Help during cat birth

Normally your cat will do all the work by herself, but it she presents difficulties and you can and feel qualified to help, do it with precaution. 

If the kitten is born and the mother cannot break the placenta, brake it with your nails or with the help of some scissors very carefully so you wont hurt the kitten. If after she doesn't clean the kitten and this one doesn't breathe, rub it energetically with your hand on the back, this will stimulate it to breathe. When it is stable, place it next to the mother so it can breast-fed and suck the colostrum.

Now, if the kitten gets stuck in the birth canal and half the body stays inside the mother, pull it carefully at the pace of the uterine contractions to avoid hurting and tearing the cat. If in spite of all this, nothing can be done, take immediately your cat to the veterinarian, since the two are in mortal danger. 

Generally the approximate time of birth between kitten and kitten is 45 to 60 minutes, though in some cases it can be less. Observe the amount of time and intensity of the contractions, since she can get tired after the first 

expulsion. Offer her some milk with honey to give her strength. 

If you notice a few and very sporadic contractions take her immediately to the veterinarian, since if there are more kittens inside the abdomen, they can die.

Never administer hormones to your cat to induce the contractions and to facilitate the birth, until the veterinarian indicates it. In general, only we must act if:

1. The cat suffers contractions but the birth does not begin passed already 63 - 65 days of the gestation. It is possible that the kittens are very big and cannot have them or something is going wrong. Call your veterinarian so you don't have to move her from her bed or house.
2. Once the first kitten has gone out, if the cat proves to be indifferent or scared and does not realize her labor, we will have to tear the fetal bag, dry the kitten rubbing it energetically and cut her umbilical cord. It would be suitable to receive a small lesson by a professional before the birth happens, so we know how to react right away without any problems.
3. After the birth of a kitten, she has to go on to the next one and see if it is breathing, if it is cold or not. A heat device will have to be put and clean the nostrils to help it. Put it next to the mother and try to have it breastfeed right away.
4. If there is a kitten stuck in the birth canal and it doesn't come out in spite of all the mothers effort, there is a point where the cat will get tired and stops. We will have to try to help with our hands clean o preferably will gloves, lubricate de vulva of the cat with lukewarm water and soap or petroleum jelly, hold the cat and will pull slow but strongly the whole body of the kitten little by little. If a leg gets stuck and the bag breaks, it doesn't matter, place a finger inside and re locate de kitten and continue pulling. 
5. If the contractions disappear and there is still kittens inside (confirm first the number with an ultrasound) the mother seems tired, depressed and shows no interest in continuing. We must call the veterinarian.

After birth
Even after having given birth to the last kitten, your cat will continue expelling remains of placenta and fetal liquids for several days, even weeks. This has a brownish color and are odorless. If these secretions last too long or have a putrid smell, take your cat to the veterinarian so it can be examined.

Once finished the birth, the kittens will start sucking in a instinctive way. They must drink the colostrum or the first milk the mother has to offer them. In it, they will have all the necessary nutrients and antibodies for their immune system. If one of them doesn't do it, it will have to be helped.

Once the kitten has been weaned, withdraw gradually the mothers special diet and substitute it for the regular one. It depends on you that your cat and kittens are well taken care of before, during and after the birth.