Miscarriage in a cat - why does it happen and how can the owner help?

The reasons why a cat miscarries can be varied. Most often, pregnancy termination occurs in young cats that have not yet reached physical maturity, but have already become pregnant before the age of 1 year. In adult pets, problems with bearing offspring arise due to hormonal imbalances, the presence of chronic diseases, stress, etc. If an animal has had a miscarriage at least once in its life, the owner should strictly control matings and conduct the pregnancy under the supervision of a veterinarian.

What to do if your cat has a miscarriage?

To avoid serious complications, it is important to first find out why the cat had a spontaneous abortion. Therefore, even if the animal feels fine after a miscarriage, it should still be shown to a veterinarian, who, after an initial examination and history taking, will give directions for additional diagnostic tests:

After the incident, it is advisable that the animal be examined using ultrasound.

• blood and urine tests;
• biochemistry;
• tests for hormonal levels;
• tests for the presence of viral infectious pathogens in the body;
• examination of a smear taken from the vagina;
• radiography and ultrasound of internal organs.

In addition, the veterinarian examines the aborted fetuses in detail, so the owner needs to take them to the hospital. When the exact diagnosis becomes known, the doctor will select the optimal treatment regimen that will help eliminate the pathology that caused the spontaneous abortion. Veterinary specialists often advise owners to sterilize their pet after a miscarriage, of course, if it does not actively participate in the reproduction of offspring. This will help avoid complications in the future and prolong the life of your pet.

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How to act as an owner

When a cat gives birth to dead kittens (or when all the signs of a miscarriage are present), you should not try to help the animal at home. You will only waste time.

The best solution is to take your cat to a veterinary hospital and have her examined by a veterinarian.

If possible, call a specialist to your home so as not to further disturb your cat, which is already suffering from pain. You should not try to stop bleeding and purulent discharge on your own if you do not want to harm the cat.

The specialist will have to examine your furry creature, conduct a hematological blood test, tests for the development of infectious diseases, hormone analysis, radiography, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, as well as examination of smears from the genital organs. After this, the veterinarian will clearly establish the cause and an accurate diagnosis.

Possible complications after a miscarriage

If a miscarriage occurs in the early stages, the owners do not notice it. It can also pass without a trace for the pet’s health. Spontaneous abortion after 6 weeks can have serious consequences. The embryos are already large, their rejection can lead to:

• rupture of the uterus, birth canal and perineum;
• tissue necrosis;
• pyometra - accumulation of pus in the uterine cavity;
  Pyometra is purulent endometritis, accompanied by accumulation and retention of purulent exudate in the uterine cavity.
• sepsis (leads to the death of the pet).

If the fetuses are not expelled from the uterus, but die in utero, this is a very dangerous condition for the cat, as they will begin to decompose, poisoning the pet’s body. The uterus itself becomes inflamed. As a result, intoxication occurs, as a result of which the animal dies. In this case, the cat can only be saved by the attentiveness of the owner, who will notice in time that something is going wrong and contact the veterinarian. The first signs of this condition:

• increased temperature in a cat;
• the appearance of purulent leucorrhoea (discharge from the loop) with a pungent odor.

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Symptoms of pathology

Sometimes the owner may not notice that the pet has had a miscarriage, especially when it happens in the early stages. At a later date, external signs will help you understand that something is wrong with the cat - the animal looks sad, its appetite does not grow, and there is also indigestion, diarrhea, vomiting, and an increase in body temperature. In addition, the cat behaves uncharacteristically, is restless, and meows for no reason. The fact that the kittens died inside the womb is evidenced by bleeding from the genitals, accompanied by an unpleasant odor. If a cat’s discharge after a miscarriage is purulent, dealing with complications at home is extremely dangerous for the life and health of the pet. Therefore, if such a symptom is present, the animal must be urgently taken to the hospital, where the doctor, after examination and diagnosis, will tell you what to do next.

Types of miscarriages in cats

Fruit resorption

A miscarriage in a cat in the early stages is most often accompanied by resorption of the fetus. Such a miscarriage does not pose a threat to the animal. In addition, with it there is a possibility that one or more fetuses will not die, but will develop further in the womb.

Death of fruits

With this type of fetal loss, they can die at any stage of pregnancy. Such a miscarriage is more dangerous for the cat, because... accompanied by bleeding and discharge of pus. But in the absence of complications, this miscarriage may not be noticed by the animal’s owners, because she usually eats the fruits.

Death of fruits without their release

This kind of intrauterine miscarriage is the most difficult, as it causes severe inflammation of the genital tract, bleeding and the release of pus/mucus.

