My cat had kittens. Why is her belly still big and breathing fast?

Panting can be normal after giving birth. Lactation will stimulate the uterus to contract during the first two weeks after giving birth, thus leading to the panting. Make sure Twitch is eating and drinking normally, has a normal vagina discharge, and has a normal temperature (between 101-102.5F). If this panting increasing, she stops nursing her kittens, she has a fever, or has any other concerning signs, take Twitch and her kittens into a vet immediately.

Mimi's stomach might still look big from the uterus being enlarged - it can take a little while for it to look normal again. If Mimi seems to be pushing still, if she seems uncomfortable or if you can feel a kitten moving in her belly then there would be more concern. I'm wondering if emergency veterinary services might still be available - you may want to try contacting your local health department to see. Unfortunately there's nothing I could recommend trying at home if there is a kitten still inside.

This is normal and no cause for concern. Ideally, she should be physically examined by your veterinarian to confirm no kittens remain to be delivered. It may take some time for Kitty to lose the pregnancy weight or for swelling associated with the pregnancy to resolve.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Fast respiration is a common finding in nursing cats, particularly with the first litter. If Lily is nursing the kittens well, is eating and drinking and acting as normal, you should just monitor her at home. However, if she goes off food and becomes lethargic you should take her to your local vets for an appointment. In that case, she should be checked for fever, mastitis, uterine infection, which could cause increase in respiratory rate in feeding cats.

As kittens grow and take up more of the abdomen it can make it a little harder to expand the lungs so it can be normal. If you think Sannu is having trouble breathing or if her appetite is not normal I’d recommend having a vet examine her to make sure there’s nothing more serious going on.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She might. If she is laying comfortably, grooming herself and her kittens and NOT having contractions then she may have more later. Cats can delay labor for up to 24 hours. If you are still worried at the 24 hour mark make an appointment with your Vet for a belly X-ray to be sure she is finished. Good luck!

A certain amount of bloody discharge is normal after delivery. This can last days to weeks. If it is frank blood, Diamond should be examined by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER today. Check the color of her gums. They should be pink. If they appear pale, take her to the veterinarian immediately. Keep her warm and as stress free as possible until she sees the vet.