Early death of kittens (Fading Kitten Syndrome). Preterm birth in a cat - timing, causes and your actions What you can do

Category: Tips

Sometimes kittens or puppies are born ahead of schedule, but then their body and immunity are very weakened. What to do in this case? Of course, it is best to entrust the care of kittens or puppies to their mother, but sometimes there are cases when the baby is so weak that his sucking reflex is absent, or his mother did not accept the newborn at all. In such a case, any emergency measures to save the baby.

Pet life
To save the baby's life, you need to consider several points.

1. In order to support the vital activity of a pet, immediately after his birth, it is necessary to inject him with a special drug, which is vitamin complex.
And to support the immune system, special means are also needed.
To improve the pet's immunity, there is a recipe for a healthy cocktail: vitamin C, glucose and saline. Then, by 1 millimeter, a solution is injected into a weakened pet every 2 hours.

2. Providing warmth.
Since the thermoregulation of the kitten is still imperfect, or absent at all, he just needs warmth. The baby should be placed in an insulated box separately from the mother so that the mother does not accidentally crush him.

3. Supplementation with glucose.
The suckling reflex of the baby is weakened and therefore he needs glucose to create growth energy, which must be given to the pet before each feeding, one millimeter. For convenience, we do this with a syringe.

4. Use of special mixtures.
To date, pet stores are filled with pet food and mixtures. But before you feed the pet, it must be warmed up so that the baby's digestion functions properly! Before feeding, place it in a box heated with a heating pad, and then start feeding.

5. Feeding with nipples and special bottles.
It is very convenient to feed the baby through a syringe without a needle or through a special bottle, and best of all through a tube. Tube feeding prevents food from entering the lungs. However, you need to do this correctly, you should be well acquainted with the rules of such feeding.

6. Regular massage.
After feeding your baby, massage the tummy and genital area to improve urination and defecation.

7. Monitoring your pet's weight.
Be sure to monitor your pet's weight gain. The weight of the kitten should be added every day by 8-10 grams. When the kit stabilizes and the kitten's well-being improves, this will mean that the baby is completely healthy.
Such a complex for the care of premature pets can help even in the most difficult situations!

Childbirth in cats, just like in humans, can be unpredictable. On average, a cat bears kittens for 62-72 days. It is believed that premature birth in a cat occurs if the gestation period is less than 58 days. The reasons for early lambing can be different. The owner of the animal must know what to do in such cases.

Why do cats give birth prematurely?

At home, good well-groomed cats premature lambing is extremely rare . The reason may be one of the following factors:

1. The animal was injured (fell, hit, accidentally got under the leg of one of the household members).
2. If the pet goes outside, she can pick up an infection there. The disease will provoke early childbirth.
3. The cat got stressed (she was greatly frightened, a child appeared in the house, repairs began, her beloved owner left for a long time).
4. One kitten died in the womb. Here everything happens at the level of functions laid down by nature - the body of the animal spontaneously gets rid of the dead fetus.
5. The cat feels a threat to offspring. This happens very rarely. For example, if a pet lives in a private house and walks in the yard, the appearance of an aggressive dog in the neighbors can cause the cat to give birth prematurely - she feels that she cannot protect the kittens and gets rid of the litter.

This is the most probable causes premature birth in a cat. If the animal is already old (the cat is 7-8 years old or more), then the risk of premature pregnancy increases significantly.

Breeding and breeding cat breeds can not bring their first offspring. Their natural instincts are less developed, and pregnancy often proceeds with complications.

Symptoms of preterm labor

In a normal pregnancy, the expectant mother begins to prepare for childbirth in about a week. It is easy to notice - the cat is fussing, looking for secluded places, meowing loudly, eating poorly. But premature lambing can begin suddenly.

Signs of premature lambing:

• The cat has a bloody or liquid copious discharge.
• Her stomach became hard.
• The animal became lethargic or, conversely, too fussy.
• Pet refuses food and water.
• Breathing became more frequent, contractions (cramps in the abdomen) are observed.

What to do

It's best to call your veterinarian as soon as possible. If this is not possible, you will have to take birth yourself.

Kittens are considered viable if they are already 51 days old. At an earlier date, they will not survive and there is no point in saving them.

