My cat just gave birth, why no litter box use & loud stomach?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If she recently had kittens, her nipples may feel more plump than they typically would, since she may have residual milk in there that needs to resorb or they may still be swollen from being recently suckled on by her kittens. If she truly has not urinated in 24 hours, I would be concerned. I would check around your house for any spots, as she may have urinated outside of the litter box, since this is a new home for her. Stress can slow cat's GI tracts, so she may not defecate for a few days. As long as she is acting normally and has a good appetite and is drinking water, I would continue to monitor her at home. If she ever becomes excessively lethargic, or loses her appetite, or vomits or has diarrhea, I would have her evaluated by your veterinarian. You could try confining her to a smaller area for a day or so to make sure she is urinating. I hope this is helpful!

Your cat may be reluctant to leave her new kittens so you could try moving the litter box a little closer to her so she can use it, but still see her kittens. It may take her awhile to go since she has just gone through a major ordeal. If she hasn't used the litter box by tomorrow, or if she stops eating, I would recommend taking her (and her kittens) to the vet to be checked out. Good luck.

Giving birth can be very traumatic and pain and inflammation can lead to reluctance to go to the toilet or inability to do so. Furthermore damage can be done to nerves and sometimes infections can develop. The likelihood is that she is sore and will return to normal.but I would take her to the vet for a check up to rule out anything more serious.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. Binx would have been fasted before surgery, so that may be why she hasn't used the litter box yet. It's very good she has eaten and is drinking, and I do expect she should use the litter box soon. If she hasn't in the next 24 hours, then I would be worried and have her seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is not unusual for animals to have some diarrhea after giving birth. As long as she continues to eat well, this should slowly resolve over the course of the next 3-4 days. If it does not, or if Naughtt develops any other unusual clinical signs, I recommend having her seen by a veterinarian, as an unrelated issue may be present. I hope this is helpful!

What sweet little kittens! Those pictures are so adorable! I would not be too concerned about the mama cat just yet. She is probably exhausted from giving birth and nursing. You may want to move her to a location where you can keep a better eye on her so you can check on her regularly. Place a litter box within easy reach so she doesn’t have to travel far away from her kittens to use the bathroom. Try palpating her abdomen as well. It should be soft and doughy, not firm or hard or painful. If it feels abnormal you should probably take her in to the vet to make sure there are no kittens remaining inside of her. You can also try taking her temperature at home. If it is greater than 103 or less than 99, she needs to be seen by a vet. Finally, continue offering her fresh food and water. Keep in mind she will need a lot of extra calories since she is nursing 6 kittens. Feeding her a kitten food would be best. You can also try feeding her canned food or moistening her food with water to ensure she is getting enough. If your cat still refuses to move after 48-72 hours there may be something wrong and you should take her in to be checked out. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Good luck with the kittens!

As long as she is eating, drinking and urinating normally, I would not worry too much about it. She might be nesting in some way. Good luck with the birth and kittens. Please keep posting about any questions you may have in the future!