Hauskatze. Geburt dreier Jungen einer Abessinierkatze. Waschen des Fells und der Vorderpfoten, Versuche zum Vulvalecken, Preßwehen, Austreiben der ersten Jungtiere, Sauberlecken, Abnabeln und Fressen der Nachgeburt. Größere Anstrengungen bei der Geburt des zweiten Jungen, Säugen der ersten beiden Jungen, Austreiben des dritten Jungen.

This film shows the parturition in the domestic cat, race Abessinian cat. The litter consists of 5 kittens although only the birth of three of them is shown. All data about this delivery are given in a protocoll and a table gives all data about all parturitions of this cat. Special attention is given to normal behaviour of the mother. The apparature for filming and the lamps had been in her environment for a long time before delivery. A detailed description of the methods used is given in this article. All patterns of normal behaviour are shown in the film. Licking the vulva, which is, owing to the thick abdomen of the cat not possible at the beginning of the parturition. The onset of labour and straining movements is shown clearly and the first kitten is born in breech presentation. It takes great straining force to expull the kittens, especially for the very big second kitten. The little third kitten is expulled rather easily. After the young is expelled the mother cleans the kitten by licking, bites the umbilical cord and eats the afterbirth or she begins eating the placenta and eats the cord afterwards. As soon as the first and second kittens have found the nipples and begin to suckle the uterine contractions and straining movement set on again, due to the suckling-oxytocin-release reflex, which is discussed in more detail in the text.