Treading on Her Bedding? Your Cat's Having Kittens!
submitted: 2008-04-12 08:02:56 |
by: JaneTompsett
Total views: 23 |
Word Count: 421 |
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Your heavily pregnant cat has been lying around your home now for the past couple of weeks, eating double her normal amount of food and generally looking very round in shape.
You've distinctly been able to see and feel her kittens moving about in her belly for some time now and you've calculated their date of birth as accuractely as you are able.
Then, without warning, your beautiful cat heaves herself up from her favorite resting place and starts to move around, appearing to be nervous or excitable.
She'll start calling to you and, although your first reaction will probably be that she asking for more food, you'll find that she has no interest in the tasty morsels that you put down for her.
Don't be thrown by her puzzling behavior. Keep a watchful eye on your cat and before too long, you'll see her head towards her chosen birthing place - her nesting box.
Naturally, you will already have provided a good nesting box, won't you? Any well-prepared owner will want to have guided their pregnant cat towards choosing a place that they can easily manage for her - not leave it to her, as she may well choose your bed as her birthing place...... A large, strong cardboard box will do the job well. Cut away the top and one side, leaving a lip at the bottom to prevent any small kittens from escaping. Use lots of old newspapers to line it with - maybe shredding some - and use an old towel to cover the top for warmth and privacy.
But no matter where your cat has chosen to give birth, as she feels her labor begin, she will make straight for her nesting place. Once there, she will begin to 'tread' on her bedding. Once you see this happening, you will know without a shadow of a doubt that her kittens are on their way.
You'll certainly recognise this unmistakable behavior as looks like a cross between digging in her litter box and the kneading action you see when she is relaxed and purring.
Even cat experts don't really know why cats tread their bedding immediately prior to the onset of their labor. It is probably no more than a desire to arrange their immediate environment to their liking.
After all, giving birth is hard work and your cat will probably want to make herself as comfortable as she can!
But no matter what the reason, treading on her bedding is a sure sign that your cat's labor is underway. She's ready - are you?
About the Author
Make certain that you are 100% prepared to help your pregnant cat give birth to her kittens. Learn to recognise treading behavior and subscribe to Jane Tompsett's free Cat Owners Confidential newsletter by following these links. You can get a unique content version of this article from the Uber Article Directory.
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