10 Essential
Pregnant Cat Care Tips
by: Marc de Jong
1. Keep your
pregnant cat indoors.
Don't expose
an expecting kitty to danger. But there are
more reasons. Some queens go into heat even
during pregnancy. Cats are capable to be
pregnant of two different litters at the
same them. And of course, a pregnant cat
should not give birth in a cold place
outside.
2. Give your
kitty the right food.
It should be
high on calcium and protein. Kitten food is
specially designed to meet the need of
pregnant and nursing felines. Vitamin
supplements are recommended too.
3. Do not give
any medication during pregnancy.
A pregnant cat
should get medication only in emergency. The
same goes for deworming products, or
products against fleas. If she has worms or
fleas, first consult your vet.
4. Make your
cat a comfortable nest bed.
A box filled
with newspaper usually does the trick. Put
in a warm sheltered place, preferably a
location your cat frequently visits. Make
sure all is ready two weeks before birth.
5. Find a home
for your kittens - before they are born.
It will give
you peace of mind to know where the kittens
will go. Finding a home for a kitty can be
time consuming. You'll have more time for
that before they are born.
6. Use
non-clumping litter for her box.
Sometimes cats
give birth in the litter box. If a kitten is
delivered in clumping litter, the mother
kitty might refuse to clean her newborn off
as the clump is all over the sac. And the
baby drowns in its own fluid.
7. Keep other
cats away from her.
You have more
than one kitty? Your pregnant cat wants
privacy. She doesn't like the company of
other cats during this period, even if she
knows these cats very well.
8. Buy enough
food for your kitty... and you.
You should
have no reason to leave your kitty alone on
the days before and after birth.
9. Check which
vet is available.
Have a piece
of paper with the phone number of the
closest emergency veterinary clinic. If
there’s no such clinic in your area, find
out which vet is available for emergency
care. One phone call to a local vet is
usually enough.
10. Get the
right information about cat pregnancy.
Only if you
understand what you see and hear, you will
be able to recognize complications. Plus...
there are many problems you can solve
yourself, if you know how. So, do not panic.
Get the right information instead.
