Treading on Her Bedding? Your Cat's Having Kittens!
Jane Tompsett
So your extremely round cat has been lying around the house for the past two weeks, eating enough food to keep a small donkey alive and generally looking very, very pregnant.
For a while now, you've been able to detect her kittens moving around inside her and you've worked out their expected delivery date as best you can.
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.
Your first thought will probably be that she's asking for more food as she'll start calling plaintively to you. But food will hold no interest for her - not even the tastiest morsels.
Don't be puzzled by her apparantly unusual behavior. Bide your time and wait for just a short while longer until you see her seek out her chosen birthing place - her nesting box.
As as well-prepared owner, you will have sorted out a suitable nesting box by this time, won't you? If you leave the choice up to your cat, you may find that she chooses your lovely, comfortable bed as her birthing place! A roomy and strong cardboard box is all you need. Cut the top and one side away, leaving a lip at the bottom to stop any tiny kittens from tumbling out accidentally. Old newspapers make excellent lining material and you may like to shred some for her. Use an old towel to cover the top for warmth and privacy and you're all set.
But whatever the choice of nesting place, your cat will feel compelled to head straight there when she feels that her labor is starting. Here, she will begin to 'tread' on her bedding and once you see her doing this, you can be 100% sure 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.
It is a bit of a mystery why a pregnant cat will tread her bedding immediately before her labor begins. The truth is probably no more mysterious than her wanting to arrange her surroundings as comfortably as possible and to her own liking.
After all, giving birth is hard work and your cat will probably want to make herself as comfortable as she can!
Whatever the reason, treading on her bedding is a major sign that your cat's labor is about to begin. She's ready - are you?
Be certain that you are fully prepared to help your pregnant cat give birth to her kittens. Learn all about http://www.howtodeliverkittens.com/ treading behavior and subscribe to Jane Tompsett's free http://www.howtodeliverkittens.com/ Cat Owners Confidential newsletter by following these links.
|
Categories 
