Considerate cat owners should think twice before deciding to breed their feline pets, as this important event in the cat’s life has to be approached with deep knowledge and experience. A pregnant cat requires special care, extra comfort and attention from its owner. You need to provide the kitty mommy with the necessary treatments and the love she deserves to go through a healthy, full-term pregnancy and a smooth delivery.
As much as cats are quite good at handling pregnancies and births on their own, there’re still a number of things a thoughtful and a caring owner needs to do to make sure that his cat doesn’t experience any complications and gives birth to healthy, viable kittens. These are the general pregnant cat care tips you need to follow if you have a pregnant cat lady in your house.
10 most essential tips on taking care of a pregnant cat
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Learn about each stage of cat pregnancy.
If you suspect that your cat is pregnant, you need to learn what’s normal for each stage of the process, how your cat is supposed to behave, what things should make you worried and which are completely Ok (like pregnant cat morning sickness). This way, you’ll be able to catch possible complications early and avoid serious consequences.
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Regular veterinary visits are a must.
As soon as you notice your cat showing the signs of pregnancy, you should take it to the vest for the first check-up. During the first appointment, the vet will examine the general state of the future mamma, give her an ultrasound to tell how far along she is, how many kittens are in there and when her due date is. He might also prescribe some medications and suggest a few caring tips depending on the needs of your cat. Lastly, he’ll schedule regular appointments to observe the pregnancy and the health of the kitten mamma and her babies. Don’t miss them not to risk the life and the well-being of your pet. If you haven’t found a reliable vet yet, make sure to leave a request on HireRush.com and we’ll match you with the best pro in your local area.
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Keep the pregnant cat indoors.
It’s better to prevent your pregnant cat from spending a lot of time outdoors not to expose her to numerous dangers (from getting out on a busy road to catching a disease from other felines). If the pregnancy is planned, it’s crucial to keep the cat indoors during the first week after conception. Otherwise, she may end up with kittens from different fathers.
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Ensure proper nutrition.
A pregnant cat needs to receive an increased amount of nutrients and vitamins to support a healthy pregnancy. Therefore, you need to switch her to special high-quality food designed for pregnant cats, as well as follow your vet’s instructions regarding the vitamins’ intake and the amount of food to give during different stages of pregnancy. The closer to the due date your cat gets, the more food she’ll need.
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Pregnant cat needs some exercise.
Pregnant cats kept indoors may gain the excessive amount of weight. That’s not healthy for them and their kittens. Try to engage your pregnant cat lady in gentle exercise, play with her each day to avoid any weight issues.
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Give her some space.
Your cat may feel some need for privacy during this special time. A lot of pregnant cats become a little bit more distant from their owners. That’s completely normal and you should not take this personally. Just give her some ‘me time’ and don’t fuss around too much.
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Beware of vaccinations and parasites.
Ideally, your cat should be vaccinated prior to pregnancy. In that case, she’ll pass on immunity to her little ones, which will benefit their health. If your cat is already expecting, but she’s not vaccinated, don’t be too concerned. They know how to do pregnancies just well. Moreover, a lot of vaccinations are prohibited during pregnancy. When it comes to parasites, though, it’s necessary to make sure that your expectant cat momma receives worming and flea treatment safe for pregnancy.
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Keep other cats away from the pregnant one if possible.
Pregnant cats don’t enjoy the company of other felines too much. Thus, if you have more than one cat at home, try to ensure some privacy to the future momma. Additionally, keep her and the kittens away from the stranger cats to prevent disease transmission.
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Get ready for the labor day in advance.
Set up the ‘nesting’ corner for your pregnant cat a few weeks before the due date so that she gets comfortable in it. You can make it out of a cardboard box/crate, a couple of soft blankets and disposable potty pads. Don’t leave a pregnant cat alone for longer periods of time too close to her due date. If you have to leave fo a day or two, ask someone to watch her or hire a pet sitter. Shop for kitten supplies to have everything ready for their arrival. Pet stores sell whelping boxes for cats and their little ones as well.
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Find the owners for the kittens before they arrive.
Unless you plan on keeping the whole litter, ask your friends, family members if they’d like to adopt a kitten to make sure that every little one has a loving, caring owner waiting for him. Sometimes finding a suitable owner can take longer than expected. That’s why it’s nice to test the waters before the kittens are born. If you place ads online, try to check if the person expressing an interest in homing your kitten is capable of taking proper care of it.
