Dietary Needs & Appetites of Pregnant Cats

When your cat is pregnant, you want to give her the extra care that̵7;s needed for a safe delivery and healthy kittens. Good nutrition is critical to this outcome, so you must learn the dietary needs of your cat during pregnancy and the post-birth period. The appetite of the pregnant cat will increase significantly in order to provide adequate nutrition for the developing kittens, so a high-quality food is important to provide these nutrients instead of empty calories.

  1. The Pregnant Cat

    • Your cat may have been deliberately bred, or it may be a surprise. Either way, she will need additional calories, vitamins, minerals and protein for the growing bodies of her coming litter. Malnutrition during the weeks of pregnancy can cause low birth weight in kittens, reduce survival rate and create problems for the mother during the birth. Increased protein aids the development of the growing kittens. More fat helps to meet the high caloric requirements of the mother cat. Sufficient amounts of calcium and phosphorus help in the kittens̵7; bone growth and the mother̵7;s milk production.

    Dietary Needs

    • As soon as you become aware that your cat is pregnant, begin offering her a high-quality vitamin supplement. However, do not use supplements excessively as this can have a harmful effect on the growing kittens, according to the DrsFosterSmith website. The pregnant cat should receive a premium brand adult food for the first three weeks of pregnancy. After that time, begin adding premium kitten food to the mix and increase the amount of kitten food each week. During the final week of her pregnancy, she should get all kitten food.

    Appetite During Pregnancy

    • The pregnant cat̵7;s appetite increases considerably over the weeks of her pregnancy as her nutrition goes to the growing kittens. She may want to eat smaller meals every three to four hours by the final weeks of pregnancy. Most of the kittens' growth occurs during the final two weeks of gestation, so the cat may eat up to twice her normal amount of food. This amount is acceptable as long as the cat is not becoming obese.

    Diet After Delivery

    • Though the pregnant cat immediately loses weight after the birth of her kittens, her energy requirements during the nursing period are two to three times the normal maintenance requirement, according to the Eukanuba website. Ensure that you are offering food that is high in nutrient value. You can offer more frequent feedings rather than a large amount at one time. Another method is to allow on-demand feeding with dry food to satisfy her increased appetite.