Q&A for How to Tell if a Cat Still Has Kittens Inside

Kittens should come down the birth canal 15 minutes to two hours apart. When the amniotic sac surrounding the kitten ruptures, birth of a kitten should take place within 30 minutes. There is cause for alarm if more than three hours pass between kittens.

So-called interrupted labour is common enough in cats to be considered a normal occurrence. In this case, when one or more kittens have been born, the mother will cease straining and rest quite happily, suckling those kittens already born.

Your cat's next heat may occur just a few weeks after her kittens are born. To prevent another pregnancy, ensure your kitty isn't around any male cats, and talk to your vet about spaying your cat.

Yes, sometimes a kitten dies inside the womb without triggering a miscarriage. It could literally rot away inside the mother, requiring immediate veterinary intervention and a c-section to remove the putrefied body.

Large or deformed kittens can become stuck in the pelvis. Sometimes they come halfway and sometimes they don't even get that far. If your cat has a kitten stuck inside her, call your vet for advice immediately, do not pull the kitten.