1
I read that I should be feeding my pregnant cat kitten food. Is this right? How along after she gives birth do I continue this?
2
My cat was just shy of being 1 year old when she had her kittens. It is now 6 weeks after birth and I'd like to "beef" her up. She looks so thin. Are there vitamins I can give her to help her recover? I was thinking about giving her a nutritional supplement to drink. She eats many times a day and often wakes me to feed her at night. I still see the kittens nurse al least twice a day, but she's more reluctant to do it for very long.
3
How long does it take after a cat is pregnant for it to have kittens?
4
I lured a VERY young first time pregnant feral cat inside my house. She is very upset at being closed in, and is terrified if I catch and handle her, should I persist in trying to handle her, or should I just let her be and have her kittens without my help?
5
How long do I have to wait before taking a kitten away from its mother? I heard that 4 or 5 weeks is a safe time to take them away, is this true?
6
My cat is an extremely picky eater. Since having her litter of kittens last summer she has seemed to lose weight. She looks very bony. What can I do to help her gain some weight and look healthy again?
7
We have a cat that lives in the barn. We feed her dry and canned food, and lots of skim milk. She looks healthy, but I believe she had a litter in the barn. Are we doing right giving her milk?
8
I have a mother cat that just had four kittens. What should I be doing for her besides the ordinary things like feeding her and things like that? Is there any kind of special food or anything I should be giving her?
9
Our cat had kittens 4 weeks ago. It seems the past few days that she is starving even though I know she is eating.
10
Can my pregnant cat stay on her regular diet of Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health while pregnant?
1
I read that I should be feeding my pregnant cat kitten food. Is this right? How along after she gives birth do I continue this?
While nutrition is a key factor in keeping a cat healthy, its importance is heightened during pregnancy and while nursing kittens. The diet must supply the essential nutrients in the proper balance to the developing kittens and prepare the female for the stress of nursing. Any diet fed during this time should be labeled as nutritionally complete and balanced for all life stages of the cat and this claim should be supported by actual feeding studies. Kitten foods are recommended because they typically contain higher energy and protein levels. If a maintenance diet is fed prior to breeding, a gradual changeover should be made to a diet appropriate for reproduction in advance of the time the female is bred. During the fourth through sixth week of pregnancy food consumption should be allowed to increase slightly. During the final three weeks, she should be allowed to eat all she wants. As littering nears, the female may lose her appetite. Food refusal during the ninth week of pregnancy is usually a good indication that littering will occur within the next 24 to 48 hours. Usually within 24 hours after delivery her appetite will return and her food consumption will increase. The demand for milk by nursing kittens will continue to increase for about 20 to 30 days. Consequently, your cat's food and water requirements increase as well. She should be fed two to three times per day. When the kittens are three to four weeks of age, their interest in solid food begins and the mother's interest in nursing declines and the weaning process is underway. At this time, the mother's intake will gradually decrease. By the time the kittens are weaned, her food consumption should be near normal maintenance levels and she can be gradually switched back to her adult maintenance food.
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2
My cat was just shy of being 1 year old when she had her kittens. It is now 6 weeks after birth and I'd like to "beef" her up. She looks so thin. Are there vitamins I can give her to help her recover? I was thinking about giving her a nutritional supplement to drink. She eats many times a day and often wakes me to feed her at night. I still see the kittens nurse al least twice a day, but she's more reluctant to do it for very long.
Since your cat was fairly young when she had her kittens, she did not have a great deal of reserve to maintain her through pregnancy and nursing. It is essential that she be on a good quality commercial diet that meets her nutritional needs such as Purina ONE Growth and Development formula for kittens and nursing females. Food should be available to her at all times. This diet has the added benefit of also being appropriate for the kittens. Since they are 6 weeks old they can begin to eat solid food. Offering them some Purina ONE Growth and Development will help ease the burden on your cat since they can get the nutrition they need from the cat food. I would not give her any supplements that are not specifically designed for cats but you could ask your veterinarian about feline vitamins.
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3
How long does it take after a cat is pregnant for it to have kittens?
