How to Care for Your Cat Through Pregnancy

In this guide

Once you know your cat is expecting, a few practical adjustments over the following weeks help her carry a healthy litter and prepare her body for delivery.

Nutrition

Switch her gradually to a kitten food or a food specifically labelled for pregnant and nursing cats from around the fourth week of pregnancy. These formulas are calorie-dense and higher in protein, which supports both her needs and the kittens' growth. By the final third of pregnancy, she may need noticeably more food than usual, sometimes split into smaller, more frequent meals as her growing belly leaves less room for a large single meal. Fresh water should always be available.

Vet visits and preventive care

An early vet visit confirms pregnancy and lets you discuss a deworming plan, since intestinal parasites can pass to kittens through the placenta or milk, and safe deworming during pregnancy is a routine part of good prenatal care. Avoid any vaccinations, flea or tick treatments, or medications during pregnancy unless your vet specifically confirms they are safe, as some common products are not recommended for pregnant cats.

Environment and activity

Keep her indoors for the duration of pregnancy if she is not already, both to protect her from outdoor risks and to prevent additional unplanned mating during a postpartum heat later. Moderate activity is fine and even healthy, but avoid situations that involve jumping from height or rough play as she gets further along. Introduce a quiet, enclosed nesting space by around week six or seven, so she has time to become familiar with it and choose it over a less suitable spot, such as inside a wardrobe or under a bed where kittens are harder to monitor.

Preparing for delivery

Have clean towels, a heating pad set on low, and your vet's emergency contact ready as she approaches her due date around day 63 to 65. Track her temperature in the final week if you are comfortable doing so, since a drop below 37.5 degrees Celsius is a reliable sign that labour is close.

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