Spaying your feline is a great idea if you do not intend on breeding her in the future. However, you’ll need to give them enough attention if you decide to allow your cat to have kittens because pregnancy in felines is a big deal. A mommy cat is typically efficient in giving birth on her own. But there are easy and simple tasks you can do to make things convenient for them.

How to Care for a Pregnant Cat

While it’s recommended to have most pets neutered or spayed, it is still important to ensure that your cat receives the best care she needs when she is pregnant. Here are five basic tips to help you care for your pregnant feline.

1. Confirm their pregnancy

It is necessary to know your feline is pregnant before looking after them. Humans often use basic blood and urine tests in your home to validate pregnancy, but this does not apply to cats. At the onset of pregnancy, your feline’s body will reveal signs that she’s carrying kittens. Cats have a short pregnancy duration of 60 to 70 days that you will need to observe.

You can approach pet experts that provide breeding consultations to know the visible signs of a pregnant cat. For inquiries that have something to do about services connecting to C-sections, reproductive planning, cat and dog artificial insemination, pet breeding experts can accommodate your questions.

2. Ensure they’re healthy

While healthy felines do not generally have health problems introduced by pregnancy, it’s still needed to check them each day to ensure they’re healthy during their birthing or pregnancy. Taking your cats to animal facilities for regular check-ups, up-to-date vaccinations, and parasite prevention is essential to avoid any health conditions throughout their pregnancy.

Websites like summervilleanimalhospital.org can provide comprehensive details about pet wellness exams and why it’s important for your cat’s health.

3. Make a nesting location

Your cat’s safety and comfort are crucial throughout the birthing process. In addition to bringing your beloved pet into the house, putting up a cozy and safe nesting place where they can deliver and nurse their babies is an imperative thing to provide for them. If your feline has a favorite blanket or bed it lays on, it has to be transferred away from the noise and bustle of your house.

4. Pay attention to their nutrition

Making sure your pregnant feline is healthy will ensure that the growing kittens in her tummy are healthy. By their sixth week of pregnancy, you should be giving them 25% more food. Make sure their diet is high in protein and calcium, as this is vital for the mother cat’s lactation and kittens. Kitten foods are an excellent choice to present to your pregnant cat’s diet as they are rich in calcium and protein.

Continue feeding them with feline foods in their gestation and even after delivery. Buy top-quality and trusted brand foods for your cat to get the best nutrition they require. Freshwater is equally crucial as food, so ensure that your cat always has access to it. You may visit facilities like Summerville Animal Hospital Phenix City AL to know more about the important nutrition your feline will need throughout her pregnancy.

A nesting location could be a large cardboard box lined with her bed. A day or less before the pregnant cat gives birth, she will likely begin to situate herself in a nesting area. If your feline selects a nesting place outside the one you created, just assist her to her chosen location instead of moving her.

5. Know when they will give birth

If you are an eager owner who has been monitoring your feline’s pregnancy since you noticed some indications, you may already have a rough estimate about their birth delivery date. However, there are other means to know that labor may be near if you’re unsure of the timeline. Some of these indications include:

• Your feline always searches for quiet places for nesting
• They are less active and lose appetite
• Constant licking of the genital area
• A drop in body temperature