Kittens are enthusiastic and always looking forward to experimenting with as many things as possible, so they might accidentally think that scratching is a behavior that everyone can accept as long as they are playing.

But as any cat parent knows, cats can inflict some serious damage on people not only with their teeth but also with their claws. In today’s article, we’re looking at what the right time for trimming your kitten’s nails is and also giving you some safety guidelines.

When is it safe to trim a kitten’s nails?

Everyone recommends trimming a cat’s nails once every two to three weeks (or even earlier), so the best way of going about things when it comes to kittens is to wait for a couple of weeks until they’re a little independent.

When they are born, kittens are mostly dependent on their mothers. It is also not recommended for you to be touching them or the area where the mother cat is nesting (not too often, anyway) so as not to affect their smell and potentially alienate the mother from her offspring.

Even when they are two weeks of age, and they start becoming feisty or playful, if your kittens start scratching you, just leave them be.

First of all, most clippers available for sale these days aren’t really designed for kittens or puppies, so handling them can be challenging. Using a large nail clipper can result in all sorts of injuries, including accidentally cutting a small part of your kitten’s paw pads (also known as toe beans). And that is not an injury you may want to be treating at this age.

In other words, the best piece of advice that we have for you is to wait until the kittens are at least three weeks old.

Trimming a cat’s claws the right way

A kitten needs to be entirely comfortable before you decide to trim their nails. If your pet is feeling agitated for any reason, whether because they’re having the zoomies or something else, things will not go well.

Try to accustom your kitten to laying on their back from when they are very young. You could associate the experience with you giving them a treat or two. Cats are less reluctant to change their position or put up a fight if they trust you and know that you are going to reward them.

If you’ve had cats before, you know that their nails are actually hidden (or retracted), so you will have to use one of your fingers to press on the paw pads or toes to reveal them.

If the kitten is still small, you can use a baby nail clipper (made for humans).

For most kittens, the process is painless and quick enough for everyone involved. Make sure to reward your pet with a delicious snack after you’ve trimmed the nails of each paw, especially if they seem to need more convincing.

Some pet owners believe that they do not have to trim the nails on the feet of their cat’s back legs. It is true that many pets erode those faster because they tend to use them a lot when trying to cover up their poop in the litter box, for example.

Still, they can inflict some amount of damage on your skin if you’re not paying attention. As such, superficial trimming might still be necessary.

How often should you trim a kitten’s nails?

The majority of cats require nail cutting once every two to three weeks. There are some variables depending on how well you’ve completed the procedure the last time around or how fast your pet’s nails actually grow – yes, there are differences from one animal to the next.

Many pet owners prefer trimming their cats’ nails more often rather than going deeper and taking a bigger portion of the claws and, therefore, running the risk of causing a claw hemorrhage.

And while this might be an additional hassle, the fact is that it’s much safer to trim their nails more often but cut a smaller part than to have to cut a big portion of the nail and risk damaging it.

Moreover, once everything’s done, you might see parts of your cat’s claws on your floors here and there. The integrity of the nail is affected by you cutting it, so they might naturally erode faster – therefore making the task of you trimming your pet’s claws less necessary that often.

What to do if things go wrong

There are two main ways in which trimming a kitten’s nails can go wrong. The first would involve you cutting too much of one claw, therefore producing a small hemorrhage at the site. The second would mean you scratching or cutting a part of the paw pad (which we have mentioned in the first part of the article).

In both of these cases, you should make sure that you have some betadine or other type of disinfectant nearby. You can use a cotton pad soaked in betadine to put pressure on the wound for some time. Count to 100 as you are doing so, and then check whether the bleeding has stopped.

If you haven’t produced a serious hemorrhage, the bleeding will stop in 100 or 200 counts. Of course, keeping your kitten restrained during this time can be difficult, especially if they are in pain.

Ask for help if there is another person in the house. If this is your first time trimming your cat’s nails, it won’t hurt to have a helper.

You might think that kittens used to first go into heat when they got to be 1-year-old and now it happens when they’re younger, but that never changed.

Cats can experience their first cycle at different times in their lives and also depending on the solar activity, how warm it is outdoors (or indoors), and subsequently, the time of the year.

In today’s article, we’re looking at everything you should know about heat periods in kittens – their first cycles, how they are likely to behave, and if they are likely to become pregnant.

When do kittens experience their first heat period?

Kittens go into heat for the first time at about six months of age. However, depending on when they were born, this can happen at anything between four and six months of age.

Some cats might go into heat a bit later, especially if it’s the middle of winter and there’s no solar activity whatsoever. It’s generally acknowledged that cats can go into heat from February or March to October or November (in the Northern hemisphere) and the end of August to the beginning of June (in the Southern hemisphere).

So, if you have recently adopted or bought a kitten and they haven’t yet gotten to the age of 4-5 months, you can expect your pet to experience a heat cycle sometime soon.

It might seem that a 6-month-old kitten is too young to become a mother, and there are risks involved with very early pregnancies, but that is just how the breeding of cats works sometimes.

How long does a kitten’s heat last?

The answer to this question is that it actually depends on whether you interfere or not. In the past, people didn’t have any options with regard to their kitten’s heat cycles, which meant that unless the animal found a mate and ended up being pregnant, they would continue to be in heat for a period of up to two weeks.

The reason it is so long is that it can sometimes take time for a cat to find a male to mate with, so she needs to continue releasing specific chemical smells that can attract suitors in that area.

However, these days there are some ways of managing a cat’s heat cycle, mainly by using medication prescribed by a veterinarian. Hormonal control of your cat’s heat is possible, and especially if this is the first time you’re trying to do this, your vet will probably have nothing against giving you the drugs.

These medications are not readily available online because, essentially, they are hormones, so they are considered risky. That is why they have to be prescribed by a veterinary professional.

So, how long does a kitten’s heat last if you give her pills? Usually, the duration of the cycle will be shortened after one or two doses. So, while the heat period should normally last for about 14 days, if you give your cat the medication after the first or second day of heat, she will stop showing symptoms.

Some injectable solutions are capable of delaying the estrus for six months, depending on the dosage.

Why do kittens seem to go into heat all the time?

There are two reasons why this happens. With climate change, the weather has become more unpredictable and generally warmer, which means that cats are getting the signals that they should go into heat earlier in the year.

While it used to be uncommon for kittens to experience a heat cycle sometimes even in March, if the winter was longer, these days, it’s not unusual for them to go into heat in February.

Moreover, they are kept indoors, which means that the weather is always warm for them, so they can go into heat year-round.

The second reason depends on the cat owner. If you consistently put a stop to your cat’s heat cycle using a medication, that could lead to certain hormonal imbalances and the development of follicles on the surface of the cat’s ovary that basically makes her go into heat repeatedly.

Are kittens distressed when they’re in heat?

While the period itself does not cause a cat any unpleasant symptoms (not physiologically, anyway), cat guardians might feel uneasy when they notice that their pets begin vocalizing all the time and generally being very anxious.

Kittens do not experience any pain whatsoever when they are in heat. There are clear changes, especially in terms of their behavior. Many remain awake through the night and continue vocalizing, therefore disturbing their owners’ sleep. Most will experience increased urination and marking, as well as a change in their urine scent.

They might be more affectionate and might also have some vaginal discharge, although the amount is so low that most pet owners don’t even notice it.

In any case, the heat period does not negatively affect a kitten’s health for the duration of the cycle.

Can going into heat be dangerous for cats?

Occasionally, yes. When a cat isn’t spayed, the uterus has a different activity, so if they go into heat and they somehow come in contact with a dangerous microorganism in their nether region, they might develop pyometra.

This is a condition that can be life-threatening, and it only affects intact animals. Spayed cats have zero chances of developing pyometra because there’s no uterus activity that makes it possible for their cervix to open so that they can be receptive to any potential mating.

So, if you were to have just one reason for spaying your kitten, that would have to be pyometra. To make matters worse, most pyometra cases need to be treated using surgery, where both the ovaries and the entirety of the uterus are removed.

Pyometra actually involves the uterus becoming filled with pus – and if your cat’s heat cycle has ended, the cervix is closed, so the pus has no way of getting out of her body.

When can kittens get pregnant?

Their age has nothing to say about the moment they become pregnant. Cats experience ovulation immediately after they begin to mate with a suitor, which means that the likelihood of them not getting pregnant is actually very, very low.

This is one of the reasons why the stray cat population across the globe is relatively high. Responsible cat guardians who know for sure that they do not want their kitten to get pregnant should spay their pet as early as possible (some vets can spay cats when they are 6-months-old).

Weight is a fairly good indication of health in both human and animal newborns. It can be particularly important for a kitten or a puppy that has lost their mother or, for some reason or another, can’t feed by themselves.

Kittens grow very fast during the first twelve weeks of their lives because they have to quickly be prepared to handle the world – and the potential attack of larger predators or other animals they might have to battle for food (at least in the wild).

If you ever find a kitten without a mother and you want to take care of them, the best way of doing so would be to guide your progress based on a kitten weight chart. Read on to find out more!

Kitten weight chart

Naturally, the weight of a kitten is an important factor, but there are lots of other aspects to look for as they grow, such as whether they open their eyes or ears normally if they start looking for food on their own, and how they communicate with the other cats that might share their living space, how they’re ‘going to the bathroom’, and so on.

You can find several guidelines on what the ideal weight of a kitten should be at a specific time during the first twelve weeks of their life:

These are general guidelines, so naturally, there can be differences of up to 50 or even 100 grams for each kitten age. What matters most is how the kitten’s weight progresses during the first one to three weeks of their life. Once they are generally fine after that and you do not have to feed them as often, they’ll start putting on weight with more ease.

Do consider that even when they are 12 weeks of age, kittens aren’t really prepared to fend for themselves.

