how to tell if my cat ate her kittens
All of these situations may give rise to either a temporary delay and necessitate extra efforts by the cat or, at worst, result in complete obstruction. Factors resulting in an inadequate size of the maternal birth canal may include disorders of the maternal skeleton (healed pelvic fractures), the pelvic soft tissues (severe constipation), or the uterus itself (uterine torsion or rupture). In many cases, cats will leave their cats to fend for themselves if they do not form a close bond with them. Presentation indicates which way round the foetus is coming (ie, head or tail first), position indicates which way up it is (ie, rotated or unrotated) and posture indicates the placing of the head and limbs (ie, extended or flexed). Also, look for signs of abdominal pain, which your cat may show by hiding or being unusually aggressive when picked up. These environmental stressors may include loud noises, too much foot traffic in the room where she is staying, and over-manipulation or handling her kittens too soon. Dr. Bartley Harrison is a veterinarian with more than 15 years of professional veterinary experience treating dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, birds, and small mammals, with a specific focus on Emergency Medicine. Image Credit: Pixabay. The kitten must then be eased gently out, alternating the direction of traction, first freeing one side then the other, and always directing the pull slightly downwards. Knowing that mama cats tend to eat their kittens can be very disturbing and you may think that theres something wrong with your cat. Please call your vet! For example, a piece of yarn can get lodged at the base of a cat's tongue. Conclusion. If nothing can be felt at the vulva and the hold-up is evidently further forward, then it is time to send for professional help. If they locate the string during the endoscopy, it can be safely removed. Once it's squared away that your cat is okay it's time to load it up with certain foods that either act like appetite stimulants (liver and tuna, for example), or a high-calorie supplement. These are the common causes of maternal behavior problems: These are the possible treatments for maternal behavior problems: Other mother cat behavioral problems include moving their kittens to other places, rejecting or ignoring her kittens, and biting or becoming otherwise aggressive to people and other pets. These visits give the vet an opportunity to examine your cat when he appears healthy. A purulent, foul-smelling vaginal discharge is present along with fever. If no progress is being made and the kitten is clearly visible, it is up to the breeder to give immediate help since, unless the veterinary surgeon literally lives on the premises, veterinary help may not arrive in time for that particular kitten. Here are the symptoms of these conditions. But the leading end is lodged, so the string can't be pulled along." The effect of this has been shown in a survey of over 700 breeding cats, which found that cats with extremes of conformation, such as Siamese and Persians, experienced much higher levels of dystocia (difficult births), 10 per cent and 7.1 per cent of births being affected respectively, compared to only 2.3 per cent of births being affected in cats with normal conformation. salesforce dynamic forms limitations They should have observed the changes during pregnancy and be aware of the degree of abdominal distension, amount of fluid, and perhaps have a rough idea of the number of kittens to be expected. However, as a charity, we need your support to enable us to keep delivering high quality and up to date information for everyone. A cat suffering from a linear foreign body creates a fairly difficult situation for a veterinarian due to the risk of perforations and the difficulty of removing the string says VIN. Foreign body obstruction is a common and potentially life-threatening condition in veterinary practice. It cannot be too firmly stressed that a normal cat needs no intervention. Check online or call your local Information Services to locate the nearest facility. Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. Obstructive dystocia may occur for many reasons, but probably the most common causes are maternal pelvic malformation following a pelvic fracture, and foetal malpresentation/malposition/malposture. Dr. Laci Schaible, is a small-animal veterinarian and veterinary writer. Various other methods have been used to make the new-born animal gasp. How to tell if your cat ate her kittens? Worse, they sometimes wait until their cat is sick. This medical issue is a uterine infection among mama cats which usually occurs a week after giving birth to their young. