When our lovely Baby became a Mama

Baby watch with a cat can be an awful like baby watch with a human mama. Charlotte displayed many of the same behaviors that almost all moms go through. Cat gestation usually lasts about 65 days. Charlotte was a perfect day 65 mom. Thats like having a baby on your due date. I had my daughter 18 days early, my sons were both late by at least a week. When it was my grandsons turn to enter the world he waited 2 extra weeks! Cats are pretty consistent and as a breeder that helps us know when the babies are coming. Also if we need to take our Queen in to see the Doctor. A cats temperature will drop a degree 24 to 48 hours before they give birth. We got her baseline a week before she was due. Hers was 100.3. When she dropped to 99 we knew she was close! Charlotte did quite a bit of nesting to get things ready. Cats will choose a spot if you do not provide one for them. I started her in her safe space a week before she was due. She acclimated well but refused to use pine pellet litter. That was so distressing for her. You do not want your queen to birth accidentally in a litter box. It is quite disastrous as I have heard stories of wet babies covered in litter. Pine pellets are one of the safest options. You ask why would a cat do that? My best guess is just as when we deliver and feel the urge to push, if you are brand new to it all it may feel more like you need to use the restroom. She may also perceive the box as a nesting box with soft material seeking a safe place. This is why I spent a lot of time with her in the box I provided her. She never even thought about that litter box when the time came. Being her first time and my first time I was watching her like a hawk! I literally did not sleep the night before she gave birth. She was restless and anxious and so was I. I tried not to let her see me sweat. She was after all doing all the work!

When the morning came I did not leave her safe space. She became nervous if I left the room. We have cameras so I can see her and she would start pacing and meowing. Today was for sure the day. I would sit next to her box and as soon as I would put my hand in there she would climb in and dig around to get comfy. If I took my hand out she would leave the box. Guess who won? I had my hand in the box for 3 hours on and off before she started pushing.

When the first push came she made little meows and tiny pants and sure enough she was in labor! It di not take long for the most incredible thing i have ever witnessed. Two baby heads came out at the same exact time! She had two coming out! Once they were out I furiously looked for the placentas. There was only one. I saw both of their cords going to that one placenta. What did I just witness? TWINS??? I was in contact with my mentor and she said get a picture of that. Sadly Charlotte was instinctually already doing what a mama cat does. Cleaning everything up. Mama cats eat everything! The placenta has nutritional value for her. It gives her important and needed energy to finish labor and sustain her the first 24 hours. She also does this to keep her babies safe from any potential predators. So my mama her very first time had 2 at once! What an adventure! Sweet little 3 came out all alone while 1 and 2 were already nursing.

This is a still frame and the best I have of the first two babies coming out. I was not prepared for what I witnessed and did not have the camera rolling the whole time. I was more focused on Charlotte. I grabbed the camera because I knew this was unusual.

Baby number 4 came out but not the placenta so he had to hang out on moms hip until number 5 came out. His cord was too short for Charlie to disconnect him. He had to wait for number 5 to be born. The order of events for these two went like this… baby 4 born, baby 5 born, placenta 4 delivered then placenta 5. I took notice to make sure there were 2 separate placentas and there was. I am getting the idea that Charlotte was no ordinary mama!

At this point she has delivered all of the babies the veterinarian predicted she had in her. He said 4 maybe 5. We are at 5. I palpate her abdomen and sure enough I feel a baby in there. Out came number 6! Again I fell her belly, and oh my goodness another one! Last but not least we have a 7th!

We are truly in awe of our Charlotte and what a super mom she is. Devoted from the very first moment she became a mom and we are devoted to her!

The Babies are Coming…