home Endocrinology How to milk a cat after giving birth. The most common postpartum complications in cats. What to feed a cat after childbirth

How to milk a cat after giving birth. The most common postpartum complications in cats. What to feed a cat after childbirth

As soon as all the kittens are born, any cat begins the postpartum period. Childbirth takes a lot of strength and energy from the animal, so after everything has passed, the cat usually relaxes and sleeps a lot. From you, as a loving and caring owner, it is required to carry out proper care for the cat after childbirth.

Care and care

To begin with, determine whether all the kittens were born: to do this, gently feel the cat's stomach. If you cannot do this yourself, then be sure to invite a veterinarian. Pay great attention to the condition of the cat in the first days - in the event that something worries you, also contact a specialist. On the first day after giving birth, the cat is unlikely to leave her nest and leave the kittens alone, so provide her with peace and constant access to the toilet and a bowl of water.

It is very important to know that during the postpartum period, a cat and her kittens may experience various complications and ailments - in any case, do not waste precious time and take appropriate measures. If the cat's body temperature begins to rise, painful discharge from the genitals appears, appetite has disappeared, then immediately call the veterinarian at home. A doctor will be needed even when the cat and kittens are very weak and lethargic, and their mucous membranes are covered with a white coating. Moreover, it is the specialist who will be able to fully examine the mother and babies, determine the presence of possible defects, say whether the cat has enough milk, whether there are first signs of mastitis. Another postpartum complication can be convulsions, caused by a sharp calcium deficiency.

A cat is a very brave and selfless mother, she is ready to sacrifice herself for the sake of her kids. The maternal instinct in these animals is developed so strongly that even if she loses her cubs, she will accept other people's kittens as her own and begin to feed them. In history, there are cases when a cat nursed not only other people's kittens, but also puppies, chicks, rats, rabbits. Do not be surprised if your once affectionate and gentle pet suddenly starts to treat you aggressively and wary - she just protects her kittens. At first, try to disturb mom and kids less often, put their house in a warm, quiet and secluded place. In this case, you need to call a doctor and, until he comes up, give the cat sweet water or glucose to drink.

For several days after giving birth, kittens continuously suck milk and, if they are full and healthy, then sleep, huddled in a tight lump. When babies squeak and crawl around the house, something is bothering them. When you hear a kitten squeak, immediately look into their house - perhaps the baby just crawled away from his brothers and sisters and froze, but at the same time, the squeak can be a sign that the cat has little milk or something hurts the kitten. An inexperienced cat regards the situation with squeaking kittens as dangerous and tries to quickly move them to a more suitable place. Do not allow this, as in the bustle it can crush the kids.
In order to avoid such situations, provide the newly-made mother and her cubs with complete peace. In no case do not show newborn kittens to strangers, do not take them out of the house, do not disturb them once again.

Nutrition Features

Immediately after the birth is over, the cat can be offered water, but not milk. The number of meals should increase to 5 times a day. In this case, the food should be light and low-fat. If suddenly the cat categorically does not want to leave the house even in order to eat, go to meet her - bring a bowl of food directly to the nest.

Since serious changes and restructurings have taken place in the mother cat's body, she needs a lot of vitamins. Do not forget to give the cat a few drops of fish oil per day, be sure to give calcium, phosphates (bone meal).

As soon as the cat is weaned from the last kitten she fed, you need to stop giving her liquid for 8-12 hours.

Kitten care

On average, from 3 to 10 kittens can be born in an ordinary cat. Naturally, the more babies were born, the harder it is for a cat to take care of them and feed them. In this case, the owner will have to actively connect. Remember that it is impossible to take away kittens from a nursing cat, because this can lead to the onset of an inflammatory process in the mammary glands. At first, it is better to keep kittens in a semi-dark place, since bright light may well cause cataracts. The eyes of babies open after 1.5-2 weeks (for Sphynx kittens - after 3-4 days, and some babies are born with open eyes). As soon as the kittens' eyes are opened, they see very poorly - vision returns to normal in the next 10 days. If you notice that the eyes (or at least one eye) have not opened by the 20th day, then wipe them with a cotton pad dipped in freshly brewed tea. If this does not help, then consult a doctor who will perform a simple operation. Babies begin to hear as early as 10 days after their birth.

