Pregnant Cat

Pregnant Cat – If you are a natural cat lover. You must know the only thing better than having a pet cat is having her tiny kittens roam around your house. While it is always the best protocol to get your cat spayed as soon as it hits the 8-9 month mark, some cat owners might get delayed only to find that cat with a swollen tummy within a few days.

We all know cats and their sneaky nature. Not only are they likely to sneak out and come back with babies, but they are also likely to want to run and hide more often when pregnant. This usually happens because pregnant cats are more vigilant of their environment and start looking for safe, secure places to give birth and keep their kittens safe.

So if you want your fur baby to turn to you for comfort during this painful time of their life, you will have to be extra careful with them throughout. Therefore, we decided to share this guide with you. Don’t take your cat’s pregnancy lightly. Here are tips to help you take care of your pregnant cat.

How to Tell if you have a Pregnant Cat?

Before we get to share the tips to help you take care of your pregnant cat, it’s important first to determine whether your cat is, in fact, pregnant or not. Well, except for the obvious bump, which starts showing quite far down the pregnancy, some signs can help you find out about your cat’s pregnancy early on, so you can take care of them from the start.

·         Focus on Behavioural Changes

As a cat owner, it’s important to observe your cat’s day-to-day behaviour to rule out any changes and mood swings that can help identify its pregnancy. Most pregnant cat ‘s remain docile during their pregnancy, but some might show more drastic changes in their behaviour.

If you notice, your otherwise fun-loving, friendly, and active cat is now looking for a place to hide in and ac a little more distant than usual. On the other hand, some cats that are otherwise distant and do not like being affectionate might turn into snuggle bugs wanting to cuddle more often. This usually happens when your cat is trying to find comfort during a tough time.

As a cat owner, you must keep track of minor behavioural changes to determine whether your cat is pregnant or if something else is troubling them.

·         Observe Physical Changes

Just like women experience morning sickness during pregnancy, cats are likely to experience it, too. This is not very common among pregnant cats. A pregnant cat may suffer from bouts of morning sickness during the early days. It is best to make sure what you ignored as a fur ball was indeed just a furball or vomit due to morning sickness.

Other than that, way before their bump becomes obvious (usually by the 5th week), their body will start swelling a little bit. This is a sign which usually goes unnoticed, but you can see the difference clearly when you observe their nipples, which start to appear swollen and darker in color – the most obvious sign of a cat’s pregnancy.

However, if you see another physical change and are unsure what it may be, it’s best to get a vet to confirm your cat’s pregnancy before taking any steps.

3 Tips for Taking Care of Your Pregnant Cat

1.      Give Extra Attention to Their Nutrition

We all know how important proper nutrition is during pregnancies to ensure the mother cat’s health and healthy kittens. You must pay extra attention to your cat’s diet. Do not bring any drastic changes in their diet. They may not sit well with new flavors all of a sudden but start gradually incorporating better and more nutritious food in their regular diet.

Your cat is likely to get hungrier day by day, so make sure to increase their meal times and feed them often. Talk to a vet to help you come up with a holistic meal plan. Your cat must get all the vital nutrients at this time. Some vets advise you to design a kitten-centric meal plan which is a smart way to ensure the kitten’s health and growth as well.

2.      Get an Appropriate Litterbox

You must know by now cats are very specific about their litter and litterbox. But a litterbox that’s working for them now might not work for them during pregnancy. You need to make sure the little box is placed on the floor. Not in a heightened location where they will be required to jump to reach it.

With a growing belly and carrying kittens inside them. It’s hard for cats to jump and be as enthusiastic as they usually are. So make sure to get a little box with shorter walls and place it in a location that’s easily accessible.

3.      Prepare for Their Labour and Delivery

This is a very popular pregnancy cat behaviour. They start going into hiding and finding warm, enclosed, safe spaces to give birth. They get accustomed to that place weeks before actually giving birth – so you need to help them in this case. Create a birthing box for your cat and keep it in a quiet, dim-lit location. Chances are your cat will find a suitable location in the house herself. If she hasn’t, you can prepare ahead.

Make sure the birthing box is comfortable, has a soft base, and is kept warm. If it’s hard to build a kittening box on your own, you can also find disposable kittening box sets online. Allow your cat to get accustomed to the box. Let them relax and spend time in it as much as they want. At this time, try to keep the noise low and the lights dim, so they do not feel disturbed.

Lastly, try to keep your cat warm – even after she’s given birth, especially in winter. This can greatly help their healing process and is also good for the kittens. If you are unsure how to do that. You can get a heating pad for your cat. This will provide your cat and her kittens with the warmth they need.

Conclusion on Pregnant Cat

Animal pregnancies are not very different from that of humans. Animals experience similar behavioural changes, pregnancy moods, and physical difficulties as women do. Hence, if you have a pregnant cat, you must be extra careful with them and their overall health.

Make sure to keep your cat under your observation at all times. Be there for all their medical and emotional needs during this period.