Difference between revisions of "Parturition Behaviour - Cat"

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Latest revision as of 08:33, 11 December 2013

During the last week of pregnancy, the queen seeks a nesting area. This is usually a quiet, undisturbed spot but some house cats will demand more human contact.Mammary development becomes noticable in the last week of pregnancy, especially in maiden cats. Rectal temperature may fall a few days before parturition, but this is not a reliable indicator.

Stage 1

  • Restless
  • Frequently visits the site for kittening
  • Occasionally lies down and will strain unproductively.

Stage 2

  • Straining in lateral recumbency.
  • Rapid expulsion of kittens with a short interval between each birth.
  • Parturition usually complete within a few hours.
  • If the queen is alarmed, this may disrupt the pattern and she may move the kittens to a new area before parturition resumes.
  • Soon after birth the kittens begin to suckle.

Stage 3

  • Placentae usually expelled still attached to the foetus or shortly afterwards.
  • Consumed by the queen.
  • Breakdown of marginal haematoma releases biliverdin, giving the discharge a brownish colour.