First aid

If the owner observes all the symptoms of a cat’s miscarriage, he will not be able to help the animal on his own.

Due to the current situation, the animal must be urgently taken to a veterinarian.
Therefore, the best option in such a situation is to call a veterinarian at home, but if this is not possible, urgently take your pet to a veterinary clinic. If there is a trip to the hospital, the cat should be placed in a carrier covered with a disposable diaper. The animal must be transported carefully so as not to cause unnecessary pain. Giving any painkillers or other drugs at your own discretion in such cases is strictly contraindicated. It is better for the owner to take care to deliver the pet to the hospital as soon as possible, where she will receive the necessary assistance.

Consequences of miscarriages

Spontaneous abortion in most cases is stressful for the cat's body. The only exception is that fruits that dissolve in the early stages do not cause any discomfort. The following miscarriage scenarios are most dangerous for a cat’s health:

• miscarriage in late pregnancy.
  It is logical to assume that the more developed the fetuses are, the more painful it will be for the animal to experience their exit from the uterus. Such a miscarriage sometimes ends with rupture of the reproductive organ or birth canal. Even if this does not happen, the animal is severely emaciated due to the loss of a large amount of blood; Miscarriage in late pregnancy is the most difficult for cats
• miscarriage not accompanied by expulsion of the fetus from the uterus.
  Decaying embryos poison the cat’s body and in the future can even lead to necrosis of the uterus if they are not removed from it in a timely manner. Another serious consequence of this type of miscarriage is infection of the pet’s blood. The consequences of a miscarriage are not always visible to the naked eye.

Regardless of the type of miscarriage, veterinarians note the following impact of this unpleasant episode on the cat’s future life:

• the animal has permanent foci of inflammation of the reproductive organs;
• experienced spontaneous abortion most likely leads to infertility of the cat;
• a miscarriage will likely have a negative impact on all subsequent pregnancies, worsening their course and complicating labor.

Sometimes, after a miscarriage, a cat loses the opportunity to become pregnant again.

Types of procedure

Having dealt with the question of whether it is possible to abort a cat, it is necessary to study the types of procedures.

Hormonal methods of abortion

Hormonal methods are based on the use of medications. How to miscarry a cat depending on the period of pregnancy:

• Estrogens are used to reject fetuses immediately after mating. This hormone can prevent pregnancy by preventing the egg from penetrating the walls of the uterus.
• In the middle of the period, prostaglandins are used. As a result of the action of the drug, underdeveloped dead fetuses emerge from the cat.
• In later stages, only glucocorticoids are used. With their help, premature birth is caused. It should be remembered that such births can be very dangerous for the pet.

Experts recommend terminating a pregnancy midterm. This way you can avoid serious consequences for your cat's health.

Non-hormonal methods of abortion in cats

Owners often wonder whether cats undergo abortion using non-hormonal methods, since they do not want to give their pet medications.

The main method is sterilization. The doctor surgically removes the uterus with embryos and ovaries. This method is chosen by owners who do not want to raise cubs.

The longer the period, the more difficult the rehabilitation process will be.

Attention! If the owners do not want to receive offspring from their pet, veterinarians recommend sterilization without waiting for pregnancy to occur. When answering the question of how to terminate a cat’s pregnancy using folk remedies, you must remember that plants have a negative effect on the pet’s liver and kidneys

However, such tinctures are considered relatively harmless compared to medications and surgeries. The following types of herbs are used: mint, angelica, parsley, angelica

When answering the question of how to terminate a cat’s pregnancy using folk remedies, you must remember that plants have a negative effect on the pet’s liver and kidneys. However, such tinctures are considered relatively harmless compared to medications and surgeries. The following types of herbs are used: mint, angelica, parsley, angelica.

Other complications of pregnancy in cats (dangerous)

1) Uterine bleeding in cats

It is characterized by copious discharge of blood and blood clots from the cat's vulva.

Causes of uterine bleeding in cats: trauma, exposure to pathogenic microorganisms on the placenta.

As a rule, uterine bleeding provokes or is a sign of miscarriage in cats; but with timely veterinary intervention, a cat’s pregnancy can be saved.

2) Torsion of the uterus in a cat

There is a twisting, twisting, bending, bending of one of the “horns” of the uterus (the cat’s uterus is bicornuate, i.e. has the shape of the letter Y).

Causes of uterine torsion in cats: trauma.

Leads to intrauterine death of the fetus(es) without miscarriage and removal of the uterus; with timely veterinary intervention, and if torsion occurs late in pregnancy, kittens can be removed by caesarean section.

