we got her about a week ago and she is very pregnant... it says your supposed to feed her kitten food throughout her pregnancy and up to 3X more than normal... well i have no idea how much she ate before we got her because she was a stray... shes less than a year old so im worried that shes going to eat her babies or not lick the placenta or whatever off their face so they will suffocate ( I read that they have to do that within the first few minutes ) I doubt that I will be around when she has kittens to watch and help out if needed because I have school and work every day! The thing I read said that the first litter may be confusing for the cat and she may not do the right things resulting in the death of the kittens... What chance do they have at living? how did your cat do at its first litter?? Are most cats natural mothers and know what to do???
2006-12-12 12:40:04 · 8 answers · asked by Lissa 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Don't worry. Check and see where in the house she tends to go to sleep. She will start "nesting" She'll probley have the kittens there. Make sure the room is kept warm and there are some old towels that you don't mind tossing later in there. If your worried about her not eating enough beforehand try some canned cat food. Make sure you stick to a regular time table for feeding. If she knows about what time she is going to be feed she shouldn't do it. There will be a thing that looks like a meat sack that will come out with each kitten. She does need to eat that. She'll wash the kittens off first before eating it. Give her space during labor. It'll be ok. My first cat gave birth when I was 6 in the place she felt safest. Sleeping between my knees at night.
2006-12-12 13:07:30 · answer #1 · answered by toriisen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take her to the vet to make sure she's in primo health and any infestation (fleas and/or ticks, etc.) are gone because you don't want anything happening to the babies. Talk to your vet while you're there, get some pointers on what signs a cat will usually show when she's about to give birth, what you need to provide for her, etc. If she's near term, the vet can do an ultrasound and see the position of the kittens and count how many there are in there (so you know when she's birthed the last one). And ask what you should do if she runs into trouble giving birth. More then likely, she'll be just fine without your help but there is always the oddities that require a vet's help. Most cats are great moms if you let them be. If the mom is healthy, you have a great chance the babies will be too.
2006-12-12 13:23:32 · answer #2 · answered by Inundated in SF 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Calm down, don't worry. Let nature take it's place. She will know what to do when the time comes. As far as feeding, make sure she has food available and she will eat as much as she needs. I've never heard of feeding a pregnant cat kitten food, and I doubt very seriously if this is the way to go. There isn't enough food value in kitten food for her.
2006-12-12 13:26:15 · answer #3 · answered by Mad About Purple 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She and the kitten(s) will most likely be perfectly fine. A year old is not that young for a stray cat to have kittens. Everything's goal on this earth is to reproduce therefore she knows exactly what to do when those babies come. Also, just make sure you keep plenty of food and water available to her at all times. Good Luck
2006-12-12 13:08:16 · answer #4 · answered by Horsetrainer89 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cat was a stray and less than a year old too. No problems birthing or taking care of her young. I didn't feed her anything special. Humans made up the "Special' foods for cats, dogs, etc. How do you think they survived before us? You know where our fears come from? Reading all these books on animals. There are a million books out there and everyone is doing the same thing: selling you information.
Let nature take it's course. You'll know if you need to intervene.
I'm not trying to be mean, but I've read books about my animals, goats, dogs, cats, cows, etc... and found them only to be a guideline or reference. Not everything transposed works for everyone.
2006-12-12 12:59:09 · answer #5 · answered by Chub-a-lubby 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have been told that most cats are very good mothers...and i believe it because there is not a shortage in cats anywhere. what i would do about the food issue: i would just leave her plenty of food around at all times so that she can eat her fill because sense she was a stray she probably didn't eat much and what she did eat she caught herself, and if she over eats the only effect it will have on her is that she may get fat.
2006-12-12 13:12:10 · answer #6 · answered by little missy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most cats instinctually know what to do, I would not worry about it. But I would worry about getting her spayed as soon as the kittens are weaned (6-8 weeks of age). But remember, she can get pregnant again even while she is still nursing, so don't let her out until she is spayed.
2006-12-12 13:52:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
she will do whats right. for 1 shes to young. just leave her alone when she goes into labor. watch her if she needs help. just keep plenty of food and water down for her. she will eat when she's hungry. good luck.
2006-12-12 12:44:53 · answer #8 · answered by loretta 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