Think of a situation where your kitten might be left in the woods – would they be able to find food and hide so that they aren’t attacked by other animals? Probably not, at least not yet. An age such as 16 to 20 weeks would be more suitable for that.

When can kittens be underweight?

Kittens can actually be born underweight if their mother was sick during pregnancy or they maybe had no access to enough quality food. Animals that are born with congenital disabilities are also less likely to feed properly, so they always run the risk of becoming underweight.

There’s also the possibility that the queen doesn’t have enough milk for everyone, and if she gave birth to a quite large litter, some of the smaller kittens might not have access to food, as much as they might fight their brothers and sisters.

Additionally, kittens can be orphaned. Their mother might have gotten into an accident while out searching for food, or she might have simply abandoned them. Although quite rare, cases where a mother leaves her kittens can still happen.

During the first week of their life, kittens are entirely dependent on the queen or, if you’re the one caring for them, you. You need to feed a kitten once every two to three hours during the first week of their life, so it involves a high degree of commitment and attention.

Why weighing your kitten matters

Kittens that might have lost their mothers or whose mothers aren’t producing enough milk for all of them need to be weighed on a regular basis – ideally every day.

As you might have noticed from the chart above, kittens tend to put on the most weight during the first few weeks of their life, and this is actually essential for them to experience a healthy development later on.

Weight loss might be a sign of a health condition, whether that be digestive distress, infections, parasites, or anything else, including Fading Kitten Syndrome.

When should you take your kitten to the vet?

It depends on a couple of factors. The first is your kitten’s age. If your kitten is less than 3 weeks of age and you notice a decrease in their weight, veterinary assistance is required almost immediately. Time is of the essence in this case.

If the kitten is older, such as 12-weeks or 16-weeks-old, you might be able to wait for one to two days before taking them to the vet clinic. However, you should base your decision on the symptoms that the kitten shows and whether they are rapidly losing weight either way.

Depending on what condition the kitten might have developed, they might not only be losing weight but also precious fluids. In cats, dehydration is a real problem as they don’t drink a lot of water on their own anyway, so if your kitten starts vomiting or experiencing diarrhea, take them to the vet as soon as possible.

Most kittens can experience an episode of diarrhea every now and then. But when should you be worried and call your vet, and when should you wait for several hours before doing so?

We are answering that question and more in today’s post, so keep on reading!

Why is diarrhea in kittens worrying?

While the causes of diarrhea in kittens can be extremely varied, so at first the exact cause might be practically impossible to tell – especially if you are caring for very young kittens – this health issue can also be life-threatening.

Along with seniors, kittens are among the most sensitive types of cats, especially to dehydration. They do not have a fully developed immune system yet, and if they are younger than 3 months of age, they aren’t equipped with the mechanisms that can help them fight disease properly.

This is our way of telling you that if you notice that your kitten has diarrhea, you should take them to the vet clinic without waiting for something else to happen. Your pet is losing precious fluids in this way, and in cats (and other species, for that matter), dehydration can be fatal.

What causes diarrhea in kittens?

• Dietary causes

Diet errors are at the top of the list when it comes to diarrhea in young cats. People tend to think that cats can drink regular dairy milk without experiencing any health complications, but this rule does not apply to all cats. By the time they are several months of age, most cats develop lactose intolerance, which means that they shouldn’t have any kind of milk.

Table scraps can cause diarrhea due to the various ingredients that might be present in them, whether because of too much salt, too much chili, or any other spices or seasonings.

Switching your kitten to a new type of diet too suddenly can be another possible cause.

• Infections

Both bacterial and viral infections in kittens can be dangerous. We might have previously mentioned the reason for this at the beginning of the article, but the truth is that kittens just can’t cope with the abuse of these germs as well as their adult counterparts.

They can easily lose their life in a matter of several days if they contract Panleukopenia, a highly infectious virus, for example, or if they develop a case of severe food poisoning with a bacterium such as Salmonella.

• Parasites

These are by far the worst because not only do intestinal worms basically deplete your cat’s intestines of food that your pet’s body would otherwise use to provide them with energy and calories, but they also cause severe damage to their organs.

It’s not uncommon for kittens to have diarrhea and expel worms while doing so. Roundworms are usually at the root of the issue as tapeworms are less likely to show up in very young cats, especially if they don’t have any fleas or haven’t contracted them from their mothers.

What other symptoms might you notice?

Diarrhea can be accompanied by other clinical signs, and if you notice any of the following ones, we urge you to get veterinary assistance as soon as possible:

• Vomiting
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Dehydration
• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• The presence of blood in the feces/vomited material
• The kitten’s feces might smell bad (not a general rule)

If your kitten is both vomiting and experiencing diarrhea, they have to be taken to the animal hospital in order for a vet to administer fluids to them, whether intravenously or subcutaneously.

How is diarrhea in kittens diagnosed and treated?

As we previously noted, treating dehydration is an emergency here, and during that time, the vet needs to find out what could be wrong with your cat. They could do a number of tests that can range from typical blood tests (a CBC or blood chemistry) to performing an ultrasound, taking a fecal sample for the feces to be tested and checked for parasites, and more.

The fever can go down with specific antipyretic medication, which the vet can also administer intravenously. The treatment of diarrhea should usually be symptomatic until the exact cause is discovered.

However, if the consequences on your cat’s health are very severe, the veterinarian might choose to administer a broad-spectrum antibiotic just to be on the safe side of things.

Whether your cat has a viral or bacterial infection or a severe parasitic infestation, the antibiotic will be useful in preventing secondary bacterial infections.

Typically, fecal samples are sent out to the lab in order for a microbiologist to find out what bacteria is present in your cat’s ‘bathroom productions’ and what the germs discovered might be sensitive to antibiotic-wise.

There are rapid tests that can be used for various viral infections, whether those involving microorganisms like Rotavirus, Feline Leukemia Virus, FIV, or any other. If your kitten is found to have a viral disease, the treatment will be long and costly, and the prognosis might still be reserved. Some cats never recover, while others remain carriers for the rest of their lives.

Can diarrhea in kittens be prevented?

There are some ways of preventing diarrhea in young cats. For example, you can keep them indoors only for the first few months of their life until you get them vaccinated against highly contagious cat viral diseases.

You can also protect the mother from parasitic infestations by deworming her on a regular basis before she becomes pregnant and also after she’s given birth to the kittens – there are some safe wormers out there that will not affect the offspring through the milk they drink.

As for bacterial infections, they can usually be prevented by maintaining good hygiene around the home.

Sure, caring for kittens can be quite messy, especially in the first weeks of their lives, but we recommend keeping several blankets on hand so that you can change their bedding each time an ‘accident’ happens or clean it as quickly as possible.

Once they’re older than 3 months of age, making sure they are vaccinated and dewormed regularly can prevent them from experiencing severe diarrhea.

If you want to switch your kitten to a new diet, always do so gradually. Cats do not tend to do well with sudden changes, so make sure you replace the old diet with the new one over a period of 5 to 7 weeks (by mixing the old kibble/wet food with the new one).

You have a new kitten in your household – congratulations! Whether this kitten has been adopted from a shelter, given to you by a friend or family member, or is the offspring of one of your cats, your life is about to change! Kittens are energetic, needy infants who can seem really cute when they mew at you throughout the day. At night, however, when you’re trying to sleep, that incessant mewing can become almost intolerable. Here are some ways you can get a kitten to sleep through the night.

How Long Do Kittens Sleep Each Day?

Kittens, like cats, sleep an average of 18 to 20 hours per day. During its first few weeks of life, kittens are still growing and can sleep up to 22 hours per day. If your kitten is sleeping this much during the day, it can seem impossible to get them to sleep at night. It is possible to manage your kitten’s sleep cycle so that at least eight hours of it coincides with yours. Kittens need a routine to encourage them to sleep at night. They will thrive on a schedule. Here are some suggestions:

• Stick to a schedule, every day, no matter what. This means that you can’t have one schedule Monday through Friday and a separate schedule on weekends, because kittens don’t recognize any differences among the days. Make sure that you feed your kitten at the same time every day, scoop the litter box at the same time every day, and schedule playtime at the same time every day. Oh, and, of course, bedtime should be the same time every day. This way, your kitten will learn what to expect and when to expect it.
• Play before bedtime. If you tire your kitten out right before bedtime, this can encourage it to sleep through the night. Kittens love vigorous play, and this will usually wear them out enough so that they can sleep at night.
• Serve your kitten’s dinner close to bedtime. Not right before bedtime, but maybe right before playtime (don’t let your kitten get full then immediately play on a full stomach and get sick). A kitten with a full belly is more likely to sleep through the night.

Where Should My Kitten Sleep?

Your kitten should have its own comfortable place to sleep at night. While it might seem cute to have your kitten sleep with you, it will create a better sleep schedule for your kitten if they have their own sleeping quarters. Buy a comfortable bed with high sides for your kitten, to make them feel secure. If you have a blanket from the shelter or rescue, put that in the bed so that your kitten has a familiar scent. Fuzzier pillows, blankets and cushions are perfect as they will simulate the feeling of Mom being there for them. You can even include a few quiet toys that your kitten can play with by themselves if they wake up during the night.

Your kitten’s bed should be close to its litter box, but not too close – you don’t want the smell keeping them awake at night. Also place a scratching post near the bed so that your kitten can stretch upon awakening. This might keep them from immediately waking you up once they are awake.

Make sure your kitten’s bed is also close to food and water bowls, just in case they get hungry or thirsty during the night.

Some kittens like to have a soft night light near their bed too, to encourage sleep. Owners often play cat-friendly, soft music to encourage their kittens to sleep.

