MOTHER and KITTENS

After mating occurs, the gestation period under normal circumstances averages between 60-66 days. You can figure out when yourself when the kittens should arrive(take the first day of mating and count 63 days). A few days earlier or later is no need for alarm. The first litter of your Queen should be montered. If she has not giving birth within 63 days you should consult your vet. She may need medical attention. Then again she may just have a longer gestation period. You will better be able to judge her second litter by her first. I have a friend who is a breeder and one of her cats had to have 2 C-sections. The first time a kitten was turned wrong and had to be removed. The second time the same thing. The Persian has some trouble with birthing kittens,some believe it is because they have no nose to help push through the birthing canal. Others believe it is because the the head of a persian is massive and to big for the canals. I believe it is both. Some cats no trouble and others do, you will have to wait and see if yours will produce healthy kittens while keeping mother safe at the same time.

A PLACE TO BIRTH

The mother to be will look for a spot that she fills comfortable with. A place that is quite and dark. I always place a cardboard box with with newspapers and a sheet over them for her in my closet. It should be big enough for her to turn around in and house up to 6 kittens. It should have an opening large enough for her to climb in and out of. But high enough that kittens cant crawl out. After the birth of the kittens you should regularly change the breeding, the mother cat can discharge blood up to two weeks after birth.

THE BIRTH OF THE KITTENS

The mother cat will start getting restless e few days before she is to give birth. She will keep going to her birthing spot, scratching in it, laying in it and even decide she no longer wants that spot. She may go to her litter box and scratch in it for minutes at a time without using it. I have one who layed in hers for hours evey day.(I made sure it was cleaned and gave her a new one to use for littering in). A cat who has bonded with a person may want you with her. She will let you know by leaving the box and trying to get you back to it. Others will not want you around at all. You should respect the cat and her decision to share the birthing with or without you. She will no longer need you after the kittens are born. She will follow her instincts and bite the umbilical cord,lick the cat clean,eat the after birth,and then will nurse them. Keep some fresh water and food nearby she will get thirsty and she needs proper nurishment to keep herself healthy.

COMPLICATIONS

You should always find away to observe your cat during the birthing process while respecting her decision to have you or not. If your cat pushes long and fruitlessly for to long (2 Hours) before the appearance of the next kitten. If she starts bleeding more than normal. If the mother cat lies in the box and starts breathing apathetically and ignores the kittens. If observe any of these signs CALL YOUR VET.

YOUR NEW ARRIVALS

You should give the mother and kittens privacy during the first three days. Limit visitors and contact with the kittens. You should observe them though. Making sure each kitten is feeding. Normally a kitten weighs between 3-4 ounces. Kittens are born deaf and blind. Their sense of smell is already functional. The kittens eyes will not open for eight to ten days. The first milk teeth will not appear for eight to ten days. Around three weeks they will start roaming in the box and scratching the sides. At four weeks the start trying to play and a litter box should be introduced. A shallow box that they can climb in and out of. The mother cat should do the traing for you. You can introduce food to them at this time. You should feed them soupy and semisolid food. You can also feed them(infant) cereal made with milk. Their are commercial foods on the market now for kittens, nutritionally complete.

FOSTER PARENTING

Sometimes a mother cat may not be able to feed her young. It could be she died giving birth, the litter is to large, inborn factors or hormonal malfunctions to produce any or enough milk for her kittens. Whatever the case you should try foster parenting to another cat. It does not have tobe the same breed. When introduced to a foster parent make the cat accepts the kitten or kittens. It could take a hour or so, or not at all. It is important that kitten tried to be fostered out for the first days so they can acquire antibodies from the mothers milk.

BOTTLING FEEDING

If you can not foster the kitten out. You will have to bottle feed the kittens. Formulas are commercially sold at pet stores. The kittens should be feed every two hours day and night with a bottle that has a nipple suitable for the kittens. If you are not sure what to by consult a vet or pet shop. If the nipple is to large you can drown the kitten or it can become ill from the drainage of milk out the nose and into the lungs. You will have to massage the kittens bellies after every feeding and wipe their bottoms with a wet warm wash cloth to stimulate the passing of urine and stool.

FINDING HELP

If you feel you do not have the time for this do not throw the kittens into a shelter or onto the streets. Call a local breeder of any breed cat in your area.Most breeders will take the cat in. Social awareness of animal cruelty and cat rescue is among most breeders list of importance. We that breed must also save the life of all cats not just our preferred breed.Cat rescue clubs and organizations in your area can help Your local vet. Try everything before giving up.