Any cat midwives? Water broke at 9am.

[Festivito]

Molly Molone Ashcroft (a calico of course), came a misguided teenager and before she could be spade, well, today her water broke 7-8 hours ago. There is no money for vets. She dotes on me constantly and I must remain within petting distance or she yowls at ten-second intervals following me until I return my hand to her in her box.

How long should it take from the time the water breaks? She is not dialated enough to push anything through. A small sack the size of three BB's protruded this morning, that broke, and fluid came out wetting her box-bedding.

She's happy as can be, as long as I pet her, hour after hour after hour.

Any responses welcome. I'd better get back to petting.

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Never done this myself

But as long as you keep her comfortable and check on her, she'll be ok.

Let us know how it all turns out.

[Elad]

2. I'm not sure about time between the water breaking and birth

But I did live through a cat litter birth several years ago. Be VERY careful that she is in a dark, warm area. Turn off all lights nearby. Newborn kittens can be blinded by bright light, and don't try and handle the kittens until they're a couple weeks old.

Good luck!

[ronnykmarshall]

3. This might help

http://cats.about.com/cs/pregnancybirth/a/pregnancybirth_3.htm

[Another Bill C.]

4. When zero-hour comes

she'll probably start scouting the area for a dark, secluded place. After she's comfortable, she'll handle the birth quite well by herself.

[Roon]

5. It can take up to two days

Let us know how things are going!

[flamingyouth]

6. If I recall, she should be birthing sometime soon

My cat had kittens back in 1978. Her water broke right before I went to school at 9 a.m., and she finally finished about 9 p.m., after having four kittens. Once she started, they came pretty quickly, one after the other.

Good luck! And get that girl spayed when she is ready. :hi:

[Bertha Venation]

7. How wonderful!!

Just love her. You don't have to stay with her that much unless she demands it.

From http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-catbirth.htm

Giving birth - Dr. Bruce Fogle DVM

*Problems are rare
*Do not fuss with your cat when she's giving birth
*Monitor her activities during birth

Feline birth is usually uncomplicated. In her chosen, secluded, warm den , the mother-to-be digs at the surface, often purring rhythmically. Soon her breathing quickens and contractions begin. Once contractions occur every 30 seconds, delivery is imminent. About 70% of kittens are born in a diving, head-and-front-feet-first position.

If it looks like she's in any distress, call a vet... if it's taking a long time between kittens, call a vet. Otherwise just be supportive.

She may need help removing the membrane but it is doubtful. IF she needs help, wear latex gloves or wash your hands very well in HOT water w/ antibacterial soap. Let her eat the membrane, she's supposed to. Don't handle the kittens at all for the first few days after that point.

Good luck! Don't panic... she knows what to do.

Molly Malone... great name, love that song.

[Bertha Venation]

8. ...and I'm glad you're in Michigan

otherwise I'd be asking if you need help fostering the kittens, and Mrs. V. would kill me.

[ronnykmarshall]

10. Why do I see you getting in the car

and driving up to Michigan right now?

[Bertha Venation]

16. I say this in a spirit of true love and sisterhood:

Shut up, Ronny. :bonk:
:pals:

[ronnykmarshall]

17. Ok, my love!!

:loveya:

[Bertha Venation]

18. I hope you know I only said that because

you have me nailed. That's me to a T. I did, in fact, go to Mapquest to see how long a drive it is. :eyes:

[SoCalDem]

9. Mother nature will tell her what to do..

If you do end up helping her. just remove the kitten from the sac and cut the cord.. Let her wash them and clean them up..

if they do not breathe right away, cradle them in your hands (head towards your fingers) and move your hands up and down with their head down.. raise and lower your hands.. gravity will help the fluid drain from them ..or rub them vigorusly with a towel..


You could call the vet.. they won;t charge you for a phone call..

When I found my newborn kittens all over the yard, my vet did not charge me at all, and he weighed them and checked them every week..(I had to bottle feed all 5 of them )

Good luck :):)

[SoCalDem]

11. another suggestion

put her in a box with towels scrunched up in it.. cover it partially so she has some privacy.. even though you are "family", they have an instinct to "hide"..and she may even move them to a closet or under something once they are born..

Put her in a secluded place that is quiet and out of the way.

[juajen]

12. If she is not in pain or trying to push,

she might be ok. You have to watch for breech births. If she is trying to have one and you do not see the head, which comes out first, you need help. If you cannot gently change the kitten's direction, your cat might not be able to deliver the kitten. Then it's a dead cat or the vet. The cat would most likely show you that she is in distress and trying to deliver. Be there in case she can't figure out what to do. Most of the time, the cat will deliver ok even if she is a novice. Sounds like she just needs reassurance from you right now. See if any of your friends have ever delivered kittens and get them to help. This can be very easy or can get difficult. Also, the kittens might not all deliver timely. IOW, they could be hours apart or minutes. Make sure you give her liquids, either water or low-fat milk, to keep her strength up. We also give our birthing cat a special treat, maybe canned cat food or a small amount of tuna, or whatever your cat really likes but doesn't get often. Good luck!

If this hasn't helped, you might try checking out the internet for into.

