Pregnant cats may meow a lot, especially in the later stages of pregnancy.
Generally speaking, pregnant cats are vocal cats! As some of you may know, animals CAN meow because they are in pain, but that is not the only reason. This is especially true for cats, who are never shy about letting you know what they want.
What makes pregnancy special when it comes to increasing the volume of meows? Let's take a look at this strange behavior of a pregnant cat!
Optimal age for mating
Puberty in cats occurs between 7 and 9 months of the animal's first year of life. The onset of this period is difficult to miss. The pet exhibits new behavioral traits:
- Slowly walking on half-bent legs;
- Long and persistent meow;
- Constant demand for affection from owners;
- Purring accompanied by rubbing against various objects.
© shutterstock
At the same time, the first estrus appears in females. How quickly this happens, and how regularly it will happen in the future, directly depends on a number of factors, primarily on the breed. This phenomenon is accompanied by increased sexual arousal. By this indicator you can learn about sexual maturity and readiness for reproduction.
With the onset of heat, the cat begins to lick itself frequently and urinates profusely.
You can recognize this by interruptions in appetite. During the period of heat, the cat becomes more affectionate; she rolls and wriggles on the floor for a long time. At any opportune moment, she tries to sneak out into the street . It happens that some individuals during this period show aggression that is unusual for them. It will go away on its own.
The frequency of estrus occurs approximately every three weeks throughout the year. Sexual activity is observed year-round, but heightened desire can be observed in the period from February to March.
However, you should not organize mating before the animal is one year old. Early fertilization threatens the deflection of the spine and the threat of difficult childbirth.
The cat is shaking before giving birth - what could it be?
In this situation, there are several options:
- It is known that before the onset of labor, cats breathe faster, so much that it will seem to you that she is trembling and cold.
- Yes, the cat is really shaking. But if there are no more bad signs, then there is no need to worry, since during contractions there may be temperature changes. But if strong discharge begins or the animal is already very weak and loss of consciousness is observed, then it is better to consult a specialist, as this is an indicator of a complicated birth.
First signs
Determining whether a cat is pregnant in the early stages is not always easy. It happens that during gestation the animal may not stop estrus. This picture makes it clear that progesterone is being produced in insufficient quantities.
© shutterstock
And yet, signs of a cat’s pregnancy in the first days:
- Change in appetite . The animal can eat very little. Possibly because she may feel nauseous in the early stages. This is a normal manifestation of the current situation. Toxicosis, as a rule, passes quickly and not all animals suffer from it. But remember, cats usually do not experience morning sickness, and if the animal vomits frequently and is unwell, you need to find out the reason, it may lie in something completely different. Only a veterinarian can determine.
- Drowsiness . Changes in hormonal levels cause lethargy and sleepiness of the pregnant pet. You can find out if a cat is pregnant by watching how she lies on her litter for a long time, especially since she used to be very mobile and active.
- Suspension of estrus also helps determine that a cat is pregnant. If an animal goes into heat, this is a clear sign that the cat is sexually mature. But its suspension helps to find out that the cat is pregnant, and in the very early stages. At the same time, she stops asking to go for a walk and making characteristic uterine sounds. You can understand that your favorite is in position by the fact that interest in the opposite sex subsides, and she becomes much calmer.
- The color of the nipples changes . You can tell if a cat is pregnant by taking a closer look at her nipples. After conception, your cat's nipples will become a more intense pink color. If this sign is especially pronounced, then it makes it clear that the cat is pregnant for the first time. Sometimes it happens that not all of her nipples change color, but only some of her nipples.
What to do after childbirth
After babies are born, it is necessary to ensure the necessary temperature in their home so that they do not freeze. Normal temperature is twenty-nine degrees, no less.
Also monitor the animal’s diet. Your cat should eat a balanced diet. When the cat is feeding her kittens, she needs to be given a little more food than usual. If it is dry food, then buy a special one for nursing cats.
Remember that even an experienced veterinarian cannot always determine the exact date of birth. Therefore, it is imperative to know how a cat behaves before giving birth, and, if necessary, be sure to help her with this. Don’t forget to always be with her in the last days and not leave her alone at home. Someone, but must be next to her.
Of course, in most cases, cats themselves can give birth to healthy and beautiful kittens without any problems, but being with them is simply necessary. Treat the birth of your beloved cat with full responsibility. Do not neglect her health, the cat is also a living creature, and she really relies on you. She has no one else relatives besides you.
How to determine late pregnancy
It also happens that owners are not immediately able to find out whether a cat is pregnant at home. This applies to the first weeks of an interesting situation, when changes are not so obvious. And the signs of a cat’s pregnancy in the later stages will definitely tell you everything about her condition:
If, however, at any time you doubt whether the cat is pregnant, only a veterinarian will tell you for sure after an examination.
