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How to Care for a Pregnant CatFood, Veterinary Care, and Activity Restrictions for Pregnant Cats
Providing the right food and care increases the likelihood that pregnant cats will have healthy kittens.
Healthy cats don’t need much special care while pregnant. They can engage in most of their usual activities, though outdoor cats should be kept indoors for the duration of the pregnancy. Also, if the cat has a tendency to engage in rough play with other pets or children, she should be prevented from doing so while pregnant. Do not prod the cat’s abdomen to feel for the kittens if pregnancy is suspected – this can cause miscarriage. How to Know When a Cat is PregnantA healthy feline pregnancy usually lasts for 60 to 69 days (71 days for Siamese cats) and the average litter size is 4 kittens. There are rarely signs of pregnancy for the first few weeks, after which weight gain is the main indicator. Some cats also experience morning sickness and/or lethargy. Eventually, the pregnant cat’s nipples become pinker and larger. She will be hungrier than usual, and possibly more affectionate as well. Veterinary Care and Medication for Pregnant CatsA veterinary check-up is recommended during the first month of pregnancy. The veterinarian can make dietary recommendations and treat any conditions, such as internal parasites, at this time. Cats should not receive vaccinations or deworming medications while pregnant. Insecticides, tapeworm medications, chemical flea control products, hormones, and antibiotics should also not be used during pregnancy unless recommended or approved by a veterinarian. How to Groom a Pregnant CatMost cats don’t have any special grooming requirements while pregnant. However, if the cat has very long hair, near the end of her pregnancy the fur around the nipples can be trimmed to make it easier for the kittens to nurse. This should be done very carefully to avoid damaging the nipples, and short fur (about ½ an inch) should be left to provide some protection against the kittens’ claws. What to Feed a Pregnant CatFor the first month of pregnancy, provide premium quality food and avoid giving table scraps or treats, as the cat may fill up on these and not eat as much nutritionally complete food as a result. Vitamin and mineral supplements are not usually necessary and should not be given unless recommended or approved by a veterinarian. During the second month of pregnancy, cats have higher protein and calorie requirements. Switching the diet gradually to a premium kitten food is recommended. Increasing amounts of kitten food can be mixed in with the cat’s regular food until the mother cat is eating nothing but kitten food by the time she is ready to give birth. She should continue eating kitten food until after her kittens are weaned, when the diet can be gradually switched back to adult cat food again. Although a pregnant cat should have access to plenty of food, she should not be allowed to grow obese, as the kittens are also likely to be fat in this case, which can make labour difficult. A pregnant cat’s body weight should increase by 40-50% over the course of her pregnancy. A cat will sometimes lose her appetite 1-2 weeks before giving birth due to the crowding in her abdomen. Provide smaller meals at more frequent intervals if this occurs. If a pregnant cat does not eat or drink anything for a couple of days, consult a veterinarian. Further ReadingFor information on caring for a mother cat that is near her due date, see How to Prepare for the Birth of Kittens. For information on kitten training and care, see Teaching a Kitten to Use the Litter Box and Cat Vaccinations. References:
The copyright of the article How to Care for a Pregnant Cat in Cat Care is owned by Jennifer Copley. Permission to republish How to Care for a Pregnant Cat in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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