Realize that you might have to keep your kitten’s bed in another room, and close the door to your bedroom, while you are trying to train your cat to sleep through the night. Don’t open it when your kitten meows, no matter how heart-wrenching that meow sounds. You need to train your kitten to learn to sleep, without you, through the night. You might even need to place a towel rolled up at the bottom of your bedroom door so that your kitten doesn’t try to scratch the door open and hurt itself. Stay strong and don’t cave in to the mewing and cuteness when your kitten tries to get you to open that door!

Human pregnancy tests are different from those that you might tend to think are available for animals. In humans, the tests basically make an assessment of a hormone present in the potential mother’s urine to then come up with a possible answer of yes or no.

Unfortunately, this is not available for cats right now. You can’t buy a pregnancy test for cats from the drugstore or order it online. You will have to take your cat to the animal hospital for a correct diagnosis of pregnancy instead.

How can a vet tell if a cat is pregnant?

There are several different ways, but what we do have to note is that all of them are particularly effective once two to three weeks following conception have passed.

And the reason for that is that the main ways a vet can diagnose a cat’s pregnancy are through palpating her abdomen, performing an imaging test like an ultrasound, for example, and listening to the future kittens’ little hearts.

In the first stages of the development of a pregnancy, most of these methods are going to be ineffective.

There’s also the option of the veterinarian recommending a test that measures the amount of relaxin in a cat’s urine. However, this test can only be considered relevant once almost a month following conception has passed. To make matters even more difficult, this test is often unreliable and can’t detect the appropriate amount of relaxin in a pet’s urine even when more than a month of the pregnancy has gone by.

So most of the time, it is a combination of the tests that are available and can be used at the practice and the experience that the veterinarian has acquired.

Listening to the heartbeats of the little ones with a stethoscope is more often than not practical, and it’s also the cheapest examination method you have at your disposal. You are not going to pay for a potentially expensive ultrasonographic exam or have your cat take the urine relaxin test. Your vet will be able to do this easily and conveniently.

What signs of cat pregnancy can you notice at home?

Whether this is a pregnancy you have planned because maybe you want your cat to have a litter of kittens before spaying her, or you haven’t planned for it, and she got pregnant after coming in contact with a male outdoors, at one point, you’re going to start noticing some symptoms.

The biggest issue with cat pregnancies is that they tend to be short (they last only for two months or up to 65 days, in any case), and they aren’t very specific at first.

Once the cat crosses into the second half of her term, you will notice significant changes in her behavior. Up to that point, you might not notice anything out of the ordinary other than your pet being more affectionate or her having an increased appetite for food.

If 25 to 30 days following copulation have gone by, you’ll start noticing other signs, such as changes in your cat’s habits and nesting behaviors and her nipples will become slightly larger and more evident.

One thing we would like to note is that not every cat is the same, which is why some might show some signs that they are pregnant, whereas, in others, you might remain completely oblivious until they give birth.

They will usually seek out a safe place about a week before the event takes place, and this could be somewhere warm and covered, such as one of your drawers, your dressing, or under your bed.

Can you use a human pregnancy test for your cat?

The short answer to this question is no. First of all, a pregnancy test for humans will be customized for this species, meaning that it will detect the presence of the HCG hormone only if it surpasses a certain level.

So even if your cat’s body were to secrete HCG, which is impossible, it would remain undetectable simply because the concentration would not even resemble the one that an adult woman has in her urine.

And finally, a good reason why human tests don’t work for cats is the fact that HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, so it is extremely species-specific.

HCG coming from actual pregnant women can be used in veterinary medicine for inducing or hastening ovulation in reproductive mares.

So, your best bet would be to have your cat diagnosed by a veterinarian at the animal hospital. However, if your cat has not been spayed and if she came in contact with a fertile male, it’s safe to assume that she became pregnant – and that’s because cats have instantaneous ovulation, meaning that it occurs right at the moment of copulation. Unless your cat has some sort of fertility health problem, she will become a mother.

Raising kittens can be more or less challenging, especially if you do not have any prior experience. In today’s post, we’re providing kitten trivia to answers many of the questions about kittens you might have.

When do kittens open their eyes?

It can vary from animal to the next, but in most cases, kittens open their eyes when they reach the age of eight to twelve days. By the time two weeks have passed from their birth, they should have opened their eyes.

How to tell kittens’ genders?

It can be difficult to tell whether one’s male and another’s female, especially since their genitalia are so small. This is why many pet owners often get the gender wrong. However, most male cats have somewhat visible testicles on the outside of their bodies, just under the tail, whereas that area is completely flat for females.

As the kittens age, their reproductive features become more obvious, so when they reach several months of age, you’ll be able to tell their gender with ease.

How many kittens can a cat have?

The number of kittens in a litter can vary, but some cats can have just one, whereas others can give birth to as many as twelve.

When can kittens leave their mom?

When they reach the age of at least two months, it’s safe to assume that kittens can be separated from their mothers. The longer you wait, the better, as the mom can also teach the kittens how to interact with the world around them.

When can kittens eat dry food?

Once one full month has passed since they were born, you can try to diversify their diet by including kibble into it, not just canned food varieties.

When do kittens start walking?

They will try to walk almost as early as they are born, but they will become steadier on their legs around the age of 3 weeks. By the time they reach 5 weeks, they’ll be able to hold their balance and become more confident walking.

When do kittens lose their baby teeth?

The first teeth will grow when they reach two to four weeks of age, but they will be replaced when the kittens get to be around 3.5 to 4 months old.

How much do kittens sleep?

Like all cats, kittens sleep a minimum of 15 to 16 hours per day. However, they will snooze for longer when they are younger as their body needs to grow and also recover from whatever possibilities they have spent their energy on. So during the first weeks of their life, they might sleep for 20 to 22 hours.

What shots do kittens need?

When the kittens get to 6 to 8 weeks of age, they will require 3 main vaccines – against Calicivirus, Panleukopenia (also known as cat distemper), and Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis. Your vet will also recommend a shot against rabies for cats that are at least 2 to 3 months old. There are other non-core vaccines that might be necessary, depending on your kitten’s living circumstances.

How to cut a kitten’s nails?

Use a cat nail trimmer for the purpose just to be on the safe side of things. Cut only the clear portion of the nail, where you do not see a vessel in the middle. If the kitten’s nails are darker in color, cut a small part, check the center of the nail, and once you see a dark spot (which would be the ending of a vessel), stop.

When do kitten’s eyes change color?

It can vary from one kitten to the other, but generally, by the time they’ve reached 8 weeks of age, they will have changed eye color.

How to get rid of fleas on kittens?

Stick to your vet’s recommendation for this. Lots of flea medications, shampoos, and spot-on solutions are only suitable for adults, and they can be so toxic that they might put the kitten’s health in danger. Safe options include using a flea comb, giving the kittens a bath, or using spot-on solutions specifically made for your kitten’s weight and age.

Why do kittens bite?

Since they are predators, they will try to ‘hunt down’ your fingers. Most kittens bite because they are playing, so they are not necessarily trying to attack you.

Why do kittens purr?

Purring can be a sign of happiness, such as when you are petting the kitten. But it can also be a way of soothing themselves. Some purring frequencies can actually heal internal tissues. Also, some kittens purr when they request food.

How old do kittens have to be to get fixed?

Some vets practice early neutering and spaying, so the kitten can be as young as two to three months. In general, you should consider this before the pet is 5-months-old as around that time, they can experience their first heat cycle and even get pregnant.

How to take care of newborn kittens without a mother?

Get supplies like cat milk, lots of blankets, electric heaters, and cloths for wiping the kittens’ bodies. Once you’ve got all that covered, you will have to feed the kittens once every couple of hours and also try to stimulate their pooping by rubbing that anatomical area.

How often should kittens eat?

It depends on the kitten’s specific age, but when they are very young, they will have to get cat milk at least six times per day. As they get older, you can give them food 3-4 times a day and then switch to two main meals.

When do kittens start using the litter box?

For kittens that are younger than 3 weeks of age, you will have to use pads or just ensure that you clean their living space as often as possible. Those that are older than this can begin using a litter box.

How much do kittens cost?

It depends on the breed you want to purchase. Do keep in mind that when buying a kitten, you’ll need to make sure you do so from a responsible breeder – so the kitten needs to come with a health certificate and one for its parents.

What human food can kittens eat?

Fish and meat are the two most obvious answers to this question. But cats can also have occasional snacks in the form of fresh berries, carrots, or certain types of cheese.

When can kittens be adopted?

They have to reach a month of at least 3 months in order for them to be adopted. This will ensure that they are independent and can care for themselves, and do not rely on their mothers as much.

How long can kittens go without food?

Newborn kittens must be fed once every four to six hours, so they are very vulnerable in that sense. Older kittens can go without food for three to four days, but they would have to be at least one and a half months of age for that to be possible.

When can kittens eat adult food?

It varies depending on the breed. For example, because they get so large, Maine Coons need to eat kitten food for longer (such as 18 months to 2 years) of their life. In general, you can switch to adult cat food when the kitten is one or one and a half years old.

When can kittens get pregnant?

Kittens can become pregnant as early as 4 months of age, so you should try to get your pet spayed or neutered before they reach 5-6 months of age. The first heat cycles might be managed naturally, but if your kitten comes in contact with another from the opposite gender, a pregnancy might happen.

Why does my kitten’s breath stink?

Halitosis can occur for several reasons, from plaque buildup to tartar and pathologies such as cavities or oral infections. You should clean your cat’s teeth once every two days (at least) if you want them to benefit from good oral health.

What kind of milk can kittens drink?

Their mother’s milk is the best, but commercial cat milk varieties do exist nowadays, too. Cows’ milk is probably the worst as lots of cats become lactose-intolerant sometimes by the time they reach 3 months of age. Goat milk is a little better.

