Is It Time For a C-Section?

August 14, 2025

Sometimes Kittens Need Help Being Born

Karen Thomas, DVM

Breeders have a long list of responsibilities when it comes to their breeding programs, but even the best-laid plans at times can go awry when Mother Nature waves her wand and throws a wrinkle into the birthing process. When this happens, a queen may need some professional assistance to deliver her kittens.

If at all possible, breeders should plan their breeding dates so that the kittens will be due at a convenient time, either a weekend when the breeder does not plan to be gone or middle of the week if that will be more convenient. Contact time between the male and female should be limited to only a couple of days so that due dates can be predicted. Gestation is generally 63 to 66 days from the physical breeding date. Once the kittens are sufficiently mature, about 60 days post-breeding, cesarean sections may be safely performed, if indicated. Early C-section may be indicated if there is evidence of fetal or maternal distress such as discharge or malaise on the part of the mother. Other indications include fever, lethargy, or lack of appetite. If the exact breeding or due dates are not known, signs of impending delivery may include milk production, kittens “dropping” or moving towards the rear of the mother’s body. Unfortunately, these signs may be inconsistent, especially in experienced females. Ultrasound machines have become more common, and therefore it may be possible to predict delivery dates more accurately. Furthermore, it is possible to tell by ultrasound if any of the kittens are dead.

Queens often go into labor late in the evening or early in the morning. Once they start pushing in earnest, the first kitten is usually delivered within 15 to 30 minutes. Additional kittens often come very quickly, sometimes so quickly that their umbilical cords get tangled together. On occasion, especially if the litter is large, a queen may pause labor for a while. She may clean up the kittens that have been born, allow the kittens to nurse, get themselves some food and/or water, then start labor again.

A queen may need a C-section in the following instances:

• She is pushing hard and no kitten comes within half an hour
• If labor stops and does not restart within a few hours, but one or more additional kittens are suspected
• She does not come into labor by day 67 or so after the last breeding date. It is possible for queens to go longer before starting labor, but if you know the kittens are mature enough to survive, there is no reason to wait longer. In fact, more kittens are lost by delaying a C-section than by the surgery itself.

In most cases, a C-section is not a dire emergency. A female that is not pushing can safely wait several hours for surgery. However, if there is a kitten stuck in the birth canal and the mother continues to push, she can wear herself out and increase surgical risk, which does make it more urgent. If any of the kittens are already deceased, this can increase the chances of dystocia, or difficult birth, as deceased kittens are harder to deliver than living ones. If a deceased kitten is detected, a C-section would be a wise choice.

Since there is often a bit of leeway in the timing of a C-section, it is wise to consider other factors in the decision-making process. For instance, if day 67 postbreeding will occur on a Saturday, it may be wise to do the surgery on day 66. If a queen starts labor at 5 o’clock in the morning and labor is not successful, she can wait until a daytime vet is open for business. If she begins labor during the day on a Friday, it is usually better to go ahead and arrange for surgery earlier rather than waiting until it becomes a weekend emergency.

Perhaps the most important part of the entire process is the selection of a veterinarian to perform the C-section if one is needed. Many veterinarians currently in practice either do not have experience with performing this kind of surgery or simply don’t want to do it. Many more will only perform a C-section if they are also permitted to spay the queen. If a willing veterinarian is found to do the surgery, the cost may be prohibitive, especially if it is necessary to do it at night or on a weekend.

Another issue is the experience level and protocols to be used by the surgeon. Some veterinarians, especially those in corporate practice, believe they should use the same anesthetic protocol that they use for spays. This is not a problem if the queen is being spayed, but if the kittens are to be saved, it is important to take their needs into consideration. The female can usually wait a few hours if necessary, but once anesthesia is induced, the kittens should be extracted quickly. Although no veterinarian should be expected to change their procedures on the request of a client, it is appropriate for a client to ask how much experience the veterinarian has in performing cesarians and what sort of anesthesia they plan to use. Any medications administered to the queen before, during, and after the procedure can affect the kittens. Postoperative pain medications are often dispensed, but they can pass through the milk and sedate the kittens, causing failure to nurse. Of course, this information cannot be collected while the queen is distressed and in need of immediate surgery, so this is all something that should be considered well before there is a need for it. If possible, both a day veterinarian and a nighttime or emergency veterinarian should be selected well in advance so those discussions can take place at a more appropriate time.

Breeding is certainly not for the faint of heart. Each birth presents unique challenges for both the queen and the breeder. With some preparedness and planning, should the need for a C-section arise, the breeder will be well-prepared to make the most appropriate decisions for mother and babies.