Birth & Delivery

Articles about the birth and delivery of kittens

Titles marked with a red asterisk * are for ShowCatsOnline.com members only.

• * Acupuncture Can Save Your Newborn
  This article teaches you an acupuncture technique you can easily learn which may save the life of your newborn kitten!
  
  December 2016


• * Bedding For Birthing Boxes
  Choose the perfect bedding for your cat`s birthing box.
  
  May 2020


• * Birth Of A Kitten
  This photo essay shows a typical birth of a kitten from the first contraction through delivery.
  
  March 2022


• * Birth of A Kitten (Breech Presentation)
  While most kittens are born head first, it is also quite common for a kitten to be born tail first, a position called a breech birth. This article includes a series of photos showing a kitten being born breech....
  
  August 2021


• * Birthing Box
  There are a variety of possibilities available to use as a cat's birthing box, ranging from a humble cardboard box to a custom built delivery bed. This article looks at the pros and cons of the best options available...
  
  May 2020


• * Birthing Problems in Cats
  Learn which birthing behavior falls within the range of 'normal' . . . and more importantly learn the warning signs that a queen needs help to deliver her kittens safely.
  
  January 2021


• * Birthing Process Made Easy
  Whether you are a newbie or an old hand at delivering kittens, this is an excellent article for refining your mid-wife-ing skills. It covers everything from before delivery of the kittens, cutting the cord, right up to the kittens snuggling up to their mother's tummy.
  
  April 2017


• * Birthing Protocol For Newborn Kittens
  With kitten season in full swing this is an ideal time to refresh your birthing routine by reviewing the protocol to follow during the birth of each kitten. A good birthing protocol will maximize every kitten's chance of being born healthy and minimize possible problems in the first fragile weeks of its life . . .
  
  June 2021


• * Cannibalism
  Few things are as upsetting and frightening to a breeder than a mother cat who inexplicably eats her newborns.
  
  September 2017


• * Clearing A Newborn Kitten's Airway
  A kitten may have amniotic fluids in its mouth and nose directly at its birth. It is essential that these fluids are cleared from the newborn's airways in order for it to breathe. Learn the techniques to clear the kitten's airways through a series of photos and instructions.
  
  April 2022


• * Cutting The Umbilical Cord - When To Do It
  There is increasing evidence that it may be better to wait longer before cutting a newborn kitten's umbilical cord. Learn why...
  
  August 2020


• * Cutting The Umbilical Cord Of A Newborn Kitten
  Cutting the cord of a newborn is the most common `surgery` the cat breeder is called upon to perform. Enjoy a step-by-step description of the process, complete with photographs.
  
  March 2020


• * Difficult Birth
  A Siamese breeder shares her experience with the delivery of a very large kitten...
  
  December 2017


• * Dopram / Doxapram
  A few drops of this medication may save your newborn kitten by helping it take its first breath.
  
  September 2021


• Grace`s Litter
  A breeder shares the experience of her first litter...
  
  June 2004


• * Interrupted Labor
  How long should it take a female cat to delivery her kittens? It varies. Some cats experience an "interrupted labor" in which they deliver part of a litter before resting for a considerable time before delivering the next kitten. Learn what to do when a queen stops her labor but obviously has kittens still to come.
  
  September 2020


• Kitten Due Date Calculator
  Simply type in the date of the first day your queen was bred, and her Due Date will be calculated for you.
  
  March 2011


• * Kitten Play Pen
  Converting a used baby play pen into a terrific, easy care kitten corral.
  
  June 2018


• * Mummified Fetus Case History
  Follow the experience of one breeder as her Persian cat, Star, gives birth to five healthy kittens - and two mummified fetuses ...
  
  October 2020


• * Mummified Fetus In Cats
  While not common, occasionally a pregnant cat may give birth to a mummified fetus along with fully developed, healthy kittens. Learn more about this condition and its causes ...
  
  October 2020


• * New Mother Cats Making Mistakes
  Have you ever considered how confusing and frightening it must be to a cat the first time she gives birth? She has only her instincts to tell her what to do. Sometimes, instinct is not enough to prevent the new mom from making a fatal mistake...
  
  October 2020


• * Newborn Loses Tail
  This is the story of what happened when a mother cat who accidentally bit off her newborn's tail...
  
  January 2020


• * Oxytocin
  Learn when to use oxytocin to help your pregnant queen deliver her kittens safely.
  
  February 2020


• * Palpating For Kittens
  Learn how to palpate your queen to confirm pregnancy and count kittens. This is a useful skill for the modern cat breeder to develop!
  
  October 2020


• * Post-Delivery Queen
  Knowing what is `normal` behavior in a female cat following the delivery of her kittens is important in determining whether or not to intervene in her care of her newborn litter...
  
  June 2019


• * Premature Births
  Discover the cause of premature births, plus the signs and prognosis of various degrees of premature birth in kittens.
  
  September 2018


• * Retained Placenta
  If your cat gives birth and retains a placenta, it can be a serious risk to her health.
  
  September 2017


• * Reviving A Newborn Kitten
  One of the critical skills every breeder should learn is the various techniques for helping a newborn kitten to start breathing.
  
  January 2018


• * Scales For Weighing Kittens
  When you purchase a scale, there are certain features you need to consider in making a wise purchase.
  
  September 2021


• * Should You Help Your Cat Give Birth?
  Do you believe in helping your pregnant queen deliver her kittens? Or do you mostly leave her alone to have her babies? Learn the pros and cons of each style. . .
  
  February 2018


• * Stuck Kitten
  When a pregnant queen goes into labor, if a kitten becomes lodged in her birth canal, it may be necessary for the cat breeder to step in. This article describes the techniques you can use to help a "stuck" kitten be born safely.
  
  October 2020


• * Swinging A Newborn Kitten To Clear Its Airway
  You can use centrifugal force to remove fluids from the mouth nose, throat or even the lungs of a newborn kitten. Learn this simple technique that may save the life of a kitten...
  
  February 2017


• * Three Stages of Labor
  By understanding the three stages of labor you will know better what to expect when your cat delivers her kittens...
  
  November 2020


• * Uterine Inertia
  Uterine inertia is the failure of the muscles of the queen's uterus to deliver her kittens. Recognizing the problem quickly and providing knowledgeable care will give the queen the best chance of delivering live healthy babies. Learn more . . .
  
  August 2016


• * What Should You Have In Your Birthing Kit?
  Some breeders have the bare basics in their birthing kit. Look in someone else`s `kit` and they are almost prepared to perform a Caesarian section. What should you have in a your birthing kit?
  
  December 2020


• * What To Do If The Placenta Does Not Accompany The Birth Of The Kitten
  Do you know what to when a kitten is born but remains attached to its placenta and the placenta is still inside the mother? Learn the best way to handle this situation.
  
  March 2018


• * X-ray Your Pregnant Cat To Count Kittens
  There are several advantages to knowing exactly how many kittens your pregnant cat is expecting. Learn how to count kittens on an x-ray...
  
  February 2022