At what age do kittens calm down?

It depends on every cat in part. Some breeds, such as Bengals, never calm down, and that’s because it’s their normal character. Most do calm down a bit when they reach adulthood, so between 18 months and 24 months.

How do kittens get worms?

Worms can be caught from other kittens or wild animals, or you can also bring larvae or eggs on your shoes into your home.

When do male kittens start spraying?

When they go into heat for the first time; that could be 4 or 5 months for some or 6 months for others – it all depends on whether they sense that a female cat has gone into heat in their area.

How long can kittens be left alone?

If they are very young, they should not be left alone for more than 4 hours just to be on the safe side of things. Older kittens, such as those that have reached 3 months, can be left alone for 8 hours or more (provided that they have fresh water and food at their disposal).

Kittens are much more sensitive compared to adults for a number of reasons, the main one being that they do not have a fully developed immune system. Therefore, they are much more likely to develop conditions that wouldn’t be life-threatening for adults but that could lead to very severe complications in their case.

In today’s article, we’re looking at fading kitten syndrome – from what it is to what it is caused by, the classic signs of fading kitten syndrome, and whether or not it can be treated.

What Is Fading Kitten Syndrome?

This is a whole complex of complications that could lead to the young cat’s death before they are even weaned from their mother’s milk. Most kittens die before the age of 9 weeks, although cases of some losing their life before the age of 12 weeks have been reported, too.

Fading kittens syndrome can also refer to a pet’s inability to develop properly, which can affect their body on the whole and make them more susceptible to infections and other health issues.

It is estimated that about 30% of all kittens that are born end up suffering from this syndrome. And while in most situations, it is lethal, knowing how to distinguish it from other diseases can make you understand that veterinary assistance is necessary right away – and can lead to you saving the kitten’s life.

But what does fading kitten syndrome look like? Usually, it is a combination of several different symptoms and developments, in that cats can quickly suffer from the following:

• Hypothermia
• Low blood sugar
• Starvation because of maternal neglect
• Eye, urinary, or digestive infections
• Trauma leading to shock and death

What causes fading kitten syndrome?

This syndrome is not necessarily the result of maternal neglect, so your queen might not have to be a bad mother and ignore one of the kittens in order for them to develop this health issue.

Things can happen while the kittens are growing inside your cat’s belly, especially if the cat is given medications that could lead to serious side effects or if she undergoes some type of trauma.

There could also be some types of genetic conditions transmitted hereditarily from the parents. Kittens can be born with something relatively similar to what Down Syndrome is in humans, although not all of the clinical manifestations are the same. But because they are often unable to eat or drink water, they can quickly lose their life because of this.

We’ve listed some other possible causes in the sections below.

• Weaning complications

The weaning process has to be more or less lengthy in order for it not to have any negative impact on the kitten’s health. However, sometimes the queen might get tired of her litter producing trauma on her mammary glands, for example, which is why she might force them into weaning earlier than it would be recommended.

Pet owners have to pay attention to whatever’s happening with the queen and her litter so as to intervene whenever this happens. You will have to feed the kittens cat milk and try to incorporate wet food into their diet so as to get them adjusted to other foods besides milk.

But when weaning happens too quickly, and there’s no one ensuring that the kittens are fed, they can, unfortunately, lose their life as a result of suffering from hypoglycemia.

• Improper living conditions

Stray cats that have given birth outdoors usually have complications at birth and more difficult pregnancies all throughout, but they also can’t care for their litter properly as they have to go hunt for food all the time and get back and feed their offspring once every several hours.

If the newborns live in spaces where not enough heating is available, they could easily develop hypothermia which can also cause death. In this case, fading kitten syndrome would involve just this health issue and its consequences without any additional complications.

• Health problems leading to dehydration

If you have ever been a cat owner before, you probably know how dangerous diarrhea and vomiting can be for your pet. Not only do cats not drink a lot of water in general, which automatically puts them at risk of becoming dehydrated, but they will also lose precious fluids because of their digestive distress.

Time is of the essence if you see that the kittens have begun experiencing diarrhea, as they can die in less than 24 hours. As such, we recommend taking them to the vet right away, without waiting to see what else happens.

• Not enough milk

Some cats, especially those that are experiencing a pregnancy for the first time or those that are old and don’t have the same hormonal ‘charge’ in their bodies as their adult experienced counterparts, can have an inappropriate milk production.

Unfortunately, this means that not all kittens will have access to enough, so one or two out of the litter might remain behind weight-wise.

If the mothers are also not getting enough food or the right nutrients, the kittens will also suffer as a result because even though they might get enough milk, it might not be nutritious enough.

• Any infection

Most vets recommend keeping the kittens away from other animals for a period of at least several weeks after they were born.

It is important for you to ensure this because besides their mother, any other animal can potentially carry and transmit dangerous pathogens to the young cats – and as previously mentioned, their little bodies aren’t yet equipped with the mechanisms that will enable them to somewhat put up with the abuse of a bacterium, virus, or even a fungus.

Infections are more likely to be developed by kittens that are stressed, live in improper and unhygienic conditions, or that already have a low birth weight or were born with a congenital health issue.

Symptoms of fading kitten syndrome

Most fading kitten syndrome symptoms tend to vary a lot from one animal to another. As you might have noticed from the previous section, the causes can be quite diverse, so not all animals are going to experience the same clinical signs.

However, some are somewhat universal, so they are more likely to show up more frequently compared to others. Here are several examples:

• Hypothermia
• Straining to breathe
• Lethargy / Weakness
• The inability to drink or eat milk or canned food
• Any nasal or ocular discharge
• Vomiting and diarrhea

When it comes to fading kitten syndrome age is a factor that can influence all of the symptoms that we have noted above.

Some kittens can die right after being born or after feeding once or twice simply because their weight was much below the normal threshold. And while many kittens are born with some immunity inherited from their mother, the rule does not apply to all – especially the frailer ones.

Because kittens are effectively vulnerable (and they also can’t see, either) with regard to everything in their environment, they are also incapable of searching for food or seeking out places that are warmer. So, it is your responsibility as a pet owner to ensure that the temperature in their living environment never drops to potentially dangerous limits.

When hypothermia and low blood sugar appear at the same time, they can cause death in just 3-5 hours if the kitten is already thin and sensitive to pretty much anything.

This is why many kittens die by the time pet parents end up with them at the veterinary clinic. So, whenever you notice any symptom that you feel could be something to feel worried about, get in touch with your vet immediately.

Fading kitten protocol therapy

If you are wondering how to save a fading kitten, you should not believe that you can do it on your own. In case you do not have any previous experience handling kittens and caring for them, you might not be equipped with the knowledge and equipment for the task.

Your veterinarian will provide you with the information you need for caring for the litter, but sometimes it might not be enough, or you might panic and not know what you can do.

If that happens, your best bet would be to take your kittens to the animal hospital, especially if it is in your area and you’re likely to drive for less than 30 minutes.

The vet will first keep the kittens warm by either using an electric blanket or bottles filled with hot water and covered by blankets or towels. They will then proceed to perform a physical examination while the hypothermia is being resolved.

Until the veterinarian finds out exactly what the cause of the syndrome is, they will put the kittens on supportive therapy. If the cats are very small, administering fluids through an IV might be challenging (simply because they have such tiny vessels), so they might receive fluids subcutaneously instead.

They will also be given warm cat milk and kept in an overall warm and safe environment until a protocol is created.

Every kitten is different so based on their symptoms and the diagnosis, they might receive various medications. For cats that have somehow contracted viral diseases such as Feline Coronavirus, Herpesvirus, or Calicivirus, the prognosis is going to be reserved. These diseases are challenging to treat in healthy adults, so they are much more severe in kittens.

As for how to cure fading kitten syndrome at home, it also depends on how severe it is. If the animal has already developed hypothermia and has low blood sugar, the chances of you being able to help them recover are slim to none.

The Internet might suggest that you use sugar water for treating fading kitten syndrome, and while that’s not a bad piece of advice per se since hypoglycemia is an issue, it’s not going to necessarily save your kitten’s life.

If you feel that it would make a difference, giving them warm cat milk with a bit of sugar using a syringe might be a better idea.

Frequently asked questions

How long does fading kitten syndrome last?

This is a complicated question with a complicated answer. In some cases, it can last for a few hours until the kittens lose their life. In other cases, it can last for a couple of days while they are being treated and have somewhat long-lasting effects over a period of a few weeks after that.

When does fading kitten syndrome happen?

This syndrome occurs before the kittens reach the age of 12 weeks. Some can develop it right after being born, while others could experience its clinical manifestations between the age of 6 weeks to 9 weeks.

Can a kitten survive fading kitten syndrome?

It depends on every cat in part. Not all of them are as lucky, so we can’t give you a clear answer to this question. If the kitten gets treated very quickly, they might have a pretty good chance of surviving.

Is fading kitten syndrome in older kittens common?

No. Most cats over the age of 12 weeks have been weaned and have become fairly independent, so they are capable of searching for warm places and also feeding themselves. Once they are also vaccinated against potentially lethal viral diseases, they have an even lower risk of developing this syndrome.

Is fading kitten syndrome painful?

This also depends on its causes and the symptoms it leads to. But in most cases, the answer to this question is yes. Kittens that are lethargic, hypothermic, hypoglycemic, or are suffering from diarrhea or vomiting can experience pain, and sometimes it can be quite severe.

Prevention

Can fading kitten syndrome be prevented? To some extent, yes.

Not all kittens can be saved, especially those that are suffering from infections or were born with genetic conditions – but some can. You should make sure that the litter is well-hydrated, well-fed, and has an optimal weight, especially during the first few days of their life.

