Talk:Kitten Birth Process

   Extended contractions without birth: If your cat is having more than 60 minutes of strong contractions without any progress, take it and any kittens to your vet.
   Retained placenta: If your cat does not pass each of the placentas, it can lead to a uterine infection. Count each of the placentas, even if the queen eats it. The number of placentas should equal the number of kittens.
   Kitten lodged in the birth canal: Most kittens are born head-first. Breech (tail-first) births occur about 40 percent of the time and are considered normal. A kitten lodged in the birth canal for more than 15 minutes is likely in distress. Call your vet if a kitten is lodged in the birth canal for more than 10 minutes or if you see green discharge without a kitten following within 15 minutes. Your vet will give you the next steps to follow.
   Stillborn kittens: It is not uncommon for one to two kittens to be born stillborn. Remove the dead kitten from the area so the mother can continue uninterrupted with birthing the other kittens.
   Postpartum hemorrhaging: Although some bleeding after giving birth is normal, excessive bleeding or hemorrhaging is an emergency and requires immediate veterinarian attention. If ignored, the mother cat can die. If the regular bleeding continues for more than a week after birth or if the bleeding stops for a day and then starts again, seek veterinary assistance.