Breeding kittens, first of all, implies careful care of a pregnant cat. It is not as scary as it seems. When pregnant, the cat needs to be exposed to a minimum of physical exertion in order to be in good vitality. A pregnant cat needs to be looked after, especially in the last 2-3 weeks of pregnancy, as she becomes clumsy and may fall off even a small stool.
A pregnant cat should not be nervous, bullied, or hurt. You should not feed her monotonous food during pregnancy, but try to vary her diet, because as her belly grows, her appetite grows. But you should not forget that you should not overfeed the cat, as this can badly affect its health and the health of future kittens. The cat should weigh about 3.6 kg. It is recommended to reduce the ration a little bit a week before the birth itself.
How many days the animal will bear offspring is impossible to determine exactly. The term is approximately 9 weeks. And the gestation period depends on how many kittens the cat is carrying. If more than six kittens are expected, the birth will in many cases be early, and if less, it will be late. It is normal for a pregnancy to be delayed by 1 or 2 weeks, but if the kittens are born a week earlier than expected, they may not survive.
There are some cats that become irritable somewhere in the middle of the term, and there are also some that may refuse to eat at all. There is no need to be afraid of this condition, it only lasts about 2 days, so some owners may not notice it.
In order for pregnancy and childbirth to proceed without much complication, we must not forget the high food requirements of a pregnant cat. In the first and second weeks of pregnancy, the ration can be increased by 10-20%. From the third week of pregnancy, it is recommended to give even more, by about 2 times, and from 6-7 weeks and already until the birth, it is necessary to reduce the amount of food consumed little by little.
During pregnancy, the animal’s need for vitamins increases. It is advisable to study the cat’s diet carefully, so that he is not overfed. If the cat eats ready-made foods, let him continue to do so, and there is no need to change his diet. If she is used to natural products, then about half of her daily ration should be meat, of course. In addition, the diet of a pregnant cat may include a variety of cereals, dairy products, vegetables, and fruits.
If there are questions about the care of a pregnant cat, of course, it is best to consult a veterinarian. Especially if the cat has intestinal parasites, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment, since many medications are contraindicated during pregnancy, such as flea remedies. Therefore, without first consulting the veterinarian the cat should not be given any medications.