Taking care of a mother cat and kittens is a job that needs your full attention, kindness, and understanding.
When a cat gives birth to cute little kittens, they want a little safe space, regular food, and a little love. Whether she is a stray cat or a domestic cat, she needs a little extra care to raise her babies healthy. Fortunately, mother cats don’t need much human help. But you should definitely take care of him by his side.
It’s important to make sure the mother cat has a safe and comfortable place to stay before the kittens come. This area should be safe, free of noise, and far from places with a lot of traffic.
Beds should be made for mothers and babies in a safe place on one side of the house, away from the noise of people. A box, basket, or large cage should be lined with some soft cloth.
At this time, they do not like the presence of people and suffer from insecurity. If the place is not liked, the mother cat takes the babies in her mouth and moves to another place.
It is important to keep the area warm because kittens can’t control their body temperature for the first few weeks. A heating pad under half of the blankets and putting the box in a warm room can help keep the mother cat and kittens at the right temperature.
But make sure the heating pad is set to a low setting so it doesn’t get too hot. Also, leave some of the box unheated so the mother cat and kittens can get out of the heat if it gets too hot.
If it is winter, it should be kept in a warm place inside the house. At this time, if there are other cats in the house, they should be kept in a separate room.
At this time, the mother cat can travel very easily and should be provided with food, water, and a litter box in a nearby place. Within 2-3 days her food intake increased 4 times.
During this time, he should be fed a sufficient amount of Cat Wet Food, Cat Dry Food, fish, meat, and sufficient amount of water. Children are healthy and well if they eat nutritious and plentiful food. So the mother cat is very busy so food should be given very close to her.
The Kittens Birth and Delivery
It is important to give the mother cat room and stay calm when she is giving birth. Cats usually like to be left alone while they’re giving birth, but you should keep an eye on her from afar to make sure everything is going as planned.
There may be breaks between the births of each kitten because labor can last for several hours.
As soon as the kitten is born, the mother cat will know what to do. She cleans each cat by licking them, which makes them breathe faster. You might have to clean a kitten for her if she doesn’t do it herself.
Use a clean cloth to gently wipe the kitten clean. This doesn’t happen very often; most of the time, the mother cat will care for her babies on her own.
The First Few Weeks
The mother cat and kittens need to be very careful in the first few weeks. Most of her time, the mother cat will nurse her kittens, keep them warm, and clean them.
It’s your job to make sure the mother cat has everything she needs right now.
Feeding the Mother Cat: Do not forget to feed the mother cat. While she is nursing, her nutritional needs will grow greatly. It’s very important to feed her a good food that is full of calories and nutrients.
It is suggested that she eat kitten food because it has the right ingredients for both her and the kittens. For her own safety, make sure she always has fresh water handy. Nursing can make her very thirsty.
Babies eat only breast milk for the first 3-4 weeks and sleep a lot. At this time, the mother cat takes care of the babies every 1-3 hours. Babies then pee and poop very little.
However, after 1-2 days their bed should be cleaned. At 4 weeks of age, they start eating solid food on their own, then they can go to the litter box and use the litter on their own.
Keeping an eye on the kittens: kittens are born with their eyes closed and need their mother for everything. They will mostly eat and sleep for the first week. Following birth, kittens usually lose a little weight.
But, after the first few days, they should begin to gain weight regularly. You can keep track of the kittens’ growth and make sure they are getting enough milk from the mother cat by weighing them every day.
Cleaning Up After the Kittens: Usually, the mother cat will clean up after the kittens to keep the bed clean. You should still check the clothing often and change it if it gets dirty, though. The mother cat and kittens need a clean place to live in order to stay healthy.
Socializing the Kittens
After about two to three weeks, the kittens will start to open their eyes and pay more attention to what’s going on around them. Now is a good time to start getting to know them. The kittens will do well as pets if they are handled gently and spend a lot of time with people.
It’s best to touch the kittens gently and for short amounts of time. The mother cat should know that her kittens are safe and being brought back to her. This will make her believe you more and make her feel less anxious.
As the kittens get bigger, they’ll move around more and start to explore their surroundings. Please make sure the area is safe and free of any dangers. Kittens are usually curious, and if their environment isn’t safe, they can get into trouble.
Giving the Kittens Food
Kittens are usually weaned when they are about four weeks old. As time goes on, the mother cat will spend less time feeding the kittens to get them used to eating solid food. Now is the time to start giving the kittens small amounts of wet cat food.
Put out a small dish with kitten food that has been mixed with a little water to help them eat. While the kittens are being weaned, the mother cat may still nurse them, but as they get bigger, they will need real food more.
It should be possible for the kittens to eat solid food on their own by the time they are eight weeks old.
Health and Veterinary Care
Both the mother cat and kittens need to go to the vet regularly to stay healthy. It is important to check on the mother cat after giving birth to make sure she is healing well and there are no problems.
Shots and deworming: Kittens are usually ready for their first shots when they are six to eight weeks old. Talk to your vet about setting up a vaccination plan for the kittens that will protect them from common feline diseases.
Additionally, kittens should be dewormed regularly beginning at two weeks of age.
Watching for Health Problems: Keep an eye out for any signs that the mother cat and kittens are sick. Kittens often get respiratory illnesses, which can make them sneeze, cough, and have discharge from their eyes or nose.
If you see any signs of illness, you should call your vet right away.
Neutering and spaying: To stop more kittens from coming, it’s a good idea to spay the mother cat after she has weaned her babies.
Spaying cats not only helps keep the number of cats in check, but it’s also good for the mother cat’s health. They should also be fixed or neutered when they are old enough, which is usually between five and six months.
Finding Homes for the Kittens
They will be ready to leave their mother and go to their new homes when they are eight to twelve weeks old. One of your main jobs is to find good homes for the kittens. Make sure that people who want to adopt a cat are ready for the responsibility of taking care of one.
Make sure the kittens are fully weaned, eating solid food, and have had their first shots before they go to their new homes. You should also give new kitten parents information on how to care for them, such as how to feed them, train them to use the litter box, and take them to the vet.
Conclusion
You have to give a mother cat and kittens your time, attention, and a dedication to their health. Every step of the process is important, from getting ready for the birth to weaning the kittens and finding them new homes.
You can make sure that the mother cat and kittens do well by giving them the right care. This piece went over the most important things you need to do to take care of a mother cat and kittens, such as getting ready for the kittens to arrive, feeding the mother cat, keeping an eye on the kittens’ health, and socializing and weaning them.
Whether you’ve had cats before or this is your first time having one, knowing what a mother cat and her kittens need will help you give them the best care.