Pregnant Cat Care

Have you decided to let your kitty give birth to little bundles of joy?  

 
Firstly, if your cat is under a year old it may pay to seek advice from your vet as cat mothers of a young age increases the possibility of giving birth to deformed kittens.

Female cats have many heat periods over a year, and each heat period can last around 6 days if a male cat mates with her, but if she is not mated, then the period of heat will last longer and will recur regularly (This is known as 'polyoestrous'). She can give birth to an average 3 kittens 3 times a year and being 'super fecund' meaning that each of the kittens in her litter can belong to a different father each! 

When your cat is six months old, it will go out at night to look for a mate. It will make a peculiar sound known as calling. This sound can be heard over a great distance. Tomcats in the area will rush towards her. Sometimes, two or more tomcats gather together and fight ferociously.

So, make sure you book an appointment for after the birth to neuter your kitty to prevent future pregnancies. The world's cat population is vastly increasing with over 100 different breeds recorded, and so many inhumane people out there you will find feral cats come in abundance in most big cities. Spaying her before the first or second heat will vastly reduce threats like uterine disease and mammary cancer, so get onto it straight away! Your kitty will not miss the joy of motherhood, or she does not have to have at least one litter to be healthy either.   

Female cats can start mating around 6 months old, but male cats can start around 8 months of age. Pregnancy usually can last for around 58 to 65 days (9 weeks approximately). If you are not looking to raise a litter of kittens or turn your male kitty into a roaming tom is it advisable to neuter her and him around 5 months. Neutering him can mean a lot of time saving on the spraying (marking his territory) which he will do around your house and stop him fighting with other males over females or otherwise. It also makes him live longer as a calmer and nicer kitty for you to enjoy!  

You will need to make sure mother is warm and safe at all times. At the end of the second month, make her sleeping quarters more comfortable. Your cat, of course, will rearrange the bed as she likes.

Feed her small meals throughout the day, as she is can carry around a few kitties in her belly, her stomach will be cramped for space! You will have to give her more food, especially milk. Make sure you change her to a special diet full of vitamins and minerals to put her in top condition for pregnancy and always have plenty of water available. 

Find an out of the way place, such as a warm cupboard for mother to be able to escape away before and after birth with the kittens. This will make her feel safe and not have the need to transfer her litter to another quieter spot, which can put the kittens in danger at this very young age!  

One day, she will become very uneasy. It is the time to deliver her kittens. Keep bowls of milk and water ready for her. If she needs your help, she will ask for it. Otherwise, don’t interfere in her business.

Within two hours she will be a mother. Many people think that the mother ears one of its kittens. It is not true. She eats the sac and the placenta of each kitten.

Kittens at birth will weigh about 85 grams. It can take around two weeks before they are able to hear well so it is important that they are safe. The kittens’ eyes are closed for three weeks. Their mother keeps them well-fed and clean by licking them.

If she wants to shift the kittens, she catches her kittens by a flap of skin at the back of the neck. After 3 weeks, the kittens open their eyes and become very playful and mischievous.