Whether you’ve experienced it, know someone who has, or you’ve seen it on just about every sitcom in existence, you know what it means when a pregnant woman’s water breaks—it’s baby time!
If you’re waiting for some kittens to arrive, you’ll want to know what to look out for. Will there be contractions, panting, screaming, and crying? Can you see the sign of their waters breaking? The answers were yes, sometimes, no, not usually, and not exactly.
So, what does cat water breaking look like? For everything you need to know about what happens when a cat gives birth, keep reading.
What Waters Are Broken?
For humans, when the fetus is ready to leave the safety of the womb, the cervix dilates, causing the mucus plug blocking the entrance to the uterus to dislodge, and the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby rushes out, if sometimes cautious, sometimes all over your shoes.
In cats, there are often multiple fetuses in the womb—usually four to eight, each contained within their own amniotic sac. Most of the time, the kitten is delivered still inside the sac, so no amniotic fluid comes out before birth. If the sac breaks before the kitten is delivered, you may notice a very small amount of fluid coming from the mother cat’s (queen’s) vulva, but usually, she will clean it up before you have a chance to notice. anything. The fluid may be clear, greenish, or pink. Brown, red, yellow, or black discharge means it’s time to call the vet.
So, if you’re expecting a big flood of fluid to let you know the kittens are on their way, you’re in for a disappointment. This is why cats often sneak in and deliver their kittens without anyone noticing.
What Are the Signs My Cat Has Given Birth?
If we can’t rely on falling water to let us know that a cat is in labor (also called a queen), what other signs can we watch for? Cats are notoriously secretive when it comes to giving birth, and usually, the first sign we see is the sudden presence of kittens by her side! Most cats prefer to give birth privately, so don’t get too fixated on the idea of touching her paw in the process.
If you want to know if kittens are on the way, here are some signs you can watch for:
- Nesting: This may include gathering blankets, getting comfortable in a bed you have provided, or finding yourself in a comfortable spot of his choosing.
- Pacing: As the kittens shift into position and contractions begin, your queen may rush and look uncomfortable or unwell.
- Vocalizing: For cats, birth is usually a relatively quiet event, but some cats may let out a few little meows, squeaks, or squawks if things get uncomfortable, especially if it’s their first litter. .
- licking: One of the main reasons you see little in the way of discharge before, during, or after the birth of the kittens is that the queen is focused on cleaning her vagina, kittens, and any fluids. This is an evolved survival technique, which minimizes the smell of newborn kittens that can attract predators.
Before a kitten appears, you will usually see a “bubble” appear at the entrance to the vagina. This is the amniotic sac. The queen will usually take care of breaking the sac and crushing the umbilical cord, so only intervene if there is a problem.
How Long Will Construction Take?
Once the queen starts, expect to see a kitten at least every hour, but it’s not uncommon for delivery to be faster than this. It’s also not uncommon for there to be a pause in delivery so the queen can rest, and many cat owners wake up the next morning to find two or three more kittens!
What Are the Signs of Problems?
In most cases, cats will deliver their kittens very effortlessly and without human intervention.
However, there is always the possibility of error, so here are some red flags to watch out for:
- Lots of licking, but no kittens after 1 to 2 hours
- Brown, black, red, or yellow discharge
- Dizziness in the queen or kitten
- Lack of interest in kittens or not allowing them to suckle
- Crying, pacing, and agitation—a little is normal, but if it continues, there’s probably something wrong
Make sure your vet is on speed dial in case you have any concerns or need advice.
Should I Let My Cat Have Kittens?
It is a common myth and misconception that female cats must be “allowed” to have a litter before they are spayed. There is absolutely no scientific evidence to support this notion, which derives from the anthropomorphic (applying human emotional experiences to other animals) idea that all women should experience motherhood.
If you are thinking about breeding your cat, consider these statements first:
- Tom cats have prickly genitalia, so intercourse is unlikely to be a pleasurable experience for females. Males also often latch on to the female’s teeth to prevent them from getting away.
- Kittens are weaned when they are 6 to 8 weeks old, and female cats usually do not allow their offspring to hang around much longer than this.
- There are approximately 30 to 40 million cats in animal shelters across the US.
This is why our advice is to spay and neuter your cat. However, if you really want to allow your cat to have a litter, please make sure you find loving homes for all the kittens. However, by bringing more kittens into the world, you take away the opportunity for those who already have kittens to be adopted.
Final Thoughts
If you’re waiting to see your pregnant cat’s water, chances are you’re going to be disappointed. Although they technically experience a similar process to what is seen in humans, the amount of “water” is so small that it is unlikely to be missed, if the queen has not cleaned herself before you have a chance to see it. Additionally, most kittens are born still inside the amniotic sac, so the fluid is contained until after birth.
It’s important to be aware of what is and isn’t normal when it comes to queens, but even more important is knowing that there are millions of cats in desperate need of homes, and adding to that population unnecessarily is one thing. which should be carefully considered. . So, it’s usually best to spay or neuter your cats.
Featured Image Credit: Boy67, Shutterstock
