What is Early Contractions and Labor?
While a kitten born on or after the 61st day of gestation has good survival odds, contractions and labor before then can endanger both the kitten and its mother.
Pregnancy in cats usually goes smoothly, but premature contractions and labor do happen from time to time. In an ideal situation, a cat would give birth after 63 days of pregnancy. However, factors ranging from stress to bacterial infections can cause a pregnant cat to go into labor too early.
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Symptoms of Early Contractions and Labor in Cats
Before a cat fully goes into labor, there are a few tell-tale signs. If a cat is showing these signs before the 61st day of pregnancy, it is likely that the cat is going into premature labor:
- Bloody vaginal discharge
- Lack of appetite
- Loud and frequent vocalizing
- Hiding
- Unexplained affection
Causes of Early Contractions and Labor in Cats
The causes of early labor in cats are particularly varied, but can be put into two different categories: stress-related and medical.
Medical
- Bacterial or viral infections
- Genetic disorders
- Ovarian cysts
- Malnutrition
- Death of a fetus
- Hormonal imbalances, specifically a sudden drop in progesterone
- Lyme disease
Stress-Related
- Loud noises
- Emotional disturbances like screaming or fighting owners
- Excessively cold temperatures
- A recent move
- Receiving vaccinations while pregnant
Diagnosis of Early Contractions and Labor in Cats
If a cat starts displaying symptoms of early contractions, it is vital that it is brought to a veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian will require a complete medical history of the cat, as well as some information regarding the pregnancy. This includes things like the cat's general health before and during the pregnancy, information about the symptoms being displayed and any stressful incidents that could have contributed to premature labor.
Once the veterinarian has this information, they will begin a physical examination of the cat, while being careful not to cause further stress. Depending upon the results of the physical examination, the veterinarian may need to run any of the following tests: a blood chemical profile, an electrolyte panel or urinalysis.
The blood profile will reveal any issues with progesterone levels, while the urinalysis will show any disorders or diseases that may be causing the early labor. After these tests have been performed, the veterinarian will perform an ultrasound to see if fetal death or abnormal positioning of the fetus could be causing the early labor.
If the kittens are stillborn or die shortly after birth, they may need to be necropsied by the veterinarian to identify the cause of death. This will help determine if the issue could affect the cat later in life as well as ensure the viability of any future pregnancies.
Treatment of Early Contractions and Labor in Cats
At this stage, the cat will most likely require medical treatment either for the underlying disease causing the problem or the stillborn kittens.
Stillborn Kittens: Stillborn kittens will typically need to be surgically removed. The procedure is quite low-risk for the cat, but if other undamaged fetuses are still in the womb, it may prove dangerous for them.
Other Treatments: Unfortunately, there is little that can be done to stop early labor once it has started. The veterinarian will likely give the cat and any surviving kittens medical attention for any complications, but may not be able to halt the process of the early labor.
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Recovery of Early Contractions and Labor in Cats
After the delivery, it is important to keep the cat isolated from other animals for a period of three weeks, with exceptions being made for any surviving kittens, of course. Even animals that live in the home and that the cat knows should be kept at a distance, as the cat will need time to recover from going through labor. As much as possible, the cat should be kept in a warm and quiet room by itself.
After a cat has gone through early labor, it is important to bring it in for a checkup after the three week period. At this point, the cat should be returning to normal, and it can be a sign of other diseases if the cat is still weak or sick after the first three weeks.
While a cat is nursing its kittens, it is important not to give it any medication without approval from a veterinarian. Many medications can affect the cat's milk and be harmful to kittens.
Early contractions and labor in cats can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your cat is at risk of going into labor early, start searching for pet insurance today. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Embrace. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!
Early Contractions and Labor Average Cost
From 460 quotes ranging from $400 - $1,000
Average Cost
$650
Top
Early Contractions and Labor Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
tabby
Tab
1 Day
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Sleepy
Clingy
Spotting
Affection
y cat is pregnant. Not too sure how far as she got out in two occassions. She is either due now or due in couple weeks.
However yssterday morning some bloody gooey discharge wass coming out of her vigina and i thought it my be the cervix plug or something. She then continued spotting throughout the day. I woke up this morning to find she is still spotting blood. Is this normal if she is to go into labour?
July 17, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
If Tab is continuing to bleed, she may be having a problem with the kittens, or she may be going into labor. If she is eating and drinking well, and seems normal otherwise, you should be fine to monitor her, but if the spotting continues, it would be a good idea to have her seen by a veterinarian to make sure that she is okay.