It is important that the mother cat takes care of all the kittens, licks everyone and be sure to feed them. It happens that one kid remains the so-called outcast - the cat simply refuses him, in this case you will have to feed and care for the kitten yourself.

The birth is over, and you admire your proud pet and her numerous offspring with emotion ... Alas, it's too early to relax. Any breeder with experience knows that only the behavior of a cat after childbirth can promptly indicate some health problems either for the mother herself or for her cubs.

If everything is in order with the animal after childbirth, it will certainly take care of the offspring that have been born: the cat’s task is to remove the remains of the placenta from the kittens, lick them and push them in the direction of the nipples.

First, your pet carefully licks her babies, primarily freeing their eyes and nose from the mucus that got there during childbirth. After that, the animal takes the umbilical cord into its mouth and, chewing it (at the same time, the umbilical cord is effectively crushed), gnaws it. In addition, "experienced" women in labor carefully lick the umbilical region: saliva that has entered the wound, rich in antibacterial substances, prevents the development of inflammation.

Finally, the cat carefully and diligently licks the anal area of each kitten individually. She does this for the effective discharge of the original feces. If the kids are not too "smart", your the pet will definitely push them towards the nipples. Interestingly, breeders have long made a simple and logical conclusion: kittens that “without prodding” accurately determine the direction to “milk fountains” with 100% probability grow up to be the largest and physically strong.

However, after the first birth, this rule does not always work: a young mother is so dumbfounded by what is happening that she can spin and jump all over the basket. Where can the kittens figure out in which direction to crawl!

Note that cats constantly nurse babies for about an hour or two from the moment the latter is born. Since their eyes begin to open somewhere towards the end of the first week, the mother specifically lies sideways to her babies so that they can always find nipples with milk. If the pet shows restless behavior and cannot calm down, lay it down by force.

After about two weeks, the cat no longer “indulges” the cubs so much, but lies down for feeding only in those cases when they start poking at her stomach all at once.
Starting from the age of four or five weeks, when long and sharp teeth erupt in the offspring, the mother increasingly refuses to feed them and runs away, sometimes hissing indignantly.
By eight weeks, kittens can be completely weaned and finally transferred to "adult" food.

Be sure to watch whether the cat licks the genital area of newborn kittens: for about three days, the instincts that promote the natural emptying of the intestines and bladder do not work in babies, and therefore the mother must cause these processes artificially.

And the unpleasant duty falls on her to eat all the excreted feces and urine (natural expediency - so that there is no smell around the lair). However, such care in practice often lasts much longer than three days, and the cat stops licking the “intimate” areas of its kittens only after the babies themselves can crawl out of their birthplace.

Please note that the strange behavior of a cat after childbirth, when a newly-made mother refuses to take care of kittens and feed them, is often due to her poor health. It is possible that during childbirth the animal received a serious injury to the internal organs, so we would strongly advise you to show the cat to an experienced veterinarian.

Why is the cat worried and not eating?

In many cases, breeders forget that their pet is bound by a powerful maternal instinct after the birth of kittens. If someone constantly walks and runs near the place where the babies are, she will not leave her offspring for a minute. Moreover, she may well show aggressive behavior, tritely protecting the life and health of the litter. This is a deep instinct.

The cat will not even be able to go to the toilet, which is why there are times when a newly-made mother can do “her own business” right on the carpet in the room. You don’t need to scold her for this: just move the basket with kittens to a secluded, quiet place in the apartment. This will certainly help and stop the "inadequate" behavior of a responsible mother!

What to do if maternal instinct is violated?

If the cat was very exhausted by childbirth, or when the latter were frankly difficult and unsuccessful, your pet may simply not have the strength to care for her offspring. In these cases, the role of "nanny" will have to be tried on by the owner himself.

We have already described above how cats do this in natural conditions. Remember that you need to carry out the "imitation" of maternal care as carefully as possible, without rushing.

