What to do if the umbilical cord is still attached to the kitten?

DO NOT REMOVE THE UMBILICAL CORD IF STILL ATTACHED. Take to the emergency vet or a regular vet to have them cut it so they don’t get an infection if you feel it looks bad, otherwise it will fall off by itself in a few days. RED OR SWOLLEN CORDS may actually be a hernia of intestines coming out!

How long can a kitten stay attached to the umbilical cord?

1-5 days
At 1-5 days, the umbilical cord will be attached and dry. Around 4-5 days of age the kitten will naturally lose the umbilical cord. Never attempt to remove it manually; allow it to fall off on its own. The first 48 hours of a kitten’s life are a critical period for obtaining maternal antibodies through nursing.

Does the umbilical cord need to be cut right away?

In most cases, the umbilical cord will be cut following birth; however, it does not necessarily have to be cut immediately. According to a review by The Cochrane Library, it is possible that keeping your baby connected to their umbilical cord for a period longer than one minute may result in specific health outcomes.

Should you cut a kitten’s umbilical cord?

The new mom usually chews through the umbilical cord on her own, but if she doesn’t then you will need to step in and cut it. You should tie it in two areas off around an inch from the kitten’s body and cut between the ties with the sterilised scissors, crushing it as you do to minimize bleeding.

When can you touch kittens?

Handling Newborn Kittens. Wait until the kittens are about two weeks old to handle them. Unless absolutely necessary, refrain from handling newborn kittens until they’re at least two weeks old.

What happens if you never cut the umbilical cord?

When the umbilical cord is not clamped and cut right after the baby is born, the baby gets more of their own blood back into their body. Getting extra blood may lower the chance of your baby having low iron levels at 4 to 6 months of life and may help your baby’s health in other ways.

Why do you tie off an umbilical cord?

When clamping is put off for two or three minutes, it allows a physiological transfer of oxygen-rich blood to flow into the infant – a process called placental transfusion. A growing body of research shows that both full-term and preterm infants may benefit from this additional blood volume.