Some advise giving the animal a contraction-stopping injection (No-shpu, Papazol) to prolong the pregnancy. But doing this without a doctor's examination is dangerous: perhaps one or more fetuses are dead, and if the cat's body does not get rid of them, blood poisoning will occur.

If the cause of early lambing is not established, it is better not to interfere with the process. Well, if the kittens are born alive, they have a chance to survive. Dead offspring should be immediately removed from the mother.

It is impossible to predict how long kittens will be born and how many of them are in the womb. Sometimes the process of lambing lasts more than a day. If the cat has not given birth within 5-7 hours, it is necessary to call a doctor.

Even if the cat gave birth to viable kittens ahead of time and feels good, it still needs to be shown to a specialist. After all, something provoked a premature process. You should not bring a recently born animal to the clinic - this is a big stress for the cat, it is better to call the veterinarian at home.

Finally

To prevent pathological childbirth, you should carefully take care of your pet - protect it from accidental injuries during pregnancy, feed it well, and not expose it to fear.

It is recommended to visit the veterinarian once a month. Unfortunately, sometimes after the examination, it is necessary to induce premature birth on purpose, having found in the animal a factor that prevents successful lambing. But this happens very rarely. On average, domestic, well-groomed cats give birth prematurely in only 5-7% of cases.

VETERINARY CONSULTATION REQUIRED. INFORMATION FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

If a kitten is born prematurely, then he has not so many chances for further existence. Newborn premature kittens do not have the ability to see, hear and control their temperature. The only thing they have is well developed - the sense of smell. They can distinguish the smell of mother and the smell of someone else's already hours after birth. But the first months of their lives they are completely dependent on the cat.

But what to do if the mother-cat herself refused such a kitten?

This is exactly the situation that Debbie Timmis faced when she saw an urgent message in in social networks that a prematurely born kitten needs help.

Mom abandoned the kitten and his life hung in the balance ... Fortunately, Debbie is not used to backing down in the face of difficulties.

An hour after Debbie saw the message, she had already brought the baby into her house. Weighing it, she saw a shocking 60 grams.

She knew that there were not so many chances for the survival of this crumb, she decided to do everything in her power.

She encountered the first difficulties after a couple of hours, when the kitten began to choke, his paws became cold, and his tongue was white. Debbie kept the baby warm with everyone possible ways and gave him a breast massage. After a few minutes, the kitten's condition stabilized.

For the next two weeks, Debbie devoted herself entirely to her new pet, because he had to be fed every two hours.

This paid off and Freya, as the woman called her, began to gain weight.

Debbie named the kitten after the Scandinavian goddess of love.

“There was no equal to her in beauty and there is none in the whole world either among the gods or among people, and her heart is so soft and gentle that it sympathizes with the suffering of everyone (wikipedia)”

Today, Freya is a curious and very affectionate ball of wool. She must stick her wet nose into every business that Debbie is busy with. And after that, the baby climbs onto the knees of his savior and falls asleep purring loudly!

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It is difficult to deceive nature, most often it is impossible. Premature birth in a cat never happens just like that, there are reasons for an unexpected event, albeit not obvious ones. If your pet is pregnant or has already experienced a premature birth, and you are torturing yourself with the question “Why?” - you are at the address, below we will analyze everything.

Viable offspring range from 51 to 71 days. At the same time, for kittens from a mother of a “noble” breed, a birth on the 50th day will not be a death sentence. Pedigree cats carry babies longer and most often give birth at 63-65 days. It is worth noting separately the cats of the Siamese breed, which break all records and bear offspring for 69–70 days.

The main reason for such a significant difference in terms is the number of kittens born. Thoroughbred mothers give birth to 2-4 babies, who almost always survive. A cat living under a concrete slab on the street is “genetically programmed” to give birth to as many kittens as possible, because 60-80% of them will die before they reach a year.

Note! The gestational age of a cat is too individual an indicator to “customize” it to the standards. Genetics plays an important role, if the mother of a pregnant cat gave birth at day 60, then your pet will most likely "invest" in these terms. Short-haired, small-sized, naturally thin cats can give birth a little prematurely and this is normal.