So, you need the following:

Gently remove the rest of the membranes, wipe the nose and open the kitten's mouth, then slightly tilt the pet's head down and try to remove all liquid and mucus from there.
If the cat didn't gnaw off the umbilical cord either, measure about two centimeters from the kitten's navel, tie the umbilical cord with silk thread, and then cut the "lace" (of course, over the knot you tied). The stump must be lubricated with alcohol tincture of iodine. Keep in mind that you can’t just cut off the umbilical cord! We have already written that a cat, during its biting off, simultaneously crushes the edges of the organ, which prevents the development of bleeding. If you simply cut off the umbilical canal, the baby may bleed out within minutes.

The most difficult thing is when the kitten does not breathe: perhaps he was born tail first and managed to choke on the fetal waters. If urgent medical attention is not provided to him, the baby may die from suffocation. You can try to remove the liquid using the smallest baby syringe.

Experienced veterinarians advise using a urinary catheter connected to a conventional syringe. In addition, you can massage the kitten's throat, trying to cause a cough (if you're lucky, the animal itself will spit out all that is superfluous).

Rocking is another simple but still quite effective method of resuscitation. To do this, place the kitten in the palm of your hand with its back facing down and pinch its head (gently) between your thumb and forefinger. After that, it is necessary to swing the baby for about five minutes, and the hand should make movements at this time, like a rocking cradle. During motion sickness, fluids that have entered the respiratory tract will fluctuate and irritate the corresponding receptors. The latter stimulate a cough and, if the kitten is lucky, he will spit out everything superfluous.

Keep in mind that it’s not worth depicting a centrifuge with your hand: you definitely won’t do it better for the baby, but it’s quite possible to cause a hemorrhage in the cerebellum.

Your next step is to imitate belly licking (no, you don't really have to lick the kitten's belly). You only need to gently and gently wipe the baby's belly with a soft towel. It is possible that by that time it is already dry, but the point is not to remove fluid and mucus: you will stimulate the skin circulation and respiratory function of the baby.

If the kitten is not breathing at all (meowing or showing other signs of life), in addition to the motion sickness described above, you can try artificial lung ventilation. Alas, in this case, most likely, you will have to do it yourself. And keep in mind that performing artificial respiration without first removing fluid from the animal’s respiratory tract is not only pointless, but also dangerous: you will only drive water deeper into the respiratory organs, which will probably suffocate the kitten.

Remember that the lungs of a person in one breath can hold as much air as the respiratory system of an animal circulates in a minute.

"Mouth-to-mouth" artificial respiration is not necessary: you just need to blow your pet into the mouth. Do this very gently and let the kitten pause to exhale.

Repeat this cycle every three to five seconds. You can also use a regular cocktail straw (it's much more hygienic, among other things). If you are afraid that you will simply “blow away” the baby, you can use more gentle methods:

Firstly, some breeders advise lubricating the tip of the tongue (not your own) with vodka or other strong alcohol.
Secondly, the same effect can be achieved if you firmly and gently click on the tip of the kitten's tongue.

There are various situations in life, some of them are quite sad, for example, complications after the birth of your beloved cat. Do not be afraid, such situations are quite common, because after childbirth the cat's body is weakened, which can lead to infection with various infections.

The most important thing is not to panic, and if your cat has symptoms such as constant fussing, problems with coordination during movement, trembling throughout the body, difficulty breathing and its rapidity, fever, lack of appetite, you should immediately take it to the veterinarian. If you do not attach importance to such symptoms, then a fatal outcome may occur.

In order to prevent all of the above from happening, it is necessary to take preventive measures. Here are the main ones:

Try to protect your pet from drafts.
Change the bedding your cat is on as often as possible.
Your presence during childbirth is required.
During childbirth, count the number of kittens that come out of the womb.

But sometimes even very careful supervision does not save, so you need to be prepared for various complications. The most common postpartum problems in cats are:

Mastitis

This disease is caused by inflammation of the mammary gland in a cat. There can be many different reasons for this, for example, an excess amount of milk and colostrum in a cat, mechanical damage (kittens scratch their nipples with their claws during feeding). Less common causes of this disease are the effect of a false pregnancy or when kittens are taken from a cat too quickly. Due to the presence of such a disease, veterinarians always advise leaving at least one kitten after giving birth to a cat.

