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Optimal Diet Plan for Pregnant Cats: Nutritional Guide

20. December 2024
PrePregnancy Diet Considerations for Female Cats:1. Female cats that are overweight before pregnancy

PrePregnancy Diet Considerations for Female Cats:

1. Female cats that are overweight before pregnancy may experience a decrease in the number of eggs released, leading to a lower litter size. Therefore, maintaining exercise and avoiding obesity before pregnancy is crucial for reproductive health.

2. Female cats with inadequate weight and poor nutrition should not be bred without proper consideration. Even if they become pregnant, the offspring may face various issues.

Dietary Considerations During Pregnancy:

1. Many female cats become voracious eaters after becoming pregnant, with their food intake often increasing to at least 1.5 times their normal amount, and in some cases, doubling.

2. Within the first 30 days of pregnancy, gradually transition the cat's diet using a 7day feeding method to switch to kitten weaning formula. This type of formula typically offers higher levels of nutrition and calories.

3. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy can lead to difficulties in labor and delayed delivery. Therefore, it's important to maintain moderate exercise and ensure proper digestion of food (to avoid overeating).

4. For cats that are fed on a schedule, gradually increase the amount of food during pregnancy. As the fetus grows, the mother cat will need to eat more. It's recommended to switch to freefeeding in the last week before giving birth.

5. Freefeeding is beneficial because as the belly grows, the stomach space becomes smaller, making frequent, smaller meals the best option.

6. Balanced supplementation of calcium and phosphorus is vital for the development of the kittens' bones. For other nutritional supplements, a few key ones are sufficient; avoid oversupplementing to prevent nutritional excess.

7. It's advisable to switch to highnutrient canned food during pregnancy, possibly mixed with kitten weaning canned food. If the cat primarily eats dry food, provide more canned food or cooked meat during pregnancy. The cat may be picky during pregnancy, so try different types of meat. It's not recommended to feed raw meat during pregnancy.

8. Proper nutrition during pregnancy is essential to avoid numerous issues, such as absorption, stillbirth, miscarriage, preterm labor, low birth weight, and poor fetal development. Many of these problems are related to nutrition and the misuse of medication.

9. The living environment of the pregnant cat is extremely important. Any drastic changes in daily life can have a significant impact on their health. A notable example is when there is loud noise from renovations, which can be terrifying for the cat and have a profound effect on the pregnant cat.

Dietary Considerations After Delivery:

1. After giving birth, the mother cat may lose up to 40% of the weight gained during pregnancy, so she will need to eat more. However, the energy density of the food must be high, and adequate hydration is essential. Cats that can drink milk should be encouraged to do so, as lactation places greater demands on their nutritional needs.

2. Additional calcium supplementation is necessary. Liquid calcium is a good choice.

3. If there are two kittens or fewer, you can return to a scheduled feeding routine (if it was previously in place), as excessive milk production can lead to mastitis.

4. For three or more kittens, continue with freefeeding, as the kittens have a high demand for milk.

5. If the mother cat is not producing enough milk, supplement the kittens' milk. This not only relieves the mother's stress but also aids in the kittens' growth.

6. After the kittens are weaned, the mother cat's diet can return to its prepregnancy state, usually around 68 weeks postpartum.

7. Position the feeding bowl closer to the nest after delivery, so that once the kittens start to venture out, they may learn from the mother and begin to eat on their own.

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