How to Care For a Pregnant Cat
If you are planning to take care of an upcoming pregnancy, then it is very important for you to know how to care for a pregnant cat properly. A pregnant cat needs proper medical attention because she is at risk for various complications such as death of the kittens or even placenta abruption. The mother cat also experiences certain changes in her bodily functions that need to be monitored closely.
How to care for a pregnant cat begins with understanding the various symptoms associated with pregnancy. These symptoms can include frequent urination, frequent vomiting, increased appetite, decreased energy level, and decreased libido. You will also notice that your cats belly starts growing. This is one of the most obvious signs that there is overpopulation of felines in your house.
If you have already brought home a pregnant cat, you need to do something about the problem now. It is time for you to find out how to care for a pregnant cat appropriately. One of the most important things that you need to do is to stop giving the kittens birth control pills. This may sound ironic, but kittens who are given birth control pills by their mothers often suffer from certain medical conditions like feline UTI later on in life. You need to avoid giving birth control pills to your pregnant cat because it can lead to certain serious medical problems in the future.
You can tell if your pregnant cat is suffering from some other health problems by paying close attention to how she acts and behaves. You can determine if your pregnant cat needs special attention by observing how she eats. If she is vomiting a lot, or even losing weight, this could be a sign that she is suffering from gastrointestinal problems.
Since kittens are born with all their mother’s vital organs in proper working condition, you need to give her the right nutrients and vitamins. Feeding your pregnant cat meat, vegetables, grains, fruits, and even chickpeas will provide her with all the essential nutrients that she needs. You should avoid feeding your kitten commercial brands of food, such as Fancy Feast and KFC, because these brands contain higher levels of preservatives and other artificial ingredients that are detrimental to kittens. A good veterinarian can advise you on the best food brands for your cat during her pregnancy.
Your veterinarian might also recommend that you bring your kittens (with or without birth control pills) to the veterinarian immediately after they were born. The vet will check if your kittens are eating on time and get their vaccinations. Kittens that don’t gain weight or develop any unusual symptoms during their first week of life should be taken in immediately to a veterinary clinic so an examination can be carried out. A complete exam including blood work and urine tests will help your veterinarian to determine if the birth of your kittens was premature or not.
If everything is going well and your kittens are growing strong, the last step in how to care for a pregnant cat is to take them to the vet again for a thorough check up. Your veterinarian will examine your cat and look for any abnormalities, birth defects, metabolic disorders, and any abnormal behavior. She will also check the litter box and other places where your kittens have been playing. This is the most important step in how to care for a pregnant cat, because if your kitty becomes sick, it could lead to stillbirth or even fetal distress. Some other illnesses that can affect kittens include feline lower urinary tract disease, sepsis, and bacterial infections.
If everything seems fine after the first few weeks of pregnancy, then you can slowly introduce to your feline the things that she may not have known that she could be allergic to. Cats react differently than dogs to various substances, and as such you should keep a watch on her diet to make sure that there are no allergy-inducing food items in the house. How to care for a pregnant cat may seem difficult, but in reality, it is not that hard at all. Just remember that, in general, your vet is the most knowledgeable on how to take care of a pregnant cat, and she can provide the necessary information in a very short amount of time. All you have to do is follow her advice and be patient.