And you, the proud owner, will need to balance your attention and concern with an amount of distance, since your mother cat and kittens will do best if they are given space to nurse and grow without human interference. That said, keep an eye on your mother cat's health, and contact a vet with any questions or concerns.
Things You'll Need
- Medium-size cardboard box
- Old blankets
- Food and water dishes
- Kitten food
- Veterinarian
Instructions
Care Before and During Birth
Introduce kitten food into your mother cat's diet while she is still pregnant. The kitten food will have a higher concentration of nutrients that your mother cat will need while she is nursing. Continue the kitten food for a few weeks after she has given birth.
Prepare a box with blankets for your cat to birth and nurse her kittens. Change the blankets frequently, and ensure that the box is in a calm, quiet and warm location. Make sure her food and water bowls are within easy reach.
Check for placenta during or right after the birth. There should be one placenta for every kitten born, and any placenta that are left inside the mother could cause infection. Contact your vet if you suspect there may be placenta left inside your cat's womb after the birth.
Care After Birth
Give your mother cat the space she needs to care for her kittens. She will instinctively know how to feed and clean her litter, and doesn't need your help unless one of the kittens appears to be in distress or doesn't seem to be feeding or growing properly. Consult your vet if you're worried about the health of one of the kittens, but try to maintain your distance, especially during feedings.
Check your cat's nipples for signs of mastitis. When a mammary gland becomes infected, the nipple will be red and swollen and the cat will not want to nurse. Be sure to check daily, since you will need to contact your vet and feed the kittens by hand if your cat suffers from mastitis and begins to refuse her kittens.
Watch for signs of eclampsia, which is caused by a lack of calcium. Mother cats with eclampsia will be irritable and may pant, exhibit muscle tremors or even develop seizures. Call your vet if you notice any of these symptoms.
Note your cat's vaginal discharge. For up to 10 days after the birth, your cat may expel dark blood. If the discharge has a very foul smell, or if it lasts more than 10 days, consult a vet.
Schedule a checkup with your vet, even if there are no complications and your cat and kittens appear perfectly healthy. You'll want to assess the health of your cat after giving birth and consider vaccination and worming options for her, and later for her kittens.