If your cat has a sensitive stomach, choose a delicate kitten formula. If she’s on a specific diet for health reasons, speak to your vet for advice before making any changes. When choosing a kitten formula for your pregnant cat, bear your pet’s preferences in mind.
After your cat gives birth, it’s really important to keep a close eye on her and her kittens to make sure they’re all happy and thriving. Your cat will naturally provide her kittens with all they need, so try to keep your distance if you can so she can settle into motherhood. After your cat has given birth, you will need to:
If you’re worried at all, call your vet as they can advise you. Very rarely, your cat might struggle to care for her kittens. If they are not feeding well, you may need to speak to your vet about possibly hand-rearing them. You can read more about hand-rearing in our free guide.
While a lot of cats will have a perfectly healthy birth, there are some problems that could happen you should keep an eye out for. These are:
If you notice any of these problems call your vet straight away.
Most cats will take to mothering their kittens very naturally. You might notice your cat:
A slight change in behaviour is normal for your cat after she has given birth, but she will settle after a few weeks. Sometimes your cat’s behaviour is a cause for concern and this is when you’ll want to give your vet a call. Some things to look out for (and ways to help your cat and her kittens) include:
Your cat will need lots of the right nutrients to keep her and her kittens healthy and strong. As she’s supporting her kittens while they are still nursing, she’ll need a food that’s higher in calories, fat, protein and is easy to digest. It’s best to feed your cat a good quality kitten food while she is nursing her kittens. This will make sure she’s getting plenty of nutrients to support their development and growth, and make the weaning process easier when the time comes. Read more about weaning in our kitten care guide.
At first, it’s usually best to avoid touching your cat’s newborn kittens if you can. She will be very protective over them and might not want you touching, so it’s best to respect her space unless something is wrong. Sometimes, handling newborns too much can cause their mother to reject them. After a couple of weeks, if your cat is happy for you to do so, you might be able to gently stroke the new kittens. It’s important to start socialising the kittens from week two and some of this will involve handling them. How to socialise kittens If your cat is struggling, unwell or has rejected any of her kittens, you may need to intervene and handle them sooner. You should do so very gently and look at our hand-rearing guide for more advice.
Getting your female cat neutered is a good way to make sure they don’t have any unwanted litters and can also help to prevent certain health problems. After your cat gives birth, you might decide you don’t want her to have any more kittens. You can have her neutered around eight weeks after giving birth once her kittens are fully weaned, but discuss this with your vet as they will be best placed to advise you based on your cat’s circumstances. Up until this point she’ll be spending a lot of time with her kittens and needs to nurse them, so she wouldn’t be able to properly recover from surgery. Remember you can get your cat neutered from four months old which will prevent them having a litter of kittens at such a young age. Find out more about neutering
Newborn kittens need to feed every two to three hours, so it’s likely your cat won’t want to leave them for the first week or so. They also rely on her for protection and warmth, so she’ll need to stay close to them. Once the kittens are a little more independent she will be able to go outside again. However, an unneutered female can get pregnant again as soon as two weeks after giving birth while her litter is still reliant on her, so it may be best to try to keep her indoors until the kittens are ready to go to new homes when they are at least eight weeks old. We’d recommend getting your cat neutered as this will prevent any unwanted litters. Talk to your vet about when is the best time and read our free neutering advice. Download: Pregnant cats, birth and the care of young kittens guide
Birth and kittening Pregnancy and caring for pregnant cats Hand rearing
