Hello and thanks for researching this very important question!

It is not uncommon for a cat to "fill up" on placentas, or to be disinterested in them.

As long as the entire placenta has been delivered, and Momma is washing the kittens all over to dry them, things are going well.

You can wait up to an hour to see if she will indeed chew this placenta free (it might start to "bug" her after she gets through with the washing chores), or you can assist the removal once an hour has passed (sometimes there can be some bleeding if you cut the cord earlier than this).

If you do end up needing to cut this placenta away yourself:

1) Get a piece of plain sewing thread (or unwaxed dental floss--no wax or flavors!) and tie the cord about 1 and 1/2 inches away from the kitten's belly. Trim the thread ends to about 1/4 inch to make sure Momma doesn't get hurt if she accidentally swallows it later.

2) About 1/2 inch above the thread-tie (on the placenta side, that is)...use two fingers of one hand to twist and flatten the cord until it shreds away. This most closely mimics what happens in Nature when the Momma chews at the cord with her molar teeth--she is rubbing and squishing it, not cutting it straight through.

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