Postpartum Care for Queens: Essential Tips for Healthy
After a cat gives birth, it's crucial to monitor her condition within the first two hours. If it becomes necessary to remove the kitten, it should be done promptly, but with extreme caution. Avoid roughly handling the mother or the kittens, and there's no need to clean the nesting box or rearrange its contents.
New mothers are naturally adept at maintaining the cleanliness of their nesting area. They will eat their kittens' meconium and secretions, as well as lick away any amniotic fluid from their bodies.
Moreover, the mother cat is already weakened by giving birth and must also care for her newborns. This can further diminish her immune system, so it's essential to provide extra care for her. Pet owners should be patient, feeding the mother more frequently each day and ensuring she has access to plenty of fresh water. Always prioritize the quality of her food.
Maintain a quiet, clean, and temperaturecontrolled environment for the mother and her kittens. Avoid moving any items around the cat's vicinity and regularly disinfect feeding bowls to prevent the spread of viruses.
Here are some key points to consider for postpartum care:
1. Nutritional Needs After Delivery:
Pay attention to the completeness of the nutritional content in the feed. Increase the levels of protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Offer fresh fish broth, milk, goat's milk, soy milk, or meat and bone meal. Adjust the amount of kibble as needed, ensuring the food is fresh, nutritious, easily digestible, and served more frequently. Provide clean drinking water.
Protein is the most vital nutrient for cats, crucial for maintaining health, promoting growth, and ensuring tissue repair. It cannot be substituted by any other nutrient. To supplement protein, opt for cat food rich in vitamins.
2. Environmental and Management Considerations:
Provide a quiet, clean, dry, and temperatureappropriate living environment for the mother and kittens.
It's vital to allow the mother to recover and boost her immune system. Regularly disinfect the nesting area, promptly remove any leftover food, feces, and soiled bedding, and keep the surroundings clean and hygienic. On sunny days, allow the cats to enjoy some outdoor exercise, if possible.
3. Disease Prevention:
Be vigilant about preventing uterine infections and mastitis, the two main postpartum diseases. Strengthen feeding and management practices. If either condition arises, seek immediate veterinary care.