The presence of mastitis can be determined by the presence of the following symptoms:

Your pet has a fever.
In the area of the mammary glands, redness and swelling are observed.
When touching the mammary glands, the cat has pain.
The cat is depressed.

To help your pet a little before the veterinarian arrives, you can perform the following procedures:

It is necessary to massage the mammary glands very carefully and gently, using olive oil for lubrication.
Continuing the massaging movements, it is necessary to express milk.
If there are any seals in the area of the mammary glands, then try to gently soften them.
Make sure that the kittens do not apply to the sore nipple until the cat is fully recovered. But do not completely wean the kittens from the cat, it is enough that they suck on healthy nipples.

As a preventive measure, careful care for the condition of the cat's nipples is necessary, in addition, claws are trimmed at the age of 10 days to avoid mechanical damage to kittens.

Regarding the medicines that are prescribed for mastitis, most often it is Lachesis compositum. The drug is injected under the skin 1 or 2 times in a period of time from 24 to 72 hours.

endometritis

This disease is characterized by rotting in the mucous region of the uterus. As a rule, such a disease is observed in cats from about 5 years of age. The disease can appear due to a delay in childbirth, immediately after childbirth due to the penetration of various infections into the uterus, as well as in cats that have never given birth by this age.

The disease is determined by the presence of such symptoms:

Temperature rise, fever.
The cat refuses to eat.
Decrease in the amount of milk in the mammary glands.
There is a purulent smell and cloudy discharge from the genital slit.

Chronic endometritis can lead to infertility in your pet. If you notice these symptoms, you should immediately call your veterinarian. Before his arrival, you can alleviate the suffering of your pet by providing her with complete peace, but at the same time, you should not take her kittens from a cat who has given birth. The genital gap can be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Most often, after determining this diagnosis, the cat is prescribed a course of antibiotics. Do not think that this disease will go away by itself, because the cat can fall into a coma or even die.

pyometra

This disease is well known today because it is very difficult to cure. This disease is characterized by the presence of pus in the uterus, while the cervical canal is closed. In case of accumulation of a large amount of pus, the walls of the uterus may not withstand and burst, and the pus will enter the abdominal cavity.

Symptoms are as follows:

The cat's condition is rapidly deteriorating.
Vomiting is present.
Lack of appetite.
The abdomen begins to increase in volume.
The cat is thirsty, she begins to drink water in large quantities.
The coat becomes stiffer and duller.

It is worth noting that this disease cannot be cured at home. Be sure to show the cat to the veterinarian, as untimely treatment can lead to the death of the animal.

Dangerous period in her life, because. during childbirth, a cat can easily catch an infection or get injured.

Cat after childbirth: possible problems

. Cat has greenish or reddish discharge for 2-3 weeks after giving birth

Greenish and reddish discharge in a cat after childbirth is the norm, if not accompanied by fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Otherwise, you should consult a doctor.

. The cat breathes frequently after giving birth

If the cat often breathes immediately after birth, and this condition lasts no more than 5-10 minutes, then everything is in order. Otherwise, you should consult a doctor.

. Cat has diarrhea and/or vomiting after giving birth

Diarrhea and vomiting after childbirth in a cat is a sign that the cat has eaten too much afterbirth. Everything should pass within 24-48 hours. Otherwise, you should consult a doctor.

. Cat constipated after giving birth

If the cat has constipation after childbirth, then, as always, in such cases, it is necessary to give the pet vaseline or olive oil. If stools do not appear within 24 hours, you should consult a doctor.

. cat peeing blood after giving birth

As a rule, the owners only think that the cat pees blood after giving birth, in fact, the discharge from the vulva gets on the filler or mixes with urine. There is nothing to worry about if an alarming symptom is fixed within 2-3 days after childbirth, but if the discharge has stopped, and the cat continues to urinate with blood and her urination is painful, you should consult a doctor.