3) Ectopic pregnancy of a cat

An ectopic pregnancy in a cat is primary - the fetuses immediately begin to develop outside the uterus; and secondary - the fetuses develop outside the uterus due to its rupture.

Causes of ectopic pregnancy in cats: unknown (primary ectopic pregnancy); trauma, pathology of the uterus/oviducts, etc. (primarily thinning of their walls, leading to ruptures, with secondary ectopic).

In all cases, it leads to the death of the fetus and its surgical removal; in the absence of timely surgical intervention, sepsis and necrosis develop, which can lead to the removal of some of the cat’s internal organs or to its death. Happens extremely rarely.

4) Post-term pregnancy with a cat

It is characterized by the absence of labor in a cat after the 70th day of pregnancy.

Reasons for post-term pregnancy with a cat: intrauterine fetal death, large fetal size, large number of fetuses, hormonal imbalance; pathology of the cat’s reproductive tract (narrow pelvis, etc.)

Post-term pregnancy with a cat usually results in a cesarean section with removal of the fetus (live or dead).

If timely surgical intervention does not affect the cat’s health in any way; if untimely - sepsis, necrosis, death of the cat.

Termination of pregnancy using folk remedies

You can have a short-term abortion at home using folk recipes. There are many safe ways to quickly get rid of premature pregnancy without harm to the body.

Grind 1 leaf of the plant and squeeze out the liquid. Take fresh juice 4 times a day. This is enough to cause smooth muscle spasm and terminate pregnancy.

Aloe juice helps to terminate pregnancy

Water pepper decoction

Brew 2 tbsp in 500 ml of boiling water. l. chopped herbs and leave in a water bath for 5 minutes. Take the strained liquid 3-4 times a day, 2 tbsp. l.

Prepare a decoction of water pepper in a steam bath

Infusion of gentian tricolor roots

Pour boiling water (0.5 l) over the crushed roots (2 tbsp) and leave for 3 hours. Drain the cooled liquid to separate it from the grounds. Take the infusion 2 tsp. 3–4 times a day.

An infusion of gentian tricolor roots helps terminate premature pregnancy.

Decoction of wild rosemary

Pour 2 tbsp into boiling water (250 ml). l. chopped dry herbs and boil for 2 minutes. After 2 hours, strain and take 15 ml 4 times a day. The medicine stimulates contraction of the reproductive organ and provokes rejection of the fertilized egg.

A decoction of wild rosemary provokes rejection of the fertilized egg.

Anise decoction

Boil 500 ml of water and add 50 g of anise herb, boil for 2 minutes. Infuse the liquid for 40 minutes, then strain and take 30 ml 3 times a day half an hour before meals. The herb causes uterine bleeding and can be dangerous to a woman’s health, so it is recommended not to abuse this remedy.

Take anise infusion three times a day

Tansy infusion

Place dry inflorescences (50 g) in boiling water (1/2 l), cover with a lid and remove from heat. The herbal liquid should infuse for at least 40 minutes, after which it is recommended to consume it 3-4 times a day, 20 ml. The infusion has toxic properties, which leads to the death of the embryo.

Tansy infusion destroys the embryo

Bath with mustard

Fill the bath with hot water, add 2 tbsp. mustard powder, stir. The procedure must be performed while sitting. Duration – 10–15 minutes. During manipulation, blood intensively rushes to the pelvis and creates pressure on the reproductive organ, resulting in spontaneous miscarriage. Hot baths are very dangerous, as they stimulate high pressure in the genitourinary system, causing heavy bleeding.

Bath with mustard provokes spontaneous miscarriage

Mini-abortion with aspirin

The drug is contraindicated for women in the early stages of pregnancy and in the 3rd trimester. If you take 1-2 aspirin tablets 3 times a day, you can provoke blood loss and, as a result, self-abortion. There is no need to place high hopes on this method, since the dose of aspirin is individual for each woman. An overdose can be fatal due to excessive blood loss.

Using Aspirin to terminate a pregnancy is dangerous for the body.

Preventing miscarriage

Miscarriage in a cat is rare. For the most part, pregnancy proceeds without any particular complications, and the cat also copes with childbirth on its own. But this situation can and should be avoided:

• If a cat’s pregnancy is planned (this applies to breeding sires), then before conception the cat should be examined by a veterinarian for possible diseases and preventive measures.
• If the pet is of “noble” origin, this does not negate the fact that it has all the required vaccinations and anti-parasitic treatment procedures. If a person has taken responsibility for an animal, then it should be fulfilled in full.
• You should not suddenly change your diet once you become pregnant. The cat should eat its usual food.
• It is necessary to take a course of vitamins during pregnancy, which will be recommended by the veterinarian.

