Best food for pregnant cat?

nyghthawk

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Quick background..I needed a mouser and my mother in law had just the right one out on their farm. Our Lilith. We brought her home January 9th. Then we found out that she is pregnant, despite what my mother in law said. 


So, I have a sweet little pregnant girl. She's close to birthing..about two weeks, judging by size, fetal movement and her behavioural changes.

She developed scabby spots since coming home with us. I took a look at the kibble bag and wheat features heavily. I had bought a bag of grain-free kibble because I know grains aren't necessary, but hadn't used any of it yet. Over the past couple of days, I noticed she wasn't eating much, decided to take the plunge and switched over. She is happily eating the grain free. (The only real reason for knowing to look for wheat is that my dog is already on a grain-free diet for the same reaction..it made sense to me.)

At the same time as I noticed her appetite change, I started reading. I didn't know wet was better..I was raised with the belief that kibble is better for teeth, etc. Now I know better. My husband bought the best wet food he could find today based on my gluten and grain free guidelines. Friskies Pate. She ate some of that today and is happy with it, particularly when I mix in warm water. She's not having any issues at the other end..stool and urine are good, no throwing up, etc. She is also more frisky than she has been for the last few days as well. 
 

I live in a small town..the grocery store is expensive and limited. We make a trip into the city every two weeks to twenty days for groceries. I'll have numerous stores available to me to work with. So....

What would you recommend to me? I've read numerous articles and get the gist of it..low ash, stay away from glutens, wheat, and other grains.

I live close to Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. We have Wal-Mart, PetSmart, Superstore (Loblaws/No Frills is the same company) as well as a myriad of over-priced smaller pet stores. I would prefer to avoid them if I can. As much as I want to give her the best, I do have to watch my pockets..particularly with the spay coming up once she's weaned her kittens and we're looking into having all of the litter done as well before finding them good homes.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Sounds like you are definitely on the right track!  I don't really know anything about pregnant cats, but we DO have a forum specifically for Pregnant Cat and Kitten Care, so I am going to ask that your thread be moved over their, where the experts in their area are.

The only thing I can tell you for sure is that I'm sure she needs lots of protein right now, so if she'll eat kitten food, that might be good.  I know Fancy Feast makes kitten food...does Friskies?  (and the Fancy Feast Kitten Food IS grain free/low carb)
 
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nyghthawk

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I'll have to take a look when we go shopping..which..so far as I can tell, is right around when she's due. 
 That will be the 20th that we go, unless I see that she's ready to birth. On the off chance I'm not home, one of my sons is reading up on cat midwifery, just in case.

Like I said, there aren't a whole lot of options here. No kitten milk, little in the way of variety, etc. I'm hoping she doesn't give birth before I can get into the city, so I can pick up the 'just in case' items. I don't *think* she'll have any issues, but things happen and I'd rather be prepared.
 

heavenskitty

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Yes that is the best..kitten food. I feed my kitty kitten dry food and she loves it, its small she doesnt get tired of chewing..has lots of protein and vitamins..and once a day I give her Wiskas wet food with a raw egg mixed in...the dry kitten food she can eat at anytime all day if she wants..I hace a big deep bowl for her...she doesnt throw up..sleeps good unless she is waking up and eating...she has gained weight but ut all in her middle region.
 
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nyghthawk

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Lilith does not like dry kibble. I tried moistening it..she turned her nose up. I leave a small dish of it out just in case she gets the munchies overnight, but she's barely touching it.

So far, she's eating two 5 ounce tins each day. She's not acting hungry and is not losing weight, but I bet if I gave her one of her 2 ounce tins of treat 'food' on top of that, she'd happily chow down. She loves those!

And yes, she's gaining all her weight in the middle. lol We can watch the kittens moving from across the room and her main interests are sleeping and eating.


Not much longer!
 

heavenskitty

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Well they say its normal for them to lose their appetite when their about to give birth...my Silver eats at all times..I bought her a 6 pound bag of dry food on Wednesday and its almost gone...she eats alot. I introduced the dry food to them as soon as they had teeth. Her babies are not moving yet..I maybe felt them once or twice..I cant wait..I also put classical music or sounds of rain storm...she lays on her back on my bed while I massage her belly gently..she is such a good girl.
 
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nyghthawk

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It's not a matter of losing her appetite...
It's just that she really does not like dry kibble! Fussy little girl!!


But I did just notice that she hasn't touched her dish much. Usually she eats half and then goes back to it about 20 minutes later. Tonight is a fish night (using up the last couple of tins of fish) and she didn't really touch it.
 

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I have read that pregnant cats need a lot of extra nutrients and fat for their growing babies, and that kitten food is a good source for them.  I would suppose a good quality kitten food, wheat and gluten free, might be a good food for your mama-to-be.  That's what we fed a pregnant stray we adopted 2 years ago, and she did really well, and all 6 of her babies were healthy and lived to be adopted through a rescue group!  (In fact, the cat pictured in my current avatar is that very mama cat, Bonnie!  She is also the white cat in my signature)
 
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nyghthawk

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I have read that pregnant cats need a lot of extra nutrients and fat for their growing babies, and that kitten food is a good source for them.  I would suppose a good quality kitten food, wheat and gluten free, might be a good food for your mama-to-be.  That's what we fed a pregnant stray we adopted 2 years ago, and she did really well, and all 6 of her babies were healthy and lived to be adopted through a rescue group!  (In fact, the cat pictured in my current avatar is that very mama cat, Bonnie!  She is also the white cat in my signature)
She looks adorable!

Unfortunately, getting kitten food (aside from kibble) isn't an option until the 20th. The local grocery store doesn't stock extras like kitten food, kitten milk replacement, etc. Very frustrating, but that is a part of living in a small town.

And..I THINK she might be ready to birth tonight or tomorrow. Like I mentioned, she is off her food tonight. I took her temperature under her leg this morning..38.3 Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) and I took it again a few minutes ago and she's down to 37.6 Celsius (99.68 Fahrenheit). So..I'll be keeping a closer eye on her and blocking her into my bedroom overnight.
 

allmomskitties

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She looks adorable!

Unfortunately, getting kitten food (aside from kibble) isn't an option until the 20th. The local grocery store doesn't stock extras like kitten food, kitten milk replacement, etc. Very frustrating, but that is a part of living in a small town.

And..I THINK she might be ready to birth tonight or tomorrow. Like I mentioned, she is off her food tonight. I took her temperature under her leg this morning..38.3 Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) and I took it again a few minutes ago and she's down to 37.6 Celsius (99.68 Fahrenheit). So..I'll be keeping a closer eye on her and blocking her into my bedroom overnight.
Oh, thanks!  Bonnie is a sweetheart, to be sure!

Well, as soon as you have a chance grab her some kitten food.  Especially after she has her babies, she's really going to need extra nutrition for lactating.  Good luck!
 
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