. Lactation disorders in cats

Lactation in cats is caused by sucking kittens, experienced cats themselves push kittens towards themselves, and the owner should attach cubs to inexperienced ones. If one of the nipples is retracted, then it must be massaged, and then the most active kitten should be attached to it.

Primiparous cats and cats with large litters may not have enough milk, then the kittens will have to be fed with a special mixture.

At the same time, there is no need to worry about a lack of milk in a cat if the kittens do not squeak and are steadily gaining weight. It is worth noting that milk rushes to the nipples during feeding and is not constantly in them, and the peak of milk production occurs on days 7-9, so it is almost impossible to check the presence of milk in a cat by pressing on the nipples.

A lactating cat should continue to be fed kitten food or food for pregnant and lactating cats.

. The cat has milk

If the kittens died in nature or immediately after them, or were born dead, and the cat's mammary glands still swell and milk is produced, then you should not worry, as a rule, the milk disappears by itself. To speed up this process, you need to not water the cat for 12 hours and do not feed 24-48 or switch to a low-protein diet (use castrated food / increase the amount of vegetables and cereals; stop using dairy products). Games with a cat will also help - being carried away, she will forget about kittens.

If the mammary glands are painful to the touch, and the cat is worried and other signs of the onset appear, then we recommend contacting a veterinarian, the doctor in this case usually prescribes special preparations: lactostop, halostop or mastometrin. However, they should only be used as directed by a veterinarian!

So that the cessation of lactation is not painful, it is necessary to distribute kittens no earlier than 1-1.5 months, and it is best to do this gradually with a break of 2-3 days between kittens.

. Your cat has too thick or yellowish or bad-smelling milk

Most likely, the milk is infected, the kittens need to be urgently transferred to artificial feeding, and the cat should be taken to the veterinarian.

. The cat inaccurately lies down in its place and crushes the kittens

If a cat literally crushes kittens with its body, the owner will have to monitor the actions of the cat and shift it and the kittens within 1-2 weeks, while the kittens are small.

. The cat does not follow the toilet of kittens

In the first days of life of kittens, the cat must lick off their waste products from them. If the cat does not do this, it is recommended to grease the kittens' bottoms with butter. If after that the cat ignores its duties, then the owner will have to do everything.

. The cat leaves the kittens

The cat does not have to sit next to the kittens around the clock. If the nest is warm enough, even newborn kittens can be left alone for several hours. It is enough that the cat feeds them on time, and the kittens do not squeak and sleep peacefully in the nest. If the cat leaves the kittens for too long, see the next paragraph.

. The cat refuses kittens

If the cat refuses kittens, it is necessary to check whether she has milk, to determine whether the cat has after childbirth, to examine the kittens for any abnormalities, to provide the cat and kittens with peace and quiet. If your cat has complications after childbirth, contact your doctor immediately.

In the event that the cat has no complications, and the kittens are healthy, but your pet still refuses her children, then, alas, you will have to replace the mother with the kittens. What needs to be done, see our article "The cat abandoned the kittens". However, if the cat is sick, then her owner will still take care of the kittens and feed them.

Cat after childbirth: complications

. Acute metritis in cats

Acute metritis in cats is an inflammation of the walls of the uterus.

Causes of acute metritis in cats after childbirth: unsanitary conditions, previous vaginitis, retention of the placenta in the uterus or birth canal, retention of a dead fetus in the uterus or birth canal,.

Signs of acute metritis in cats after childbirth: thick, pasty red-green discharge from the vulva (2-7 days after birth), depression, lack of appetite, fever, neglect of kittens, restlessness and death of kittens

Prevention of acute metritis in cats after childbirth: sometimes the delayed placenta partially protrudes from the cat's birth canal, then it can be carefully pulled out on its own, observing sterility.

Treatment of acute metritis in cats after childbirth: IMMEDIATELY take the cat to the doctor, transfer the kittens to artificial feeding.

. Eclampsia or tetany, milk fever in cats

Eclampsia in cats- this is an acute toxicosis caused by calcium leaching from the blood and leading to convulsive seizures.