You also have to ensure that the kittens are eliminating properly. Those that are not ‘going to the bathroom’ as they are supposed to might accumulate toxins in their bodies as a result of constipation. The same goes for those that might experience diarrhea, as they can become dehydrated and fast.

Caring for newborn kittens can be quite challenging, so it takes time, effort, and a lot of attention and stress. Ask your vet what you should always keep in your home – from cat milk to syringes and feeders.

As uncommon as you might think that they are in this species, miscarriages can still happen in cats. They have a number of different causes, and they tend to affect unhealthy or very young animals more than they do their healthy and adult counterparts.

In today’s article, we’re looking at everything you should know about miscarriages in cats – from the reasons they occur to their symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and also how you can know when the right time to bring your pet to the vet is.

What is a Miscarriage?

A miscarriage can simply be defined by a process where the mother cat loses the pregnancy. Whether it happens because the kittens have deceased inside of her or because of mechanical reasons, such as the cat being involved in an accident and giving ‘birth’ before the right time, the litter is always incapable of living in the case of a miscarriage.

The gestation period for this species typically lasts for up to 67 days. However, some cats might experience shorter pregnancies, which leads to them giving birth at around day 58 or 60.

As is the case with other types of animals, very young cats that have never gone through a pregnancy can experience a variety of complications.

They are also traditionally more likely to have a smaller litter, being able to give birth to one or two kittens. Their experienced counterparts, on the other hand, will not have trouble giving birth to three to five kittens and more.

A cat that miscarries close to the term will still exhibit the normal behaviors of an expecting mother. Therefore, she will experience lactation or will look for her kittens throughout your home, even though they are nowhere to be found.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Miscarriages in Cats?

The reasons cats can suffer miscarriages are quite varied, and they range from infections (whether viral, bacterial, or protozoal) to injuries, nutritional deficiencies, or inbreeding.

Nutritional deficiencies are another possible reason for a miscarriage, and they are more common in stray cats or those that are kept in shelters. Most cats that are brought to shelters are spayed even if they are in their gestation period – so as to try and keep the cat population under control.

Inbreeding often results in a number of genetic issues which can be passed on to the future cat mother, making her experience complications that can lead to a miscarriage.

While inbreeding has become less common in the past several years as breeders have become more aware of the risks associated with it, there are still certain genes that are passed from one generation to the other due to previous incorrect breeding.

In terms of the infections that can cause a miscarriage, viral and bacterial diseases are at the top of the list. Unfortunately, in cats, some vaccines might not be as effective against infectious pathogens as they are in dogs, for example. Pregnant cats should be kept indoors only so as to limit their contact with other animals, from which they could catch microorganisms that can put their litter’s life and theirs in danger.

Several examples of infections that can lead to miscarriages in cats are the following:

• Feline herpesvirus
• Feline leukemia virus
• Feline immunodeficiency virus
• Feline infectious peritonitis
• Feline enteric coronavirus
• A Chlamydia infection
• Fungal infections

Another possible cause of miscarriages is significant hormonal imbalances. When a cat is pregnant, her level of progesterone should be somewhat high and stable so as to maintain the pregnancy. If the progesterone level drops, it can lead to the cat losing her litter. This can be the result of changes in the cat’s body itself, but it can also be the consequence of the cat being administered medication that influences her hormone levels.

How Can I Know If My Cat Is Having a Miscarriage?

The answer to this question is that it actually depends on the exact time the miscarriage takes place. If the cat is young and inexperienced and she becomes pregnant around the age of 6 months, and for one reason or the other, her body is incapable of sustaining the pregnancy, you might not notice any symptom at all.

The reason for this is that a miscarriage can only be considered the phenomenon that happens once the fetuses have had a chance to form. Therefore, if your pet ‘miscarriages’ one week or two following the copulation that you think has resulted in a pregnancy, she might show no signs at all.

Fortunately, the fertilized ovules will resorb into the mucous membrane of the uterus, which means that your cat might only (if that happens at all) experience a very mild discharge.

However, if the miscarriage happens in the second half of the pregnancy, you can expect different symptoms, such as the following:

• Continuous vaginal bleeding
• Strangely colored discharge (yellow, green, or brown)
• A pungent smell to the discharge
• Excessive grooming in that area
• Agitation
• A complete lack of appetite for either food or water
• Lethargy
• Abdominal pain and discomfort
• Difficult breathing
• Withdrawal
• The cat might try and look for calm and cold places in an attempt to cool down the local temperature in her abdomen

The most challenging aspect of miscarriages is that the cervix doesn’t open naturally unless there’s something causing it to open.

Normally, when a cat delivers at the right time, her hormonal concentration will become perfect and will make the cervix open so as to release the litter, their covers, the placenta, and all the fluids and tissues that might exist in the uterus. This will happen naturally when the right time comes along.

However, if the cat suffers a miscarriage and there’s no hormonal change whatsoever, everything in the uterus will remain in the uterus.

As you can imagine, this can be a very bad outcome. The fetuses are no longer living, so the blood flow to and from them doesn’t function normally. The placenta, along with the rest of the uterus contents, is now at a high risk of degrading to the point of putrefaction. Your cat can lose her life if she doesn’t receive treatment at this point.

How Can I Tell If There Is a Deceased Kitten Inside My Cat’s Body?

Your cat should have some sort of discharge, and it will not look or smell good. Unfortunately, some cats don’t show this symptom at all, which means that you will have to base your decision to bring your cat to the vet clinic on the other clinical signs that we have mentioned above.

If your cat is not showing any signs whatsoever, it’s quite likely that you have nothing to worry about.

Nevertheless, since time is of the essence when it comes to diagnosing and treating miscarriages in cats, we suggest doing a bit of detective work on your own.

First of all, you should call your vet and ask them if you can do something at home. If you are lucky enough to have a stethoscope on hand (suppose you’re a med school student or related to a doctor, vet, or nurse), you will be able to easily tell whether the kittens are still alive or not.

Even in practice, while pregnancy can be diagnosed through imaging techniques such as ultrasonography, for example, the easiest and most effective test that a vet can perform once your cat has reached the mid-half of her pregnancy is to listen to the kittens’ heartbeats.

While the Internet might advise you to keep a close eye on your cat (and that’s not bad advice at all) so that you see whether there’s any movement in her belly or not, the truth is that not all cats experience such visible kitten movements inside their uteruses.

If your cat has, though, do pay attention to her lower abdomen area for a period of several hours. If nothing happens, call your vet and go to the emergency vet clinic – it’s better to be safe than sorry.

How Do I Tell When My Cat Is Done Giving Birth?

Although not exactly related to miscarriages themselves, we would like to note that there could be a number of things going wrong even if your cat doesn’t suffer one.

Suppose your cat gives birth as she is supposed to. The most likely complication that she is likely to experience is not being able to give birth to one or two last kittens that are inside of her after the first – either due to their orientation or due to her experiencing hormonal changes that can lead to her not having the right dilatation degree.

Even if she has given birth to all the kittens, there could be tissue remnants and the placenta left in her uterus, which she might or might not be able to expel.

A cat birth can take quite a bit of time, especially if this is the pet’s first pregnancy. Sometimes, it can take several hours, to the point that it lasts for 12 hours or more.

But if your cat hasn’t managed to give birth and she still keeps on trying after that time span, consult your veterinarian. The effort itself, along with the strain it puts on the cat’s body, can have negative consequences on her health, not to mention the actual delivery complications that could arise.

How Are Miscarriages Diagnosed and Treated at the Vet Clinic?

The vet can diagnose miscarriages using a very broad range of techniques. As previously mentioned, they might simply use a stethoscope to see whether the kittens still have a heartbeat.

They could test your cat’s progesterone levels with a blood test. Also, they could rely on special examination methods such as an ultrasound.

If the cat is diagnosed to have suffered a miscarriage, she needs to go into surgery as soon as possible. During the operation, the vet will remove the fetuses and the rest of the tissue present in the uterus and give it a thorough wash with saline solution and other medications.

We do have to note that depending on how complicated the procedure is or how late you’ve brought the cat to the vet clinic, her reproductive abilities might be completely damaged.

If the wall of the uterus has suffered any change whatsoever, the vet will decide to spay your cat so that she doesn’t develop septicemia or pyometra following the surgery. No matter how much the vet will attempt to clean the uterus, there could be dangerous microorganisms surviving in the tissue damage.

Moreover, if the vet decides to remove only the part that was damaged from the uterus and sutures the rest of the tissue correctly, your cat’s uterus will still have a significant scar on its surface, which will affect her future ability to maintain a pregnancy to term anyway.

Can Miscarriages in Cats Be Prevented?

It depends on every cat in part. As you know, animals are very different from one another, and they can be predisposed to various health issues.

The best piece of advice that we have for you is to monitor your cat’s pregnancy as closely as possible, especially if she is going to be a first-time mother.

As ridiculous as it might sound, if your cat is diagnosed with a hormonal imbalance or any other risk that could lead to a miscarriage, we recommend taking her to the vet once a week until she completes her term.

This will make it possible for the vet to perform a basic physical examination as well as collect a tiny amount of blood so as to check whether your pet’s hormonal concentration (especially that of progesterone) is up to par.

Do not allow your cat to go outdoors and come in contact with other animals, as they could be carriers of pathogens that might result in a miscarriage. Keep your cat in a calm and safe place and make sure she has enough nutritious food available and a warm and cozy place to rest in.

References

Canine and feline pregnancy loss due to viral and non-infectious causes: a review, J. Verstegen et al, 2018 learn more

Clinical approach to abortion, stillbirt, and neonatal death in dogs and cats, Catherine G. Lamm, DVM, MRCVS et al, 2012 learn more

If you have recently adopted or bought a kitten, you’re probably wondering whether or not you should have her/him spayed or neutered and what the best time to do it would be.