© shutterstock
COMPLICATIONS DURING CHILDREN
The above describes a normal birth without complications. But this doesn't always happen. In case of complications, you must be fully prepared. Let's list the most frequently encountered problems.
"Dead" kittens
If the kitten shows no signs of life, resuscitation is necessary. You need to gently squeeze it between your palms and shake it like a thermometer, then pull out the mucus from your nose. This is also done if the kitten was born alive.
After this, if the first method does not help, you need to cover the kitten’s nose and mouth with your lips and blow lightly to stimulate breathing. There is no need to breathe heavily, because... you could tear your kitten's lungs. To avoid swallowing mucus, you can do this through a handkerchief. After artificial respiration, pinch the kitten's ribs with your thumb and forefinger at the level of the heart and press not hard, but very quickly (the kitten's heart beats at a frequency of 150 beats per minute) to start the heart. Alternate artificial respiration and massage every 15 seconds until the kitten begins to breathe confidently. The cat's nose and tongue should turn pink.
If these measures do not help within 5 minutes, bring a cotton swab with ammonia to the kitten. If this doesn’t help, there’s nothing to lose: first dip the kitten in very warm water and then in cold water. This shock therapy should stimulate the heartbeat.
No matter how bad the kitten looks, do not consider it dead until you have spent 10 minutes trying to revive it in every possible way. The video below demonstrates basic techniques for resuscitating a kitten.
The cat cannot give birth to her first kitten
If, 7 hours after your water breaks, the kittens do not appear or you see that the kitten is stuck in the birth canal, you need to call a veterinarian, because The cat needs professional help. You can handle it yourself only if a sufficiently large part of the kitten has already come out - and you pick it up by the skin with your fingers and pull it out, as described above. In other cases, call a doctor.
The placenta did not come out
A placenta stuck inside a cat will certainly lead to inflammation and intoxication. If help is not provided in time, the animal may die. Here, too, you cannot help yourself and you need to call a veterinarian to your home, who will take action.
Prolonged labor
If labor does not begin, although the first phase seems to have already begun, think that maybe something frightened your cat and she delayed her birth, sensing danger. In this case, you need to create a favorable environment and let the cat calm down, encouraging it.
If you see that the woman in labor is suffering, the pushing is strong, but the kittens are not coming out, perhaps the problem is different: the fetus is too large. In this case, the cat may not give birth on its own - this requires the help of a veterinarian. If the birth is delayed and you don’t see the first kitten, you will most likely have to go to the clinic, because... You will need an x-ray.
Summarize. The following situations definitely require calling a veterinarian:
- When a cat has strong contractions, and the kittens do not appear for more than 2-3 hours.
- When the kitten is in the birth canal for 10 minutes, but does not appear outside.
- When bleeding occurs and does not stop for more than 10 minutes.
- When a cat develops sudden weakness with a temperature above 40°C or below 36.1°C.
- When the birth is over, and the cat is rushing around and worrying, or she is tired and completely weak that she cannot even accept the food brought to her.
Observation by a veterinarian
An experienced veterinarian can easily determine if an animal is pregnant. Taking into account all individual characteristics, she will give valuable recommendations for care during this difficult period, and also tell you how to prepare for childbirth.
The doctor is able to identify a small embryo in the belly of the expectant mother after 20 days.
The clinic may offer to do an ultrasound examination. This will make it possible to find out in the early stages of pregnancy how many babies there will be? In addition, you can additionally do fluorography. With its help, within a month and a half, the skeletons of embryos are clearly visible. X-ray examination will allow:
- Find out exactly the number of babies in the litter;
- Perform early diagnosis of possible complications
The advantage of this research is safety for the animal and future offspring.
Necessary materials for childbirth
Usually a cat can cope with childbirth on its own, but if this is the first birth, then of course it is better to help her with this. You should first prepare the necessary materials, such as:
- sterile gloves;
- napkins;
- any antiseptic;
- medical thread;
- petrolatum;
- oxytocin in ampoules and syringe;
- sterile scissors with round ends.
Not all cats need our help, so you should use the materials we have prepared only when necessary.
“At that moment, when contractions have already begun, but they are very weak and last quite a long time, then you need to give the cat an injection of oxytocin.”
Shortness of breath: treatment
Pulmonologists at the Yusupov Hospital Therapy Center select an individual drug therapy regimen for each patient, depending on the disease that provoked the onset of shortness of breath.
The clinic’s rehabilitators draw up a plan for physical training and pulmonary rehabilitation to increase the patient’s tolerance to physical activity, and prescribe breathing exercises using various methods (diaphragmatic breathing, inflating balloons, blowing air through a tube, etc.) that train the respiratory muscles.
In severe cases, artificial ventilation is used.
Shortness of breath accompanies pathologies of various organs and systems of the human body. Therefore, each individual case requires specific therapy, aimed primarily at eliminating the underlying disease causing shortness of breath.
How to treat shortness of breath caused by cardiovascular diseases?
