Last night we got a call: a cat was giving birth to her kittens, but she wouldn't lick her first kitten clean and bite off the placenta. We came straight away. I've seen chicks being born, but never kittens.

When we arrived they were rubbing the first kitten dry in a warm blanket. We cut the cord of the placenta with a sterilized pair of scissors. Whilst we were busy with the first one, the second kitten came. The animal lay still. We actually thought it was dead. But no, it still moved. I...