What are Birth Difficulties?
If a “queen” or mother cat is reasonably healthy, it is highly unlikely that she will suffer from birthing difficulties. However, birth difficulties that include mechanical blockage and uterine inertia occur in some cats. Sometimes mechanical blockage happens when the kittens’ diameter is too wide for the queen’s birth canal diameter. Uterine inertia could come about when the uterus is too weak to contract.
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Symptoms of Birth Difficulties in Cats
Mechanical blockage and uterine inertia are most likely to take place with older cats, with queens who are obese and, with queens who birth small litters of relatively oversized kittens. These conditions are apt to occur in cat breeds with big heads and flat faces like Persians. It also frequently involves the birth of the first kitten or the last kitten.
If any of the following signs occur, call the veterinarian. It could help to save the life of the kittens as well as the mother
- No birth of a kitten after one hour of deep straining
- A kitten is visible in the birth canal after 10 minutes of strong labor
- A constant flow of fresh bleeding occurs 10 minutes during or after kittening
- Abrupt lethargy and fatigue
- Rectal temperature above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) or below 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius) could mean the queen has an infection
- If labor ceases and the queen is agitated, anxious or weak
- Kittens should come down the birth canal 15 minutes to two hours apart. When the amniotic sac surrounding the kitten ruptures, birth of a kitten should take place within 30 minutes. There is cause for alarm if more than three hours pass between kittens. However, if the queen is relaxed and tending to her kittens without showing distress, she and the kittens to come should be fine.
Causes of Birth Difficulties in Cats
Mechanical Blockage: The "diving position" – exiting the birth canal with nose and feet first, and the back next to the vagina’s crown – is regularly how kittens are born. An oversized kitten or a kitten is situated wrong in the birth canal are the two main reasons for mechanical blockage.
- The kitten exits backwards from the birth canal with its hind feet or tail and hips showing first.
- The backwards position of presenting the tail or rump is called the breech position and if it occurs with the first kitten, it can really present a problem.
- Deviated head, where the head of the kitten is curved forward or sideways.
Uterine Inertia: When the uterine muscles become too weak, labor becomes futile. The uterus can’t generate contractions that are strong and effective. Reasons for uterine fatigue include:
- Having an extremely large litter
- A single very large kitten in a tiny uterus
- Distortion of the uterus
- Surplus of amniotic fluid as the result of a condition called hydrops amnion
Diagnosis of Birth Difficulties in Cats
Abnormal or difficult births in cats are typically caused by several factors, including uterine inertia, the birth canal is too small, the fetus crosses the birth channel in an atypical orientation, and/or the fetus is too large.
Veterinarians pay attention to the following situations and history:
- Previous history of dystocia or reproductive tract blockage
- Birth doesn’t occur within at least 24 hours once the rectal temperature drops to 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.7 degrees Celcius
- No kitten is born after the queen suffers severe abdominal contractions that last for more than two hours
- Pause in labor lasts more than four to six hours
- Obvious pain of the queen – howling, licking or gnawing at the vulva
- Odd discharge from the vulva before the kittens are born (possibility the placenta has separated)
- Pelvic trauma
- Prior births
The vet could also carry out a sterile digital exam to determine the degree of obstruction in the birth canal as well as the position and presentation of the fetuses. To determine the presence, mass, location and health of the fetuses, the veterinarian could also use radiography or ultrasound scans.
Should labor be prolonged, and the veterinarians cannot see or feel the kitten in the birth canal, an x-ray of the queen will help to determine the relative sizes and positions of the kittens.
A fractured pelvis is detrimental for queens. If a queen with a fractured pelvis becomes pregnant and it wasn’t known she had a fractured pelvis, she will have to undergo a surgery to give birth.
Veterinarians warn that a queen with a pelvic fracture should not get pregnant. X-ray scans, taken prior to pregnancy, are the way to determine if the queen suffers from this malady.
Treatment of Birth Difficulties in Cats
Medication: The source of some forms of uterine inertia is caused by a lack of oxytocin or calcium or both. To stimulate stronger contractions, the veterinarian may inject oxytocin (which is made by the pituitary gland) and calcium gluconate. There is danger associated with such injections, in that the uterus could rupture.
Cesarean Section: If birthing difficulties can’t be resolved by the use of drugs or obstetric treatment, the veterinarian will determine whether a cesarean section is necessary. The veterinarian will decide if this common procedure, which is used when all sorts of birthing problems are present, is the best choice for the mother. The vet will take the following into consideration:
- Length of labor
- Condition of the queen
- X-ray and testing results
- Kittens’ size relative to the queen’s uterus
- A dry vaginal canal
- Lack of response to oxytocin
In most cases, a cesarean section presents no problems, especially if the queen is young and healthy. The veterinarian performs the operation under general anesthesia. There may be major problems if the labor is excessive and drawn out and toxicity occurs, i.e. the kittens are stillborn and starting to decay or if the uterus ruptures.
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Recovery of Birth Difficulties in Cats
The veterinarian will consider medical management when obstruction of the birth canal and fetuses is constant, the appearance and location of the fetal position are correct, and there is no blockage in the birth canal. To encourage uterine contractions, the veterinarian could prescribe oxytocin. A cesarean section could be done if the oxytocin gets no reaction.
