Looking after the cat in the after delivering period
Invite your vet in 12-24 hours after delivery to examine your cat. Palpation or/and X-ray examination of the uterus will avoid the delay of the fetus or placenta. The majority of vets recommend the injections of oxytocin to stimulate the lactation and involutions of uterus. It reduces the possibility of after delivery infection. The vet will examine her milk, its color, consistency and quality. If it’s thick and viscid or it’s yellow or pure then it’s inflected. During the first week you should control the temperature of your cat (at least once a day). The temperature 39,4 °С and above tells about the complications (the delay of the placenta, sharp metritis, mastitis).
It’s normal if during the first 7-10 days there will be red or dark-green secretions. They can last for three weeks. Green, brown or seroushaemorrable secretions which last more than 21 days show that there are complications (non-separation of the placenta or infection of the uterus). The cats are often in the depression, they are fevering or look anemic. If the secretions become purulent and last more than three weeks phone your vet immediately.
Nursing cat should stay at home, or if she goes out you should watch her carefully. At this period the heat of your cat can begin and if she mates, she will have kittens again. You should avoid it.
Feeding of the cat in lactation period
In the lactation period your cat needs a lot of calorie. The necessity grows in 2-3 times depending on the number of kittens. Now your cat should get balanced feed of high quality, with great amount of protein, otherwise she’ll lose weight and won’t produce enough milk for its kittens. Lack of milk is the most reason of kittens’ death.
You’d better use special feed for growing kittens. They have right balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates together with vitamins and mineral additions and are good for lactating cats.
The amount of food in the period of lactation is not reduced. If your cat has 4 or more kittens obesity is not her problem. Dry feed should be always near her. "Wet" feed from the cans forage should be given 3-4 times a day. Up to the second-third week feeding female cat should be fed three times a day. Ration should be enriched in three times in comparison with the period before coverage. Vitamin-mineral additions are not given as they are part of special feed. It is cool to give them if your cat renounces to have ready-made feed or is weak after the illness or she has got hypovitaminose. But you should consult you vet.
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