Feeding a queen through pregnancy and lactation

A cat's pregnancy lasts about nine weeks, but the rise in need is not spread evenly. In the first half the changes are modest, while in the second half weight and energy demand climb more sharply, because the fetuses grow mostly in the last part of gestation. Many experienced breeders gradually increase the ration from the first weeks to let the queen build reserves, rather than waiting until the end.

The biggest jump, though, comes after birth. During lactation the queen must produce milk for the whole litter, and this is the highest energy demand of her entire adult life. The more kittens there are, the more milk is needed, and the requirement rises accordingly. It is in this phase that an underfed queen loses weight quickly, and it is the kittens who pay the price in growth.

The simplest and most effective tool to cover this rising need is a complete food formulated for growth, that is for kittens. These foods are denser in energy and nutrients than maintenance ones, and they cover the needs of gestation and lactation precisely because they are designed for phases of high demand. Switching to a kitten food lets the queen take in what she needs without having to eat huge volumes of poorly concentrated food.

• Choose a complete growth food whose label states suitability for gestation and lactation as well as for kittens.
• Prefer an energy dense product, so the queen covers her need even when the uterus crowds the stomach and reduces its capacity.
• Do not leave the queen on a maintenance only food during the lactation peak, because she struggles to cover the demand at those volumes.
• Make the switch gradually, mixing new with old over a few days, to avoid digestive upset.
• The same growth food will later serve the kittens at weaning, simplifying management of the litter.
• Always provide plenty of fresh water, because milk production greatly increases the need for fluids.

On when to make the switch there is no date valid for all, and it is best agreed with the vet following the pregnancy. Many bring the change forward to the second half of gestation, so the queen reaches birth already used to the food she will use during lactation. Avoiding abrupt changes at the moment of greatest stress is a sensible choice.

During lactation the feeding strategy changes from normal. An adult cat eats at set times and amounts, but a nursing queen needs to eat often and a lot, and the most practical solution is to make food available freely, checking that she actually eats it and keeps her weight.

1. 1

   Switch gradually to the growth food

   Make the transition over a few days before birth, mixing the proportions, so the queen reaches lactation already used to it.

2. 2

   During lactation offer food always available

   At the peak many queens handle free choice food well. What matters is that the demand is covered and the mother does not lose weight.

3. 3

   Split into more meals if you prefer controlled portions

   If you do not want food always out, increase the number of meals across the day rather than enlarging single portions.

4. 4

   Keep fresh water near the resting spots

   Milk production greatly raises the need for water. More bowls, convenient and clean, help the queen drink enough.

5. 5

   Weigh the queen regularly

   Weight is the clearest signal. Record it consistently: a drop during lactation means the food is not enough and should be reviewed with the vet.

6. 6

   Return the queen to maintenance after weaning

   When the kittens are weaned the demand falls. Gradually return the queen to a maintenance food to keep her from getting fat.

Following the queen's weight regularly is the best way to know whether the plan works, and a series of values beats an impression. Recording the weigh ins in a diary like the one in Animiyo, with a reminder so you do not skip them, makes a drop visible before it becomes a problem and gives the vet a concrete picture to reason on.

Feeding is only one part of managing pregnancy and lactation, and there are situations where food is not the answer and the vet is needed. Recognising them in time keeps a problem from getting worse.

• Weight loss in the mother during lactation despite available food: the demand is not covered or there is a problem to investigate.
• Refusal of food or marked loss of appetite in pregnancy or after birth: always report it, because prolonged fasting is dangerous in cats.
• Kittens crying constantly and not gaining weight: possible insufficient milk, a situation that needs prompt assessment.
• Mammary glands hot, swollen, painful or reddened: a possible gland problem, to be seen straight away.
• Tremors, weakness or abnormal behaviour in the mother after birth: an emergency to take to the clinic immediately.
• Diarrhoea or vomiting that does not resolve within a few hours: to be assessed, especially in the delicate lactation phase.

It should be said plainly that this is not a veterinary guide and does not replace a professional's supervision. Managing a feline pregnancy, any supplements and handling of any complication are the vet's responsibility, since they know the queen and can act on what feeding alone does not solve. The precise amounts depend on the food, the number of kittens and the individual queen, and should be tuned to real weight rather than a generic table.