Why Cats Gasp After Giving Birth ?
When a cat gives birth there are a number of things that will make us anxious, such as whether the cat will succeed in giving birth to her child safely, whether the mother cat is safe when her child is born, whether there are children born with defects and the like.
All the anxiety above will disappear shortly after the mother successfully gives birth to her child safely. It's just that afterwards there will be one more thing that can make us anxious again, namely about the mother cat whose mouth is gasping for breath and seems to be breathing heavily.
Actually why is the cat like this after giving birth? Is this dangerous for cats ? To find out the answer to this question, you must read Anggora's explanation in this article.
Why Cats Gasp After Giving Birth ?
Cats are one of the most popular pets around the world. Even though they are independent animals and seem calm, when female cats give birth, we will often see them gasping or opening their mouths wide which looks a bit strange.
This phenomenon can be a concern for new cat owners who may not have seen it before. This article will explain why cats gasp after giving birth.
1. Painful Labor Process
The main reason why cats gasp or appear to be panting after giving birth is because they are tired. Giving birth is not an easy matter, while in the process of giving birth the mother cat must try as hard as possible to push the baby out of her stomach.
During this process, the cat will need a lot of energy to be spent on moving the muscles in the body and also this process will certainly take up a lot of the breath of the mother cat who is giving birth. As a result, after giving birth, the mother cat will become tired and short of breath.
To reduce fatigue, cats usually open their mouths and stick out their tongues like dogs usually do.
2. Re-stabilizing Air Circulation
When giving birth, cats will experience changes in their respiratory system. Her growing belly due to the presence of the fetus can limit the space inside the abdominal cavity, thus making breathing more difficult during the gestation period. After giving birth and emptying her stomach cavity again, the cat will begin to adjust the air circulation in her lungs again. This is another reason why we often see cats gasping for air after giving birth.
3. The Cleaning Instinct Of Her Children
Cats are animals that really care about their children. After giving birth, a mother cat's instincts to clean and care for her kittens kick in. In some cases, gasping can also be considered as part of this instinctive process, as the cat smells and examines its newborn kittens.
4. Reducing Stress And Anxiety
The mother cat's gasp can also mean that the mother is trying to calm herself from the anxiety and stress caused by the cat that has just given birth. Anxiety and stress are common in mother cats right after giving birth.
By gaping, the cat can stretch the muscles in its face and at the same time release the tension it feels.
5. Regulating Body Temperature
During childbirth, cats will feel warmer than usual due to the activity of giving birth and hormonal changes. Gaping or opening your mouth can help regulate body temperature back to normal conditions after going through the heating process during labor.
Conclusion
Cats panting after giving birth is normal and common. This is a cat's body's natural response to the tiring process of labor and the physical changes that occur after giving birth. As cat owners, it's important for us to provide extra support and attention to our female cats after giving birth, and to understand her needs and natural instincts in caring for her kittens.
If you have any health concerns about your cat's behavior after giving birth, it is best to consult your veterinarian for the right advice.