Causes of eclampsia in cats after childbirth: lack of calcium in the blood due to the large number of fetuses or malnutrition during pregnancy.

Signs of eclampsia in cats after childbirth: rapid breathing, pallor of mucous membranes, restlessness, abandonment of kittens, disorganized movements, convulsions, profuse salivation, fever.

Treatment of eclampsia in cats after childbirth: URGENTLY call a doctor at home, complete rest for the cat, kittens are transferred to artificial feeding (after the mother recovers, kittens can be transferred to natural feeding again).

. Bleeding in cats after childbirth

Bleeding in cats after childbirth- this is the outflow of blood from damaged tissues of the vulva or uterus.

Causes of bleeding in cats after childbirth: ruptures of the uterus and vulva, accumulation of blood in the uterus with various violations of labor activity (multiple pregnancies, narrowness of the birth canal, large size of the fetus, not tightened stitches after caesarean section).

Signs of bleeding in cats: bleeding profusely during childbirth and / or after them for more than 10 minutes.

Treatment of bleeding in a cat after childbirth: Contact your veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. If the external genital organs are damaged, sutures are applied, if the uterus is damaged, sutures can also be applied, but, more often, the uterus is removed.

. Inversion or prolapse of the uterus in cats

Eversion of the uterus in cats- this is a displacement of the uterus, as a result of which it is completely or partially turned outward by the mucous membrane.

Uterine prolapse in cats- this is a displacement of the uterus, as a result of which the organ falls out.

Causes of eversion and prolapse of the uterus in cats: flabbiness of the uterus, dropsy of the uterus, a large number of fetuses, too rapid and dry labor, short umbilical cord of the fetus.

Signs of eversion or prolapse of the uterus in cats: part of the uterus protrudes from the vulva, the cat does not care for kittens, pushes and arches its back, urination and defecation are difficult.

Treatment of uterine eversion or prolapse in cats: Contact your veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. The uterus is sometimes set, but more often removed.

. Subinvolution of the uterus in cats

Subinvolution of the uterus in cats- this is a slow reverse development of the uterus to the state inherent in the organ in a non-pregnant female.

Causes of uterine subinvolution in cats: a large number of fruits, too large fruits, polyhydramnios, disruption of the pituitary gland, malnutrition.

Signs of subinvolution of the uterus in cats: lack of postpartum discharge (lochia), intoxication of cats and kittens,.

Treatment of subinvolution of the uterus in a cat: Contact your veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. Oxytocin and enhanced nutrition are prescribed. Kittens are transferred to artificial feeding.

. Congestive mastitis in cats

Congestive mastitis in cats is an inflammation of the mammary gland caused by an excess of milk.

Causes of congestive mastitis in cats: increased lactation caused by an excess of calcium in the blood and increased feeding.

Signs of congestive mastitis in cats: the mammary gland is painful and hot to the touch, there is no inflammation.

Treatment of congestive mastitis in cats after childbirth: wet and warm compresses on the affected gland, the use of diuretics, pumping milk, reducing portions of food for the cat.

. Acute septic mastitis in cats

Acute septic mastitis in cats is an inflammation of the mammary gland caused by its infection.

Causes of acute septic mastitis in cats:, damage to the nipples by kittens.

Signs of acute septic mastitis in cats: swollen painful breast, blue-red color of the breast, milk with blood or watery or yellowish or curdled, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite.

Childbirth in a cat is a dangerous period in her life, because. during childbirth, she can easily catch an infection or get injured.

The postpartum period for any cat begins immediately after all the kittens were born. During this period, the main thing is an attentive attitude towards her.

Some special precautions should be taken immediately after the birth of kittens. During this period, the cat is usually weakened, sleeps a lot and rarely moves. You must be able to provide her complete peace. First you need to make sure that the cat has given birth to all the kittens. To do this, feel her stomach. If you can't do that, then the best thing to do is to get a veterinarian to check it out. In addition, great attention should be paid to the health and general well-being of the cat. In the event that you notice any changes that seem unusual to you, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.

