| Caring for a pregnant cat is not really that much | | | | low this can cause eclampsia, which is a serious, life |
| more difficult than taking care of any cat. As any cat | | | | threatening disease. To prevent this, you can give |
| owner knows, cats are very self sufficient animals, | | | | your cat a calcium supplement. This is most important |
| but they will often try to hide it if there is something | | | | while nursing, but is also useful in the last week of |
| wrong. If your cat is pregnant or you adopt a | | | | pregnancy. |
| pregnant stray cat, make sure you bring it to a vet | | | | A pregnant cat needs all the same things any cat |
| to get a checkup as soon as possible. | | | | needs: a place to sleep, a clean litter box, and various |
| If you have picked up a stray, discuss vaccinations | | | | toys or scratching posts. The important thing to |
| with your vet. It is usually not a good idea to | | | | remember is that a pregnant cat is not quite as |
| vaccinate a cat while she is pregnant because it | | | | athletic as other cats. Make sure your cat has no |
| might cause harm to the kittens, but if you have | | | | trouble getting into her bed and the litter box. As the |
| other cats in the house it might be necessary to | | | | cat gets larger and more ungainly she will have more |
| protect them from disease. | | | | trouble jumping into high places. |
| Your vet will be able to determine if the pregnancy is | | | | Several days before delivering, cats start nesting. |
| progressing well, and estimate what stage of | | | | They look for a quiet, safe, secluded place to have |
| pregnancy the cat is in. This will give you some idea | | | | the kittens. If you notice that your cat does not |
| of when you can expect the kittens to arrive. The | | | | sleep in her accustomed spot one night, find out |
| vet can also help you determine if your cat has any | | | | where she is. It's a good idea to know where your |
| special nutritional needs during pregnancy. | | | | cat has chosen to give birth, and make sure the spot |
| Most healthy cats should just continue eating | | | | is acceptable. Cats often choose a closet or some |
| whatever food you have been feeding them during | | | | other small enclosed space. You'll want to make sure |
| the pregnancy. In the last month of the pregnancy, | | | | you haven't left any nice shoes or clothing laying in |
| you can switch your cat to kitten food. This will help | | | | piles that your cat may decide is the perfect place to |
| your cat build the strength and stamina for giving | | | | give birth, or you'll have quite a mess to clean up. |
| birth, and the extra nutrients for producing milk. The | | | | You can try to effect where your cat chooses to |
| mother cat should stay on kitten food until the | | | | nest by providing a comfortable ideal spot for her to |
| kittens are weaned. | | | | choose. A bathroom that isn't frequently used is |
| If you have a stray cat that is undernourished, you | | | | often an ideal spot, or the closet in a guest room. |
| can start her on kitten food immediately. Kitten food | | | | They are both safe and enclosed for the cat, and a |
| contains higher fat content, extra protein, vitamins, | | | | bathroom is easy to clean up for the owner. Line a |
| and minerals. You can also supplement your cat's | | | | cardboard box with towels to make an attractive |
| food with kitten milk replacement in the final week of | | | | nest. Move a litter box, food, and water into the |
| pregnancy. | | | | area you chose. Hopefully, this will be sufficient to |
| During the last stages of pregnancy and when | | | | entice the cat to do things your way. Make sure |
| nursing, there is a depletion in the amount of calcium | | | | everything is clean and ready, and the kittens should |
| in a cat's bloodstream. If the level of calcium is too | | | | arrive before you know it. |