My cat is having birthing problems, a kitten is stuck. What to do?

Wash your hands well, lubricate your finger with vaseline and very gently put it into her vagina and check where the kitten's head and other leg is. You may have to GENTLY find the leg put your finger underneath it and pull it straight forward towards you. Check where the head is. If it is facing sideways or backwards you need to , again very gently, put it into the right position with the snout facing you. Once the leg and head are facing you, you can gently start pulling the kitten. If you feel the tail, it is coming backwards, so you can just gently pull the leg. Do not try to rectify the position of the kitten for more than 10 minutes. (You may also have to push it in a little if you cannot get at the leg.) This will be difficult. If the birth does not happen, you will need to take her to a vet for a cesarian section.

If you are able to grasp the stuck kitten and gently pull when the mother has contractions. This may allow you to get the kitten out. Then rub it down with a dry cloth to stimulate breathing. If the umbilical cord is still attached it may survive. If you can’t do that then take her right in for treatment. This could become life threatening if she can’t get the kitten out, and there may be more inside. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Mouse.

She may be taking a break due to strain. By now she should have resumed contractions and have delivered her kitten. If she stopped altogether having contractions, you can very GENTLY try to pull the kitten on both feet. If it does not move, or seem stuck, you will need to take your cat and the kittens to a vet for him to develop that stuck kitten.

Hello. If the placenta is still attached, the birth process can normally take 10-15 minutes per kitten. If there is enough of the kitten sticking on, you can take a cloth or paper towel & assist the birth by using a firm but gentle pull. Hopefully, her deliveries will continue well. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Since she has been having contractions for a few hours now and has not produced a kitten, it is now time for an intervention by a veterinarian. Please take her to a vet or petER now. The vet will be able to determine whether there is another kitten or more than one, and whether there is a kitten blocking the birth canal. Your cat may need a cesarian section in case the kitten (if there is one) is too big to be born naturally. Please take her to a vet now.

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Molly. It sounds like there may be a kitten stuck in the birth canal, and I would consider this a medical emergency. She needs to see a vet now to get this kitten removed and to have help giving birth to her other kittens. Leaving her like this will cause the death of this kitten and any other kittens left to be born. Please take Molly and her first kitten into a vet immediately. You can take her to an ER vet or find a vet on call in your area to see her if your regular vet is closed. The information to find a vet on call is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

It is more rare for a cat to have a difficult time delivering kittens, however there is a possibility a kitten can become stuck. The whole litter is usually born within 6 hours with kittens every 30 to 60 minutes. If the cat is stressed or distracted she is able to stop her labor and restart the next day. However, if the female has been having strong contractions for greater than 60 minutes, she needs assistance in passing the kitten. Bring her and any kittens delivered to the vet’s office right away. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!