Possible problems after childbirth in a cat

1. Cat has greenish or reddish discharge for 2-3 weeks after giving birth

Greenish and reddish discharge in a cat after childbirth is the norm, if not accompanied by fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Otherwise, you should consult a doctor.

2. The cat breathes often after giving birth

If the cat often breathes immediately after birth, and this condition lasts no more than 5-10 minutes, then everything is in order. Otherwise, you should consult a doctor.

3. The cat has diarrhea and / or vomiting after childbirth

Diarrhea and vomiting after childbirth in a cat is a sign that the cat has eaten too much afterbirth. Everything should pass within 24-48 hours. Otherwise, you should consult a doctor.

4. The cat has constipation after childbirth

5. Lactation disorders in cats

Anxiety in kittens indicates a lack of milk. It is worth noting that milk flows to the nipples during feeding and is not constantly in them, and the peak of milk production occurs on days 7-9, so it is almost impossible to check the presence of milk in a cat by pressing on the nipples. Examine her nipples, if any nipple is retracted, then it must be massaged and the most active kitten should be attached to it.

6. Your cat has too thick or yellowish or bad-smelling milk.

Most likely, the milk is infected, the kittens need to be urgently transferred to artificial feeding, and the cat should be taken to the veterinarian.

7. The cat refuses kittens

If a cat refuses kittens, it is necessary to check whether she has milk, to determine if the cat has complications after childbirth, to examine the kittens for any abnormalities, to provide the cat and kittens with peace and quiet. If your cat has complications after childbirth, contact your doctor immediately.

1. Acute metritis in cats

Acute metritis in cats is an inflammation of the walls of the uterus.

Causes: unsanitary conditions, previous vaginitis, retention of the placenta in the uterus or birth canal, retention of a dead fetus in the uterus or birth canal, subinvolution of the uterus.

Signs of acute metritis in cats after childbirth: thick, pasty red-green discharge from the vulva (2-7 days after birth), depression, lack of appetite, fever, leaving kittens without care, restlessness and death of kittens.

Prevention of acute metritis in cats after childbirth: sometimes the delayed placenta partially protrudes from the cat's birth canal, then it can be carefully pulled out on its own, observing sterility.

Treatment of acute metritis in cats after childbirth: IMMEDIATELY take the cat to the doctor, transfer the kittens to artificial feeding.

2. Eclampsia or tetany, milk fever in cats

Eclampsia in cats- this is an acute toxicosis caused by the leaching of calcium from the blood and leading to convulsive seizures.

Causes: lack of calcium in the blood due to the large number of fetuses or malnutrition during pregnancy.

Signs: rapid breathing, pallor of mucous membranes, restlessness, abandonment of kittens, disorganized movements, convulsions, profuse salivation, fever.

Treatment: URGENTLY call a doctor at home, complete rest for the cat, kittens are transferred to artificial feeding (after the mother recovers, kittens can be transferred to natural feeding again).

3. Bleeding in cats after childbirth

Bleeding in cats after childbirth- this is the outflow of blood from damaged tissues, in this case, from the vulva or uterus.

Causes: ruptures of the uterus and vulva, accumulation of blood in the uterus with various violations of labor activity; this leads to multiple pregnancies, narrowness of the birth canal, large size of the fetus, not tightened seams after caesarean section.

Signs: Blood flows profusely during and/or after childbirth for more than 10 minutes.

Treatment: Call your veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. If the external genital organs are damaged, sutures are applied, if the uterus is damaged, sutures can also be applied, but, more often, the uterus is removed.

Eversion of the uterus in cats- this is a displacement of the uterus, as a result of which it is completely or partially turned inside out by the mucous membrane.

Uterine prolapse in cats is a displacement of the uterus, as a result of which the organ falls out.

Causes: flabbiness of the uterus, dropsy of the uterus, a large number of fetuses, too rapid and dry labor, short umbilical cord of the fetus.

Signs: part of the uterus protrudes from the vulva, the cat does not care for kittens, pushes and arches its back, urination and defecation are difficult.