Mummy Cat

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‘Mummy Cat’ was a stray found in March on an industrial estate in Witney. She was a healthy young cat (around 7months old). At the time she should have been known as ‘Mummy-to-be Cat’ as she was found to be pregnant by palpation (feeling her abdomen) and ultrasound. 

She stayed with us for 2 weeks before the big day arrived. 

She started to give birth one early afternoon, with 3 kittens born within an hour.  By 4.30pm , she was exhausted, with 6 kittens born.  The last 2 however needed some help, as their umbilical cords were wrapped around each other, and the placenta was still inside the uterus.

The cords were tied off and cut and the kittens cleaned and dried manually as ‘Mummy cat’ was now too exhausted to do anything herself.

A handful of kittens

But she wasn’t finished yet.  At 5pm , a 7^th and final kitten was born in an unbroken amniotic sac. We broke the sac but the kitten was not breathing, with some heart massage, oxygen and respiratory stimulants, we revived it.

Sadly by the following afternoon, one kitten had died.  Unfortunately, it is a reasonably common problem with litters of kittens to lose one or two in the first couple of days.

The rest are fit and healthy and have done well.  ‘Mummy cat’ proved to be an excellent mummy, and most of the kittens have now found new homes.

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