A cat's nutritional needs undergo major changes during pregnancy and lactation to support the developing kittens and milk production. Providing optimal nutrition during this metabolically demanding reproductive period is absolutely crucial to support healthy fetal growth and development, ample milk production for nursing, and to maintain the overall health and wellbeing of the mother cat. Without proper nutrition, the mother cat can suffer deficiencies and health issues, fetal development may be impaired, and milk production can be inadequate - negatively impacting the kittens. This can have long-term effects on the growth and health of the offspring.
Therefore, it is extremely important to fully understand the increased nutritional requirements during feline pregnancy and lactation and to provide a nutrient-dense diet that meets those needs.
This article will cover the importance and the specific nutritional needs of pregnant and nursing cats, including their increased calorie, protein, vitamin and mineral requirements. It will also provide science-based feeding recommendations and guidelines to properly nourish the mother cat and support optimal health and development of kittens during this critical reproductive phase. Meeting the unique nutritional needs of reproducing cats is crucial for helping set up both the queen and offspring for the best possible health and wellbeing.
Nutritional Needs During Pregnancy
A cat's pregnancy lasts about 9 weeks total, or 63 days from conception to delivery of the kittens. During those 2 months of gestation, the developing kittens grow from microscopic fertilized eggs to fully formed fetuses preparing for birth. This rapid fetal growth places ever-increasing nutritional demands on the mother cat to support their development. The queen's nutritional needs steadily increase each week of pregnancy as the fetuses grow larger and require more and more nutrients. She needs sufficient calories, proteins, vitamins and minerals to help form the kittens' organs, tissues, skeletons, and prepare them for life outside the womb.
Additionally, her nutritional needs escalate throughout pregnancy to help store nutrients like protein, fat, vitamins and minerals in her own body to prepare for the significant demands of lactation after birth. The 63 days of feline pregnancy is a time of great change and preparation as her body must support gestation of the growing kittens while also getting ready for milk production. Meeting the queen's exponentially increasing nutritional requirements throughout pregnancy is crucial to nurturing fetal development and setting her up for successful lactation.
Here are some key nutritional considerations:
Calories
Calorie needs increase progressively during pregnancy, with the most significant jump occurring in the last 3 weeks. Total calorie intake should be increased by 25-50% above maintenance by late gestation. This supports fetal growth and allows the queen to store calories to meet the demands of milk production. High-quality kitten or growth formulas are ideal for providing concentrated calories.
Protein
Protein supports fetal tissue growth and development. Requirements increase by 25-50% during pregnancy. High-quality, animal-based proteins like chicken, turkey, egg, or fish are ideal. Plant-based proteins may not meet the increased demand.
Fats
Fats provide concentrated energy to meet increased calorie needs. Recommendations are for 15-20% of the diet coming from fat during pregnancy. Higher fat kitten formulas help meet this requirement. Omega fatty acids support fetal brain and vision development.
Vitamins
Vitamin needs increase across the board during gestation. Key vitamins for fetal development include:
- Vitamin A for skeletal and eye development
- B vitamins for energy and fetal growth
- Vitamin D for bone formation
- Vitamin E for antioxidant support
A high-quality prenatal supplement or kitten formula meets increased vitamin needs.
Minerals
Major minerals needed in higher amounts during pregnancy include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride. These support skeletal growth and development, fluid balance, and nerve transmission. A balanced diet with bioavailable mineral sources is vital.
Trace Minerals
Zinc, iron, copper, manganese, and iodine needs are elevated to support fetal organ system development and maternal health. A broad-spectrum prenatal supplement contains optimal levels of these minerals.
Water
Hydration needs increase during pregnancy. Providing fresh, clean water at all times is crucial. Canned food has a high moisture content as well.
Nutritional Needs During Lactation
The period of lactation places even greater nutritional and metabolic demands on the postpartum queen than pregnancy itself. Milk production is incredibly nutritionally taxing and requires ample energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. A cat's nutrient requirements will actually peak around 3-5 weeks into lactation, which coincides with when her milk production reaches its highest levels to meet the growing kittens' nutritional needs. During this time, the queen's calorie and nutrient needs can more than double compared to normal maintenance levels. She needs vast amounts of energy and nutrients to produce nutritious milk loaded with fat, protein, vitamins and minerals to nourish the kittens.
