The nutritional needs of a pregnant cat are completely different when compared to a regular one. If your cat is pregnant you should choose the right feeding plan to ensure she grows and delivers fit kittens. A simple adult cat food is not enough to meet those extra nutrients. Consider switching your pregnant cat to kitten formula and carry this on until the kittens are weaned. This blog answers a few frequently asked questions regarding the nutritional needs of a pregnant and nursing cat.
1. What should I feed my pregnant cat?
Pregnant and nursing cats require more protein and energy to facilitate a cat's body in dealing with the physical stress that comes with pregnancy. The extra calories, calcium, and high levels of other nutrients are a good way of accomplishing your pregnant cat's demands.
Some diets rich in nutrients for your pregnant, nursing Cat are as follows:
Royal Canin Mother and Babycat dry food
- prebiotics enhance digestive health
- added antioxidants promote a healthy immune system
- added vitamins and nutrients
- easy-wean formula
- DHA stimulates brain development
- complete mix for mother and kitten.
Hill's Science Plan Kitten Healthy Development
- These products are developed to support immunity and digestive health, with clinically proven antioxidants and optimal levels of DHA from fish oil.
- Clinically proven antioxidants for a healthy immune system
- Maintains healthy vital organs with controlled sodium and phosphorus levels
- Made with high-quality ingredients for gentle, healthy digestion and great taste 100% guaranteed.
PURINA PRO PLAN Kitten with OPTISTART
- This is for the healthy development of kittens from 6 weeks to 1 year. Combines all essential nutrients – including vitamins C & D, DHA, and colostrum – in a high-protein diet for kittens nursing and pregnant Cats.
- Proven to help support intestinal health
- It supports healthy vision and brain development with essential nutrients like DHA.
- Maximises the immune system thanks to colostrum, thus allowing a stronger, quicker immune response.
- Improves healthy bone and muscle development with balanced minerals for bones and high protein levels for muscle building.
2. How Much Should I Feed?
Cat food intake tends to increase during pregnancy. This is usually about one and a half to double her normal consumption. During pregnancy, she will typically exhibit a gradual, stepwise increase in body weight and cat food intake, especially in the last three weeks. Reproductive hormonal and behavioral shifts can cause episodes of not eating adequately, overeating, or not eating at all. If there is a persistent period of under-eating, or if the female's body condition deteriorates, seek veterinary help. Normally, the appetite of the cat will increase gradually 24 hours postpartum.
Lactation Is Even More Energy Intense Than Pregnancy. Is this True? And How to Handle This?
Absolutely. By the time of delivery, Cats will have lost around 40% of their weight gain during pregnancy, and the remaining weight loss occurs while lactating because the workload exerted on the Cats body is greater.
Once the kittens are born, the queen will be able to eat more as she will have more space in her abdominal space but the food must be concentrated enough otherwise she will not be physically able to eat enough to maintain milk production, weight, and body condition. Feeding during lactation is best done with highly digestible, high-quality kitten food.
The peak milk production occurs at 3-4 weeks of lactation, while the peak energy requirement arises at 6-7 weeks postpartum. The prime reason for this phenomenon is that the kittens consume the cat's food as they get closer to weaning age.
Free-choice feeding during the first 3 to 4 weeks of lactation provides most advantages unless she has just one or two kittens. The Cat can eat at her whim, she can accept smaller amounts at each meal, and the kittens can start sampling solid foods as soon as they are ready (around 3 weeks).
Note: Free-choice feeding is not recommended during the nursing of one or two kittens as this allows her to produce much more milk than needed and may predispose her to mastitis, an inflammation of the milk glands.
What Should I Feed My Cat During Lactation?
Milk production is an energetically expensive process. The caloric intake increases but may increase four times its normal level. Feed your cat several times or allow free access to food while ensuring water is always fresh and available. Dry food should be moistened to increase food and water intake and to encourage kittens to start nibbling solid food.
Other Factors To Consider
Increase in Energy and Fat
More energy and fat are crucial because pregnant and nursing cats require high energy. Nursing is considered to be the most energy-demanding stage of the life of a cat. Nursing cats require 2 to 6 times the calories needed for a healthy adult cat.
Digestibility and Its Importance
Digestibility is what percentage of consumed food is absorbed by the cat's body. Digestibility is essential since energy requirements are high and there is little physical space in the pregnant cat's abdomen.
How Should These Foods be Fed to Pregnant or Nursing Cats?
Typical gestation averages 63-65 days. During this period it is crucial to feed nutritious food. For pregnant cats feed the suggested amount on the packaging and continue to feed kitten food to the mother until the kittens are weaned. For nursing cats make sure to leave the food available for the mother at all times. This will help to win the kittens to regular food and provide the mother with the required energy.
Pregnancy and nursing are indeed a demanding time for your kittens. Make sure to consult a veterinarian before you choose any of the cat food. When it comes to feeding your nursing cat it is highly recommended to include calcium supplements that support lactation. Also, it is crucial to transition your cat back to adult food once the kittens have been.
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