Do you have a pregnant cat? In a perfect world, your cat would have been neutered before this could occur.
It’s possible that you delayed spaying your cat (life happens). Or possibly a pregnant cat was found or adopted. In either scenario, you should treat her with the utmost care considering that she is currently pregnant.
Want to Have Cats of Your Own?
Cat overpopulation is a serious problem. Please don’t purposefully breed your cat unless you are a respected breeder with a purebred cat of high quality and health. Because many problems are inherited, your veterinarian should be involved in establishing whether a cat is in excellent breeding health. If you are new to breeding cats, ask for help from an experienced cat breeder for the sake of your cat and her children.
Veterinary Care for a Pregnant Cat
If your cat is showing signs of pregnancy or you have cause to suspect that she may have mated when she was in heat, take her to the vet as soon as you can. Sometimes, if it’s early enough, it’s still possible to spay your cat. It may be difficult to tell if a cat is pregnant before she is about three to four weeks along. However, if your cat seems ill or is displaying unusual symptoms, you should still take her to the doctor for a full evaluation. You should also let the veterinarian know if your cat appears to be pregnant.
Around three weeks into your cat’s pregnancy, your veterinarian might be able to tell if she’s pregnant by gently palpating her abdomen. However, this may be difficult if your cat is obese or if other symptoms like a large bladder or firm feces are present. If one is available, an ultrasound might be able to confirm pregnancy.
The possibility of spaying your cat to halt the pregnancy at this early to midstage stage might be discussed with you by your veterinarian. You might opt to take this action to preserve your cat’s health or to lessen cat overpopulation. Your veterinarian may provide you advice on how to care for your cat throughout her pregnancy and how to care for the kittens once they are born if you decide to let your cat have the litter. Planning how you’ll find the kittens suitable homes is a great idea right now.
Around day 55 of the pregnancy, your veterinarian could suggest getting an X-ray to assess the expected number of kittens.
Your ability to judge when your cat is finished giving birth and whether or not she is in pain in between kitten births will depend on how many fetuses she is carrying.
Vaccinations are not indicated during pregnancy since they may have a negative impact on the kittens’ growth, while some rabies immunizations may be safe.
Supplying cat ovulating food
Feeding your pregnant cat a premium chow formulated for growth is advised. Usually, this begins a day or two before delivery. Often, this is some form of cat food. In general, moist food is better for you than dry food, although either is fine. When choosing meals, it is normally advised to ask your veterinarian for their advice.
In the first few weeks of pregnancy, refrain from overfeeding your pregnant cat. She needs plenty of high-quality food for both herself and her kittens. On the other hand, the kitten food has the extra calories and nutrients she needs. If she gains weight, she can have problems with the kittens. Once you’re sure she’s expecting, gently transition her to kitten food; however, unless she’s underweight or acting starved, don’t increase her diet. Throughout her pregnancy, keep a check on her physical health with the help of your veterinarian.
As soon as your pregnant cat is about six weeks along, you should start giving her more frequently spaced-out tiny meals. Fortunately, most cats need little to no assistance from humans throughout the queening process. Give her little meals between four and six times each day.
Where to Put Your Cat When She’s Pregnant
With the exception of some basic veterinarian care and food modifications, your pregnant cat shouldn’t need any special attention for the most of her pregnancy. However, as she gets closer to queening (gestation), she will begin looking for a safe place to start nesting. Look for the AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy declaration to determine if a meal is adequate for growth and reproduction.
You can prepare blankets in a cardboard box or laundry basket, then conceal them in a safe location inside your home. However, your cat can decide not to use it. Like most cats, they will act whatever they like. It’s possible for your cat to decide to give birth in the most uncomfortable spot. During the last week of her pregnancy, make sure that any areas of the house you want to keep off-limits for queening stay that way. Make sure she doesn’t have access to the outside as well because she might sneak out and construct a nest that you are unable to detect.
Your cat may start seeming restless and perhaps anxious as the delivery approaches. This is very standard. Just make an effort to keep her calm and give her some room. It won’t be long before this is all over.
The Appropriate Moment to Have a Cat
Once your cat has selected where she will give birth, it is best to let her be and stay a safe distance. She finds it difficult to eat a lot at once due to the weight of the kittens on her stomach, but she still needs the extra food. But if she’s in trouble, you might have to step in and assist.
To be ready for the expected number of kittens, keep track of the intervals between deliveries. Call your veterinarian if your cat experiences visible contractions for longer than 60 minutes without giving birth to a kitten. Contact the veterinarian if it has been more than two hours since the last kitten was born. If a kitten is in the birth canal for more than a minute or two without being pushed out, it is advised to take your cat immediately away to the vet. For advice if anything else appears off, get in touch with the veterinary clinic.
Avoid isolating the mother cat from the kittens during the first several days, and make sure she continues to receive enough food. She will need a lot more calories when she breastfeeds and takes care of the kittens. Instead, when they are all around 6 weeks old, bring them all in for a checkup at the vet’s office. If you don’t breed purebred cats, talk to your vet about having your cat spayed as soon as possible. This is generally done after the kittens have typically been weaned.
If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your family pet, know the pet’s health history, and may make the best recommendations for your pet.
Wondering about Mating and Conception in Cats? Check it out on our latest post!