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. Keep information about after-hours veterinarians handy in case you need to rush to one. Early cases are well known in the bitch. (See the Linear Foreign Bodies in Cats handout for more information.). Due to the intense pain, mama cats may ignore her kittens or eat them. Is it a normal behavior? Time is critical since an intestinal or stomach obstruction often compromises or cuts the blood supply to these vital tissues. Then, if it is needed, a nudge towards the maternal nipples. The mother may simply abandon the runt as a lost cause but in this situation, you could nurture the runt to full health. The symptoms of miscarriage in your cat may be minor if the pregnancy is in the first several weeks. She will be dull and lethargic, ignore her kittens, refuse food, become polydipsic, and may vomit. Does something seem off? [9] If you notice your cat withdrawing from her kittens completely, like not cleaning or nursing them, contact your vet for the next steps. Usually, the infection is caused by the cat living in unsanitary conditions and having sustained some sort of trauma to the teat or teat canal. And if you live with a cat, you know just how seriously they take that independence! So what can you do to stop or prevent her from eating the kittens? Malcolm Weir, DVM, MSc, MPH; Ernest Ward, DVM; Updated by Amy Panning, DVM. 3 - Take note of your cat's ears and tail. Intussusception results in the vigorous contraction of a specific bowel segment in an effort to move along an object that isn't passing through. This can include floss, sewing thread, and fishing line. Great care must be taken not to inflict contact burns by having the bottle too hot. These latter two conditions can result in major emergencies in late pregnancy or first stage labour. Do cats eat their kittens? Hyperthyroidism in Cats. Observation of the cats own methods show the order in which to imitate them to the best advantage. Foetal malpresentations, malpositions and malpostures may all lead to dystocia. After you arrive, your vet will examine your cat. It's Unhealthy One of the most common reasons a cat will eat one of her kittens is because it is diseased or unhealthy and unlikely to live. 1,821 likes, 83 comments - Karine Aigner (@kaigner) on Instagram: "BOBCAT CHRONICLES: I've kept something from you all; a bit of a secret that I've been meanin." So-called interrupted labour is common enough in the cat to be considered a normal occurrence. Why Is My Cat Throwing Up Clear Liquid and What Can I Do About It? If the string was swallowed more than two to three days ago, or if your cat is clearly ill from the incident, your vet will likely suggest surgery and the sooner it happens, the better. Diagnosis and treatment of the serious dystocia must be in the hands of the veterinary surgeon. About our Ads. Looking for a convenient way to access your pets health records, refill prescriptions, view upcoming appointments and more? Dystocia (difficult birth) can be classified as either maternal or foetal in origin, depending on whether it is caused by problems with the queen or kittens. Some cats become very anxious or even aggressive at the vet. The common causes may be because she gave birth through a caesarian section or because of over-manipulation, where humans touch and hold the newborn kittens frequently. The swing will have the effect of forcing fluids out of the air passages and a further wipe of nose and mouth will clear it away. Occasionally the mother may leave a partially eaten body but this is unusual as they usually avoid leaving a body that might decompose and create a risk for the remaining kittens. In addition, your veterinarian may recommend blood and urine tests to assess whether the obstruction has compromised your cats health or to rule out other causes of vomiting, such as pancreatitis, enteritis, infection, or hormonal diseases (e.g., Addison's disease). Torsion is usually presumed to have occurred during jumping or some violent movement which imparts a swinging motion to the heavily gravid uterus. At that point, she may either reject the kittens or carry out a mercy killing of the kittens all as a result of your handling the kittens too early! Congenital defects that are obvious at the time of birth, and may be involved in dystocia, include: Many serious inherited abnormalities are not obvious at birth and abnormalities of the eyes, hearing and heart fall into this category. This is the cat that requires help. It occurs rarely, where it is seen as an acute post-parturient emergency. Posteriorly presented, or tail-first, kittens occur quite frequently, so much so that this could almost be considered a normal presentation, often causing no delay in birth. Mingus, Lauren. The hysterical dependent cat is obvious enough and easy enough to deal with, provided the necessary tranquilliser is at hand. . Call them while you're on your way to give them a heads-up about the situation. The area needs to be quiet and free from household traffic or other family pets. Head to your vet's office promptly. Pre-Labor. A rejected kitten will be away from the group and clearly ignored by the mother. A mama cats mammary glands become infected and this could be life-threatening for her babies since the infection can be passed on to them during nursing. Do All Cats Shed? Antibiotics should ideally be chosen according to culture and sensitivity. Some cat experts consider it to be a "thumbs up" in cat lingo . Many cats do better in a familiar environment. This can also be achieved using a Jackson cat urinary catheter attached to a 5-10ml syringe. Your vet will be able to ascertain the cause and prescribe treatment where necessary. A separation during the first few weeks can create anxiety and stress in the mother which may have undesired consequences. Cornell Feline Health Center. Sometimes, mama cats encounter health and mental issues, especially after the birth of their young. It is speculated that male feral cats may be eating their own kittens to limit or manage the size of the feral colony, maybe exerting dominance on the colony or may have accidentally mistaken the kittens for prey items. Cats are notorious for ingesting thread, wool, paper, rubber bands, plant materials, and small toys. It has been suggested that very small or very large litters may result respectively in inadequate