sunday night...burrowing under the blankets with me and checking out her mommybox as well as closets...how long should this go on before she actually goes into labor? 4. she got pregnant her first time going into heat...she is only a year or so old...should i be concered about her delivering the babies? she is huge and i think she may have a pretty large litter. 5. she seems utterly miserable is there anything i can do to make her more comfortable until the big moment comes?? THANK you so much for any help i recieve!
2007-03-22 06:35:08 · 6 answers · asked by soccercatz_22 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
1. Not all of them, in fact they tend to be very quiet as to not attract predators in nature. If they are in too much pain they will.
2. You may use a moist towel to clean her up. Any flea product will be excreted in the milk, which is not good for the newborn kittens. Bathing with normal shampoo will not do anything to kill the fleas, and wait for a week or more after delivery to ask your vet to prescribe a mild flea product safe for the kittens.
3. Varies between cats, but usually about a week or less.
4. She may have problems. In nature, they seldom have problems bc they tend to have smaller litters due to not being in the nutritional plane to support large ovulations, in a domestic environment where we care for them and they are well fed their litters tend to be bigger than what their bodies can support. Not to mention the problems she may have down the line due to being pregnant so young, like skeletal problems. Keep the number of your emergency vet handy in case you may need it and call them if you have any questions.
5. Keep her quiet, don't bother her, provide lots of soft blankets and few boxes so she can decide which one to go in labor in... Feed her high quality kitten food, not maintenance, she will need increased calories and vitamins and minerals to support the lactation.
and I'm adding 6: Don't let an unspayed cat go outdoors ever again, pregnant or not. Please, spay her as soon as she delivers. A pregnant cat CAN get spayed. A spay is much safer for a cat than the risks associated w delivery and the demand caused by milk production, not to mention the increased risks of pyometra, uterine cancer, and breast cancer associated w not spaying a cat. If you can't afford the spay, there are many shelters willing to do the sx for a very cheap price.
2007-03-22 06:48:12 · answer #1 · answered by kitty98 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To help with the fleas get a flea comb & get a bowl with warm water & put afew drops a dish soap in it. When you comb the cat each swipe you take pintch the comb so the fleas that are cought in the comb do not jump off & put the fleas in the water. The dish soap will drown the fleas. If you have a small desk lamp you can also try puting it in an open area close to the cat but not real to anything with a bowl of water with afew drops of dish soap in & the heat from the lamp will attrack the fleas - they will jump into the bowl & drown. This will help your cat until you can get her flea dipped. Talk to your vet right away cuz the fleas will be a health hazard for the kittens.
2007-03-22 16:39:29 · answer #2 · answered by tymaboy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, cats do meow and yowl when in labor. It's natural. I would brush her, but not bathe her as I do believe it would be stressful. Nesting is very natural also and cats usually start doing that anywhere from 2 days to minutes before starting labor. She is young, but in nature cats would be getting pregnant at an early age too. For her comfort, make sure her food and water are easy to get to. It would probably be too late/stressful for veterinary care, but find out (just in case) where your nearest emergency vet is located in case the mom has trouble during off hours. Your Vet can tell you how long after birth you should wait before you have momma spayed. Good luck! Keep us updated!
2007-03-22 13:48:10 · answer #3 · answered by Amanda 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had many cats during my 10 year stay in Greece so I think you can trust me :)
1. It is quite normal for cats to mew when in labor.
2. It is not a good idea to give her a bath near her labor, and quite unnecessary.
3. She probably wants to make sure the area is safe before giving birth.
4. Most cats do that. Also, the cats size does not necessarily determine the number of kittens she will give birth.
5. Just be as nice to her as you can and give her extra food :)
2007-03-22 13:55:13 · answer #4 · answered by TheDementedMule 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the answer to question one is yes. My cat was very vocal no matter how quiet she normally was and no matter how many times she'd been pregnant before. Every female animal on this planet is vocal when giving birth due to the pain.
the answer to question two is give her a bath...but not the routine doggy bath. Take a warm moist towel (make sure it is NOT sopping wet) put a little flea bath soap on her and gently run it through her fur with your fingers. Then take the moist towel and wipe her down gently.
the answer to question three she will do it off and on or continuously until she is ready.
the answer to question four it is her first time and I would suggest taking her to the vet first to learn how to assist in delivery.
the answer to question five is try to remain calm your pet has this amazing ability to pick up on their owners emotions and the reason she is probably so miserable is because YOU are stressing.
2007-03-22 13:50:57 · answer #5 · answered by Hinari Fumasu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i suggest that you take her to the vets for the fleas becuase they are a danger to the babies and momma will need to be wormed as well as defleaing. i can't say if she will yell she might just purr or meow. she will have her babies very soon now. she should be alright giving birth just check in on her everynow and then. there is no way you can really make her more comfortable until the big day comes just try and cuddle her and make a fuss of her. my queen is due in about 2-3 weeks just after my wedding (and knowing my luck she will give birth on that day so i will miss it) good luck
2007-03-22 13:48:52 · answer #6 · answered by kath 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