Surgery could be necessary for obstructive dystocia and birth difficulties along with distress or general poor health, extended active labor, primary uterine inertia and if health management is unproductive.
Within three hours of the surgery, the queen is expected to be stable, alert and capable of nursing her kittens. Reasons for having the cesarean section vary and just because the queen had the procedure when she had one litter does not necessarily mean that she will have to have another cesarean section when she has another litter.
Birth Difficulties Average Cost
From 536 quotes ranging from $400 - $1,000
Average Cost
$650
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Birth Difficulties Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Cat
Felicia
1 Year
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Seizures
Queening
My cat as of right now is leaking clear fluid but is having seizures but I have no money to bring her to the vet she’s is in labor I assume and idk what to do because I got denied for a line of credit
Sept. 17, 2018
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Unknown
lovely stray
5 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Stalled Delivery
I have a stray who appeared a few days ago. She gave birth to one kitten nine hours ago but nothing since. Something red briefly appeared at the birth canal opening about nine hours ago but disappeared. She had had clear fluid and now brown red (bloody) discharge but is showing no signs of pushing or distress. She has eaten and passed urine and stools but she is really rather small-ish (half siamese I suspect. I truly cannot afford a vet and I live in a country in Europe with nothing akin to the UK's RSPCA or PDSA (if I had handed her in to the authorities she would have been put down). Nt sure how old she is at all. Any advice please on how I can help her? I have tried massaging her back and giving her sugar water for energy. The kitten that was born is alive a has been feeding. I am quite worried :/ Help!
Sept. 11, 2018
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silver tabby
tikvah
4 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Pain
Stillborn
Queening
This is my cats first litter. she is a little older and didnt seem to understand what was going on during the first part until the first kitten was born. she flailed a lot getting it out and the kitten was still born. and now the second. I tried everything im supposed to to resuscitate them- but their heads were .... it was odd. could she be snapping their neck? what do i do? shes getting ready to have another one! please help
Sept. 11, 2018
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Calico
Samantha
2 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Foul Bloody Smell
My cat Samantha is in labor this is the 3rd day and she has only had one kitten but you can feel more in her . Yesterday we took her to a 24/7 vet and they said she was not in distress and was not in active labor at that moment . After we left she started meowing and rolling on her stomach and in a ball . We got home and I noticed some blood coming from her and I tried research and couldn't find anything about it . I'm worried because when I woke up this morning I went into the room and it smelt like death and urine . But she is acting just fine . I just recently noticed she has weird bubbly noises coming from her stomach as well as a follow-up smell around her . This really worries me , her kitten she gave birth to already seems healthy and is eating properly and she is eating and using the litter box just fine . I'm not sure what's wrong and I don't have the funds at this moment to take her to the vet :(( please help
Sept. 10, 2018
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no breed
Jane
1 Year
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Weakness
A cat gave birth to one kittem 3 days back. She ate a little bit of food and water on day 1 after birth. SInce day 2 she is ignoring any offered food. She goes for long walks and comes back to her kitten in time for feeding.there is some vaginal dischare that she licks off. Is this a serious case. She seems uninterested and I am worried she is dehydrated.
Sept. 10, 2018
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Orange tabby
Sunshine
1 Year
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Multiple Birth
I've had a couple cats that I've helped through labor, today was weird, my cat was no where to be found and finally we found her. She'd given birth all at once and out of 5 kittens there were 2 giant placentas in which the kittens were all attatched to. In my 20 years of experience I'd never seen such a thing. She is currently okay but I will be taking her and her kittens to the clinic anyways.
Solid white Siamese
Green-eyed monster
2 Years
0 found this helpful
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Seizures And Loss Of Muscles That That Last One To Two
My cat had some kittens and she lost a lot of blood, the kittens didn't make it. So my question is i my cat to have seizures and uncontrollably loss of her muscle
Brithish short hair
Ruby black
3 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Kitten Died At Birth
My cat gave birth to twin kittens around 07:30am yesterday and it's now 23:30 the next day and she has given birth to another kitten but I found it dead,I can see that momma cat has done everything right (cleaned,broken the cord but the kitten was gone,I tried kitten Cpr but nothing.
Is this normal or could the kitten have died because my Queen delayed her pregnancy for over 18 hrs??
Scottish
Mochie
1 Year
0 found this helpful
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Bleeding
Our cat is having her babies from 2 days now. First time the head get stocks in her birth canal and took a while before she fully delivers it. 2nd was in breech position therefore it was more harder for her. And the sad part is both were dead. And since yesterday she was having contractions as i can see and she had some bleeding and was weak as well. Till now when i came home half of the baby is out already but looks like dead again 😢😔 and im not sure if i saw it right, but it looks like body was broken idk. 😓😢 Worse part is we wanted to bring her to vet since the first day but unfortunately all vet clinics were close due to the holidays. Please help us what to do now and will she be fine. Now we dont mind if she bringa baby as long as she's fine. 💔💔
Tortouise
Ratchet
2 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Pregnant
I'm very confused 2 weeks ago my cat delivered 5 still born kittens..... Today she has just given birth to 2 ginger perfectly healthy kittens.... Can someone explain to me please.... How is this possible?
Birth Difficulties Average Cost
From 536 quotes ranging from $400 - $1,000
Average Cost
$650
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
