Many happy events

When a pet is pregnant, they do most of the preparation themselves – but not all.

We have a household full of kittens. They are a beautiful mix of fluff and trouble. They are also a wonderful mix of their parents’ genes and personalities.

Caring for these new babies started long before they were born. Their mum Angel, a dear wee cat herself, had a tough start in the world. She was dropped into VETCARE having been mistreated. Her ear had been bladed and her tail damaged.

We had to improve her nutrition and start her on a preventative program for parasites such as fleas and worms. Products such as Advocate are ideal as the one topical drop made it easy to administer, with a minimum of stress.

Angel’s nutrition had been substandard and she was small for her age. I started her on Hills Premium Kitten food with a healthy dollop of mince, rabbit, fish and steak. Cats are obligate carnivores so meat is essential to their good health as is calcium for new kittens.

We watched her grow from a scared skinny little kitten into a healthy athletic cat. Our other cat was a Persian tom and it wasn’t long before we made the decision that a litter of kittens seemed like a good idea (much to our daughter’s delight).

Our list of jobs to complete included:

A full vaccination history – so Angel and her kittens would be protected from cat flu.

A normal and healthy bodyweight for Angel and correct nutrition to provide all the essential vitamins and minerals necessary for pregnancy – think Elevit for cats!

Complete parasite control – internal and external parasites such as fleas and tapeworms.

Regular weight checks to ensure she has a healthy weight gain.
Ultrasound scan from 21-28 days of pregnancy can count the number of expected kittens.

X-ray at 50 days pregnancy to check correct mineralisation of foetuses and confirm the number of kittens.

A quiet and relaxed environment is essential for all pregnant mothers to rest, relax and be happy.

Having a pregnant pet can be a joy for the whole family. The wonder and beauty of birth is truly a miracle. Your vet can advise you of all the necessary requirements for any after-hours care that she may require. Usually I have my patients and clients check-in by phone when their pet is in the early stages of labour. There are also some great pamphlets that you can collect from your vet on the expected stages of pregnancy – specific for your species of pet.

When in doubt, it is always a great idea to ask your veterinary professionals – we are here to help.

Dr Heidi Ward-McGrath BVSc
vetcare@xtra.co.nz