Metritis. Metritis (inflammation of the uterus) occurs occasionally, usually within three days of parturition. The cat is much more obviously ill than with simple retention of foetal membranes. She will be dull and lethargic, ignore her kittens, refuse food, become polydipsic, and may vomit.
Her diet will change
Needless to say, looking after babies is exhausting. Your cat is bound to be feeling tired after giving birth and nursing, and is going to need some extra nutrition- especially since she's feeding her kittens.
Make sure she's comfortable, eating, drinking, nursing, and taking care of the kittens as well as urinating and having normal stool. Monitor her incision for pain, heat, swelling, or discharge. Contact your vet if you notice any of these signs.
You may notice she has a fever, is lethargic, and milk production slows or stops. You must take her to the vet straight away as she will need to be admitted to the veterinary hospital. She may need an emergency operation to be spayed and you will need to take care of the kittens while she recovers.
A slight change in behaviour is normal for your cat after she has given birth, but she will settle after a few weeks. Sometimes your cat's behaviour is a cause for concern and this is when you'll want to give your vet a call.
The mother cat usually remains continuously with newborn kittens for one or two days after giving birth. She may then leave the 'nest' for short periods. Also, a mother cat will often pick up and move her litter to a new location, especially during the first few weeks after birth.
She must be fed 4-5 times a day, with high-protein meals (ordinary cat food is fine, and so are oily fish and fruit purées) that can be provided with food supplements containing calcium and phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin C. Of course, water must always be available to her.
Milk fever, also known as eclampsia or puerperal tetany, occurs when blood calcium is low after giving birth. It usually occurs within 2-4 weeks of queening, but can also occur in the last weeks of gestation or pregnancy.
Veterinarian Check
If you haven't already done so, after one week, take the mother cat and kittens to your veterinarian for a well-check. If the mother cat was not vaccinated, this would be a good time to do it. Also, she might get treatment for roundworms, to protect both her and her kittens.
Nursing mother cats need to eat a high quality kitten formula food. If she is a picky eater, do not hesitate to try feeding her canned tuna, chicken or salmon. Do not give cow's milk to cats, despite popular belief, it is impossible for cat's to digest and often causes serious stomach upset.
Mother cats purr while nursing as do their kittens from just a few days old. Some cats purr when they are about to be fed or even while having an enjoyable meal. Conversely, cats in situations of stress, fear or pain may also purr.
When a cat gives birth to a stillborn kitten, it's important to leave the kitten in place until their mother realizes that they're dead. Otherwise, your cat may become distressed at removing one of her kittens without knowing they had passed away.
Kittens are becoming more aware of their surroundings, but they will huddle together for warmth and comfort and rarely venture far from their mother, their nest, or each other. They still sleep most of the time.
What is “Fading Kitten Syndrome”? Fading kitten syndrome, sometimes referred as “failure to thrive”, describes a kitten that “crashes”, suddenly becoming ill or unresponsive, even if it was previously healthy.
Overall, pre-weaning mortality is commonly 15-30%, and stillbirths typically account for <10% of all kittens born; although, the prevalence can vary considerably; from 6-22% in pedigree cats.
Even with proper care, kittens less than three weeks of age have a poor survival rate when separated from mom. The mortality rates are estimated in excess of 40%. This means that you should be prepared for a possible loss, even with the best efforts.
When a cat loses a companion, whether animal or human, she most certainly grieves and reacts to the changes in her life. Cats alter their behavior when they mourn much like people do: They may become depressed and listless.
The teats will still be swollen initially and produce milk. Then the milk will stop coming, the swelling will decrease, and after one to two weeks, the mammary glands should no longer be swollen under the teats.
No, your cat doesn't actually think you're the mama cat that birthed it. But cats show us a level of affection and respect that is very similar to the way they treat their mama cat. And this sweet fact flies in the face of anyone who thinks cats' “aloof” personality means they don't care about us.
If they are crying during or after eating, it may indicate that they are ill, are not getting adequate milk, or the milk has become infected (mastitis).
Yes, cats can eat eggs. Fully cooked eggs are a great nutritional treat for cats. Eggs are packed with nutrients, like amino acids, which are the building blocks to protein, and they're also highly digestible. Scrambled, boiled, however you choose to prepare them is fine.
Nursing is Mother Nature's way for mothers to nourish their newborn babies. However, nursing can become painful and challenging for cats with a breast condition called mastitis.
Stress can also be a cause of issues. If a mother cat is threatened by other cats, people, excessive noise or other stressful situations she may abandon her kittens or develop aggressive tendencies towards them. First-time mothers may also be more prone to behavior problems.
Wet Food • Offer fresh kitten wet food to queen 2-3 times per day. o Offer ½ to one can of kitten wet food at least two times a day. If not eating dry food well, you can offer more wet food while she is nursing.