How To Care for A Pregnant Cat

Pregnancy Signs in Cats

There are several indicators that your Cat is pregnant.

The first sign could be that her heat cycle will come to an end.

Another warning indicator is if your cat's nipples swell and get a deeper, red colour.

A pregnant Cat will also eat more and may experience ‘morning sickness.' Your cat's stomach will begin to enlarge at five weeks and will continue to swell until she gives birth.

You may notice a significant behaviour modification.

She may suddenly become overly affectionate and ready to spend time with you.

Alternatively, you may notice that your previously friendly Cat has turned moody and reclusive.

Don't worry; both of these behaviours are very typical.

Cats normally have an easy time giving birth.

Take your Cat to the vet if you are worried about her or want to confirm that she is pregnant.

They'll perform a physical exam or an ultrasound to ensure your pregnant mother's health and confirm the pregnancy.

Caring For Your Pregnant Cat

Is your Cat sleeping a lot and has a protruding abdomen? Are her nipples large and pink? If so, she could be pregnant and expect her kitten soon.

If your Cat is not neutered, she may have bonded and mated with another Cat while out and about in the neighbourhood.

If you weren't prepared or didn't know what to do next, these few ideas on how to care for your pregnant Cat and bundle of joy can come in handy.

The more you understand what your cat is going through, the more equipped you can relate and help.

Pregnancy is emotionally and physically draining for your cat, so don't put undue strain on her; now is the time for her to be stress-free and relaxed.

Healthy Diet

Your pregnant Cat should eat high-quality, growth-oriented food.

Usually, this is some kind of kitten food.

Wet food is often healthier than dry food, but both are acceptable.

When picking foods, it's usually a good idea to ask your vet for their recommendations.

Avoid overfeeding your pregnant Cat during the first several weeks of her pregnancy.

Yes, she and her kittens require a lot of nutritious food.

The kitten food, on the other hand, contains the extra calories and nutrients she requires.

She and the kittens may have problems if she grows overweight.

After you've confirmed her pregnancy, gradually shift to kitten food, but don't raise her feeding amount unless she's underweight or feeling hungry.

With the advice of your vet, keep an eye on her health throughout her pregnancy.

When your Cat is around six weeks pregnant, she should be fed smaller, more frequent meals.

The kittens' pressure on her stomach makes it difficult for the mother to eat large amounts at once, yet she desperately needs the extra nourishment.

Four to six times a day, serve her little meals.

Make sure your Cat stays hydrated as well.

During pregnancy, the amount of water in your cat's body increases to assist her in maintaining a good blood pressure level.

Water aids in the absorption and transmission of critical nutrients by your cat's body.

As a result, when mom is dehydrated, her kittens are unable to obtain all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they require to grow.

Regular Monitored Exercises

Unless your Cat has complications during pregnancy, you should get her to exercise regularly, such as with a Cat wheel for a few minutes to strengthen her muscles; however, it should not be violent enough to injure her.

Exercise encourages a healthy lifestyle and helps alleviate pain.

Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, but see your veterinarian if you have any medical conditions that would prohibit you from exercising or if you have any concerns.

Exercise may help provide relief for your cat's backache caused by the kittens' weight.

It can assist with sleep issues.

When your Cat is pregnant, fatigue is very frequent.

Ensure sure she gets sufficient rest or, if possible, stay in bed.

Petting

As your cat's pregnancy hormones kick in, she'll become more affectionate and seek more hugs.

A pregnant Cat needs a lot of love and devotion, and it's vital to remember that as her body changes, you'll have to be careful how you treat her.

While it's fine to brush your pregnant cat, stay away from her stomach.

This area will be extremely sensitive, and any contact with it could make her uncomfortable or harm her unborn kittens.

If you must pick up your cat, do so by "scooping" her up from her bottom rather than touching her stomach.

Avoid any noisy behaviour near the end of your cat's pregnancy, and if possible, leave her alone.

You'll need to assist her in remaining as calm as possible at this time, and anything too lively could stress her out.

Vaccinations

Before breeding, your Cat should have received all of her vaccines.

Because healthy Cats pass on immunity to their kittens through their milk, it's important to check her antibody levels.

Your veterinarian can do a blood test to determine whether or not they need to be vaccinated.

If your Cat is already pregnant and her vaccinations are due, keep in mind that some vaccines cannot be given to her while she is pregnant.

Consult your veterinarian to determine which immunizations are safe for both the mother and the kittens.

