Cats: Birthing Emergencies

Summarized from "Emergency Interception During Parturition in the Dog and Cat," Frances O. Smith, Vet Clin Small Anim 42(2012): 489-499

There are 3 stages of birthing:
Stage 1: uterine contractions and cervical dilation -- usually 6-12 hrs, but maybe up to 36 hrs.  Queen is restless, may pant, refuses food, nests
Stage 2: fetal expulsion -- usually 4 to 16 hrs, with occasionally upto 42 hrs.
Stage 3: placental expulsion -- usually each placenta is passed within 15 minutes of the fetus

Dystocia (difficult birth) occurs 3.3% to 5.8% in feline births.  Clinical signs include:
-- pregnant queen >71 days after breeding
-- straining for 1 hr continuously before delivering
-- green or black vaginal discharge before delivery
-- resting over 3 hrs between births
-- delivery of stillborn
-- protrusion of fetal membranes for over 15 minutes without delivery of fetus
-- vaginal hemorrhage
-- weak or distressed queen

Causes of dystocia can be divided between problems with the queen and problems with the fetuses.  67.1% are of maternal origin and 29.7% are of fetal origin.  [and no the numbers don't add up, but I didn't write the article!]

Fetal causes:
-- malpresentation (the most common fetal problem) -- 70% of kittens are born head first, and while butt-first is not abnormal in cats, it does increase the risk of death.
-- fetal abnormalities
-- fetal death
-- fetal oversize
-- anasarcous fetuses (fluid filled fetuses)

Maternal causes:
-- uterine inertia (the most common maternal problem) -- Primary inertia, the queen has little to no contractions and does not reach Stage 2.  Partial primary, the queen reaches Stage 2 but the contractions are too weak to expel a fetus.  Secondary inertia arises from anatomic problems.  The uterus may become exhausted in the case of obstructed birth canal.
-- pelvic fracture
-- uterine torsion -- Abdomen is very painful with a racing heart beat.
-- vaginal abnormalities such as bands
-- malnutrition
-- parasites

Medical management
If the queen has not been in labor too long, the cervix is dilated, fetal size is appropriate, and the fetal heart rate is normal, then the use of drugs may help.  Drugs should NOT be used in cases of obstruction or when more than 1 fetus remains in utero due to uterine fatigue. 
-- oxytocin increases the frequency and quality of contractions.  Doses range from 2 to 4 U IM, with a recommended dose of 0.5 to 2 U.  The author spcifies an initial dose of 0.1 U/kg, with a repeat dose after 30 minutes, and no further use after that.  (Oxytocin will cause placental separation and lead to fetal distress.)
-- calcium increases the contractions but "in the queen, calcium use is controversial, due to the very strong uterine contractions seen when it is administered".  [I'm planning on looking into this frther.]

Mechanical management
In the case of malpositioning, it is possible to use sterile lubricant and fingers to rotate and extract the fetus.  Otherwise an episiotomy is possible, but with the complication of scarring and increased risks for future pregnancies.

Surgical management
60-80% of all dystocias result in surgery.  Fetal heartrates below 150 beats/min require immediate surgery, and 150-170 should be monitored closely as surgery is prepared for.  The author does not recommend an ovariohysterectomy at the time of a ceasarean, unless the uterus is damaged, due to risk of hemorrhage and loss of fluids. [skipped all the discussion of anesthetics and surgery as this is not a DIY project, hopefully]

The accompanying flowchart shows neonatal resuscitation.  While it is for neonates after a ceasarean, much of it does apply to normally born kittens too.

Homemade Kitten Formula

Orphan kittens ideally should be placed with a nursing queen to get cat milk.  This is not often possible, so caregivers must find a substitute. 

The simplest is fresh, raw goat milk, or even a commercial version.

If this is not available, then either commercial kitten milk (such as KMR) or a homemade version needs to be used.

Under no circumstances should only cow's milk be fed - it lacks important nutrients for kitten growth and there are reports of severe diarrhea when fed exclusively.

The Recipe:

Ingredients for 1-¼ cups kitten formula:

1 cup of goat milk (if unavailable, whole milk can be used but is not preferred)
1 large egg
2 teaspoons of powdered protein
1 teaspoon of nutritional yeast
110 mg of powdered calcium
1-day dose of vitamins formulated for adult cats

You'll also need a mixing bowl, a hand mixer, a saucepan, and a small nursing bottle.

Beat the egg, and thoroughly stir in the remaining ingredients. Warm the formula in a small nursing bottle by placing it into a cup or bowl of hot water. Test the formula on the underside of your wrist to check the temperature. If the formula is too hot, wait until the formula cools down. If the formula is too cold, continue soaking the bottle in hot water. Always be sure to test the formula again before giving it to the kitten.

Never re-use formula that you have warmed. Discard it and use fresh formula for each feed.

Discussion:

There is concern among some kitten fosterers about the use of any cow's milk with kittens.  There concern centers on the lactose content of the cow's milk.  Here are the lactose levels in various milks:

cat milk  4% (constant from birth to weaning)
cow milk  4.5-4.9%  (various authors report different figures)

goat milk  4.1% (or 10% less than cow milk, so 4.1-4.4%)

Feline nutritional experts also agree -- young kittens can digest lactose (obvious from it being in mother's milk), but as they mature to adults, some cats lose this ability and become lactose intolerant.

Lastly, almost all commercial kitten formulas, except where clearly labelled as derived from goat milk, are all make using cow milk in various forms -- casein, powdered milk, whey, etc.