For those who love their pets...

HELP!! My Cat's Giving Birth!!

Vet Care

Veterinary care is a top priority if you want to ensure your felines safety and health. Examinations by your vet will determine the overall health of your pregnant cat and any indications of abnormalities. Pregnant stray cats should be taken to the vet ASAP because there is a higher chance of risk that she might be a carrier of several serious diseases. Check ups not only protect your cat but also yourself and any other individuals in the household.

Certain individuals spay their pregnant felines mainly because they are either a stray cat or do not want to burden themselves with a new litter. You must understand that stray cats are malnourished. They have not received recommended amounts of food or vet care.

I wouldn’t recommend spaying any cat during pregnancy but discussion should be given to your vet. Same goes for vaccinations. I would 100% NOT recommend giving any vaccinations to pregnant cats, strays or not, because the chemicals within the vaccine may cause irreversible damage to the developing fetuses.

I Don’t Know What to Feed a Pregnant Cat!

It is safe to feed your pregnant feline the same brand of cat food you have been feeding her before. Although this is true throughout the majority of the pregnancy, there are food diversions that you should be aware of. When your feline is on the last four weeks of pregnancy, her cat food should be changed.

Whatever she’s eating, it’s time to change it to high quality kitten foods. This will ensure the proper amounts of nutrition reach both the mother and the developing kittens. Kitten Milk Replacement should be given during the last week of pregnancy. This formula can be purchased at almost any credible pet store.

As for stray cats, I would recommend to start feeding them kitten food from the start of the pregnancy. The reason for this is if you have adopted a stray cat, she will be most likely malnourished and thin. She needs to regain as much energy as possible to build up her stamina and strength to provide the necessary nutrition for her unborn developing fetuses.

Now you’re thinking, what are the risks for my cat during pregnancy? Well the main risk that is developed in the last stages of pregnancy, and during nursing, is a condition called eclampsia. This condition results because of a lack of calcium within the bloodstream.

That’s why calcium supplements should be given to your feline friend to avoid this life threatening condition. Also make sure your cat receives quality foods and a constant fresh supply of water to combat fatigue associated with pregnancy and nursing.

Essential Care

A pregnant cat requires almost the same things as a normal cat would. She should be given:

A comfortable, quiet place to sleep
Scratching posts and interactive activities should be given to develop muscle, tendons, and cognitive development
A quality litter box should be clean and neat so that she can avoid possible infections during her pregnancy.

This goes without saying but your cat MUST stay indoors at all times during the pregnancy. This will ensure her safety, piece of mind for you, and protection against possible harmful infections.

Help She’s Giving Birth!!

A few days before your cat gives birth to a litter, she will progress into her natural maternal instincts. Hence, she will undergo a nesting phase where she will try to find a secluded quiet location to give birth. In most homes, you can find her in the closet.

You can facilitate in the birthing process by providing your cat a location and proper care. I would place her in an unoccupied guest room and remove all clothing from the closet so nothing would fall on her and obstruct her breathing.

Place a clean litter box, water bowl, and food dish so that she does not have to move through out the house. I would also provide her with an easily accessible cardboard box lined with soft towels to provide extra comfort.

Other than that just keep a vigilant eye on your pregnant feline, look for any signs of trouble, provide food and proper care, and she should give birth to a healthy litter.