One of the best moments in a human’s life is the day we introduce a new baby into the world. Humans have an abundance of support available when they give birth; nurses, doctors, and the best hospital facilities. When animals give birth it’s quite a different story. If you are the owner of a feline then you will have to put a few things in place in order to make the birthing process comfortable. It’s the responsibility of the owner to make sure that the female cat is well looked after. Neglecting her during this time will cause malnourishment and even cat anxiety.
To help you get everything ready we’ve compiled a complete guide that you can follow.
Signs That My Female Cat is Pregnant
Many owners euthanize their cats when they are a few months old. If you’d like for your cat to have their own litter, then you won’t send them for this surgery.
Some owners might even plan a pregnancy and introduce their felines to male companions in the hopes that they’ll make purebred kittens. Regardless of your plans, your cat might have a wandering eye when it comes to a prospective father of their kittens.
Pregnancy can sometimes be confused with weight gain. Therefore, you should be aware of your cat’s physical health and appearance to know when they might be pregnant. Here is a list of signs that your feline is pregnant and not just overweight:
- Enlarged Nipples: known as ‘pinking-up’, your cat’s nipples will become red and enlarged after 15-18 days of pregnancy.
- Morning Sickness: Yes, felines experience this too. A pregnant furball might vomit frequently. It’s best to check this out at the vet if it persists.
- Weight Gain: Her stomach will appear swollen. A pregnant queen will gain 1-2 kilograms around the stomach area. Depending on the number of kittens she’s carrying she will gain more or less weight.
- Maternal Behavior: With hormones running through her veins, she might be a lot more nurturing and cuddlier. Seeking extra kisses from her owner and purring more constantly.
Read this for 5 more tell-tale signs that your cat might be pregnant.
How do I Prepare for the Birth?
Your girl kitten is all grown up and she’s going to have her own litter soon. Compared to women, cats are only pregnant for 66 days. That’s a little over 2 months. You won’t have a lot of time to get everything together, considering that you might only discover that she’s pregnant about 2-3 weeks into the pregnancy. Luckily, cat moms are very instinctive. Which makes the process much easier for their owners who might not be as naturally inclined to helping an animal give birth. If you stay in tune with your pet’s behavior and follow their lead, the birthing process will run smoothly.
Here is a list of expert tips you can apply to make her feel more comfortable:
Vet Visit
When you get the sense that your furry female might be pregnant, then you should book an appointment at the nearest vet. It’s important to ensure the health of your feline and her unborn kittens. A vet will be able to tell you how many weeks she’s been pregnant and the expected due date. As well as how many kittens she might be expecting by listening to heartbeats with a stethoscope. Litters can have as much as 5 kittens and even as little as 2. Getting an indication of how many kittens are expected, will also give you the tools to prepare for the after birth. Although extremely rare, there is a 1% chance that the birth might come with complications. Arrange a vet that take emergency calls.
Mental Preparation
Following many Katzen Tipps online, it is clear that felines are extremely sensitive during the process. If you make her feel anxious because you feel anxious, it’s going to be a very stressful event. Witnessing your beloved pet giving birth for the first time can be quite confusing, exciting, and strange at the same time. If you’ve never been through the process before, you are going to have to prepare yourself mentally. Newbies should educate themselves by watching documentaries and asking advice. It’s extremely important that you remain calm. Avoid screaming or running around when the birthing process starts. During this time, she will pick up on all the vibes you give off. So, you’re going to have to be able to contain yourself for the sake of her well-being.
Prepare all the Equipment
In most cases, the mom-to-be won’t need any hands-on help. Just in case there are any complications, you will have to keep the following tools and materials nearby:
- Disposable or medical gloves that will be used to handle the newborn babies
- An antiseptic solution to clean the area afterwards
- Blunt scissors or a suture removal kit in case you need to cut umbilical cords. In most cases, mother cats will do all of this herself.
- Plastic syringes or milk bottles as well as a milk replacement in case the kittens have problems nursing from their mother
Make a Nest
We all know that felines like to find comfortable resting places where they will sleep for hours. It will be no different during the birthing process. In order for your feline to feel safe and secure, you have to prepare a quiet area for them. Turn a large carton box upside down and cut a cave-like entrance to the inside. Place comfy linens, bedding, and towels on the floor inside the box. Want to make your own cat bed? Follow this easy tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqdEp1nuqo
Keep fresh water and food bowls near the entrance to give her easy access to nutrition. No need to ration her food intake during this time as she should be able to eat and drink as much as she wants to.
Above all, enjoy the experience with the new mom-to-be and stay calm.
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