Diet for Pregnant Cats

The ideal scenario for cat pregnancy is a planned one, so the female's nutritional requirements prior to and during the pregnancy can be adequately met. It is never too late to begin a diet for pregnant cats, even if one is caught off-guard with a surprise pregnancy. A female cat, known as a queen, is pregnant for 58 to 65 days. Put her on a healthy diet to sustain her during the pregnancy so she can have a healthy litter of one to eight kittens.

  1. Fresh Water

    • A queen needs plenty of fresh water. Place extra bowls of water around your home during the gestational period. Encourage her to drink more frequently by placing treats near the bowls. Wash bowls daily to prevent germs and contamination. Consider providing the queen with filtered water or tap water during her pregnancy.

    Obesity

    • Do not overfeed the queen prior to and during pregnancy. Obesity causes delivery complications and health problems. Play fun games with her to encourage exercise and minimize the chances of obesity. Different breeds and sizes of cats need to gain different amounts of weight during the pregnancy. Talk to your vet about how much weight gain to expect.

    High-Protein Foods

    • Give the cat high-protein foods as part of the diet. Read labels of cat food and compare the percentage of protein in different brands. Add 1/4 of a serving of the higher-protein food to the queen's old food on the first day. Gradually increase the ratio of high-protein food, until you switch over completely to the new food. Do not just change the brands, because this can cause digestive problems and stress.

    Add Kitten Food

    • Gradually switch the queen to kitten food around three weeks prior to the estimated delivery date. Kitten food has more nutrients and more calories than the high-protein adult cat food. The queen needs to be eating just kitten food at delivery time.

    Increase Portions and Servings

    • Increase the size of portions and servings given daily to the queen during the pregnancy. Remember to keep an eye on her weight. The goal is to provide additional calories and nutrients without causing an obesity problem. Leave several bowls around the home for her to feed from, if you do free feeding. Feed three to four times a day, if she is on scheduled feedings.

    Lactating Queens

    • Free-feed lactating queens kitten food and plenty of fresh water. Clean and change bowls daily. Expect the queen to significantly increase her food consumption during lactation. Decrease the quantity of food available during the weaning process. Gradually add adult food back to the diet and wean the queen off of the kitten food.