If her increased dietary requirements are not met during peak lactation, the queen can lose significant weight and muscle mass, become malnourished, and produce less milk - negatively impacting the kittens' growth and health. Ensuring the queen's nutritional needs are maximized during this demanding period of milk production is crucial to support both her health and that of the rapidly growing kittens. This peak lactation period places the greatest nutritional demand on the postpartum cat, so providing abundant calories, proteins, vitamins and minerals in her diet is essential.
Key nutritional considerations during lactation include:
Calories
Calorie needs can more than double during peak lactation compared to normal maintenance. Increased fat and highly digestible carbohydrates provide concentrated energy for milk production. Free-choice feeding of a high-calorie kitten formula or gruel supports demand.
Protein
Protein provides essential amino acids for milk protein synthesis. Requirements increase to 2-3 times normal levels. High-quality animal protein sources are ideal.
Fats
Milk's high fat content requires increased dietary fat. Around 25-30% of calories should come from fat. Omega fatty acids support brain and vision development.
Vitamins
Water-soluble vitamins like B vitamins and Vitamin C are depleted rapidly in milk and need higher intake. Fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K are also crucial for kitten development. A lactation-specific feline supplement is recommended.
Minerals
Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and trace minerals are secreted in milk and require increased intake. A balanced lactation diet with bioavailable minerals and supplementation provides optimal support.
Water
Water needs can double during lactation. Provide unlimited access to fresh, clean water. Canned foods are also helpful for increasing moisture intake.
Feeding Recommendations
To meet the significantly increased nutritional needs during feline pregnancy and lactation, the following science-based feeding guidelines are recommended:
- Feed a high-calorie, high-protein, and nutrient-dense diet specifically formulated for pregnant/nursing cats. These foods are optimized with extra calories, proteins, vitamins and minerals to support reproduction.
- Feed a premium quality growth or kitten formula dry or wet food to provide concentrated calories and nutrients if a specialty reproductive diet is unavailable.
- Allow free-choice feeding during lactation so your nursing queen can eat as much as she needs to meet peak milk production demands. Provide small, frequent meals around the clock.
- Supplement with a veterinarian-recommended feline prenatal vitamin/mineral supplement specifically formulated to meet increased reproductive nutrient needs.
- Ensure the diet contains sufficient high-quality animal-based proteins from sources like chicken, turkey, beef, eggs, dairy or fish to provide complete, digestible amino acids.
- Incorporate nutritious “extras” like cooked eggs, plain cooked lean meats, meat baby foods or high-quality canned fish to provide additional concentrated protein and calories.
- Always provide unlimited access to fresh, clean water. Hydration needs increase significantly. Offer canned foods with high moisture content as well.
- Weigh your cat weekly and monitor body condition score. Adjust food intake up or down to maintain optimal weight and health.
- Partner with your veterinarian to determine if any specialty diet or nutritional interventions may be beneficial for your individual cat during pregnancy and lactation.
Conclusion
Providing excellent nutrition to your cat during pregnancy and nursing is one of the most vital things you can do as an owner to support the health of both your queen and her kittens. It simply cannot be overstated how important it is to meet the significantly increased calorie, protein, vitamin, and mineral requirements during this remarkably demanding reproductive period. Following the science-based feeding guidelines outlined above will go a long way in helping ensure your nursing queen remains happy and healthy while also adequately supporting rapid fetal growth in utero and abundant milk production for nourishing her kittens after birth. However, each cat and pregnancy is unique, so partnering closely with your veterinarian is highly recommended to determine if any specific nutritional interventions or specialty diets may be beneficial for your individual expecting or nursing cat.
By diligently providing proper nutrition throughout pregnancy and lactation, you are setting up both the mother and kittens for the absolute best start they can have on a long, healthy, high-quality life. The old adage “you are what you eat” holds incredibly true - especially during reproduction and kitten growth. So be sure to give your repro queen the highest quality nutrition possible during this critical time to provide the foundation for lifelong wellness of her and the kittens.
