Care of the pregnant Queen

     It may be difficult to tell whether or not a queen is safely in kitten, but careful inspection of the nipples each day will reveal the condition known as 'pinking-up', the nipples look slightly enlarged and very pink on about the twenty first day after conception, and this is a very hopeful sign that a cat is pregnant.  Gestation in the cat seems to average sixty-five days, though kittens may survive if born fifty-nine to seventy days after mating.

   
17 days after mating (a sure sign the queen is pregnant)

     Throughout the gestation period the queen should be treated quite normally and should not be fussed, for over humanized queens usually make dreadful mothers.  The spoiled queen may refuse to wash or nurse her kittens unless her owner stays beside her and lends a hand; she may be constantly stressed and therefore produce acid milk.  The normal, well balanced and properly treated queen will sail through her period of pregnancy, birth and motherhood without encountering any serious problems, and will in turn, rear normal, healthy, well balanced youngsters. 
     The queen does not require a lot of extra attention during pregnancy.  Do not increase the queens ration until the last two or three weeks of pregnancy.  The main drain on her reserves will occur when she is feeding the kittens, not during pregnancy itself. 
     Overfeeding can produce problems.  A fat queen with a 'lazy' uterus may be capable of only weak and perhaps ineffectual muscle contractions.  Excessive fat around the pelvic canal and oversized kittens can add to the obese queen's difficulty in expelling the kittens at term, so that veterinary assistance may be required.  If you are feeding a good, balanced diet there is no need for extra supplements of vitamins or minerals. 
     Do not be surprised or concerned if, in late pregnancy, the queen eats only a little at a time, or seems to be only'picking' at her food,  Her abdomen is crowded with kittens.  This makes it uncomfortable to fill up with large meals.  By eating little but often she will usually consume her normal daily intake.  Some queens are eating about twice their normal ration by the end of pregnancy. This is all right so long as you do not start the increase too early.  Most queens will not over eat. Have the food freely available and the queen will help herself. 
     Exercise within reason, normal exercise and activities should be allowed.  Jumping from heights should be discouraged, especially in the last two weeks.