My Cat Won’t Cut The Umbilical Cord
As long as the placenta is still inside the mother cat, there’s not much you can do about this yourself. Give the cat time to get to the umbilical cord and don’t rush it.
When to Intervene: If the placenta has been expelled for more than a few minutes and the mother cat doesn’t appear to be cleaning the kitten from the amniotic sac, you should step in. Gently strip the kitten from the amniotic sac . Use sterile forceps to clamp the cord about an inch away from the kitten’s body or tie a tight knot there with non-waxed dental floss. Only then cut the umbilical cord using a sterile pair of scissors. The cutting point should be about half an inch away from the clamps or knot, between them and the placenta. Remember to never do this if the placenta is still inside the mother.
Abnormalities Of The First Stage
Abnormalities of the first stage can include all forms of primary inertia, and occasional rare disorders, such as torsion or rupture of the uterus. These latter two conditions can result in major emergencies in late pregnancy or first stage labour. Torsion implies a twisting of the uterus, cutting off its blood supply, and making delivery of the contained foetus or foetuses impossible. It also causes what is quite obviously an acute emergency with a very ill and shocked cat. Torsion is usually presumed to have occurred during jumping or some violent movement which imparts a swinging motion to the heavily gravid uterus. Rupture is more usually the result of an accidental blow from a vehicle or other violent trauma, or can occur from violent straining upon a complete obstruction. A rupture occurring at the time of parturition will give rise to the same signs of acute emergency as a torsion. It has been known for rupture to occur early in pregnancy and for the foetus to continue to develop outside the uterus in the maternal abdominal cavity. In these cases, the placenta becomes attached to one of the abdominal organs but it is unusual for such foetuses to develop to full term and, of course, impossible for them to be born without an abdominal operation.
Abnormalities Of The Second Stage
Secondary inertia arises after prolonged second-stage labour, and may be associated with obstructive dystocia, muscle fatigue, or excessive pain. Obstructive dystocia may occur for many reasons, but probably the most common causes are maternal pelvic malformation following a pelvic fracture, and foetal malpresentation/malposition/malposture. Interrupted labour, as already described, is definitely not an inertia, as the cat is manifestly normal, labour recommences normally, and kittens are born alive and normal. An important point of difference between the two is that secondary inertia follows previous difficulty or delay and the cat is often restless and exhausted.
Foetal malpresentations, malpositions and malpostures may all lead to dystocia. Presentation indicates which way round the foetus is coming , position indicates which way up it is and posture indicates the placing of the head and limbs . Some people believe that foetal malpresentation in cats rarely causes dystocia, except when combined with other problems such as poor cervical relaxation or relative foetal oversize. However, others have found foetal malpresentation to be the most common cause of dystocia of foetal origin, while relative foetal oversize was very rare.
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How To Observe Momma Cats Behavior After Giving Birth
One of the first things you should do is to observe the mothers behavior.
Ideally, your momma cat will already be comfortable with you and should trust your ability to care for her. If this is the case, then its most likely that the mother will not be anxious or worrisome if you approach her and her babies.
Approach your new mommy cat slowly to observe her reaction before attempting to handle her kittens.
Is Sedum Poisonous To Cats
When it comes to succulents and cats, you can never be too careful. The last thing you want is for something growing in your garden or that you bring into your home to make your furry friend sick or worse.
Luckily Sedum is one of the succulents that arent poisonous to cats. However, some succulents are toxic not only to your feline but also to dogs and horses.
In this article, well discuss what Sedum is and what its used for, and then well examine the succulents youll want to avoid and a few others that are safe to have around your animals.
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Runny Nose In Cats Causes
Why does my cat have a runny nose? This is a common question among cat as well as other pet owners. The most common cause of nasal discharge in cats is an infection in the upper respiratory system. However, there are many other causes for this including the following:
Cat Flu
This involves an infection in the respiratory system of your kitten. It can be caused by either bacteria or viruses. With this you will notice the cat exhibiting cold like symptoms such as eye discharge, sneezing and a runny nose.
Nasal Polyps
Although this is rare in cats, it can happen. Polyps are growths of a benign nature that results from the mucus membrane. These can make a cat have a runny nose.
Infections
These may be either viral or fungal. They will leave the nasal cavity lining casing irritation and a running nose.
Tumors
Facial swelling as well as nasal malignant tumors are a common cause of nasal drainage.
Trauma
Trauma around the head and face can see your cat experiencing nasal drainage. The trauma may be accidental or self imposed through head pressing by the cat.