[SoCalDem]

13. Hereare a few good sites with lots of info

http://www.hdw-inc.com/delivery.htm


this one requires a visitor registration
http://www.showcatsonline.com/s_birthing.shtml

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. 'Tastrophe wanted me to help her...

She staked out a cabinet where she wanted to give birth, and I emptied it out and lined it with newspapers and put a rag towel down for her in case she wanted something plush. She didn't go for the towel. I just stayed near and petted her while she had her contractions...made sure she had fresh water, and that it didn't spill. When she was ready to push, she had a tough time, because the first kitten's head was enormous! She lay on her side and pushed her hind legs against my hand while her back was braced against the wall of the cabinet, and little Sonic was born.

Enjoy the new babies! :-)

[Festivito]

15. Wow! First there was no response, then 8 became 12 at download.

Thank you all. Molly is fine, happily purring, head on my leg as I lie here and type. Her box is under a table in the other room in a dark enough spot to birth kittens. A very social cat. And, she just loves me.

Since 5am this morning she attached herself to me more closely than ever before. I had the box readied days ago and had to move it next to my chair where I could sit and pet her around 9am. Moving my hand away was not allowed. After an hour she allowed me to be there just within petting distance. My 91-year-old quad mother is three feet from her box, but, my arms not being long enough to reach her while hovering over mom deserved loud demanding unrelenting meows. By 2pm I could feed mom a little with only a little outrage shown. Mom had to survive on one Ensure this morning, but, she gladly defers to the cat's condition and is full of Cottage Cheeze, peaches, and half a peanut butter sandwich sending her into a deep afternoon nap.

About 4 pm Molly started to find dark spaces to sit. That's when I moved her box under the table, she loves it. Now she seems happy to sit beside me while I type meowing every few minutes, changing position. She must be feeling ready again, she sniffed the keyboard they deftly bit my wrist. I'll be ready for a quick move if needed. That two-minute emergence diminished, opps, by the time I write this it has returned. ... she's heading to her box, I'll return later.

Thanks.

[nini]

20. Any news? are the babies here?

I hope all went well.

[Loonman]

19. Spade?

Is that when you hit 'em with a shovel?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

21. Do you have grandkitties yet?

Hope all's well! :-)

[geniph]

22. All kittens are born in the wee sma' hours

it's a rule. So you're probably got a bit of a wait ahead of you. Don't count on getting any sleep tonight.

;-)

Baby tickens! I miss having baby tickens...but I must be a responsible pet owner and not produce more bunkies. But I do love watching little bunkies grow.

[burrowowl]

23. Any kittens yet?

or are you busy just being amazed?

[Festivito]

24. THANK TO ALL, the doctor should call me soon.

Has two kittens that I have not seen. I get to call the vet in a few minutes.

Molly went through 28, yes twenty-eight, hours of labor and I'm quite certain she did not sleep the entire time plus at least the four prior hours she knew it was coming. She obviously needed a c-section or to put her down, and, God love him, the right-wing brother came through with cash.

I slept on the floor with Molly the whole night my hand in her box, she could not stand to have me not in her sight, meowing incessantly until she would see my legs, or, following me wherever until I returned within sight of her box. She could leave me; I could not leave her. She took to sitting in her litter box, so I changed it all to clean clumping clay and she would go back and forth, dropping litter and cling-ons the whole way.

I've called the doctor, she's talking with a client, but, wants to talk to me before I come to get her. I hope nothing is wrong.

After 2-3 hours there is generally less hope for the kittens. But, I guess I can see why that is not in any of the literature. I surmise that the one kitten that died blocked the exit.

Catching up on my sleep, deluged with other things to do, and a lot of floor space to clean, I thank you all for you concern. When I write again, I'll try being more coherent and terse.

[SoCalDem]

25. Oh ..you poor dear .. Usually cats have no problems (Except persians)

Persians have been inbred so much that the kittens heads are often too big..

Thank goodness your brother came through for you and your baby..

:grouphug:

[Festivito]

26. Two nursing girl-kittens under the living room table.

Grey yelped. Mistook a staple for a teat. They've already opened mu-ma's c-section once. Calico feeds better.

Not enough mu-ma's milk, so I might hand feed with a syringe.

Very protective, but, she let me take care of them while she re-investigated her haunts.

Thanks for all the kind and helpful comments. Except Loonman, who might call a loon a loon.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

27. As I read this, Tails said "MROWWww!"

I suspect it translates to "Congrats!" :bounce:

[SoCalDem]

28. Petsmart sells a complete kit with a teensy bottle

the long skinny nipples work better.. You might have to trim them down a bit at first..

Molly's incision will heal quickly and hopefully they will all be fine.. You might try to snip the nails so they do not claw into her incision..They start to grow nails pretty fast..

My hands and arms were ragged from them "kneading" me while I bottle fed my babies..

[Bertha Venation]

29. Congratulations, Festivito! You're a . . . a . . .

kitten fosterer-er! Yippee!
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[ronnykmarshall]

30. Good work!

Let's us know from time to time about the babies.

Pictures!! We want pictures!

[silverlib]

31. Great job!

Congratulation!