Spaying your cat is a good idea if you do not intend on breeding her in the future. However, you’ll need to give your cat a lot of attention if you allow her to have kittens because pregnancy in cats is a big deal. A mother feline is normally capable of giving birth on her own. But there are simple tasks you can do to make things less complicated for them.
How to Care for a Pregnant Cat
While it’s suggested to have most pets neutered or spayed, it is still important to ensure that your feline gets the best care she needs when she is pregnant. Here are five suggestions to help you care for your pregnant cat.
1. Confirm their pregnancy
It is crucial to know your cat is pregnant before taking care of them. People often use easy blood and urine tests in your home to validate pregnancy, but this doesn’t apply to felines. At the beginning of pregnancy, your cat’s body will show symptoms that she’s carrying kittens. Cats have a short gestation duration of 60 to 70 days which you will have to observe.
You can approach animal experts that offer breeding consultations to learn the common signs to look out for when a cat is pregnant. For queries that have something to do about services connecting to C-sections, reproductive planning, and insemination, pet breeding specialists can accommodate your questions. You may click on this page to laern more about the mentioned services.
2. Make a nesting area
Your cat’s safety and comfort are crucial throughout the birth process. Besides bringing your pet into the house, building a cozy and safe nesting place where they can give birth and nurse their kittens is a crucial thing to consider. If your cat has a favorite bed or blanket it lays on, it must be relocated away from the noise and bustle of your home.
A nesting area might be a large cardboard box lined with her bed. A day or less before the pregnant feline delivers, she will likely begin to position herself in a nesting place. If your cat picks a nesting space outside the one you created, assist her to her chosen spot rather than moving her.
3. Ensure they’re healthy
While healthy cats do not usually have health issues introduced by pregnancy, it’s still needed to check up on them every day to ensure they’re healthy throughout their birthing or pregnancy. Taking your felines to animal centers for a regular pet checkup, up-to-date vaccinations, and tick prevention is necessary to prevent any health conditions throughout their pregnancy.
4. Pay attention to their nutrition
Making sure your pregnant feline is healthy will ensure that her growing offspring are healthy. By their sixth week of pregnancy, you must be providing them with 25% more food. Make certain their diet is high in protein and calcium because this is important for the lactation of the mother and her kittens. Kitten foods are a great choice to include in your pregnant cat’s diet plan as they are rich in calcium and protein.
Keep feeding them with feline foods in their gestation and even after delivery. Buy high-quality and trusted brand foods for your cat to get the best nutrition they require. Freshwater is as essential as food, so ensure your feline always has it nearby. You may visit facilities like Summerville Animal Hospital to learn more about the necessary nutrition your cat will need throughout her pregnancy.
5. Know when they’re about to give birth
If you are a keen owner who has been keeping track of your pet’s pregnancy since you noticed indications, you could roughly estimate their birth delivery date. However, there are other ways to know that labor may be near if you’re unsure of the timeline. Some of these signs are:
- Your cat always looks for secluded locations for nesting
- They’re less active and lose appetite
- A drop in body temperature
- Persistent licking of the vaginal area
