Help! What will CelineCat need to give birth?

[JesseandCeline]

All advise welcome! Tia

[cozietoesie]

When is she due, Celine ?

[JesseandCeline]

Ups, sorry for late reply but a lot has happened since excelt the birth. I'd say any day really.

[JesseandCeline]

Except

[Mimigolightly]

Hi -

I always found that my girls wanted somewhere warm and dark to give birth in so I would recommend a large cardboard box on it's side so she can easily get in and out. I would put some old towels in there for the birth as it can get very mucky. I also always had a heat pad to keep the kittens warm and dry while mum is giving birth to the others. On hand, I would have more clean, dry towels, kitchen paper, scissors to cut umbilical cords if you don't think you can tear them yourself, a scale to weigh the kittens, your mummy cat's favourite food to give her energy.

Hope this helps.

[RubbishMantra]

Don't cut the umbilical cord too close to the kitten. Can cause a hernia. And be prepared to shed a tear or two - The 1 time I saw a cat birthing, I got very emotional.

I removed the bottom drawer from a chest, leaving the gap for her to nest in, with lots of towels in it. She sat on my lap, complaining about her labour pains, until she made her way into her 'den'.

Don't let her eat all the placentas. Let her have a couple, for nutrition. Otherwise her instinct will drive her to eat them all, to hide evidence of giving birth from predators. They're chewy (sorry if TMI), so consuming them uses a lot of energy from an already exhausted cat.

Do be mindful not to let her out until you're able to have her neutered, to avoid another unwanted pregnancy.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

My cat gave birth on dd's bed, with dd in it and just did it all herself.
She had four the first time, five the second, now neutered.

[JesseandCeline]

Oh, thank you. Great help. I have done the box, will go and put the towels back in.

Can't wait.

What if I am out whilst she does it? I work in the morning...

When is it ok to touch the kittens? If I have to remove towels, cut the cord etc I assume it is from the word go... She won't reject them, will she?

[BettyCatKitten]

I thought mum cat will cut cord as a matter of course when delivering kittens.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

She should do it all herself so no need to worry.
Unless something goes wrong she will deal with it all. My cat let us handle her kittens on the first day, but I think that's unusual, probably best not to touch them for a few days.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

I didn't go in and grab her tiny kittens btw, but she seemed to want us to see them and stroke them, she kept them in the corner of the lounge and still would come for her cuddles.
We kept two of them.

[catsdogsandbabies]

[http://www.icatcare.org/advice/my-cat-having-kittens]
Everything you need to know

[catsdogsandbabies]

www.icatcare.org/advice/my-cat-having-kittens

[RubbishMantra]

Yes, mum cuts the cord, but good to have some sharp scissors on hand and a couple of artillary forceps (so you can clamp the cord, and cut between the clamped area), just in case of emergency.

[RubbishMantra]

Artery forceps, not artillary! Doh!

[JesseandCeline]

Four freshly born kittens!!!

[IHaveBrilloHair]

Congratulations, you're a cat Granny.
We need photos.

[JesseandCeline]

Five!

Will do once she's settled

[JesseandCeline]

Six! And it was very much like in 101 dalmatians - I had to rub him alive! Hope she's done, she's exhausted.

[JesseandCeline]

She did eat all the placentas, hope she'll be allright and she was very happy for us to give her comfort when pushing.

[JesseandCeline]

Here they all are.

[Mimigolightly]

They look beautiful! Congratulations x