Take Care of a Mother Cat Before and After Having Kittens

When your cat is having kittens, it is an exciting time. Here is how to care for the mother cat so that she remains healthy and able to care well for her kittens.

Pre-birth

 * 1) Prepare for the birth. If your cat is pregnant, she will need a place to give birth to and care for her kittens. A laundry basket or large box is ideal for this.[[Image:Take Care of a Mother Cat Before and After Having Kittens Step 1.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *The box/basket will need to be short enough for the mother cat and the kittens to enter and exit with ease. Blankets and/or old towel should be used to line the bottom of the basket for comfort.
 * 3) Put a water bowl and if wanted a small kibble bowl next to the basket for the mother and when old enough, the kittens. Put the basket in a place where the cats won't be disturbed, like in a laundry room or closet with an open door.[[Image:Take Care of a Mother Cat Before and After Having Kittens Step 2.jpg|center]]
 * 4) Put the mother cat in the basket throughout pregnancy to try to ease her into instantly going there when she is about to give birth. It's a little like litter training![[Image:Take Care of a Mother Cat Before and After Having Kittens Step 3.jpg|center]]
 * 5) Try not to pick the mother cat up a lot during pregnancy, for it could upset the babies and cause the mother cat to become sick.[[Image:Take Care of a Mother Cat Before and After Having Kittens Step 4.jpg|center]]

During birth

 * 1) Let the mother cat choose the birthing place. When the mother cat goes into labor, try to get her to go into her basket, if she refuses let her have her babies where she chooses and clean up the mess later.[[Image:Take Care of a Mother Cat Before and After Having Kittens Step 5.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Don't interfere. During the birth, no matter how much you want to, try to refrain from helping unless the kittens or mother are in distress. When she is done giving birth, she will clean the kittens off and start to feed them.[[Image:Take Care of a Mother Cat Before and After Having Kittens Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 3) *Make sure that all other pets stay out of her basket and away when she is giving birth. Keep pregnant cats indoor at all times to ensure the safety of her and the kittens.
 * 4) *If in the first day or so the mother cat does not feed the kittens, go to a vet and ask if kitten formula is needed. Remember, the mother cat should be able to completely control the birth on her own.

Caring for the mother cat after birth

 * 1) Let the mother cat care for the kittens. The mother cat can do most of the caring for the first few weeks, until the kittens start to climb out of the basket and adventure. Clean the water bowls daily to make sure that it is fresh.[[Image:Take Care of a Mother Cat Before and After Having Kittens Step 7.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Feed the mother cat enough food. While the mother cat is breastfeeding the kittens, she will need just a little bit extra food at mealtimes, as that extra food will be turned into milk for her babies.[[Image:Take Care of a Mother Cat Before and After Having Kittens Step 8.jpg|center]]
 * 3) Change the water bowl for the mother cat daily. Put water and maybe food next to her basket. Make sure she is comfortable during the birth.[[Image:Take Care of a Mother Cat Before and After Having Kittens Step 9.jpg|center]]
 * 4) Get the mother cat spayed. After the mother cat is done breast feeding the kittens, it is recommended that you get her spayed, unless you are an official cat breeder.[[Image:Take Care of a Mother Cat Before and After Having Kittens Step 10.jpg|center]]

Tips

 * Keep pregnant and post-birth cats indoors at all times, to ensure the safety of her and the kittens.
 * To be ready for when the kittens start to crawl, make or buy kitten-safe toys. If you buy toys, nothing too small, and if you make them on your own, use only non-toxic glues and markers and don't use anything with googly eyes.
 * Make sure the adventuring kittens do not go underneath or behind furniture, as they could become stuck.
 * If you decide to keep the kittens for yourself, make sure you have wet and dry food specialized for kittens and when they are older switch to adult food.
 * You will need to litter train the kittens as soon as they start adventuring, because the mother will no longer clean up after them once they hit a certain age. Clean the litter box daily and if you do keep the kittens, get a second litter box. When the kittens turn 8 weeks old, if you are giving them away, you can start looking for homes for them. Wait at least 12 weeks. Once they get a home, check in with that person and even visit a few times to make sure the kittens have a safe environment.

Things You'll Need

 * An old laundry basket or a box
 * Old towels and blankets
 * Kitten safe toys
 * A safe place for the basket
 * Cat food

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