Cat Nursing

Usually, this is pleasant for all concerned mother, kittens, and you. Remember not to disturb your new cat family any more than necessary for about three days. But you do have a few important jobs during this time: cleaning the maternity box and the mother's breasts, watching for signs of illness or malnutrition, and initiating solid foods (weaning).

The kittens will soil the maternity box, so on the third day, when the mother goes to relieve itself, change the newspapers or towels. Wash the queen's breasts once daily with warm water and a clean washcloth, but do not use soap.

The milk produced during the first twenty-four hours is called colostomy and is rich in antibodies that protect the kittens from such diseases as phalarope a few weeks. But if you see any signs of illness, see your veterinarian immediately. Most kitten illnesses need professional attention.

Appearance and milk production are the best indication of the mother's nutritional status. A well-balanced, commercial cat food is adequate for lactating queens. If necessary, supplement this with high-protein foods, such as milk prod-cuts and cooked eggs. A general rule is to feed an additional 100 calories per pound of kitten. By the end of the lactation period, your cat may be eating three times heartbreaking level. Vitamin and mineral and extra calcium supplements should be fed to heavy lactates with large litters.

Using an ounce or grant scale, weigh the kittens about two weeks after birth.At that time they should be double their birth weight. Their eyes will open about ten days following birth.

Later in nursing, the kittens' teeth and nails may irritate the breasts, and the mother will lose patience and leave the kittens for longer periods of time. Although you can help by trimming the kittens' nails, this is actually nature's way of telling the kittens to try some solid food. Now is the time to try weaning.