Signs of a dead kitten in the mother cat's abdomen

When a kitten dies in the mother cat's abdomen, she may exhibit signs such as lethargy, loss of appetite, decreased activity, unpleasant or bloody discharge from the vulva, increased or decreased body temperature. If you notice these abnormal behaviors in your mother cat, it is recommended to take her to a pet hospital promptly. The option of using oxytocin to help the mother cat expel the dead kitten can be considered. If the medication has no obvious effect, a cesarean section surgery may be necessary to remove the dead kitten. Otherwise, the dissolution of the dead kitten in the mother cat's body can easily lead to pyometra.

Can a mother cat expel a dead kitten in her abdomen?

Can a mother cat expel a dead kitten in her abdomen?

A mother cat cannot expel a dead kitten in her abdomen. Therefore, when a mother cat is about 62 days pregnant and has not given birth, it is necessary to take her to a pet hospital for an ultrasound examination to check the fetal heartbeat. If the fetus has already died in the abdomen, do not consider allowing the cat to expel the dead kitten on its own, as this can lead to sepsis over time. In this case, it is advisable to discuss with the pet hospital about performing a cesarean section surgery to remove the dead kitten.

What to do if a cat has difficulty giving birth and the fetus dies in the abdomen?

If a cat has difficulty giving birth and the fetus dies in the abdomen, the owner needs to inject an appropriate amount of oxytocin to help the cat expel the dead kitten as soon as possible. If the cat is still unable to expel the dead kitten after receiving the injection, it is recommended to take the cat to the pet hospital for a cesarean section surgery. If the dead kitten is not expelled in a timely manner, the cat's uterus is highly susceptible to infection, which can lead to uterine inflammation or pyometra.

How to determine if a cat has a dead fetus in the abdomen?

If the fetus dies in the uterus without being born and the dead kitten is not surgically removed in a timely manner, the mother cat may be at risk of death. The decomposition of the dead kitten will cause the endometrium to release toxins, which the mother cat will absorb. In a short period of time, the cat may exhibit signs of lethargy, anorexia, excessive water consumption, fever, sepsis, and shock, which can lead to death. Therefore, for safety purposes, it is recommended to take the cat to a pet hospital for an ultrasound and X-ray examination after birth to rule out the possibility of a dead kitten.