Foreign Bodies
When there are foreign objects in the nasal cavity, your pet will recognize it and in a bid to fight it a cat runny nose will be experienced. In most cases, such situations will only have one side of the nostril running.
Allergic Reactions
Cleft Palate
With this, there is a congenital deformity in the cat. It occurs when the mouth roof fails to fuse during the development of the kitten.
Pneumonia
Will A Cat Reject Her Kittens If You Touch Them
It highly depends on the individual cat and her personality. Some cats may be shy and withdrawn around people and may not appreciate being touched, while others may be more open and playful.
Ultimately, it is up to the cats owners to decide whether they feel comfortable interacting with their cats in this way.
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What Problems Can Arise During Birth
Dystocia or difficult birth can occur. You should be concerned and immediately seek veterinary attention if:
- Twenty minutes of intense labor does not produce a kitten.
- Ten minutes of intense labor does not expel a kitten that can be seen at the queen’s vulva.
- Gentle pulling on a trapped fetus causes the queen pain.
- The queen is depressed, lethargic, or has a fever .
- The queen loses fresh blood from her vulva for more than ten minutes.
Cat Has Stuffy Nose And Wont Eat
A stuffy nose is terrible for a cat but even worse is when the cat will not eat. Where this happens, keep treating the cat for the case of stuffiness. Be gentle on the pet and if they keep on not eating act. For kittens, you can opt for milk replacements and use a feeding syringe. Most powders last long and when the cat is fed every four to six hours it will last them long enough.
In most cases these come with manufacturer directions to guide through the feeding process. In case your pet is experiencing diarrhea and not eating at the same time, you need to visit your vet as soon as possible.
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How Often Does A Female Cat Come Into Heat
The female cat or queen comes into ‘heat’ or estrus many times each year. Each heat generally lasts several days. If she is not bred, she will return to heat in one to three weeks. Cats are seasonally polyestrus, which means that they have multiple estrus or heat cycles during the breeding season.
“In the Northern Hemisphere, female cats usually cycle from January or February until the late fall.”
The breeding season for cats varies according to geographic and environmental factors such as the number of daylight hours and temperature. In the Northern Hemisphere, female cats usually cycle from January or February until the late fall. Cats living in more tropical regions closer to the equator or that live mainly indoors may cycle all year round.
When Can I Touch My Cats Newborn Kittens
At first, its usually best to avoid touching your cats newborn kittens if you can. She will be very protective over them and might not want you touching, so its best to respect her space unless something is wrong. Sometimes, handling newborns too much can cause their mother to reject them.
After a couple of weeks, if your cat is happy for you to do so, you might be able to gently stroke the new kittens. Its important to start socialising the kittens from week two and some of this will involve handling them.
If your cat is struggling, unwell or has rejected any of her kittens, you may need to intervene and handle them sooner. You should do so very gently and look at our hand-rearing guide for more advice.
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Gauging The Severity Of Feline Sinus Symptoms
If your cats nasal discharge is clear, then most likely his sinuscongestion symptoms are the result of allergies or minor infection. Ifthe nasal discharge becomes thick and cloudy, then hes probablysuffering from a serious bacterial infection. If there is blood in thedischarge, then he requires emergency medical treatment. He may havesustained an injury, there may be something lodged in his sinuses or hemay be suffering from a very severe infection.
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How Sensitive Are A Cats Whiskers
Due to the dense concentration of blood vessels and nerves in their follicles, whiskers are more sensitive than normal hair.
In actuality, a cats whiskers are just as delicate as a persons fingertips. As a result, whereas a person feels the world with their fingers, cats feel it with their faces.
So, while the fur and skin of a cat do perform the basic function of tactility and touch, the whiskers of a cat tend to be better at perception through tactile means than normal hair or fur.
All in all, even though a cats whiskers do not have nerves or nerve endings in them, the very fact that they originate from the follicles of a cats face, which are jam-packed with neurons, makes whisker strands pretty sensitive.
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What Happens If My Cat Has Trouble Delivering Her Kittens
Although most cats deliver without need for human assistance, problems may arise which require professional veterinary assistance. Seek immediate assistance if any of the following occur:
- Twenty minutes of intense labor occur without delivery of a kitten.
- A fluid-filled bubble becomes visible at the vaginal opening.
- The mother experiences sudden depression or marked lethargy.
- The mother’s rectal temperature exceeds 103ºF .
