My cat giving birth stopped contractions, kitten feet out. What to do?

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.

Labor and delivery can take many hours depending on the mother and size of the litter. Contactions longer than 1hour without delivery of a kitten, restlessness and discomfort longer than 2hours or breaks between kittens of more than 4hours are all indications of the need for furhter action. Often getting them out of bed for gentle exercise/toileting/drink can help to kickstart labor again

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 she is not straining to push at this time, then yes give her more time to birth the rest of the kittens at her own pace. This process, known as[ queening](https://www.petcoach.co/article/queening-giving-birth-in-cats/), can take up to 48 hrs to complete. Please try not to worry or [stress](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-surprising-ways-stress-can-impact-your-pet) her during her labor process as this can stall and prolong her labor. If no kitten is delivered after 30 minutes of active straining/pushing, then you should have her examined by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER.

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.

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.

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!