Observation by a veterinarian

As mentioned above, consultation with a specialist is necessary before planned conception. But even during pregnancy you should not neglect visiting a doctor:

• the veterinarian will give the necessary recommendations, prescribe a course of vitamins, and examine the cat by taking samples;
• after the 4th week, you can do an ultrasound to make sure that the kittens are alive and positioned correctly, the uterus is in good condition;
• Closer to childbirth, it is better to invite a doctor for an examination at home, so as not to irritate your pet with the trip, he will make sure that she is feeling normal and there are no signs of premature birth.

Nutrition

A cat's diet during pregnancy should be balanced. She should receive enough vitamins. This is not difficult to do if the cat eats dry food. Many manufacturers have lines of food specifically for expectant mothers.

High-quality dry food intended for pregnant and lactating cats will provide their body with all the necessary elements

If the cat eats natural products, then taurine should be included in the diet. This element prevents premature termination of pregnancy and reduces the risk of abnormalities in the fetus. It is impossible to overdose; excess is simply eliminated by the body. It is contained in:

• red meats and fish;
• chicken heart and liver;
• turkey meat (champion in taurine content).

The need for rest

During pregnancy, the cat needs to be given the maximum opportunity to rest peacefully. The animal's activity decreases. It is very important to explain to children that rough play with a pet is unacceptable. You should not pick up the cat unless necessary, so as not to put pressure on the stomach.

Preventive actions

Spontaneous abortion often occurs asymptomatically, and it is impossible to determine whether a cat may have a miscarriage without special tests. However, knowing about the existence of such a threat, the owner can take preventive measures:

carefully select parental pairs to exclude inbreeding;

stop mating animals older than 6 - 7 years;

diagnose infectious diseases in parents before mating;

prevent poisoning;

encourage physical activity during pregnancy;

carry out preventive measures against injuries, falls from height, bruises;

choose a diet balanced in protein, taurine, vitamins and minerals.

Following the recommendations will reduce the risk of spontaneous abortion in your pet.

A miscarriage in a cat is an unpleasant occurrence for the owner and unsafe for the health of the animal. Spontaneous abortion often occurs asymptomatically, which makes diagnosing the pathology difficult. Preventive measures can reduce the likelihood of pathological abortion and complications after pathology.

The effect of infections on miscarriage

Both viral and bacterial infections can cause miscarriage. The most dangerous infections that threaten the successful course of pregnancy in a cat are given in the table below.

Table 1. Infections that threaten cat pregnancy

How to prevent your cat from getting infected?

Despite the fact that the infections listed above have varying degrees of impact on the body, they are almost equally dangerous for a pregnant cat. You can protect your animal from this group of diseases using the following methods:

• careful adherence to hygiene standards when keeping a cat;
• a ban on independent walking (this way you can prevent the female from meeting potentially infectious stray animals);
• timely vaccination;
• creating a healthy diet;
• preventive examinations at the veterinarian and passing all prescribed tests (especially during pregnancy).

Vaccination given before mating will help prevent infection of a pregnant female.

If you monitor your pet's health and look for alarming changes in behavior, you will be able to maintain normal health and promote the survival of the fetuses. Many infectious diseases, if we are talking about an already infected female, can be successfully cured in the early stages without consequences for the animal.

Why do cats miscarry?

Veterinarians state that the most common causes of pathology are infections and injuries. The last one is clear. A pregnant cat should be protected from excessive activity and should not be allowed to climb to heights. Unnecessarily, there is no need to pick up the expectant mother and carry out traumatic manipulations with her.

As for infections, it is more difficult in this regard. The owner cannot protect his ward from infection. Sometimes she may visually look happy and active, but at the same time be a carrier of infection. If your pet constantly has self-abortions, then she definitely needs to be examined. By ignoring this, the owner exposes his ward to great danger. There is no need to think that self-healing from hidden infections can occur. Every cat pregnancy will end in miscarriage, because an infection that has penetrated the placenta will not allow the embryos to develop normally.

Possible causes of self-abortion may be early or late mating, that is, before one year and after eight years of age. Poisoning, chronic diseases, helminthiases, pathologies of the feline reproductive system, drug therapy, stress, and hormonal disorders can also cause pathology. Sometimes the cause is easily eliminated. In other cases, the veterinarian may recommend a course of therapy or sterilization.

If a pet has a self-abortion, it is recommended to donate the embryos for research. The cat must be fully examined: ultrasound, x-ray, blood biochemistry.