How to Care for a Pregnant Cat

Care for pregnant cats begins before the pregnancy. Owners should make sure they have a healthy mature animal, for cats this means no younger than 14 months. The goal should be to produce quality off spring, not to make a profit, and not to breed just because you can. As such you should only breed proven registered animals (meaning cats who have gone to shows to prove they are worthy of passing on their genetics). You should make sure they have homes for the upcoming off spring to be certain you are not contributing to the unwanted cat population. In the USA alone several million cats and kittens are euthanized due to lack of homes. Do not breed your cat if you are not financially prepared for an emergency.

CARE OF THE MOM

Prior to breeding discuss with your veterinarian your cats vaccination and worming schedule. Make sure the male you select is a registered cat, of the same breed as yours, has been shown to prove he is worth breeding, and is healthy so he will not pass anything on to your female.

Mark your calender with the expected due date. Cats are pregnant for 60-65 days. Persians and Himalayans are known to have more problems. Breeding female cats are called “Queens”.

Establish a feeding program for your cat. She will gain weight, but you do not want her to get “fat”. Pregnant cats should be fed kitten food. This gives her more protein and energy which helps the kittens develop properly. In the week prior to delivery it is especially important as it helps them produce enough milk. If you normally feed only dry food, make sure you start feeding her some canned food 2-4 times a day, small amounts, but frequent. Chicken and rice canned is best, and mush rather than chunks in gravy.

You may select to have a vet examine your pet half way through the pregnancy. If the pregnancy was not planned, and you suspect you cat is pregnant, get this done right away. The veterinarian can give you an approximate due date and discuss any concerns about your cats health.

Do not hesitate to phone a veterinarian at any sign of change in the mothers behavior. Your vet will then tell you if it is normal, or a reason to bring the kitty in for a check.

PREPARATIONS

As the date approaches monitor your pet regularly for any indication of premature delivery. You will need lots of bedding changes, so make sure you have plenty of blankets.

The cat should not be allowed outside once she is bred, or she risks catching diseases (even vaccinated cats can get sick and it may cause problems in the pregnancy). As the due date approaches she should be moved into the room where you want her to give birth. At first leave her in there over night, but in the last few days you may keep her in there the whole time. It is important NOT to let them outdoors in the days before delivery, in case they go missing or give birth outside. This room should have their litter, food, and water, a complete living arrangement that they are not to leave, until the kittens are weaned. You can set up a box or large empty litter tray with blankets for her to have her kittens in. Its good to give them a few options. The litter should NOT be clumping litter.

Research the normal delivery process for your type of pet. The majority of cats do not have problems but you should have your veterinarians phone number ready just in case. It is always tempting to help, but when the time comes, it is best to stay back and let the mom do the work unless there are problems.

Overall better care of the mother throughout her pregnancy will help ensure an easier delivery, and a healthier litter.

Photo of a nursing cat, from Wikimedia.