It is believed that kittens born before day 60 are not viable. In practice, a premature baby can really be fed if the intestinal microflora is properly populated. The “red line” of 60 days was set for a reason, resuscitated and fed kittens, most often, are inferior.

Causes of premature birth in cats

The hormonal system of the animal tells mom when to prepare for childbirth and equip the nest. With a miscarriage, this stage is omitted and the onset of labor is determined by the obvious symptoms:

• Increase in body temperature.

• Anxiety.

• Intermittent contractions.

• Mucus with blood threads, gray-brown liquid, clear or yellowish water, dark blood is released from the loop.

• Attempts.

Read also: Discharge from a cat before childbirth, what is considered the norm and what is a pathology

Turning to the veterinarian, most likely, you will hear: “Watch”, return home and sit over the box with your pet “nibble” yourself, asking how you can help. No, veterinarians are not heartless people, there is a logical explanation for this behavior and it comes from possible causes premature birth:

• Non-viable offspring- a cause that cannot be diagnosed in advance. The cat instinctively knows that the kittens will not survive and aborts the pregnancy on her own. If the veterinarian manages to stop the contractions, the cat will give birth later and abandon the babies, who will eventually die.

• intrauterine infection- is brought in during mating or "hunting". With the onset of pregnancy, the cervix closes, and pathogens are more than suitable conditions for reproduction. Childbirth cannot be stopped, it threatens with intoxication and death of the cat.

• dead kitten is a more positive option. An animal miscarries 1 or more dead kittens a few weeks before due delivery. If the body copes, then the cat carries the rest of the babies and successfully gives birth. In this case, childbirth cannot be stopped.

• Detachment of the placenta- a pathology that ends in the death of all kittens if the period is less than 58 days. Childbirth, most often, is swift and your task is to save the cat. Placental abruption may be accompanied by internal bleeding.

• Injury abdominal cavity or severe fear- this is the only reason for which childbirth can be stopped. Naturally, no one will give you guarantees that the offspring will survive.

Important! The process of childbirth should be natural and natural. By stopping contractions without the approval of a professional, you risk your cat's health and life.

Newborn premature kittens do not have the ability to see, hear and control their temperature. The only thing that they have perfectly developed is the sense of smell. They can distinguish the smell of mother and the smell of someone else's already hours after birth. But the first months of their lives they are completely dependent on the cat.

As soon as the kittens are born at term, the cat will be able to go out without difficulty. In those cases when babies are born ahead of time, then they and the cat cannot do without the help of the owner.

Premature kittens: care

To raise premature kittens, you must adhere to the following simple rules:

1. It is necessary to create favorable and comfortable conditions. To do this, they will need to place newborns in a warm, artificially heated place immediately after birth. It is important that this temperature is maintained constantly. Ideally, this is a special lamp located at a distance from the kittens' nest.
2. It is very important to keep the umbilical cord clean. If the cat is with kittens, then she will monitor the hygiene of the umbilical wound on her own. But in any case, if the umbilical cord does not fall off, you should not touch it, since it is more correct to wait for it to dry completely.
3. In order to recover faster, you need to feed them by the hour. It is best if it is used for feeding. Thanks to him, the kittens will not have problems with the tummy. To feed them, you need to use a regular bottle, at the end of which there should be a nipple. But if a cat has a lot of milk, premature kittens constantly suck and noticeably gain weight, then additional supplementary feeding is not needed.
4. Ideally, premature babies should be taken to a veterinarian to ensure they develop properly. Sometimes, imperceptibly to the eye of the owner, kittens develop in different ways, and some of them need more attention than others.
5. You should carefully monitor the stool of premature kittens. The cat, licking the cub, massages his tummy, which helps to improve intestinal peristalsis. But if you suddenly notice that the kitten cannot empty its intestines on its own, then you will need to help him do this. previously soaked in warm water with a semi-moist cotton pad, you need to massage the tummy clockwise with minimal pressure, imitating the movements of a cat mom. After that, you need to lightly grease the kitten's anus with vegetable oil. Do not use any devices, so as not to damage the rectum of the animal with careless movements.

Now you have learned that premature kittens need careful care and little pets will have a chance to develop, no worse than ordinary pets.