July 17, 2018
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short hair
Luna
1 Year
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Hiding
Mood Swings
Big Appetite
Need Of Attention
Mood Swing
Up All Night
My family and I rescued a strey cat from outside and gave her all the vaccinations she needed before we brought her inside... like a week or so later we began to realize that her stomach was getting big and her nipples were swelling... we predicted that she was definitely pregnant! She was definitely pregnant before we brought her in the house, although we don’t know how many weeks she is. I would like to know the signs of labor and be prepared for her pregnancy... I saw the signs of pregnancy on the website... (which she does have all.) But i would like to know the symptoms of when she’s about to go into labor...
July 17, 2018
0 Recommendations
Typically in the 24 hours leading up to queening you’ll notice that there are signs of restlessness, nesting and rectal temperature may drop below 100℉ or 37.8℃; keep an eye on her and try to encourage her to next in a spare room or closet out of the way of activity. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 17, 2018
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Siamese, Domesticated short hair
Brownie
1 Year
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Meowing, Growling, Painting,
My cat I think she's in labor. Yesterday she had some discharge and started painting for a short time.. Today she start painting and heavy breathing but it's been 8 hours ND still no sign of pushing. She seeks attention from her sister who recently gave birth to kittens on June 30th and even helps her lick her kittens. My cat who's in labor keeps meowing and growling.
July 15, 2018
0 Recommendations
A cat may be a little agitated for around 24 hours before queening; she may vocalise and change location among other habits during this time, it is important to keep a close eye on her but if she seems to be pushing for more than two hours or so unproductively you should visit your Veterinarian for an examination to be on the safe side. Cats generally have an uneventful queening with few complications, but in a few cases veterinary assistance may be required. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 16, 2018
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tabby
Taco
1 Year
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Restless, Meowing ,Lower Temp,
My cat is pregnant. I'm not 100% sure exactly when she got pregnant though. I know it was between the 1st and 13th of may. She had been what we think was nesting. She would roam from one spot to the other, act like she was digging to make a spot for her to lay them lay down for a few then move to the next. 2 days ago we moved her into a bedroom so we knew where she would be and they would be not bothered by other cats in the home. She has been cleaning herself almost non stop yesterday and her temp was 98.3 when we checked. I slept in the room with her the night before because we thought she may have been almost ready. Last night I slept in different room. She was meowing almost non stop the whole night. As soon as I go in the room she stops. I havent noticed any discharge and she continues to move from one spot to another in the room like she can't get comfortable. Babies seem to be moving the same anount... my question is with her tenor being under 100 shouldn't she be in labor anytime ?
July 12, 2018
1 Recommendations
Typically we may see a drop in temperature below 100℉ in the 24 hours leading up to queening; keep a close eye on her as she is certainly around the window for going into labour. Keep an eye on her for now, but if she doesn’t start by Friday afternoon you should visit your Veterinarian before they close for the weekend to be on the safe side (and avoid any out of hours fees - although cats normally have no issues with queening). Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 13, 2018
Thank you. Her temp went up to 99.6 yesterday afternoon. Still no kittens. Going to check her temp again today as well. No discharge still and not noticing any milk yet. Her nipples are very swollen and dry though. She isnt eating much so maybe today will be the day.
July 13, 2018
Taco's Owner
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fiona
1 Year
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Won’T Eat
Affectionate
Frequent Grooming
we have three young children in the house and it’s very cramped and i read that stress can induce early labor. we also have another cat , younger, who has taken the birthing box that i gave fiona and now fiona will no longer go in it, she got pregnant sometime between may 9th-may 12th, so i know it’s very close to her due date. she won’t eat, but she’ll drink water. she’s affectionate unless you get too close to her stomach, she’s constantly licking herself. and if she goes into labor i’m not necessarily sure what to do. she’s my sisters cat, but my sister gave me the responsibility of taking care of fiona. she has maybe 3 spots around the house where she loves to lay but i’m still unsure of where she’s going to have her kittens and what to do if she chooses an unsafe spot.
July 8, 2018
2 Recommendations
Try to encourage Fiona to nest in a cupboard or wardrobe (closet), try to give her somewhere comfortable where the other cat isn’t going to bother her. Stress may induce early queening, but a bit of overcrowding in a home shouldn’t stress her out that much. Try to keep an eye on her and encourage her to find a new nesting place. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 8, 2018
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Calico,short hair
Little lady
11 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Licking At Genitals
Hiding
Hiding Licking
This is little lady’s first pregnancy. And I took her to the vet 2 weeks and i was told she was haveing four kittens and expect her to deliver in 2-3 weeks. Will I’m trying to get to notice the signs of labor. She staring to hide more and she licking herself more. And more moody.
Early Contractions and Labor Average Cost
From 460 quotes ranging from $400 - $1,000
Average Cost
$650
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