Difficulty delivering is called dystocia and may be managed with or without surgery. The condition of the mother, size of the litter, and size of the kittens are factors used in making that decision.
Why Does My Cat Eat Other Cats Fur
There are a few reasons why your cat may be eating other cats fur. One reason could be that your cat is lacking nutrients in its diet and is trying to supplement its intake by eating fur. Another possibility is that your cat is simply bored and is looking for something to do. Cats also groom themselves by licking their fur, so your cat may be trying to groom the other cats by eating their fur. If your cat is eating other cats fur on a regular basis, you should talk to your veterinarian to rule out any underlying health problems and to discuss ways to improve your cats diet or provide it with more stimulating toys and activities.
The cats of cat parents understand how much they like to groom themselves. What happens to my cat when it starts to groom me? There are a number of possible answers to the question. Its also possible to discourage this behavior if you dont like it or its getting out of hand. If your cat bites or chews on your hair during the day, its more likely that its playing with you. You can often tell if your cat wants more attention by watching them chew, eat, lick, or pull your hair. A dogs appetite may be stimulated by licking, eating, or chewing its favorite human hair.
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Abnormalities Of Labour Dystocia
Dystocia can be classified as either maternal or foetal in origin, depending on whether it is caused by problems with the queen or kittens. Dystocia can also be classified according to whether it arises from obstruction of the birth canal or a functional deficiency of the uterine muscle.
Obstructive dystocia is caused by disproportion between the size of the kittens and the maternal birth canal. Factors resulting in an inadequate size of the maternal birth canal may include disorders of the maternal skeleton , the pelvic soft tissues , or the uterus itself . Foetal causes of obstructive dystocia may result from malpresentation, severe foetal malformation , foetal oversize or foetal death.
First Stage Of Kittening
The first stage of kittening lasts up to 36 hours and is usually shorter for queens that have had kittens before.
What to expect:
The second stage of kittening lasts five to thirty minutes for each kitten.
What to expect:
- stronger contractions
- foetal membranes appears briefly at the vulva and bursts. Liquid is usually cleared up by the cat
- active straining starts and the kitten usually comes out head first
- once the head is out, one or two strains from the cat should push out the kitten
- the mother breaks the bag and chews through the cord and licks the kitten. This cleans the kitten and encourages it to breathe
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Can I Move Newborn Kittens
The short answer is that it is usually not advisable to move newborn kittens, as they may be injured in the process. It is better to leave them where they are for now and give them time to grow and develop a strong immune system.
If it is absolutely necessary to move them, it is best to take them to a veterinarian to be examined and evaluated before moving them.
How Soon After Birth Can My Cat Go Outside Again
Newborn kittens need to feed every two to three hours, so its likely your cat wont want to leave them for the first week or so. They also rely on her for protection and warmth, so shell need to stay close to them.
Once the kittens are a little more independent she will be able to go outside again. However, an unneutered female can get pregnant again as soon as two weeks after giving birth while her litter is still reliant on her, so it may be best to try to keep her indoors until the kittens are ready to go to new homes when they are at least eight weeks old.
Wed recommend getting your cat neutered as this will prevent any unwanted litters. Talk to your vet about when is the best time and read our free neutering advice.
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What To Feed Your Pregnant Cat
If you notice signs that your cat may be pregnant and it has been confirmed by your veterinarian, you will need to discuss nutritional needs for your pregnant cat. Now that your cat is eating for two she will need additional nutrients and more of them!
Your veterinary team might recommend switching your cat back to kitten food, which will provide nutritional benefits to her kittens, too. Your cat will need more calories to sustain her kittens, so the general plan may be to increase the amount of food you feed her as your pregnant cat nears her term. However, there will also be less room in her stomach as the kittens grow, so feed her smaller amounts but more often throughout the day.
Drinking lots of water is essential for keeping your pregnant cat hydrated, so you may want to keep a few different water bowls around your home in areas that are easy for her to get to. If your cat has pre-existing health needs, or a sensitive stomach, always check with your vet before making any changes to her food and/or feeding routine.
Keep Pregnant Cats On Safe Flea Preventatives
During pregnancy, its even more important to keep your cat on a safe, vet-approved flea preventative. Always check with your veterinarian to ensure that a specific flea preventative is safe for use in pregnant cats.
Keeping your cat flea-free isnt just for their safety, but for the safety of their kittens. Flea anemia is one of the most common causes of death in young kittens.
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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 vaginas 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 cant 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