Don't worry if your Cat isn't immunized when she has kittens.

Veterinary Care

If your Cat is displaying indications of pregnancy or you fear she mated while in heat, the first thing you should do is take her to the vet.

It is sometimes possible to spay your Cat when it is still young.

It's tough to confirm a pregnancy in a Cat until they've been pregnant for three to four weeks.

If your Cat appears ill or is exhibiting unusual behaviour, you should still take her to the vet for an examination and inform the vet that she may be pregnant.

Your veterinarian may be able to detect pregnancy by gently palpating your cat's abdomen approximately three weeks into the pregnancy.

However, this can be tricky if the cat is overweight or other factors such as solid stool or a large bladder.

An ultrasound, if available, may be used to confirm pregnancy.

During this early to mid-stage of pregnancy, your veterinarian can discuss the possibility of spaying your cat and ending the pregnancy with you.

You may decide to do so for the sake of your cat's health or to reduce the cat's population.

If you decide to let your cat have the kittens, your veterinarian may advise you on how to care for your pregnant cat as well as how to care for the kittens once they are born.

It's a good idea to start planning how you'll find suitable homes for the kittens now.

Around 55 days into the pregnancy, your veterinarian may suggest that you get an X-ray to see how many kittens your cat is expecting.

Environment for Your Pregnant Cat

Aside from some minor vet care and dietary changes, your pregnant Cat shouldn't have any special requirements throughout the majority of her pregnancy.

She will, nevertheless, begin looking for a safe, peaceful area to begin nesting as she approaches giving birth.

2 This normally starts a day or two before the due date.

Fill a cardboard box or laundry basket with blankets and store it in a safe, quiet place in your home.

Your cat, on the other hand, may choose not to utilize it.

They'll do anything they want, as is the case with most cats.

Your Cat may give birth in the most inconvenient location possible.

If there are any places in the house you wish to keep off-limits while she's pregnant, ensure they're closed up during the last week of her pregnancy.

Also, ensure she doesn't have access to the outdoors, as she might sneak away and start a nest where you won't be able to find her.

As the delivery date approaches, your Cat may get restless and even agitated.

This is quite natural.

Just try to make her feel at ease and give her some space.

Everything will be over soon.

Impending Labor Signs

A cat's pregnancy lasts approximately 60 days, plus or minus five days.

If you're not sure how far along your Cat is, look over the early symptoms of impending birth.

• Your Cat will start looking for a peaceful and safe area to have her kittens a day or two before she goes into labour.

  She may choose a hiding place you provide for her, or she may seek refuge in the back of a wardrobe or under a bed.

• Behavioural changes: You may observe restless pacing, panting, excessive grooming (particularly around her genitals), and excessive vocalization in your cat.

  She'll stop eating as well.

• Physical changes during labour: Your cat's rectal body temperature may drop to around 100°F, and it may vomit.

  A few days before birth, the abdomen may "drop," and the cat's nipples may grow larger, darker, or pinker.

• Symptoms of active labour: Your Cat may yowl through the pain of contractions, which are the uterine movements that move the kitten down the birth canal.

  A release of blood or other fluids is also possible.

Birthing Process

It might take anything from 5 to 30 minutes for a kitten to be birthed.

The mother will remove the amniotic sacs once the kittens are delivered.

By cleaning the kittens with her harsh tongue, the mother Cat will encourage them to breathe.

She'll also gnaw on the umbilical cord, around an inch from the kitten's body, to sever it.

The kittens will instinctively seek out a nipple, latch on, and breastfeed.

If the kitten is still in its sac and the mother Cat ignores it, gently cut or tear the membrane pouch and facilitate the kitten's inhalation by softly stroking its nose and mouth with a rough, dry towel.

If the mother Cat is having trouble biting off the umbilical cord, tightly knot dental floss around it 1 inch from the kitten's body and cut it on the mother's side of the tie.

If a placenta does not come out with each kitten, ensure that it is expelled within 24 hours after birth.

One placenta should be supplied for each kitten.

Counting the placentas is an excellent idea.

You'll need to see a vet if the placenta is still in the cat.

Between births, about 30 to 60 minutes may pass, but longer durations are not unusual.

If there is a two-hour delay and you are certain there are still kittens, the mother should be examined by a vet.

Regardless of whether the birth went well or not, your vet should assess the mother Cat and kittens within 24 hours of birth.