In today’s article, we’re looking at everything you should know about that, and we’re also discussing whether or not spaying or neutering a kitten too early or later in their life can actually put their health in danger.

Spaying vs. neutering

We should first look at the procedure itself and what you can expect in this sense.

Females and males have different anatomies, so when a female kitten is spayed, the vet will either remove her ovaries or will proceed to removing the ovaries and the uterus.

Males are neutered simply by surgically removing their testicles. In both of these cases, the kittens become sterile, so they will be unable to have any offspring. Additionally, they will no longer go into heat.

Should You Get Your Kitten Fixed?

If you live in a house and allow your cat to go outside, you might be oblivious about how much that adds to the cat population in your area.

If you are the owner of a male, you might think that not too much happens when he goes outdoors, but the truth is that unneutered males have a much higher risk of getting into conflicts with other cats, which can obviously have a negative impact on their health.

The same goes for females. If you’ve never been in this situation, you might not be aware of how difficult it can be to get the kittens adopted and in a good home. Not a lot of people can afford to take care of pets these days, especially since pet insurance and veterinary assistance can be quite expensive.

Millions of cats across the world do not have owners and are constantly at risk of getting into accidents (such as being hit by a car) or even catching parasites or other diseases from the animals they interact with outdoors.

So, if you’re still debating if you should spay or neuter your kitten, think of it this way – you’re not only doing your cat a service but also preventing stray cat populations from becoming even larger.

When to Spay and Neuter Kittens

While every cat is different, which is why their particular health status might not allow them to be fixed at a specific age, 5 to 6-months of age is ideal for having the procedure done.

Cats can sometimes go into heat as early as 4 months of age, which means that, in theory, that’s when they can become pregnant and have a litter of kittens.

There are a lot of benefits to getting your kitten fixed, but there are some risks involved, too.

In both males and females, the procedure prevents behaviors such as territory marking, which can be quite frustrating, especially if you live in an apartment and can’t handle the spots and the smells coming from this.

For females, spaying is even more important than it might be for males, and the reason for that is that if they don’t have the surgery, they are constantly predisposed to developing pyometra. This is an infection of the uterus that can be life-threatening when it is not diagnosed as early as possible.

For males, neutering can eliminate some problematic behaviors, including aggression, but it can also save them from getting into serious trouble with other males outdoors. It’s not uncommon for pet owners of unneutered cats to notice them coming home with wounds.

Is Early Spaying and Neutering Problematic?

The short answer to this question is yes. Not all cats are the same, so they might withstand the anesthesia and the entire operation differently depending on their exact age or their health status.

This is why most veterinarians perform basic blood tests before doing the surgery, as they can detect certain complications that could arise when the pet is undergoing it.

Most clinics and shelters will not spay or neuter kittens if their weight isn’t at least 2 pounds. Fixing cats before they are at least 10 weeks of age is not recommended.

Across North America, it is now a common practice to spay and neuter kittens as early as 5 months of age. However, for males, in particular, this can lead to some health complications later on in life.

If the male has not reached sexual maturity before being fixed, he could end up suffering from a urethral obstruction when he is older. And if there’s one thing that all pet owners and veterinarians should aim at, it would be to prevent urinary complications in cats as much as possible.

Does early spaying or neutering impact the way a cat’s body grows? It’s complicated. It depends on what early fixing means in this case. If the cat does go through the operation even before going into heat for the first time, they could be somewhat smaller compared to their counterparts.

The balance of hormones inside a pet’s body is very frail, and the operation can affect it to some extent. If you have any concerns about getting your kitten fixed this early, you can simply allow her or him to go through the first heat cycle and then take them to the vet clinic.

Final thoughts

While the best age to spay or neuter a kitten would be 5 or 6 months of age, this is not a universal recommendation. Cats in shelters are usually spayed/neutered earlier simply because they should not mate and add to the cat population even more.

Privately owned cats that are always kept indoors can be fixed later.

There are some solutions available if you’d like to delay the procedure.

The vet can administer an injection containing hormones that inhibit the symptoms of the heat cycle so that you can coexist with your cat in the same living space without dealing with too much hassle. Once the treatment is done (and the effects of some medications can last for as long as 6 months), you can fix your kitten.

Adult cat food has a different list of ingredients compared to kitten food. While some sites might tell you that you should never feed a kitten food made primarily for adults, it will do if you have nothing else available.

The food will not hurt the kitten in any way, and if the animal is ravenous and hasn’t had any kibble or wet food in a while, even adult food will supply them with the nutrients that are necessary for them to produce energy for the next few hours.

What does have to be noted here is that kittens should not be consistently fed an adult cat diet as they have different dietary requirements. To find out more, keep on reading!

Different Dietary Requirements for Kittens

All felines are obligate carnivores, whether they are young or old. That means that compared to other species, they should have a greater amount of fat and protein in their diets.

Kittens get the most important nutrients they need from their mother’s milk until the age of about eight weeks.

While kittens have pretty much the same dietary needs as their adult counterparts when it comes to fat, vitamins, and a variety of fatty acids, that rule does not apply to other nutrients, such as proteins, minerals, as well as antioxidants.

Kittens need more protein because it helps them have more energy, which is essential for a normal development process. Also, minerals are extremely important during a cat’s first 12 to 18 months of life as they can ensure that all of the processes going on inside the animal’s body are functioning properly; they can also prevent some diseases, such as rickets.

Although regulating the amount of food that a cat ingests every day is a good idea, especially for adults and seniors, some of whom might be predisposed to obesity, that does not apply to kittens.

It would be best if you let young cats eat as much as they want – they need as many calories as possible, especially in the first part of their life. However, if you do not want to practice free feeding as it can be challenging to teach your cat otherwise when they are older, you can feed them several meals throughout the day.

What Makes Adult Cat Food Different from Kitten Food?

Kitten food is generally seen as being denser and richer in calories compared to adult cat food.

For the sake of comparison, we are going to name a brand in this case (although we do not tend to do this) and look at the labels – one of its adult cat food and one of its kitten food. We’ll also compare them to a senior variety.

In this section, we’re looking at IAMS Proactive Health Healthy Adult with Chicken, IAMS Proactive Health Healthy Kitten, and IAMS Proactive Health Healthy Senior.

The first has 32% in crude protein, 15% in crude fat, and 3% in fiber, and has some added calcium (.8%), potassium (.7%), L-carnitine (80mg/kg), taurine (.15%), omega-3 fatty acids (.3%) and omega-6 fatty acids (3%).

The kitten variety contains 32% crude protein, 15% crude fat, 1.7% fiber (about half of what can be found in the adult one), 1% calcium (.2% more than the adult variety), .1% magnesium (absent in the adult food), vitamin E (100 IU/kg) – also absent from the adult food, the same amounts of taurine and L-carnitine, and slightly lower quantities of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

The senior cat food has 34% in protein, 17% in crude fat, 3% in fiber, .8% in calcium, .7% in potassium, 250 IU/kg vitamin E, the same amount of taurine as in the other two varieties, similar amounts of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, and some interesting new ingredients – glucosamine (375mg/kg) and chondroitin sulfate (35 mg/kg). This variety could do with a bit less fat (maybe even less protein) in our opinion since seniors are known for their tendency to be overweight.

The conclusion, in this case, is that the kitten food contains more calcium and magnesium. It also has vitamin E, which is absent in the adult variety, but it is lower in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

The rest of the ingredients are virtually the same. So, while nutrition-wise the adult and the kitten diets in this case do not differ too much, the kitten ones are slightly richer in some nutrients. Your vet can also recommend supplementation with vitamin and mineral products for a healthy development.

In any case, if you feed your kitten adult food for lack of a better momentary option, you will not be putting their health in danger in any way.

When to Switch Kittens to Adult Cat Food

Even though most people tend to think that a kitten becomes an adult around the age of 12 months, the truth is that it can vary from one animal to the next. If you continue feeding your cat a kitten diet for a couple of more months after their first birthday, you are not going to do them harm.

Some larger breeds have to be fed kitten diets for a longer period of time, such as those that are particularly large. Maine Coons, Siberians, Norwegians, Chausies, and Savannahs are several examples, and they need more calories and more minerals and vitamins compared to their smaller counterparts. These breeds usually reach adulthood when they become 18 months of age.

Cats can be considered kittens until they get to be 1-year-old. Larger breeds might have to receive kitten food until they reach 18 months or 24 months of age. Kittens have different feeding schedules depending on their specific age.

In today’s article, we’re looking at when you can start feeding kittens soft food in the form of pouches or canned varieties.

Weaning a Kitten

In most cases, kittens should be fully weaned by the time they reach four weeks of age. However, that does not happen in every situation depending on the number of kittens that a cat has given birth to. If she had just one, she might be less keen to wean her kitten simply because they are not inflicting as much abuse on her mammary glands.

On the other hand, if a cat had three or more kittens, by the time they reach 2-3 weeks of age, she begins to experience local irritation, which is why she’ll sometimes refuse feeding her offspring.

When the kittens are 2-3 weeks of age, you should begin introducing soft food into their diets.

That does not mean that you should start exclusively feeding the young cats pouches or canned pet food; it is merely the perfect moment to give it to them and see whether they might be interested in it or not.

For two more weeks following that, the kittens will have a diet composed of their mother’s milk and the food that you give them.

By the time they are 8-weeks-old, most kittens should only eat solid food, whether pouches or canned diets or dry food.

Getting Started

Although weaning can be more or less difficult, patience is the key to doing it successfully. If the kitten doesn’t seem to be too interested in the type of food you’re offering, perhaps it’s not the right time yet.