Postnatal care of a mother cat and her newborn kittens is crucial after she has given birth, and your observational skills are essential during this delicate time. In the first few weeks, look for warning signs of health issues and kitten developmental milestones like their physical activity. Postpartum may occur in the mother cat, so make sure she and her kittens are in a comfortable, warm space that is separated from busier parts of the house. Thoroughly checking for any abnormalities in behaviors or physical appearances will also help you indicate issues quickly, so you can get veterinarian help. If you haven't already done so, after one week, take the mother cat and kittens to your veterinarian for a well-check. If the mother cat was not vaccinated, this would be a good time to do it. Also, she might get treatment for roundworms, to protect both her and her kittens. The first two to three weeks are the most crucial for a mother cat and her newborn kittens. The kittens should be developing rapidly, and if the mother is going to have any postpartum problems, it will happen during that period. Let the mother cat set the pace for your attention. If she has been your pet for a while, she may welcome your visits. A rescued stray or fostered cat may prefer that you stay away. As long as the kittens are nursing frequently and appear to be thriving, they will be OK. Keep the mother cat and her babies in a quiet part of the house; a separate room is ideal. Make sure the room is warm enough as kittens are unable to regulate their body temperature when they are only a few days old. The mother cat can keep the babies warm, but if she leaves to eat or use a litter box, the kittens can get cold. Chilling is one of the most critical dangers to newborn kittens. Provide blankets, a heat lamp, or a heating pad to ensure the kittens stay warm. Use a large enough box to comfortably hold the mother cat and her kittens. Stack clean towels to line it. The towels will become soiled quickly as the kittens defecate. It will be easiest to remove the top towel to reveal a clean layer. Keep the mother cat's litter box, food, and water bowls close by. Make sure you are feeding her a high-quality canned kitten food, supplemented with KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement). These specially formulated foods ensure that a nursing, postpartum mother cat gets the nutrients she needs. Three days after birth, a kitten's eyes start opening, and the umbilical cord will also fall off. Their nervous systems are not fully developed; you may notice them twitching during sleep. This twitching is entirely normal and indicates the development of their nervous system and muscles. By two weeks, the kittens will start crawling around and will be attempting to stand. Their teeth will be starting to come in during this time. If you put your finger in their mouth, you will be able to feel tiny teeth nubs. For the first three weeks, the mother cat will lick each kitten around the abdomen and anal area after nursing to encourage the elimination of waste. In her absence, you will need to simulate this task with a warm, damp washcloth. By three weeks, the kittens should be walking around and actively playing. You can introduce them to wet food and supplement it with KMR. They should still be actively nursing. You can also introduce them to the litter box. At this age, avoid clumping clay litter. The best litter for young kittens is any premium non-clay litter or the World's Best Cat Litter. Intestinal parasites are most common in kittens. Other health problems in young kittens are infectious diseases, such as respiratory infections, and congenital diseases. Fading kitten syndrome occurs when a kitten fails to thrive. If you notice one of the kittens is generally more lethargic and sleeping a lot more than its siblings, it can be a sign of the syndrome. That kitten requires immediate attention from a veterinarian who specializes in kitten care. Pregnancy, birth, and the period after delivery are a stressful time for the body of a new mother. A new mother has a flood of hormones, milk production begins, and recovery from the birth process is in full swing. There are a few severe conditions to keep an eye out for in your mother cat. Mastitis is a bacterial infection of the milk ducts, which occurs when the mother cat's milk production gets blocked by inflamed mammary glands. The teats become swollen and hot, with apparent "bruising," and the mother cat may refuse to allow the kittens to nurse. Mastitis is a veterinary emergency. The cat usually needs antibiotics to fight the infection. The kittens may need to be hand-fed until the mother cat has recovered. Hypocalcemia, also known as "milk fever," is rare in cats, but it is another veterinary emergency. This condition can result from a lack of calcium during pregnancy and nursing. Symptoms include seizures, staggering, muscle tremors, restlessness, and excessive panting. While the mother recovers, the kittens will need to be fed by hand. Metritis is a severe infection of the uterus; it is also a veterinary emergency. The mother cat will usually have normal vaginal drainage after birthing her kittens. But, if you notice a foul-smelling discharge, that is a red flag. Other symptoms include lethargy, fever, and loss of milk production. The mother cat may have to be hospitalized for treatment and might need an emergency spaying. As the mother cat recovers, feeding and care for the kittens will fall to you. How Soon Can a Cat Go Into Heat After Giving Birth? If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. |
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