Caring for a pregnant cat: how to prepare your pet for the big day?
Your furry pet will soon become the mother of little kittens. How to support your cat during pregnancy? A loving and caring owner needs to know exactly how to create the most comfortable conditions for the expectant mother.
Pregnancy in cats
Content
How a cat's pregnancy progresses week by week
Caring for a pregnant cat
Care
What should you not do during pregnancy?
How a cat's pregnancy progresses week by week
Pregnancy in cats lasts from 60 to 67 days (9-10 weeks).
If a cat is carrying from 5 to 7 kittens, birth occurs earlier. If the litter is small (1-2 kittens), they can be worn longer.
During the first weeks, there are no external signs at all that the pet is preparing to become a mother.
1st week: fertilization of the egg lasts up to 10 days. There are no external signs of pregnancy. The cat's mood remains the same as before.
2nd week: hormonal levels change.
Week 3: The cat's weight begins to gradually increase. The nipples also become enlarged and red. And then hormonal changes occur.
4th week: the pet may feel nauseous and refuses to eat because of this. At the same time, her weight increases.
5th week: you can already carefully feel the kittens in the expectant mother’s tummy and even understand how many of them there are.
Week 6: The cat now begins to eat much more, because the kittens are growing and she will need calories to be able to breastfeed her offspring. If you closely observe the animal, you can notice how the kittens move in its stomach.
7th week: the pet’s belly becomes more and more rounded. As kittens grow, the stomach becomes compressed, so the cat eats less again. As for the mood, at this stage of pregnancy your pet begins to search for a safe, cozy and calm place where she could give birth to babies.
8th week: the movement of the kittens in the mother cat’s belly becomes more and more noticeable. The pet licks itself more often. Hair may fall out on her belly and her nipples may swell—this is how she prepares for feeding. Milk may appear (even at this stage).
9th week: the expectant mother experiences anxiety: she will give birth soon! She tries to lie down for a long time, and if she has not yet found a safe place, she continues to search. Appetite is reduced. Some animals give birth in the 9th week of pregnancy.
10th week: childbirth. The cat gives birth to kittens. If after 10 weeks your pet has not lambed, contact your veterinarian immediately!
Caring for a pregnant cat
Often nature takes precedence over the animal and it instinctively understands what is happening and how it is happening, and what to do about it. Usually cats themselves sense the processes and changes occurring in their bodies and are able to bear and give birth on their own.
But, despite this, in some moments the animal needs support from the owner.
Nutrition. What should the expectant mother feed so that the pregnancy proceeds without complications, the kittens are formed and born healthy, and the kitty has the strength to safely deliver the pregnancy and feed the babies?
The diet should be more high in calories (from 4000 kcal/kg of dry food throughout pregnancy).
Increase fat and protein levels. Essential amino acids are very important for the proper formation of the fetus. Well, fat facilitates the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins from food, and also increases the calorie content of the diet.
Give preference to foods that are easily digestible by the pregnant cat's body.
Gradually increase the portions as the kittens grow, but do not overfeed the cat. Obesity leads to problems with breastfeeding (there will be less milk). A calorie deficit is also harmful: the embryo may die. This is also fraught with problems with fetal development, stillbirth and underdevelopment of barely born kittens. In the last trimester of pregnancy, feed the animal in small portions, but many times a day, and before giving birth, it is advisable to slowly start switching the cat to kitten food.
Food (feed) should be saturated with such useful substances as: phosphorus, calcium, taurine, fatty acids EPA, DHA.
Make sure your diet is complete and balanced.
The best option is to choose suitable dry food for the period of pregnancy that meets the above criteria. There are many diets on the market now that are designed specifically for pregnant cats. They already include all the necessary vitamins, minerals and other important nutritional supplements. However, it is best if your pet's pregnancy is monitored by a veterinarian. He evaluates the animal’s condition and can additionally, on an individual basis, prescribe folic acid, B vitamins, etc. In general, if you feed a pregnant cat dry food and additionally want to give her a vitamin-mineral complex, be sure to consult your doctor before doing so. !
