The birth of kittens is an important and anxious process that is very difficult for the mother. It is the owner’s responsibility to alleviate [the suffering of her cat] (../../../assets//kak-pravilno-uxazhivat-za-beremennoj-koshkoj/ ‘How to take care of a pregnant cat correctly?’). First of all, you should take care of the place where the cat would be most comfortable giving birth.
As a rule, for this purpose, use spacious boxes with an exit to one side, but not upwards. The cat should be accustomed to the box beforehand, it is not always possible that the cat will agree to the proposed shelter, in this case it is worth to worry about changing the location of the box in the apartment or changing its interior decoration. You should put something soft on the bottom of the box, for example an old blanket or comforter and preferably cover it with a clean sheet or similar. During pregnancy the cat should be periodically put in the box so it gets used to it.
With the place taken care of and it’s time for the miracle to happen - the birth of kittens. The first and most important thing is to be with the cat all the time. This process is very painful for the cat, she needs support, especially if the cat is young and giving birth for the first time. You should not be nervous, as cats are very sensitive creatures, they may detect your anxiety, and become even more nervous, which in rare cases may even lead to the eating of the newborn calf. So the atmosphere should be quiet and peaceful.
During the birthing process, the owner can also provide some assistance to the pet. If the cat’s contractions are not intense enough, you should stimulate them by stroking the cat’s abdomen and back, and you should not let them drag on too long. When giving birth to the first kitten, the cat should chew the umbilical cord. If it does not do that, you should do it yourself: about 2 centimeters from the kitten’s belly, the umbilical cord should be tied with thread and cut with scissors, and the cut ends should also be treated.
Each kitten’s abdomen contains a placenta, ideally it will tear during birth, but this does not always happen. If a kitten is in an intact placenta after birth, it needs to be torn so it can take its first breath into the world. By nature’s design, the cat itself eats the placenta and chews the umbilical cord, washes the kittens, warms them, and feeds them. Our task is just not to interfere with her, to provide decent support and be able to help when difficulties arise, as a reward you will have a bunch of wonderful fluffy babies.