Preparing A Nutrition Diet To Feed Your Pregnant & Breast Feeding Cat

Feeding the pregnant female cat correctly ensures that she has enough nutrients to support the growing kittens, while maintaining her own weight. She will also have enough milk to nurse them.

According to Richard Pitcairn, author of “Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to the Natural Health for Dogs and Cats,” Rodale, cats that are not appropriately fed during their pregnancy are susceptible to nutritional deficiency, as are their young kittens. The process of conceiving, carrying, birthing and nursing kittens requires an “unusually high protein intake to grow new tissue,” says Dr. Pitcairn.

Dr. Pitcairn recalls a small stray starved kitten he found. He fed her commercial kibble, and he reports she did okay on the diet. But when she became pregnant a year later, he changed her diet to help fortify her body. He added chicken, raw beef liver, raw eggs, bonemeal and brewer’s yeast, among other nutrients.

Unlike what he had seen before with other cats, this one, on the natural raw diet, didn’t lose any weight during her pregnancy, delivered her kittens quickly and easily, and had enough milk to effectively nurse her large kittens (who grew up to be bigger than her!) He says they were always remarkably healthy, didn’t require flea treatments and healed quickly after injuries.

Martin Goldstein, DVM, author of “The Nature of Animal Healing,” Knopf, believes that proper nutrition for the mother and her developing kittens can actually help prevent her kittens from developing arthritis later in their lives.

In his book, Dr. Pitcairn has recipes for homemade food that can be adjusted in quantity for pregnant and nursing queens. Some commercial and premium cat foods have formulas specific to the needs of pregnant and nursing cats. Depending on the formulas, quantities may change.

Additionally, Dr. Pitcairn recommends protecting your pregnant female from environmental toxins or stressors that can cause birth defects in her kittens. They include: antibiotics and other medications, herbicides, poisonous plants like jimsonweed, overheating, smoke from cigarettes and car exhaust, among others.

He also notes that underfeeding the pregnant female can contribute to increased risk in birth defects of kittens. Insufficient nutrients can also increase risk of birth defects. Particularly important are appropriate levels of vitamins A, D and B complex; iron magnesium, zinc, iodine and copper. However, excessive amounts of vitamin A, calcium and iodine can contribute to birth defects.

When selecting the proper diet for your pregnant female, do so before she has conceived. Check with your veterinarian before you breed the female as to what diet is appropriate for your cat and whether you should add supplements.

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