Postpartum Care for a Mother Cat: Month 1 Essentials

After a cat mother gives birth, the first month is a critical period that requires special attention from the cat owner in terms of postpartum care for the mother cat.

Feeding Concerns:

Ensure that food, water, and the litter box are conveniently placed near the cat's nesting area. The feeding principle for postpartum mother cats is to eat small, frequent meals.

During the lactation period, a mother cat expends twice to three times the amount of energy as usual. Therefore, the food provided should be easily digestible. Immediately after giving birth, the food should ideally be in a liquid form, such as congee with a small amount of egg yolk or broth.

As the mother cat recovers, introduce more nutrientrich foods that are high in protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Once her recovery is nearly complete, canned food can be introduced into her diet.

However, it is crucial to avoid adding salt to any of the food. Mother cats have a poor metabolism of salt, and excessive salt intake can lead to urinary tract issues postpartum.

Calcium Concerns:

Many mother cats experience symptoms like tetany after giving birth, as their calcium levels decrease with the loss of milk. Therefore, it is essential for cat owners to monitor the mother cat's condition closely after giving birth to ensure she is not calcium deficient.

Appropriate calcium supplementation can prevent significant calcium loss in the mother cat's body, which could otherwise lead to tetany and spasms.

Breast Concerns:

Following birth, the mother cat's breasts will swell and produce more milk. The skin around the breasts becomes particularly delicate at this time.

Cat owners should trim the nails of the kittens to prevent them from scratching the mother's breasts while nursing, which can cause injury.

Hygiene Concerns:

A quiet, clean, dry, and temperatureappropriate living environment is vital for the mother cat's recovery and immune system strengthening. Regularly disinfect the nesting area, promptly remove any leftover food, feces, and contaminated bedding to maintain a clean and hygienic environment.

Additionally, avoid frequently removing the kittens from the nest, as this may cause the mother to move the nest frequently. Some mothers may become overly protective and even harm the kittens.

Disease Concerns:

Preventing postpartum diseases in mother cats is also crucial. Uterine and mammary gland diseases are highly prevalent in postpartum cats. If symptoms of these diseases arise, cat owners must take the cat to the vet immediately to avoid compromising the mother cat's health.

Cat birth is a challenging process. Despite the hard work involved, every mother cat will diligently care for her kittens. As a cat owner, your responsibility is to provide meticulous care for the postpartum mother cat!