How much do I feed my pregnant cat?

I took in a stray cat in late Dec. and noticed a few weeks ago how she was getting reasonably bigger, i began to worry that maybe she wasn't spayed and pregnant. So i called the vet and sure enough! She's pregnant, with 5 kittens (at least! Dr. had a hard time counting so he wasn't sure.) He said that she's pretty far along, because he could see the kitten's spines and that usually happens around 45 days. So i know She's at least around there. So she seems to only have a couple weeks at the most. 

Anyway, the vet just told me to start adding kitten food into her diet and that she needs a lot of callories. So I went and bought some fancy feast canned food (it said it was for all stages and ok for pregnant and nursing cats) I've been feeding her 2 cans of cat food everday plus her regular dry food. Is that enough? Should I feed her more? I'm really worried! I don't want to underfeed her or overfeed her. 

I looked it up online, it says to feed them twice as much as they were eating? Well the thing was before I found out she was pregnant she was only on dry cat food and i would fill her bowl up, and when it was empty I'd fill it again. Id usually fill it up about once or twice a day? usually twice.. she also doesn't seem to want to eat her dry food as much, so i thought id mix it in with the wet food is that ok?

Sorry, if this has been asked before. I never had to deal with a pregnant cat before, and especially since she seems to be rather late. Wish I had known sooner.And after this, I'm getting her spayed! I found out that the vet assitant actually knew her and her prev. owners. she said this isnt her first time having kittens but her 2nd! (also said that she was in need of a good home anyway, which made me feel better cuz sometimes I was worried i might of kinda stole someones cat? She wandered in my backyard, i started feeding her, she stayed lol)

How much?  As much as she wants to eat.  

The key is what food. And the answer is as good as you have access too and can afford. She will have a rather big litter, so dont undersize.  Should contain much animal proteins and fats, so not low fat variations. Typically it is kitten food, or at least "for active cats" 

What dry did you give her?  I dont know the local american brands, so please write up also the 4 first ingredients, and the given protein and fat inhold.

Wet food is usually by itself better than dry food.  So a common solution is wet food of good quality as main course, and  quality dry (kitten) to nimble on inbetween.

Is salomonella in eggs a problem in your country?  If not, yolk of the egg is a useful addition in many circumstances.

For example, minced meat with such a yellow of egg in.  Goat milk with yellow yolk....

Youghurt  (plain flavorless) with some butter melted in and yolk may be a variation.

Goat milk is as said good, much better than cow milk (not even mentioning many cats dont manage cow milk, but all cats and kittens do manage goat milk. But cow milk products are usually OK, like youghurt or cheese.   You can also melt in butter.    

This here said if you would feel the need of extra calcium for example.

Have also home some dextrose (glucose sugar). Is useful in many situations and emergencies, both for kittens and for humans.

Get hold of an  kitchen / mail scale measuring in grammes (best electronic). You will want to weigh the kittens every day, first time as they are just born.

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

She needs as much good-quality cat food to eat as she wants.  I wouldn't mix it with the wet food either.

Notes for the future: 

• never assume a stray female cat is spayed
• never let a vet X-ray a pregnant cat.

Dry Food, I feed her Whiska's brand "Indoor Cat" Forumula.

The first 4 ingriedents are: Poultry By-Produc Meal, Ground Yellow Corn, Ground Wheat, and Soybean Meal

Crude Protein: Min. 31.5% // Crude Fat: Min. 9.5% Max. 11.5 %

Her Wet food is Fancy Feast (got the variety pack the one i grabbed is savory salmon feast) That one has: Salmon, Liver, Meat by-products, and fish broth. The Crude Protein is: Min 11.0% and the crude fat is: Min. 4.0% It's an 3oz can. 

I usually give her 1 can of fancy feast wet cat food in the morning then later on in the afternoon. I leave a bowl of dry food for her to eat in between.

I think that eggs and salomonella is a problem over here, I'm not sure if we have goat's milk. I did see online about something called Kitten Replacement Milk (I saw a can of that at walmart) that was good for kittens and pregnant mother cats, so maybe I could try that? 

Ok thanks! I'll be sure and find a kitchen scale. 

and thank you for the welcome.

Ok thank you. I only mixed it once last night, other times including today I've been feeding it seperately. 

It's not good to x-ray a pregnant cat? Uh-oh! Well hopefully her kittens will be ok. I won't allow it anymore, though. (Plus it's expensive!) 

Too little fat in both the products. The wet is surely OK, but for indoors, so to speak. Try find a kitten or at least, "for active cats" variation.

The dry? I would be happier if it had more animal ingredients.  animal proteins and fat, as much as possible. Rather fatty for her!!!

cidz said:

It's not good to x-ray a pregnant cat? Uh-oh! Well hopefully her kittens will be ok. I won't allow it anymore, though. (Plus it's expensive!) 

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Yes, ultra sound is safer, and cheaper. In practice a good palpitation is enough to count kittens.

I bought some more food the other day. I got a bag of dry kitten food (specifically said kitten) and i got new wet food with 11% protien.

But it seems, I don't have to worry about what to feed a pregnant cat, cuz as of today, she's having her kittens.

Oh congratulations on your new babies! You will want to continue the pregnancy diet until the kittens are weaned so your in luck there. I even continue it a couple of weeks after just because it takes so much out of mum to birth and feed the babies. But I don't know how needed that is, it's just what I choose. Hope to see pictures of your new ones!!

Savethemoms said:

Oh congratulations on your new babies! You will want to continue the pregnancy diet until the kittens are weaned so your in luck there. I even continue it a couple of weeks after just because it takes so much out of mum to birth and feed the babies. But I don't know how needed that is, it's just what I choose. Hope to see pictures of your new ones!!

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 I second this in all that said, congrats including!

How is moma and kittens?  And Grandma?

Thanks! Ok good, I just bought a case of 12 pack frisky wet food and kitten food. so that should last her awhile. She seems so tired! I saw that she had 5 kittens. I'd imagine she'll be tired for a few days.

Oh, i got a few pics my friend took them with her cell.





Mommy and the kittens are doing fine. They are all mewing, and breathing, and they seem healthy. Nui (the mom) seems tired but more well rested now. I think I was more anxious and excited over her having kittens then she was haha.

Lol that is the way of a cat lover I believe They are all so beautiful, mummy to! Are you going to weigh them? They sound healthy, were they all white? Congratulations to all!

They are very cute! She did a good job. I'll try to weigh them, I'll have to buy a kitchen scale today. I'm going to try and put clean bedding as well, so I'll see if I can move her kittens a little. She seems to like to get up and leave and hang out with me or eat throughout the day, which I think is normal? I got a good look and she had 5 kittens! Soo cuuutee, and yeah they all look white to me. I'm suprised, unless cats change color? Which I doubt they would change drastically, maybe they'll get a few markings like Nui.

cidz said:

eat throughout the day, which I think is normal?

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As said, especielly the fat was too low.  A way to compensate for her is to eat much... so toghether she gets enough. And yes, with 5 kittens she must eat so she has.  Which she apparently manages to do, as all seems to be healthy.  

You can feks melt in some butter in what she gets, it raises the fat halt. 

Change stepvise if you can.

Good luck!