Caring for a Mother Cat Before and After Giving Birth to Kittens

If your cat is expecting kittens, it can be an exciting yet worrisome time! Birth always carries risks, so it's crucial to monitor her closely and meet her needs as she prepares for delivery. While she will handle most of the birthing process herself, your presence ensures everything goes smoothly, and she starts caring for her kittens immediately after birth.

Arrange a veterinary visit upon confirming your cat's pregnancy. Similar to human pregnancies, a vet check ensures her well-being and helps determine the due date, typically around 8.5 weeks gestation. At 3-4 weeks, the vet can manually confirm the pregnancy or use ultrasound for a more accurate diagnosis. Inform the vet about the pregnancy signs you've noticed, such as increased vocalization, affection, fur loss around the belly, morning sickness, and weight gain.

Consult with your vet before administering any treatment to your pregnant cat. Vaccinations are not recommended during pregnancy, so inform your vet beforehand. Contact your vet for guidance on other treatments like flea or tick medicine.

Increase your cat's food intake during the latter half of her pregnancy. Begin adding more food to her diet around the 4th week of pregnancy, gradually reaching a 50% increase within 1-2 weeks.

Transition to kitten-formulated food gradually over a few weeks. Start introducing kitten food alongside her regular diet around the 4th week of pregnancy, gradually replacing her old food until she's fully transitioned in about 2 weeks.

Prepare a secluded nesting area for your cat. Choose a quiet spot away from household traffic and other pets. Use clean blankets or towels to create a comfortable nesting space, preferably in an enclosed container with low sides for easy access.

Keep your pregnant cat indoors during the final weeks before delivery. Transitioning her to indoor-only ensures you can monitor her closely during birth, provide immediate assistance if needed, and ensure the safety of the kittens in varying weather conditions.

Recognize the early signs of labor in your cat. During this initial stage, lasting up to 36 hours, observe her restlessness, frequent visits to the nesting area, and the absence of straining, although contractions will occur.

Identify the second stage of labor as the contractions intensify. Look for the appearance and subsequent rupture of the membrane, followed by the gradual delivery of each kitten, which may take between 5 to 30 minutes per kitten.

Allow the mother cat to attend to the newborn kittens. She will naturally open the amniotic sac, stimulate breathing, and sever the umbilical cord. If she doesn't, intervene carefully following veterinary guidance.

Monitor the third stage, the afterbirth, following each kitten's birth. Ensure the passage of membranes and placentas for each kitten and remove them promptly to prevent complications.

Stay calm if the mother cat pauses during labor. Some cats experience breaks between delivering kittens. During these breaks, they attend to their existing kittens, eat, drink water, and rest. Labor can resume within 24 hours, but it's hard to know without prior ultrasound confirmation of litter size. Contact your vet if you're concerned, especially if the cat is straining.

Be vigilant for birthing difficulties. If the mother struggles to deliver a kitten due to exhaustion or if the kitten appears stuck, gently assist but avoid excessive force. Contact your vet immediately after successful delivery or if there are signs of distress during labor.

Watch for signs of fatigue and excessive bleeding during birth. Fever, lethargy, and prolonged straining indicate potential issues. Contact your vet if the cat shows signs of weakness or if there's persistent bright red blood loss for over 10 minutes.

Ensure kittens are dry if the mother is unable to groom them immediately. Use a dry towel to gently remove excess moisture to prevent rapid cooling and potential health risks. Replace soiled bedding promptly after birth to maintain cleanliness in the nesting area.

Provide warmth for kittens if the mother neglects them. Wrap a warm water bottle in a towel and place it near the kittens for warmth if the mother doesn't attend to them promptly.

Support the mother cat in caring for her kittens during the initial weeks. Monitor their feeding, cleanliness, and ensure they are gaining milk. Consult your vet if any kittens require hand feeding.

Monitor post-birth discharge color and odor. Green or foul-smelling discharge warrants a vet visit, while reddish-brown discharge is normal for up to 3 weeks after birth.

Continue supplementing the mother's diet until kittens are weaned. Maintain her on a high-nutrient diet to support milk production until kittens are independent, gradually adjusting her food intake as weaning progresses.

Ensure water bowls are out of kittens' reach until they are weaned. Place water bowls away from kittens to prevent drowning hazards, while ensuring the mother cat has easy access to fresh water while nursing.