or excessive uterine distension, and that this may result in primary inertia. Credit: Azami Adiputera, Shutterstock. Her appetite will probably be poor and a brownish vaginal discharge may be seen. Never ignore obvious signs of illness. Joints at birth are very incomplete structures and most apparent double-jointedness or rotation of limbs right themselves by the time the kitten is really becoming mobile. Your veterinarian will provide detailed diagnostic and treatment plans and an accurate prognosis based on your pet's condition. When in doubt, contact your vet for advice. All our advice is freely accessible to everyone, wherever you are in the world. Be prepared for them to ask to anesthetize your pet; this allows them to completely examine the oral cavity, including underneath the tongue. The reason why this condition can cause so much damage is due to the way it can cause an intestinal obstruction says Manhattan Cat Specialists. It is also recommended to wait until 12 weeks of age . Are any of the kittens struggling or smaller than the others? Annual veterinary exams are essential for cats. Hepatic Lipidosis in Cats (Fatty Liver Syndrome in Cats). Other male cats who are not the father of the kittens may be prone to dispatching the kittens as a way to bring the mother back into heat so that they can mate with the female and create their own kittens. Cats that eat their kittens are not crazy kitties, devil cats, or psychopaths they are responding naturally to an issue in their environment or with their litter. If an abscess is present, the cat will become anorexic, dull and feverish, and in addition to pain and swelling in the gland, a pointing, or purplish area of fluid pressure from the accumulation of pus will be seen. Vomiting is the most common sign that your cat has eaten string. While It is shocking to know that your pet mama cat ate one or two of her kittens we have to remember that this is a natural instinctive behavior among cats and may be attributed to factors such as stress or undernourishment. Try spreading its food out on a cookie sheet or place objects that are too large to eat inside your cat's food bowl. Generally, however, you will see noticeable signs of a miscarriage. While some of these techniques may work, a more reliable treatment is the application of a drop of doxapram to the underside of the kittens tongue. In the wild, this instinct can protect them from predators or other cats that might be a threat. Home care can include pain medicine and antibiotics to give your cat, in addition to a food that is easily digestible such as Hill's Prescription Diet i/d. This resting stage may last up to 24 or even 36 hours, after which straining recommences and the remainder of the litter is born quite normally and easily. Feeling from the outside around the perineal area under the tail will indicate if a kitten is already through the pelvis, and a view of nose or feet and tail at the vulva indicates that birth must be imminent if the kitten is to live. It comprises a stroking, rubbing movement with a clean towel. She's Breathing Heavily. While many authors believe that problems in parturition (birth) are rare in the cat, others feel that with the progression of selective breeding these problems are becoming more common. Mama cats suffer from this condition as a result of low calcium levels. Cats may to eat their kittens typically if they are deformed, stillborn, or have birth defects. Examination will show a raised temperature and palpation through the abdominal wall will disclose a thickened lumpy area of womb containing the membranes. After obtaining a thorough medical history, your veterinarian will perform a careful physical examination. 1 - Feel their belly. The good midwife is essentially a good and unobtrusive observer until trouble occurs. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. The affected cat is markedly and vocally distressed, crying constantly and demanding attention. It happens when kittens move from mother's milk to solid food. They love to investigate new sights, smells, and tastes. Already have a myVCA account? An additional consideration is that the rejected kitten may well be a defective kitten (mother may know best) in which case hand rearing will not be successful. Hold the hind-legs above the hocks, ease gently to alternate sides, and if progress is not made with the aid of a strain or two on the cats part, try gentle rotation through a few degrees before continuing the easing-out process alternating the direction of pull. To prevent the mama cat from eating her young, its best to separate them for the time being and consult the vet on the right medication and treatment for the mama cats condition. Normally, warmth would be obtained by direct body contact with the mother and conserved by the maternal choice of an enclosed kittening bed. These abnormalities will also require treatment if any clinical signs are related to an underlying condition or if diagnostic testing indicates compromised organ systems. Why do cats eat their kittens? As a result, the string can tighten and further exacerbate the risk of the intestines perforating (piercing a hole in the intestines). Log in 24/7 to access your pets health care information. It is important to understand the timeline of development and skills required for independence in order to ensure that kittens are able to thrive in the wild. Early detection might mean you and your vet can take action before the illness becomes serious. 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