care for a pregnant cat
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How To Train Your Dog to Use the Doggy Door
Show them the doggy door. Take your dog near the doggy door and make a fun playful game of showing them that it leads to the backyard. Most dogs will figure this out pretty quickly and run through the door.
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You can gradually mix your cats current food with a high quality kitten food. Every couple of days gradually add more and more kitten food until she is on the kitten food only. Make sure that you always have some out for her to eat. She requires more food then normal at this time.
Don't be worried if the first couple of weeks she does not have an appetite, that is normal. Just like humans, cats deal with nausea like morning sickness. After she is past that stage her appetite will increase quit a bit and may eat several times a day.
Make sure that she always has fresh clean water available for her! This is important for her now as it is all the time. She may drink more water now then normal so check it often.
Make sure she has a comfortable place to sleep. You can place a nice blanket somewhere for her or allow her to rest on your bed. Pregnant cats sleep a lot! About two weeks before she is due to give birth, make a nice bed for her to give birth in. You can use an old blanket or towel or even just line a box with newspaper.
The mom cat will look for a nesting place so allow her to choose an area and then place the box you have made for her there or just lay an old blanket or newspapers down there. It is messy when she gives birth so make sure it is something you do not mind throwing away afterwards.
A cat's pregnancy will last up to 65 days. Keep in mind that she safest place she can give birth will be indoors! Help her choose a location that is draft free and warm. Make sure that you keep certain areas that you do not want her to give birth in closed, like your drawers, closet, etc.
When she is giving birth you do not have to do anything, she will know what to do. I could tell that my cat was in labor because she was acting a little weird and was meowing at me unusually. So I was trying to comfort her petting her. She was in labor all together for about 6 hours. She gave birth to one and then about 20 minutes later she had another and then another 20 minutes and the last one was born.
To help her out you may move her food and litter box closer to her nesting area, so she can have everything right next to her that she needs. The most important thing that you can do for your cat is to give her plenty of love.
I had noticed her attitude changing where she was much more affectionate towards me. She was always next to me and she slept a lot more then normal. It is important for your cat to get exercise during her pregnancy so play with her gently.
If you have any questions make sure that you ask your veterinarian! If you suspect that anything is wrong call them immediately. After your cat gives birth think about getting her spayed. Her kittens need to be completely weaned before spaying her. It can help your cat to live longer and healthier as well.