After your cat gives birth, it is important to keep a close eye on her and her kittens to make sure they are all happy and thriving. Here are some things you can do to take care of your cat and her kittens after birth:
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Provide a safe and quiet space: Choose a quiet and clean area for your cat and her kittens to rest. Cats love privacy, so make sure to give them a suitable environment to recover and rest well.
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Feed your cat a nutritious diet: Its best to feed your cat a good quality kitten food while she is nursing her kittens. This will make sure shes getting plenty of nutrients to support their growth. The mother cat will double her food intake after labor, so give plenty of high-quality food and continue supplementing her with nutritious food.
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Observe the mother cat and her kittens: Observe the mother cat and her kittens to make sure they are all healthy and thriving. Look for signs of postpartum problems such as mastitis and metritis. If you notice any problems, call your vet straight away.
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Avoid touching the newborn kittens: At first, its usually best to avoid touching your cats newborn kittens if you can. She will be very protective over them and might not want you touching, so its best to respect her space unless something is wrong. Sometimes, handling newborns too much can cause their mother to reject them.
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Provide postnatal care: Postnatal care of a mother cat and her newborn kittens is crucial after she has given birth. The first two to three weeks are the most crucial for a mother cat and her newborn kittens. The kittens should be developing rapidly, and if the mother is going to have any postpartum problems, it will happen during that period. You will need to simulate the mother cats licking and grooming of her kittens around the abdomen and anal area after nursing to encourage the elimination of waste.
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Contact your vet if needed: If youre worried at all, call your vet as they can advise you. Very rarely, your cat might struggle to care for her kittens. If they are not feeding well, you may need to speak to your vet about possibly hand-rearing them.
Overall, it is important to provide a safe and comfortable environment for your cat and her kittens, observe them closely, and provide them with nutritious food and postnatal care. If you notice any problems, contact your vet right away.