Perhaps Prissy, the young maid in Gone With the Wind said it best; “I don know nuthin’ bout birthin babies!” Most cat lovers feel a sense of anticipation, excitement and confusion when it comes to an expectant queen about to deliver.
What do you do if something (heaven forbid) goes wrong during the birthing process? How do you assist a stray cat you barely know in giving birth?
It bears mentioning that queens have been having kittens on their own for centuries. If you doubt that fact, next time you walk around your neighborhood, count all the stray cats you see.
Outside strays don’t seek comfort when they look for a nest. They look for a dark, quiet and secure place (under a house or porch) or deep in a thicket appears to be the customary nest of choice. There are usually two or three emergency exits near the nest in case of danger.
But this time, your heart got the best of you and you have trapped or captured this pregnant queen and are waiting for the birthing while trying to gain her trust. You have to move carefully as she doesn’t know you, and confinement can add to the stress of a cat about ready to deliver, feeding her on a regular schedule daily will help to alleviate some of that stress.
Just in case, before the kittens arrive you should have on hand:
*Plenty of dry, clean soft rags (to wrap kittens in or to dry them off)
*A heating pad- pet pad is best (to provide warmth for the newborns and the queen)
*A pair of blunt scissors (to cut the umbilical cord if the queen doesn’t chew it)
*Bottle of Rubbing Alcohol (to wash your hands with inbetween kittens)
*Dental floss or strong thread (to tie the cord)
*Iodine to place on the end of the cord to prevent infection.
*Surgical gloves
*Birthing box already lined with soft rags or towels (use light colored towels to help spot problems quickly.
*Small flashlight (most kittens are born at night and queens prefer low light when in labor)
*Infant bulb syringe (used to clear the kittens mouth and throat)
*Telephone and your vet’s number in case of emergency.
*A second smaller box lined with towels in case mom rejects one, or all of the kittens
*Small nursing bottles or feeding syringes and kitten formula (with colostrum) already mixed up just in case.
If left on her own, the queen would likely choose her nest in your sock drawer, under your bed or in a remote place. To help her feel comfortable put her in a room away from house traffic that is dark and quiet. Provide her several “nests” within this room. Cardboard boxes make great dens. If there is a closet, clear the floor and put the box inside. Let her choose where she wants to give birth, this will prevent her from moving the kittens after they are born. Just be sure that they are out of drafts. Most mothers instinctively know to avoid cold spots.
Most of the time, the queen will deliver her kittens without problems. Your best move would be to get your queen checked by a vet during her pregnancy. This way you will have a general idea when the queen is going to deliver and how many kittens she will likely have. If she has been mated with more than one tomcat (typical for stray cats) when the first litter is ready, ALL the kittens will be pushed out. This results in runts, underweight kittens and sometimes even stillborns. This is why it is so important to get females spayed before they reach 6 months old; (the time of their first heat cycle). If you spay your females and you still want kittens- you can adopt one from a local shelter. Then it won’t matter that you don’t know “nuthin bout birthin babies,” because you know something about saving a life.
Speaking of life- four kittens who should have never hit the ground are still hanging on and fighting distemper- the others sadly have passed on to a much better place.