Patients with shortness of breath associated with cardiovascular diseases are prescribed therapy, the goals of which are:
- improve oxygen supply to the heart;
- increase cardiac output;
- reduce blood stagnation in the lungs.
The use of nitrates, glycosides, and diuretics is effective. Patients with heart failure are recommended to always have nitroglycerin available, which helps to immediately dilate the blood vessels of the heart muscle.
Oxygen therapy is used to replenish the lack of oxygen in the blood.
How to get rid of shortness of breath: first aid
Providing first aid for shortness of breath to a person suffering from heart disease involves doing the following:
- call an ambulance;
- before the arrival of doctors, it is necessary to ensure the flow of fresh air into the room where the patient is located by opening the window;
- the patient must be seated on a chair;
- remove the tie and scarf from the patient’s neck, unbutton the top buttons on the shirt;
- Place a nitrosorbide tablet under the patient’s tongue and give any diuretic.
How to cure shortness of breath associated with pulmonary diseases?
For shortness of breath caused by pulmonary pathologies, patients are advised to drink plenty of alkaline fluids (except for patients with pulmonary edema).
To relieve bronchospasm, selective β2-adrenergic agonists (salbutamol, fenoterol, terbutaline, formoterol, clenbuterol, salmeterol) are prescribed. M-cholinergic receptor blockers are effective for relaxing the muscles of the bronchi.
Patients suffering from bronchial asthma are prescribed inhalations with NSAIDs and steroid therapy.
Treatment of shortness of breath due to bronchitis involves the use of medications to separate sputum. These include:
- acetylcysteine;
- carbocysteine;
- bromhexine;
- ambroxol.
How to get rid of shortness of breath associated with allergies?
Every person suffering from allergic diseases should know what to take for shortness of breath of this etiology:
- diazolin;
- diphenhydramine;
- suprastin;
- tavegil;
- fenistil;
- claritin;
- desloratodine, etc.
As an additional therapy for shortness of breath caused by allergies, you can use traditional medicine: decoctions of plants that have an expectorant effect (from plantain, pine buds, coltsfoot), as well as hot foot baths.
How to deal with shortness of breath of a psychogenic nature?
Shortness of breath quite often accompanies mental disorders - melancholy, panic attack, depression. Patients suffering from these conditions are prescribed sedatives, antidepressants and tranquilizers. The use of therapeutic hypnosis is also effective. Treatment is prescribed exclusively by a psychotherapist.
Shortness of breath, especially at rest, is an alarming symptom that often manifests quite serious pathologies that require immediate examination and urgent medical care. Therefore, if such a respiratory disorder occurs, it is necessary to urgently visit your doctor. You can make an appointment with a therapist or pulmonologist at the Yusupov Hospital by calling the phone number listed on the clinic’s website.
Shortness of breath: diagnosis
Diagnosis of the underlying pathology that provoked shortness of breath is carried out using the following research methods:
- general examination (general medical examination, counting the frequency of respiratory movements of the chest, listening to the lungs with a phonendoscope);
- general blood test;
- chest radiography;
- computed tomography of the chest;
- spirometry (spirography) – to assess air flow through the respiratory tract and the ability of the lungs to expand;
- tests using a bronchodilator - spirometry is performed before and after inhalation with a bronchodilator drug. This study allows us to evaluate the reversibility of bronchial narrowing;
- bronchoprovocation test - spirometry is performed before and after inhalation of histamine and methacholine. It is carried out to detect increased sensitivity of the bronchi, which causes bronchospasms;
- studies of the gas composition of the blood (the level of tension in the blood of carbon dioxide, oxygen is determined, the saturation of the blood with oxygen is assessed);
- body plethysmography – allows you to evaluate the function of external respiration. It is used to assess all volumes and capacities of the lungs, incl. those that spirography cannot determine;
- electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart, echocardiography) - allows you to assess the functional state of the heart and pressure in the pulmonary artery system;
- fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a study that is used to examine the mucous membrane of the bronchi from the inside and study its cellular composition with a special preparation. The use of this method is advisable for patients with an unclear diagnosis. Allows you to exclude other possible diseases with similar symptoms;
- angiopulmonography – during the procedure the blood vessels of the lungs are examined;
- lung biopsy;
- consultations with a pulmonologist, cardiologist.
Types of shortness of breath
Shortness of breath can be of several types:
- inspiratory (shortness of breath while inhaling), expiratory (during exhalation) and mixed (with difficulty in inhaling and exhaling);
- tachypnea (increased shallow breathing) and bradypnea (decreased breathing);
- physiological - transient, reversible intensification of breathing (shortness of breath during physical exertion). The causes of shortness of breath in this case are that it is an adequate adaptive response to stress, injury, or an objectively low level of oxygen in the inhaled air;
- pathological (in case of airway obstructions due to bad habits, cardiovascular failure, obesity, lung diseases, hematopoietic system, etc.).
