Taking Care of New Born Kittens & the Mother Cat

If you know when your cat became pregnant, you will be able to plan and prepare for the kittens' birth. A cat's gestation period is between 56 and 65 days. Offer your mother cat plenty of good food throughout the day, especially during the last few weeks of her pregnancy. She may not be able to eat large amounts at a time because the kittens' growth causes crowding in her abdomen. Be watchful as the mother cat’s time of delivery nears in case complications arise.

Things You'll Need

  • Birthing box
  • Clean bedding
  • Dry cloth
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Provide a place for your cat to have her kittens such as a birthing box with clean rags or towels in the bottom. Do this at least a week before the kittens are born. This gives your cat time to find the box and become comfortable using it.

    • 2

      Watch for your cat to show signs of labor. She may create a nest in her birthing box. You may see her panting or appearing restless. If this is her first litter, keep a close eye on her for any difficulty delivering or caring for the newborns. Shortly before she delivers, you may see fluid escaping from her vulva and abdominal contractions.

    • 3

      Remain with the mother cat during pre-delivery and delivery. If there seems to be a problem, contact your veterinarian. Otherwise, watch to see if your assistance is needed. At the delivery of each kitten, the mother should break the amniotic sac, so the kitten can breathe. If she does not do this right away, you should to prevent the kitten from suffocating. While waiting for the next kitten’s birth, the mother should lick the new kitten to clean it and push it into nursing position. If she doesn’t do these things, you may want to gently rub the new kitten dry and place it near a nipple.

    • 4

      Keep fresh water and food nearby, available to the mother cat 24 hours a day. Do this immediately after the birth of the kittens, and for as many weeks as she is nursing her kittens.

    • 5

      Avoid handling the kittens for at least 24 hours or the mother cat may try to move the nest. After a day, check each one over carefully to ensure it is all right. The kittens will be socialized by handling, but avoid handling them more than once a day until they open their eyes and begin moving about the house. Begin handling the kittens more often at this time. Supervise children while they are handling kittens.