Pregnant domestic cat
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protection from parasites. It is extremely important during pregnancy. Fleas are especially dangerous not so much for mothers as for babies. A kitten’s fragile body may not be able to withstand the attack of arthropods, and anemia caused by flea bites can quite easily lead to the death of the furball.
It is necessary to select anti-parasitic drugs for a pregnant cat very carefully so that toxic substances that kill fleas and ticks enter the blood of the expectant mother and do not harm the fetus. You can consult a veterinarian on this issue, or you can independently choose gentle preparations on a natural, plant basis (for example, flea and tick shampoos with essential oils in the composition).
It is best to separate your pregnant cat from other animals if possible (especially in the last weeks of pregnancy) to avoid infection. Pets that have free contact with the expectant mother, even if they do not look unhealthy, can be carriers of the infection.
As for antiparasitic treatment for worms, it is best to carry out deworming before pregnancy. During the process of bearing kittens, this procedure is not recommended.
Care
During pregnancy, the cat must be provided with comfortable, anti-stress conditions that guarantee her peace.
Caring for kittens If there are children in the house, explain to them that the pet now needs to be treated more carefully.
Do not squeeze or squeeze your cat's belly. Do not pick her up during late pregnancy to avoid harming the kittens (miscarriage may occur).
It is necessary to clean the room where your furry pet lives more often. The cat's litter box should be cleaned more often than usual - 2 times a day. As your cat gains weight and her belly expands, she may need a wide litter box with low sides.
Make sure that the cat does not come into contact with your outerwear and shoes in which you return home from the street.
Move away from the animal all dangerous objects that can harm it: poisonous indoor plants (for example, poinsettia), chemicals.
When visiting a veterinarian, be sure to warn him about your pet’s pregnancy so that he can prescribe gentle medications.
Caring for a pregnant cat Decide how and where the birth will take place: at home or in a veterinary clinic / under the supervision of a veterinarian.
If at home, prepare a place for childbirth. The cat will choose it herself, because she has a great sense of exactly where she will be comfortable, quiet, calm and no one will disturb her. Close the cabinets so that the cat does not set up a maternity “nest” there.
You can help your furry pet and place a basket or cardboard box in the corner of her choice for greater comfort. It’s a good idea to place a soft and wide bed there with high sides (so that the kittens don’t crawl out of such a “nest” until they get stronger). Lay a waterproof material (for example, polyethylene) on the bottom of the lounger or box, and on top - rags, diapers that absorb moisture / rags, which can then be washed.
Often, cats successfully deliver themselves from pregnancy on their own. To do this, you should leave them alone, but at the same time check from time to time to see if everything is in order.
If your cat has thick, long hair, help her and newborn kittens by trimming the hairs in the area of the nipples and tail with scissors.
Just in case (if something goes wrong), prepare the following items: scissors, gauze wipes, surgical gloves, antiseptic (alcohol), diapers / clean cloth, pipette / baby bulb - to remove liquid, disposable syringes, a warm heating pad - put on under the fabric on which the babies will lie, Vaseline, iodine / brilliant green (for treating the umbilical cord), toilet paper, dental floss / silk (cotton) threads - for tying the umbilical cord, garbage bags. Also have the phone number of the veterinary clinic ready in case of complications.
What should you not do during pregnancy?
In addition to deworming, there are contraindications for some other procedures. For example, it is not recommended to vaccinate a cat so as not to harm the kittens. If for some reason it is absolutely necessary to do this, carefully read the label on the vaccine. It should state that it can also be used on pregnant cats. Vaccination should best be carried out 4 weeks before mating.
So, now you are ready for the birth of little kittens. Soon you will have more pets! The catalog of our online store E-ZOO presents products for kittens, pregnant and lactating cats. Come in and choose to prepare for replenishment: food, diapers, beds, houses, trays, carriers, stain removers, etc.
More details on the website https://e-zoo.com.ua/blog/zdorove-i-ukhod/uhod-za-beremennoy-koshkoy-chto-nuzhno-znat-ee-hozyainu E-ZOO
