Reading the Signs of Labour and Helping Your Cat Through Delivery

In this guide

Most cats manage labour perfectly well on their own, and a calm, hands-off approach is usually the kindest thing you can offer. Still, knowing what a normal delivery looks like helps you spot the rare occasion when your cat genuinely needs your help or a vet's.

Signs that labour is close

• A drop in body temperature to below 37.5 degrees Celsius, roughly 12 to 24 hours before labour begins, if you are tracking it
• Restlessness, pacing and repeated visits to her chosen nesting spot
• Loss of appetite in the final 24 hours
• Vocalising more than usual, sometimes softly, sometimes insistently
• Grooming her belly and hindquarters excessively
• Visible contractions or straining, which marks the true start of active labour

The three stages of labour

Stage one is the quiet build-up, lasting anywhere from six to twelve hours, where the cervix dilates but there is little visible activity beyond restlessness. Stage two is active delivery, where kittens arrive roughly every 30 to 60 minutes, though gaps of up to two hours between kittens are not unusual if she pauses to rest or nurse the ones already born. Stage three is the passing of each placenta, which typically follows within 15 minutes of each kitten.

When to step in

Call your vet immediately if she has been straining hard for more than 20 to 30 minutes without producing a kitten, if more than two to three hours pass between kittens with no sign of distress easing, if you see a greenish discharge before the first kitten arrives, or if she seems exhausted, weak or in obvious pain. A kitten stuck partway out needs prompt professional help rather than home intervention, since pulling incorrectly can injure both mother and kitten.

It is worth locating a 24-hour veterinary hospital in your city well before your cat's due date. Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi all have emergency animal hospitals, but smaller towns may only have vets on call, so keep a number saved rather than searching for one at 2 a.m.

Should you try to stimulate labour?

Home remedies to induce labour are not recommended. If your cat is overdue, meaning more than 65 to 70 days since mating with no sign of labour starting, this is a matter for a vet, who can check on the kittens and decide whether medical induction or a caesarean is needed. Never attempt to induce labour yourself with pressure, massage or medication.

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