It is an amazing time, your cat is having kittens. Raising kitties can be a highly pleasurable and rewarding experience. What should you anticipate? What will you require to make certain the little tikes grow up to enjoy a long and healthy life? Most likely, you walk in and find your cat already nursing her new litter. There will be a a mess where she has birthed, so immediately move her and her kittens someplace clean and safe. Mother pet cats prefer a dark area, Putting a blanket over her box and lining it with good clean bedding will do well for a nursery. The baby’s room should also be in a quiet area, away from heavily traffic areas. Too much noise and light can disturb the mother cat and she could attempt to hide her kittens if she doesn’t feel that they are safe.
An unfortunate truth is that occasionally there are one or two stillborn kittens. Remove them with the rest of the birthing mess. The mother will show no interest in them.
For several days the mother will be constantly with her kittens. They require heat, security and regular feedings so there will be little social interaction. By the time they are approximately a week old their need for higher temperature levels will become unnecessary. The mother will begin to leave them alone for longer and longer periods. The kittens will start to huddle together for heat. If you peek into the nursery and find a ball of kitty cats sleeping quietly, they are doing fine. Kittens will sleep nearly all the time for the first two weeks. If the kitties are crying a lot it is a sign that they are sick or not getting enough food. Call your vet right away. Kittens can become sick and die quickly without outside assistance.
Assuming that the mother and her litter are all feeling well and doing well, there is little you will need to do during the first four weeks. The mother will handle everything perfectly. Typically, the kitten’s eyes will open in one to two weeks, if they remain shut after that than call your veterinarian. Kittens commonly get a moderate eye infection. The infection is recognized by the eyelids being stuck shut. Clean any gummed eyes with cotton ball that has been moistened with warm water, and keep a close watch on her. An infection might be beginning behind those tiny eyelids and if it gets bad and remains untreated, damage to the eyesight may result. The infection generally clears up by itself in a couple of days, if it turns particularly severe, take the kitty to your veterinarian.
At about one month of age, the little kittens should be walking well and will begin to eat solid food. You might find one of your little kittens standing in his mothers’ food dish eating her food. You will want to add another plate of an excellent quality kitten food for them to munch on. Kitten food is formulated specifically for the requirements of growing kitties, food for mature adults meets different requirements. Poor nutrition while the kittens are could result in health issues later on. With the addition of solid food for the kittens, the problem will be keeping the mother away from it. The mother will the find kitten food extremely tasty.
Plan to see the vet for vaccinations at about two months of age. By three months the kittens should be independent and ready to leave the nursery and take up their place as new pets for the family or given away to another loving family.
For a healthy litter and mother these guidelines should serve you well. Depend on your vet if there are any issues and to learn what to do in problem circumstances. Enjoy your kittens while they are with you. They grow up too quickly.
