A mother cat shaking after giving birth often signals eclampsia (milk fever), a dangerous drop in blood calcium levels due to the high demand for milk, requiring immediate veterinary care as it can lead to seizures or death. Other causes include exhaustion, low blood sugar, or hypothermia, but eclampsia is the most urgent concern, with early signs like restlessness, panting, and muscle tremors progressing to convulsions.
Newborn Cat Trembling After First Litter: Is It Normal? Cats may experience postpartum tremors and weakness due to exhaustion or low blood sugar after delivery. Postpartum trembling in cats can result from fatigue, hypoglycemia, or stress after giving birth. Symptoms include intermittent shaking and weakness.
If she is calm and nursing then she is fine, her tummy swelling will go down after a few days just like any other female mother after birth.
Feline eclampsia is a life-threatening condition affecting nursing mother cats due to dangerously low calcium levels, characterized by five key warning signs: anxiety/restlessness, muscle tremors, elevated body temperature, difficulty walking, and seizures/collapse.
Shivering is a symptom of fever in cats
If your cat is shivering, especially with any of the other symptoms on this list, there's a good chance they have a fever. Although you may be tempted to warm your cat up when they are shivering, we would rather advise on seeking veterinary attention.
Pain is another very common cause of shivering in cats, according to Pet Health Network. Despite their reputation of being somewhat spoiled and dainty animals, cats usually don't show signs of pain until the pain is quite severe.
Treatment of Tremors in Cats
Why does it happen? The cause of postpartum chills isn't fully understood, but it may relate to fluid or heat loss and hormonal changes in your body after you give birth, Dr. Russell says. It doesn't matter whether you had a caesarean section or a vaginal birth.
The mammary glands may also become ulcerated, with open wounds and scabs visible on the mammary gland. Milk expressed from the affected mammary gland may contain visible blood or pus, or milk may appear cloudy or thickened in consistency. In severe cases, affected cats may be visibly ill.
The 3-3-3 rule is a roadmap for the first three days, three weeks, and three months after pet adoption. It emphasizes patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement to help pets acclimate to their new environment.
At first, it's best to avoid touching your cat's newborn kittens if you can. She will be very protective over them and might not want you touching them, so it's best to respect her space unless something is wrong. Sometimes, handling newborns too much can cause their mother to reject them.
You should not ignore postpartum symptoms like chest pain, trouble breathing, severe headache with vision changes, heavy bleeding (soaking a pad per hour), fever, severe pain or swelling in one leg, or thoughts of harming yourself or the baby, as these can signal serious issues like hemorrhage, blood clots, preeclampsia, or postpartum depression/psychosis. Seek immediate medical help (call 911 for emergency symptoms) for severe signs, and contact your doctor promptly for persistent or worsening symptoms, even up to a year postpartum.
Once she delivers all of her babies, her stomach may be slightly smaller (but still large) and loose-looking. If she still has kittens to give birth to, her belly typically still appears firm. You might even notice movement inside her stomach, which is another sign that she has more kittens to deliver.
How long does postpartum shaking last? Most postpartum chills, including those linked to an epidural or a c-section, go away on their own within 20 to 30 minutes. It's rare for shaking and shivering during or after labor to last longer than an hour, no matter how you delivered.
Stressed
CLINICAL SIGNS
Symptoms may include:
The number one killer of cats depends on age and lifestyle, but cancer is the leading cause of death in older cats, while Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), accidents/trauma (especially for younger cats), and diseases like kidney/heart issues are major factors, with FeLV often cited as the top infectious killer. Causes range from diseases like FeLV, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), and FIP, to organ system failures (kidney, heart), and external factors like poisons or trauma.
Mastitis isn't all that common in cats, but when it does occur, it's most often seen in female cats who are nursing kittens or who have just stopped. Without treatment, cats with mastitis can become very sick and even die, but thankfully, most respond well to the correct antibiotics and recover quickly.
Is there anything you should do about postpartum shaking? Many women find it helps to bundle up. The nurses can offer you a warm blanket and it helps to cover your feet with cozy socks, so make sure those are in your hospital go-bag. Skin-to-skin contact with your baby may feel soothing to both of you.
Redness, discharge or swelling around incisions or stitches. Offensive, foul smelling vaginal discharge/blood loss. Difficulty urinating or pain when urinating. A high or low temperature.
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
Certain medical issues, such as seizures, neurological disorders, or electrolyte imbalances, can cause shaking. If the shaking is frequent, prolonged, or accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, or loss of coordination, it's important to consult a veterinarian promptly.
The 3-3-3 rule for cats moving is a guideline for understanding their adjustment to a new home: 3 days to decompress, where they hide and feel overwhelmed; 3 weeks to learn routines, starting to explore and get comfortable; and 3 months to truly feel at home, revealing their full personality and bonding with the family. It's a helpful reminder for new owners to be patient and provide space for their cat's natural settling-in process.
Signs That a Cat is in Pain
Frequent or ongoing meowing or howling. Litter box accidents, urinating outside of their litterbox. Tail flicking. Won't eat or reduced appetite.