It’s also worth noting that kittens can be more or less clumsy in their living space, mostly because during the first weeks of their life, they are consistently improving their reflexes and the way they interact with the things around them. As such, they might step into the food or water bowl, so you will have to manage these messes.

If you are caring for one or more kittens who have lost their mothers, what you can do is mix the formula with a bit of the food.

Even though it might be the only thing that you have available, you should probably avoid giving dry food to your kittens. Most kibble tends to absorb a lot of liquid, and although it does turn into a mushy meal, it is not as appealing as a pouch.

Gradually make changes to the amount of wet food that you mix into the formula by increasing the quantity of cat food once every couple of days. This will make the process easier for everyone involved.

What Type of Food Is Best for Weaning Kittens?

You can use virtually any type of canned cat food for this purpose, but for the sake of keeping your kittens’ health up to par, we do not recommend using varieties made for adults.

Kitten diets are typically richer in various nutrients, such as calcium and other minerals, which young cats need for normal development. If you really have nothing else available, one or two meals containing adult cat food are not going to hurt your kitten. However, this is not the best option in the long term, so do keep that in mind.

Wet kitten food is also different depending on the brand and, most importantly, its ingredients. If possible, opt for the best you can afford and look at the label to make sure that it doesn’t contain any ingredients such as grains or artificial preservatives, binders, or other substances that should not be part of a healthy cat’s diet.

Since they are obligate carnivores, cats are not supposed to have grains because they can have negative outcomes especially in terms of their digestive transit. It is not uncommon for kittens to be bloated, gassy, or have a bout of diarrhea after eating food that contains grains. A healthy source of fiber (and that you can look for on the kitten food label) is pumpkin, for example, but not grains.

As for the other substances that we have mentioned, a very high-quality diet is particularly important as the kitten is still developing. Any added chemical can negatively influence a kitten’s health, so try to choose the best natural alternative you have available.

Should Kittens Drink Milk?

It depends on the type of milk you want to give to your kittens. Cow milk is perhaps the worst because (and not a lot of people might know this) this species is actually lactose-intolerant.

Goat milk is a little better, but it’s still not cat-appropriate in every way. Therefore, the best type of kitten milk would be a formula that you can order online or purchase from any pet store.

When Can Kittens Start Eating Adult Cat Food?

Your kitten should be at least 1-year-old before you start making the change. We’d also like to note that you should gradually switch your pet to an adult diet by mixing the new food with the old one.

During the first week, your kitten’s diet should be composed of 20% adult cat food and 80% kitten food. In the second week, you can increase the 20% to 40% or even 50% if you’ve noticed that your cat is interested in it and more importantly, has experienced no digestive distress. You can continue to do this until you fully replace the kitten diet with the adult one.

Dehydration is a very common health issue in cats, especially since this species isn’t really well-known for its excellent appetite for water. But in kittens, dehydration can be even more dangerous as fluids help young cats’ bodies to function properly, especially as they are growing into adults.

In today’s article, we’re looking at how much water kittens are supposed to drink and also giving you some advice on how you can convince your little feline friend to drink more.

How Much Should Kittens Drink?

The answer to this question is that it actually depends on the kitten’s age. When the kitten is still drinking milk from their mother, you probably have nothing to worry about in the way of supplementing their water intake – especially if the pet is otherwise perfectly healthy.

The amount of water that an animal needs is always correlated with their weight. So, for example, if adult cats that weigh in at 4 kg should receive around 50 to 60 ml per every kg of body weight, the same rule applies to kittens.

Most kittens are weaned around the age of eight weeks. But by that time, they mostly have a diet composed of the food you give them and the milk they get from their mothers. Kittens tend to thrive on a canned food diet at first, especially if they don’t seem very keen on drinking by themselves.

Weaned kittens should usually receive between 2 and 4 ounces of water on top of the one that’s contained in their canned food varieties. They normally drink this amount on their own, but you can try and give them more with a syringe, especially if you suspect that they are getting dehydrated. However, this is rarely (if ever) necessary.

In most cases, kittens that are younger than 90 days should get around 70 ml of liquid, while kittens that are 6-months-old should drink about 140 ml of water every day.

How Can You Encourage Your Kitten to Drink More Water?

Cats actually have the ability to tell when they are feeling thirsty, just like people do, so they will drink water whenever they feel the need to.

This obviously also depends on the animal’s health status, in that if a kitten is getting dehydrated because they are experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, you will have to do your best to give them water on your own.

A good way to make sure that your kitten’s getting enough water would be to switch to canned food only. Pouches are also richer in liquids, and we all know how much cats tend to love the sauce they come with – usually more than the bits of meat.

Another tip that we can give you would be to change the water bowl. While some people say that whisker fatigue does not exist, some cats might get really put off if the edges of the water bowl constantly touch their whiskers, so they might be less enthusiastic about drinking water for that reason.

Flat bowls are the best even though they don’t retain a lot of water. There’s also the option of you investing in a cat water fountain, and most kittens love them. Because the water is constantly moving around and coming in contact with air, it is kept fresh, so it appeals to them more.

If your kitten also goes outside, it might be difficult for you to tell just how much water they are getting. In any case, make sure that the water is always fresh – change it twice a day if you’re beginning to think that your pet isn’t drinking enough. Do keep in mind that cats and dogs aren’t really keen on drinking stale water, so if you can’t purchase a cat water fountain right now, at least make a habit out of changing it in the morning and the evening.

What If Your Kitten Isn’t Getting Enough Water?

Sick kittens might not express any interest in either food or water for several reasons. In some cases, they might not be able to drink water per se because they can’t even move to the food and water bowl area.

Because dehydration can be life-threatening on occasion, it is a good idea to know the signs that a kitten can show if she’s developed it. Here are some symptoms that should alert you and convince you to take your kitten to the animal hospital right away:

• Loss of skin elasticity
• Lethargy
• Sunken eyes
• Not using the litter box
• Lack of appetite

While you do not have to particularly worry about how much water your kitten is drinking, especially if you’re caring for a healthy pet, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on their behavior and their general appearance. Paying attention to such small details can make the difference and can even save your cat’s life.

When bringing a new kitten to join your family, it is important to bear in mind that your new furry friend is experiencing a lot of change that can make her feel frightened and apprehensive. Kittens may do a number of different things to help them cope with their fears such as taking refuge underneath your sofa or living room chairs or even hiding behind your kitchen appliances. Hiding behind these things can help calm the kitten’s feelings of anxiety at the overwhelming changes she is trying to adapt to in her new home. In some cases, kittens may even worm their way inside walls, making you not only scratch your head at how they got in there but also worry about how you will get them out. Thankfully, if your new kitten has suddenly gone MIA, it is possible to get her safely back with a little ingenuity.

Top Tips for Finding a Lost Kitten in Your House

There are several different things you can do if your new kitten goes missing in your home.

Here are our top tips to help reunite you with your fave furry feline:

Consider all the furniture

Kittens, much like puppies, feel comforted when able to curl up in small areas with very little light. There are lots of places within your home that meet these conditions, and these are the ideal spots for you to begin your search. Among the spots to consider are your bed (both in and under it), the inside of your boxspring, and underneath or inside bedding. Other ideal hiding places for kittens looking for a place of refuge are living room furniture such as recliners, sofas, and other chairs, behind bookshelves, and in cabinets or drawers.

When searching for a kitten that may be hiding in or behind furniture, it is recommended that you proceed with caution. If you open or close pieces of furniture or drawers quickly, you may inadvertently crush your kitten.

Look near appliances and electronic goods

Kittens particularly like hiding near appliances since they generate warmth during operation. This natural heat is reminiscent of their mother, giving them great feelings of comfort when stressed. Since kittens don’t just hide behind appliances, you will need to carefully pull out units such as refrigerators and gently inspect to see if your fave furry feline is hiding inside the back of it. Other appliances to check include inside washers and dryers and your dishwasher.

Many kittens also find it soothing to hide between clothing, towels, and sheets in your laundry basket. To check for a kitten, gently remove each item, carefully looking for your kitty’s presence.

While examining appliances, it is also a good idea to consider your electronics. Many kittens like to hide behind computer desks or large screen TVs.

Check the structure of the house

If you’ve looked in all of the obvious places and still can’t find your kitten, it’s time to consider whether or not your kitty has decided to hibernate inside your walls or HVAC system. To help determine if this may be the case, experts recommend tapping the area where you think your kitten may be hiding. The sound of your tapping is typically sufficient to induce soft meows or to start the kitten moving in a different direction, thus alerting you to your kitten’s presence.

Kittens also like to hide in areas such as attics, garages, and basements. Common areas you should carefully inspect when looking for your kitten include the rafters, behind tools and large yard appliances such as lawnmowers, and both inside and behind boxes.

Pipes can also be attractive to kittens looking for a place to hide.

If you do happen to find your kitten is trapped within your wall, you can make use of a jigsaw tool to gently cut a hole into the wall to help you reach her and move her back out to safety. Exercise great caution when doing this to prevent any potential injury. For kittens trapped within pipes or HVAC systems, it may be necessary to call for professional help to safely remove the kitten from its hiding place.

Make use of food

Most kittens love to eat. If your fave furry feline has proven elusive, it’s time to find a yummy snack that may lure her out of her lair.

Sometimes simply the sound of food preparation is enough to send a kitten scurrying back to your side. These include such noises as those made by using a can opener or the rustle of a bag of favorite treats opening.

If you are dealing with a particularly skittish kitten, you will want to use a treat that is extremely fragrant. Both tuna and salmon are of great appeal to cats, but chicken is also a great attractant. Take the food to the area where you last saw your kitten, leaving a small amount there in the hope of enticing her to come out and take a bite or two. While waiting for your kitten to respond to the treats, you will need to be extra vigilant to ensure you can quickly grab her when she comes out of hiding. Some kittens find the mixture of cat food and kitten milk replacer exceptionally appealing.

