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So your cat has been pregnant for awhile now and been getting rounder and rounder. Suddenly, her whole demeanour changes and you're standing there, wondering if this is really it - is your cat in labor? Are her kittens on the way? How will you know for sure? What signs of labor can you expect to see? It's natural for any cat lover to want to give the very best care to their pet. But when illness strikes - or in this case, due to give birth to kittens - we often feel very stressed and helpless. All of a sudden, we realise that we just don't know enough to be of help. After all, we can't all be vets! You need to know what to look out for and you need to know fast. Your cat's pregnancy will have lasted around 64 days but it is very unlikely that you will able to be that accurate. Instead, you will need to be able to recognise the different stages of pregnancy and be alert to the signs which will indicate that your cat's labor is about to begin. Firstly, you are likely to have noticed that your cat's appetite will have almost doubled in the past weeks or so and you will be able to see her kittens moving around in her abdomen quite clearly. It is natural, too, for your cat to seek out a warm, safe and secure place where she can give birth and she will display 'nesting' behavior as she searches around. If you are properly prepared, you will have already supplied a 'nesting box' for her to use - that way you can control the place in which she chooses to deliver her kittens and avoid her selecting an inappropriate place, such as your bed! Then, as your cat's labor is about to start, her appetite will reduce significantly - or even disappear completely. Sign number three is that of 'clingy' behavior. Your cat will want to be with you all the time, looking for affection. As time brings her closer to the actual birth, she may start pacing around and seem particularly nervous or even excitable. Another, unmistakable sign of impending labor, is 'calling'. If you have never heard your cat make this sound before, don't worry, you won't be able to mistake it! As the time approaches, you will see your cat repeatedly licking her bottom as she reacts to changing sensations in her body as she prepares for the birth of her kittens. And finally, when your soon-to-be mother cat starts to feel the first twinges of her labor, she will appear to be uneasy and will repeatedly go in and out of her nesting box, 'treading' on the nesting material that you have already provided. When you witness this last behavior, you can be certain that the birth of your new kittens has begun. Your beautiful cat is in labor! But remember, this is when your presence is vital. You will need to have prepared yourself to be on hand to help if things should go wrong. It is your responsibility to have become familiar with what is normal and what is not, during the birthing process. If you know what to expect - good or bad - you will be able to remain calm and in control and give your cat the very best care that she deserves.
Article Source: http://www.fubrus.com
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