How to Take Care of a Pregnant Cat

Pregnant cats are technically known as ‘queens’ and that should give you some idea as to how you need to treat them. They have a gestation period of around 65 days, and for this time it is highly important that you treat your cat well.

Telling If Your Cat Is Pregnant

To begin treating your pregnant cat correctly it is important to first be able to spot what the signs of pregnancy are in cats. This can be hard to do for the first few weeks, but you might notice that your cat isn’t going to heat as it normally would. Likewise after the first three weeks their nipples will become enlarged and pinker than before and this too is a sign. From this point onwards the stomach will begin to grow and this is the most obvious sign.

You should now make sure that you take extra care of your cat and cater to their every need. After all you are no longer looking after just one cat, but actually a whole litter. If you want to enjoy the miracle of life through your cat, if you want some new pets, or if you want to make some money selling kittens then you need to be vigilant. Follow the following tips to help improve their chances of experiencing a smooth pregnancy and birth.

• The first and most important step when you notice your cat has become pregnant is to take them to a vet where they will receive a checkup to ensure they are healthy. Any existing conditions could complicate the pregnancy so your vet will be able to check for these, or otherwise leave them to their own devices.

• Your vet will also advise on the best foods for your cat and you should be vigilant to buy the very best foods in larger quantities. Make sure you get the most nutritious foods that will supply your cat and their litter with all the vitamins, minerals, carbs and energy they require. In particular pregnant cats need a lot of calcium which is depleted by the pregnancy and can lead to eclampsia if you don’t supplement it in their diet.

• Cats can get morning sickness just like human mothers. This is normal and shouldn’t cause concern – unless your cat is also leaving its water or has stopped eating in which case you should take them back to the vet.

• Make sure your cat’s bed is comfortable and that they get lots of rest. If necessary buying them a new bed now might help them to rest. Likewise keep the heating on so that it is warm and comfortable in your home.

• That said, make sure your cat does get some exercise otherwise you may find she gains too much weight which can be unhealthy for both your cat and her litter.

• Give your cat space and don’t make too much fuss of her unless she comes to you. She will likely be feeling less sociable and this is a private experience – don’t take her distance personally.

• Around two weeks leading up to the due date, you should create a ‘nesting spot’ for your cat. You can buy these in stores, or you can make themselves out of a box with the edges cut down. You should cover this area with blankets and cushions and then stay away from the area and keep all other pets and children away from it too. Your cat will normally move into this nesting spot on their own in order to start marking it with their scent, but otherwise it may help to encourage the move.

• Trim the hair around your cat’s nipples and vulva in the week leading up to their due date. This can help to prevent infection and allows the kittens to easily get to the milk.

• As your cat reaches her due date, keep her indoors and don’t let her out. This will prevent her from accidentally hurting herself when she is no longer agile enough to jump down from high fences, getting into fights etc. At the same time it avoids your cat from giving birth outdoors which can be dangerous for the kittens.