Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

fhinz · Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 295 Location: KL or Miri

Hi. If you have read my post about my female cats, http://vet.com.my/viewtopic.php?t=1745 , you'll know that one of my cats had her kitten and her kitten died.

Anyway, it looks like she's gonna have her litter any soon coz it's almost 2 months since the mating season (so I thought she's probably almost 2 months pregnant). I read somewhere that I have to prepare a dry, quiet, warm area with nesting materials such as towels or blankets 4 to 7 days before labor is estimated to begin, so that means a nice place for labour and lots of privacy, right? There's a shelves-store behind the house, so I thought she's probably can do the nesting there as it quite cosy and high (no worry for heavy rain and snakes and biawaks) and we rarely use the racks unless for getting the cats biscuits' container (actually I think the container is good for hiding the cats!)

Oh yeah, she also has a younger sister that looks like herself pregnant, too but not sure. But the doc said she's probably pregnant, too.

so, my questions are:
1. What else should I prepare for my cat coz I don't want her to have her labour anywhere else that we can't monitor her and her kittens?

2. If the younger sister is pregnant, too, what sign should I see? Is it like her breasts are more noticeable? Coz her tummy looks like either a paunch or containing kittens.

3. If it confirms that both cats are pregnant, how should I prepare the nesting place? The only place I can think of the shelves. Mayb I can put the cats on different shelves? FYI, I have asked the doc and she said if both cats are fine together, they can have the same place. But, who knows what mothers' emotion when they are pregnant and in labour, right?

4. As I'm not in the house from about 6.30 a.m till about 6 pm for weekdays, I'm worried that during my absent the cats suddenly pop out their youngs and have cats emergency! So, have any suggestion to lessen my worry?

The link to website that I refer about the cat pregnancy:
http://www.thecatsite.com/Health/96/Pregnancy-and-Delivery-in-Cats.html

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

You're right about them wanting a comfortable, quiet, secure place with lots of privacy. Unfortunately, unlike dogs, cats don't necessarily use the place that you prepare for them. Cats are unpredictable, they might in the end want to nest in your neighbour's house instead. One option, is that you can lock them up in the room, and prepare a few places for them to choose. If you want both cats to nest in the same room, make sure the place has enough hiding place for the other cat to hid incase one of them becomes really protective.

Pregnant cats has a more prominent nipple and mammary gland. And of course, their tummy is noticable too. The website you provided has information on how to detect if your cat is about to give birth. From there, you can prepare for the birth. Cats tend to give birth at night. And remember to keep your vet's number handy.

Hanie · Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 31 Location: KL/KK

Dr Nat, why are cats tend to give birth at night? Comel our cat gave birth one evening when everyone were asleep. She sneaked in under our blanket and the next morning, when we woke up, to MY horror, heard tiny meows in between my legs..

fhinz · Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 295 Location: KL or Miri

oh, i thought the horror is the blood, not the meows, hehe...
yeah, why the cats usually give birth at night? this is good news, though, coz at least i'm at home, :D

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

Well, if you noticed, cats are usually very active at night. Plus at night, they have more privacy to give birth. They don't really like people to kacau them and looking at them giving birth.

imann · Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 39 Location: Nilai

no wonder my fifi gave birth at 5.20am...in my son's school beg :roll:

fhinz · Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 295 Location: KL or Miri

i think ur son can hv a new excuse for not giving his homework - "my cat gave birth on my homework", hehe... that must be really a shock for your family, eh? (hmm, maybe I can put my old school bags for my mom cats..)