The length of pregnancy in a cat is 63-65 days. Most kittens are born in the summer with fewer in the fall and early winter. Cats generally like a dark, quiet place to deliver their kittens. As her time approaches provide your cat with a quiet, secluded area and a box to deliver her kittens in. Be sure to provide her with adequate nutrition such as Purina ONE Growth and Development which is not only designed for kittens but for pregnant and nursing mothers as well. Once she weans the kittens they can begin to eat that formula as well.
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4
I lured a VERY young first time pregnant feral cat inside my house. She is very upset at being closed in, and is terrified if I catch and handle her, should I persist in trying to handle her, or should I just let her be and have her kittens without my help?
Most of the time a pregnant cat can deliver the kittens on her own. Since this cat is young and was feral, one of your concerns would be adequate nutrition for her during her pregnancy. A good food choice would be Purina ONE Growth and Development, which would offer her extra nutrition during her pregnancy. Naturally she will also need plenty of fresh water and a litter box. Be sure to also offer a quiet, clean dry area for her to have her kittens. Since she gets very agitated if you try to handle her, I would avoid that but perhaps she can get used to you sitting quietly nearby. Over time she may learn to trust you and approach on her own.
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5
How long do I have to wait before taking a kitten away from its mother? I heard that 4 or 5 weeks is a safe time to take them away, is this true?
When mother cats are left with their kittens without human interference there will be a change in the nursing arrangement beginning around five weeks. At this time the mother will make herself less available to nursing attempts by the kittens. At the same time the kittens become more active in eating solid food and play more vigorously. Taking kittens away at 4-5 weeks is probably a bit early since they have not totally switched to eating solid food. The food provided to both the kittens and the mother during this time is also important and should be a diet designed to promote optimum nutrition and growth such as Purina ONE Growth and Development formula.
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6
My cat is an extremely picky eater. Since having her litter of kittens last summer she has seemed to lose weight. She looks very bony. What can I do to help her gain some weight and look healthy again?
Pregnancy and nursing can be nutritionally demanding on a cat. If your cat is still thin, be sure to have her checked by your veterinarian and also have a stool sample checked. If she is not sick, you could try feeding her a food like Purina ONE Growth and Development formula which is a complete diet for pregnant and lactating cats, as well as growing kittens. Once she begins to gain back her weight, you can switch back to the adult formulation she likes best.
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7
We have a cat that lives in the barn. We feed her dry and canned food, and lots of skim milk. She looks healthy, but I believe she had a litter in the barn. Are we doing right giving her milk?
If your cat has plenty of water available, she does not need the milk. If she is nursing kittens it is important that she receive proper nutrition. You may want to consider a food such as Purina ONE Growth and Development formula which is designed not only to meet the needs of growing kittens, but the pregnant and nursing mother as well. As her kittens grow she will need a great deal of food to meet their nutritional needs. When the kittens are a bit older, they can be weaned onto the same formula food to get them off to a good start. Please have your new cat spayed as soon as the kittens are weaned to prevent more kittens that you need to find homes for.
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8
I have a mother cat that just had four kittens. What should I be doing for her besides the ordinary things like feeding her and things like that? Is there any kind of special food or anything I should be giving her?
A cat that just had kittens does have special nutritional needs. Not only must she provide nutrients for herself, but she is also providing milk for her kittens. At this time the demands on her system are enormous. A food like Purina ONE Growth and Development is an appropriate and complete diet for the nursing cat. Since her nutritional requirements are high, she should have food available to her at all times. Once the kittens begin to be weaned they also can begin to eat the same diet.
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9
Our cat had kittens 4 weeks ago. It seems the past few days that she is starving even though I know she is eating.
Pregnancy and nursing are very demanding on a cat's system and require good nutrition. A complete and balanced diet such as Purina ONE Growth and Development is designed to meet the needs of both kittens and pregnant and nursing mothers. Make sure she is offered food multiple times daily and has plenty of fresh water. If she still is very hungry, perhaps a veterinary visit is needed.
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10
Can my pregnant cat stay on her regular diet of Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health while pregnant?
Usually when a cat is on a special diet it is to help with certain nutritional or medical problems. If there are no problems, a pregnant cat may need the extra nutrition provided in Purina ONE Growth and Development formula. In the case of this cat, consultation with your veterinarian is the best way to determine her nutritional needs and choose the appropriate diet.
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