Nutrition Problems in Pregnant and Nursing Cats

What is it?

A mother cat who is malnourished, either over- or underweight, can have problems that affect her kittens. Obesity is the most common nutrition problem in pregnant cats: it can reduce litter size, lower milk production, and raise the risk of difficult labor. Under-feeding can cause loss of pregnancy, abnormal development, stillbirths, small litters, and low birth weights.

What signs should I watch for?

A healthy, well-fed mother gains weight steadily through pregnancy. Watch for weight or body condition loss in early pregnancy, or for her becoming overweight. During nursing, she loses the weight she gained; if she cannot eat enough she may lose condition and make less milk. Kittens with low birth weights may not thrive.

How is it diagnosed and treated?

Your veterinarian can check her body condition and help adjust portions. A high-quality kitten (growth) food, or an all-life-stages food tested for pregnancy and nursing, is recommended through pregnancy and nursing, fed as several meals. Her food intake often rises about 50% during pregnancy and may be more than double by the end of nursing; she needs the most food as kittens near weaning at 6 to 7 weeks. Free-choice feeding works well in early nursing, except for mothers with only one or two kittens, which can raise the risk of mastitis.

Can it be prevented, and what's the outlook?

• An overweight cat should lose weight before breeding.
• On a suitable kitten or all-life-stages food she needs no extra calcium, vitamin, or mineral supplements, and calcium supplements can increase the risk of eclampsia.
• At weaning, her food is reduced and then gradually returned to her pre-breeding amount to help her milk dry up.