Bringing a new kitten home? It’s a good idea to prepare yourself for the potential that your new fave furry friend may feel the need to hide away to cope with the changes in her life. Familiarize yourself with our top tips to help you find your kitten if she goes MIA. You’ll be glad you did!

The birth of kittens can be an exciting experience for the queen herself and for the cat guardians. But as is the case with any other type of pregnancy in animals and humans alike, sometimes things can go wrong.

In this article, we will look at the stages of birth, labour, and any complications that might show up for various reasons.

Before the Birth

Cats that have around 14 days left before giving birth should be treated with care. Instruct the people in your home to be calm and quiet around your feline friend and handle her appropriately.

Some cats can look for the perfect spot to give birth in even if you supply them with the most comfortable cat bed. It’s not uncommon for them to prefer a dresser instead of the place you’ve prepared for them.

In around 70% of the cases, the birth goes as expected, so there are no complications involved. However, since these cannot be overruled, it’s a good idea to be prepared. Get in touch with your vet and make sure that you have their telephone number on hand in case something happens.

Some cats might give birth during the night, which means that it can be a challenge to tell whether the placenta has been removed or if all of the kittens were born.

Some of the things that you will need to help your cat are going to be several clean towels, a warm water bottle (or even better, a microwavable bean bag) and a milk replacement if you notice any problems with lactation.

How to Tell That Your Cat Is Ready to Give Birth

In cats, labour is composed of several stages, and we will discuss all of them below. But in the first stage, the cat will become very vocal and restless and start pacing around the room as if she were looking for something.

Many cats begin producing milk around two days before going into labour, so you might notice it coming out of your cat’s mammary glands. During this time, she’ll also have less of an interest in food, and she will begin to look for a safe hiding place.

Furthermore, one or two days before she gives birth, your cat’s body temperature will become lower. Normally, a cat’s body temperature is anything between 100 and 102.5 degrees F (37.7 to 39.1 degrees C), but it’s typical for a cat that’s about to give birth to have a body temperature of 99F (or 37.2 degrees C). If you know how to measure your cat’s temperature, this sign can tell you that the kitten birth is coming.

Some cats can become extremely affectionate while also restless, at the same time. A few hours before birth, you might see a discharge coming out of the cat’s vulva, and then the water will break.

Stages of Parturition

There are three main stages of parturition (also known as kittening). The first is general, meaning it happens once for all of the kittens, but the second and third are repeated for every cat baby. After the first stage, the birth per se can last for 6 hours, but in some cases, it can be as long as 12 hours.

• First stage

The first stage is the longest and it can take up to 36 hours. During this time, the cat is not going to give birth, but she will experience a number of other symptoms, such as intermittent contractions, restlessness, and repeated visits to the place that she has chosen as her birth spot.

Vaginal discharge is uncommon in this stage. The cat can begin to pant and scratch the bedding right before she goes into the second stage of birth.

• Second stage

The second stage is repeated per every kitten that is born. It can last anything from 5 to 30 minutes per baby cat. During this time, the cat experiences strong contractions, the water breaks, and when straining begins to occur, a kitten’s head can be seen in the birth canal.

Once the head of the first kitten comes out of the canal, it takes two to three strains for her whole body to be pushed out. Kittens are covered in a birth bag and they have an umbilical cord connecting them to the mother.

The cat typically breaks the birth bag and cuts the cord by chewing. Then, she begins to lick the kitten so as to stimulate blood flow and encourage it to breathe.

• Third stage

After giving birth to a kitten, the cat will push out several membranes, along with a dark mass called the placenta. It’s not uncommon for two kittens to be born and then two sets of different membranes to be released from the birth canal.

Even though most cats will at least try to eat the placenta in order to get rid of the evidence that they gave birth to kittens, you should try to keep an eye and count the number of placentas so that none are left inside the cat’s body. If this happens, the cat could suffer from a severe infection.

Physiologically, you might notice a red or brown-coloured discharge coming out of the cat’s vulva for as many as two to three weeks after she gave birth. This can be perfectly normal unless it develops a weird (foul) smell or changes its colour to green.

Interrupted Labour

Some cats can interrupt labour for a number of reasons, including their owners leaving for a short amount of time. This break can last for up to 24 hours, during which the cat will behave perfectly normally, nurse and clean her kittens and show interest in food and water.

After this resting stage ends, straining begins once again and the cat usually completes the birth process as expected.

Signs of Cat Labour Complications

• Straining for 20 minutes without any sign of producing a kitten
• Intense labour for 2-2.5 hours between kittens
• A high body temperature (above 39.5 degrees C or 103 degrees F)
• Intense bleeding during and after kittening
• Lethargy, fatigue, anxiety

Possible Cat Labour Problems

The most common complications of labour and pregnancy are the following:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Retained placenta (metritis)
• Dystocia

Vaginal bleeding (to some amount) is normal during birth, but not during pregnancy. If the cat has reached the late stage of pregnancy and you start seeing vaginal bleeding, it’s time to call the vet right away as she can either give birth to the kittens prematurely or she might abort the litter.

A retained placenta can be at the root of a severe infection. If this happens, the cat will have a poor general health status and develop lethargy, appetite loss, as well as fever. Needless to say, she can begin to neglect her kittens if this occurs, and since they are so young and vulnerable, their life is at risk.

Dystocia is what happens when the cat has been experiencing intense contractions for more than 60 minutes, without any success of giving birth. It can be caused by a mechanical blockage, which occurs when the kitten is incorrectly oriented in the birth canal (it exits backwards – legs first – or with its neck forwards and head turned sideways or towards its belly).

In some cases, the uterine muscles can become too weak during labour. While the contractions are present, they aren’t strong enough for the cat to be able to give birth. This is more frequent in cats that have a very large litter or one abnormally large kitten in a too-small uterus.

Diagnosing and Treating Birth Difficulties

If you notice any of the previously mentioned symptoms, you should go to the vet clinic as soon as possible.

Diagnosing birth difficulties can be done using a number of tests, but you should know that the veterinarian is going to ask you a number of questions, most of which will be related to the cat’s previous pregnancies and anything else you might have noticed during labour.

As for treating complications, this can be done using medication or by performing a C-section.

In cases where the cat doesn’t seem to be able to expel the placenta or the kittens on her own, the vet will administer a shot of oxytocin, which is a hormone that can stimulate the birth. Although usually safe, the dose of oxytocin needs to be correct as otherwise, it could cause a uterine rupture.

A cesarean section is necessary if there are a number of birthing problems present and the administration of medication is incapable of solving them. C-sections are performed after assessing the labour and the queen’s condition, as well as any results from an X-ray, for example. More often than not, they are safe, and they can save a cat’s life, especially if this is her first pregnancy.

Recovery

Surgery is almost always to be preferred if the cat is experiencing severe complications. It can be risky, however, if the cat’s health status is poor, especially if the labour has taken a long time.

In most cases, however, cats can recover in just 3-4 hours following the operation. If you are worried that your feline companion is not going to be able to have any litters following the C-section, you shouldn’t. Even with first-time queens, the operation can be straightforward and safe, and it will not affect your pet’s fertility as time goes by.

However, if you want to get litters from your cat in the future, and you want to keep the ones that she’s given birth to, we would recommend against spaying your cat right now. Unfortunately, once this happens, there will be a considerable decrease in hormones in the animal’s blood flow, so she’ll experience lactation-related problems and even be less nursing with the kittens.

Are Some Cats More Prone to Developing Complications?

Yes. Cats that have never been pregnant before have a much higher likelihood of experiencing complications. There are also some breeds that can develop complications more frequently compared to others:

• Himalayan
• Persian
• Any other brachycephalic cat breeds

After Birth

The two most common issues that can show up after your feline friend has given birth are eclampsia and umbilical hernia in kittens.

Fortunately, umbilical hernia usually resolves on its own in a matter of several months. However, if this doesn’t happen, the kitten can be performed surgery on.

Eclampsia, on the other hand, can be a more serious complication. It’s also called milk fever, and it effectively consists of a low calcium blood level in the queen. While almost all mothers experience some form of this issue one way or the other, severe hypocalcemia can be extremely dangerous to the point that it leads to the animal’s death.

A cat that has given birth can develop eclampsia during the late stages of its pregnancy, but also in the first several days after giving birth. Some of the symptoms that you can notice if your cat is unfortunate enough to develop it are increased salivation, restlessness, stiffness, muscle twitching, fever and lethargy.

Time is of the essence when it comes to treating eclampsia, so if you notice any of these clinical signs after your cat has given birth to kittens, go to the vet clinic as soon as possible.

Keeping the Kittens Safe

If this is not your cat’s first pregnancy, it’s quite likely that she will give birth and take care of her kittens appropriately. However, some kittens can be born unresponsive, and the cat’s behavior can sometimes not be correct, meaning that she might not tear the sack or umbilical cord with her teeth so that the kitten can begin breathing.

In this case, you have to do this on your own. Tear the membranes and then wipe the kitten’s nose and mouth, and remove all of the fluids. Tear the umbilical cord but hold it between your fingers for several minutes so as to prevent bleeding. Rub the kitten clean by gently stroking it with a clean towel.

Keep kittens in a warm place as they don’t yet have the ability to regulate their body temperature properly. During the first four days of their lives, they should live in an environment that reaches 85 to 90 degrees F (29.5-32 degrees C). By the time they reach one month, they can live in spaces with a temperature of about 72 degrees F (22.5 degrees C).

The best way to keep the litter warm enough is to use covered hot water bottles and microwavable bean bags. Heat lamps are too dangerous. All the hot water bottles have to be covered with several layers of towels as kittens can inadvertently pierce them with their tiny claws.