What is Queening?

Queening is the process of giving birth for cats. Queening can be as short as 1 hour or last as long as 1-2 days, and it may also be divided into two parts, with some kittens born up to 12-24 hours after the first ones.

Queens are protective mothers, especially during the birthing process. They tend to get testy and aggressive during the transition stage right before birth, and if you’re not careful, you may find yourself on the receiving end of bites or scratches. Queens also have the ability to delay parturition if they’re not comfortable with the birthing environment, so make sure it is quiet, comfortable and undisturbed.

A queen’s protection will continue as soon as the kittens are born, by cleaning and licking them to stimulate breathing, cutting the umbilical cord and encouraging nursing. All this ensures the kittens are healthy and have a strong start for the rest of the life.