The Birthing Process in Queens

Summary

Being informed about what to expect when a cat gives birth helps you recognize what is normal and what is not, when to sit back and when to intervene. Read about different scenarios that may occur.

The Queen Birth Process

Stages of the Queen Birth Process

It’s common for queens to give birth in the middle of the night, but the process can happen at any time. There are three stages in the birthing process, known as labor.

Stage 1. Labor may start as much as 12 hours before delivery with uterine contractions, which may or may not be observable. Birthing signs detailed in Care for a Pregnant Queen Prior to Delivery may be observed during this stage.
Stage 2. Uterine contractions become stronger and more frequent and may be observed as wave-like, abdominal motions. During this stage, kittens may be born every five to 20 minutes, although there can be more or less time between births.
Stage 3. Typically, kittens are born within a semi-translucent birthing sac. After each kitten is born, the queen licks and breaks the membrane sac covering the kitten’s face to stimulate breathing. Then, the queen licks the rest of the kitten’s body to clean and dry it. The kitten’s umbilical cord, which attaches to a placenta, is visible at this point. The placenta will not be visible if it has not yet been delivered. At this point, the queen may bite through the umbilical cord, detaching the kitten from the placenta, or she may wait until the placenta is delivered to bite through the cord. The queen may eat the placenta, which is perfectly acceptable. In nature, it is an important source of nutrition and allows her to remain in the nest rather than leaving to find food right away; it also enables her to clean the nest and minimize attracting predators.

If you are present at the birth, count the placentas. There should be one placenta for each kitten. If the placenta count does not match the kitten count, a placenta may be retained within the queen. She may still deliver it; however, seek veterinary care if she does not deliver it within a day. A placenta that remains within the queen can cause serious, possibly life-threatening, medical problems.

If you were not present during the entire birthing process, thoroughly search the room and bedding for hidden kittens. Sometimes, the queen will move kittens or deliver them in different locations. Similarly, kittens may move themselves to other locations.

During the birthing process, give the queen space and quiet to minimize stress, which can delay the birthing process. Be especially mindful of this if young children are present.

Strong contractions may stop and then start again later. Interrupted labor, even as long as a day or two later, may occur from stress.

When and How to Help a Queen with Delivery

Usually the queen manages the entire birthing process herself; however, you may need to assist if:

The queen is straining or having strong contractions for more than 30 minutes without delivering a kitten. Call a veterinary professional or your shelter/rescue contact if you are working with one.
A kitten starts to emerge but slides back in as the contraction ends. In this instance, when the kitten begins to emerge with the next contraction, hold the kitten in the slippery membrane sac with a piece of gauze in your gloved hand. If the membrane sac is broken, try to grasp the kitten’s body under a limb to prevent the body from slipping back into the birth canal when the contraction stops. Avoid holding the head, and never pull on any part of the kitten. Just keep holding the kitten in place without pulling and wait for further contractions to push the kitten out completely.
There is unusual discharge from the vulva. Normal discharge during delivery is colorless and with a water-like consistency, perhaps containing a tinge of blood or a tinge of green color. If abnormal discharges are observed, e.g., green, black, white, cloudy, mucoid (mucous-like) or foul-smelling, call a veterinary professional or your shelter/rescue contact. Abnormal vulvar discharge could indicate an infection or a dead kitten in the uterus, for example. Such discharge a day or more after delivery may also indicate a retained placenta, although light spotting is normal for a week or more post-labor.
There is excessive bleeding, e.g., more than a tinge of red blood or bleeding from the queen or kitten(s) that does not stop, call a veterinary professional or your shelter/rescue contact.
The queen does not open or remove the membrane sac. She may open it around the head, allowing the kitten to breathe. If she does not within around 20–30 seconds, use your gloved hand and the gauze to open the membrane sac. It will open easily.
A kitten is not breathing. Check the nostrils and back of the mouth for any obstructions (e.g., mucous, fluid). With a gloved hand and gauze, clear any obvious obstruction. Then use the bulb syringe to remove any unseen liquid from the nostrils or the back of the throat. Be sure to push the air out of the bulb syringe before placing it at the nostrils or the back of the throat. Then, release the pressure on the bulb to suck the fluids into the bulb. Do not place the end of the bulb’s tube directly onto the kitten’s skin or membrane area. You want to remove fluid, not suction the kitten’s skin. Another method for clearing airways is to tilt the kitten’s head lower than the body, allowing fluids to drain out of the nostrils and mouth. Swinging kittens is no longer recommended as a safe method to clear the airway. If a kitten is still not breathing, rub vigorously all over the body with a towel for several minutes to stimulate breathing. Administer CPR if trained to do so.
The queen does not sever the umbilical cord. If the placenta has been delivered with the kitten, tie a piece of strong thread or dental floss around the umbilical cord about an inch or two from the kitten’s abdomen. Cut the umbilical cord with sharp, sterilized scissors about a half inch past the knotted thread/floss (between the knotted floss and the placenta; NOT between the kitten’s abdomen and the knotted floss). Using a cotton-tipped swab, apply a few dabs of povidone iodine to the cut end of the kitten’s umbilical cord.
If the placenta has not yet been delivered, tie a second piece of string/floss around the umbilical cord closer to the queen, and then cut the umbilical cord between the two knots (the one closer to the kitten and the other closer to the queen). Cutting between the knots will prevent excessive bleeding when the cord is cut. The portion of the cord still attached to the placenta may retract back into the queen. This remainder of the umbilical cord and placenta should be delivered in the following hours; never pull on the cord. As mentioned above, seek veterinary attention if the placenta is not delivered within a day.
The queen is still having contractions but has stopped pushing. If the queen stops pushing, it may be because she is exhausted, overheated or thirsty. Watch her carefully. Offer her food and water. If the room is hot or she appears to be hot (e.g., with open-mouth breathing, very warm ears or paws), cool down her area, for example, by adjusting the thermostat, opening a window slightly, using a fan directed away from the queen and any kittens who have been born but that will circulate the air. Be careful not to chill any kittens that have been born and provide a heat source for them if necessary.
The queen is still having contractions and has not resumed pushing, contact a veterinarian or foster contact. If you are told to bring the queen in for care, ask if you need to bring any born kittens with you as well and if so, ask if they should be transported in the same carrier as the queen or in a separate carrier. If in a separate carrier, provide a heat source for the kittens and cover the carrier to prevent drafts and possible infectious contamination.
The queen dies during delivery. Undelivered kittens may be saved if you can get her to a veterinarian quickly to perform a C-section, although this depends on many factors, including placenta attachment, veterinary availability and time until surgery. Place the queen in a box or carrier with a heat source and do not disturb further. Proceed to the veterinary help immediately.