Chance versus management

There are some things, however, that we simply cannot control. A good example of this is how the genes from the Tom and the Queen will mingle. We can do the best job of choosing our breeding stock. The actual outcome remains a mixture of genetics, chance and luck. However, careful nutritional management can be of value in providing the appropriate nutrition for the unborn kittens and ensuring that the queen has every opportunity to produce enough milk for her kittens. Before breeding, there are a few rules that can help ensure success every step of the way.

 Before breeding

The queen should be at optimum weight and in prime condition. Another important condition is that she must be physically mature. If the queen is underweight, she may be unable to consume enough food during gestation to provide for her own nutritional needs, as well as the needs of her developing foetuses. Lack of proper nutrition in the queen can result in decreased birth weight and increased neonatal mortality. Conversely, if the queen is overweight, this can lead to the development of very large foetuses resulting in difficult and painful birth. So the queen should be fed a premium maintenance nutrition. For a 3 - 5 kg adult cat 35 - 55 g a day is recommended.

Knowledge of how much your queen normally eats, will help you to closely monitor and adjust her food intake as her needs change.

 Feeding during gestation

The period of time the queen is pregnant usually ranges from 57 to 67 days, with an average of 63 days. Some breeds, such as Siamese, may experience a longer pregnancy. Pregnant queens exhibit a linear increase in weight from approximately the second week of gestation. After giving birth to the kittens, the queen immediately loses 40% of the weight she gained during her pregnancy. The remaining 60% of the queen's weight gain is body fat and is gradually lost during lactation. It seems that the queen is able to prepare for the excessive demands of lactation by accumulating surplus body energy stores during gestation.

Ensure that the queen maintains her optimum weight by eating normal or slightly larger than normal portions during the first six weeks of pregnancy. Feed a nutrition that is energy dense. During the last three weeks of pregnancy, her energy needs will increase and she should be fed her normal amount of food plus 25 - 50% more per day. In late gestation there is often a great reduction in abdominal space, so eating large amounts at one time can be a problem for many queens. By providing the daily food allowance in several meals, or changing to a food which is higher in calorie density, such as Iams Kitten, will result in less volume for the same amount of nutrition. There are also several high calorie veterinary diets exclusively available at the veterinary surgery. Together with your vet you can determine which of these foods is the most appropriate for your queen.

 Supplementation

Supplementation with calcium or any other mineral during pregnancy is not necessary for healthy foetal development, as long as the queen is consuming a well-balanced, high-quality food. In fact, some researchers claim that excessive supplementation with calcium or vitamin D during pregnancy may cause soft-tissue calcification and physical deformities in the developing foetuses. Although calcium needs are high during both gestation and lactation, the queen normally obtains the additional nutrient requirements through consumption of higher amounts of the normal diet.

 Feeding management during lactation

Lactation represents one of the greatest nutritional challenges to your queen. From birth until weaning, the kittens are entirely dependent upon her for their nutrition. Therefore a highly digestible and energy-rich nutrition should be fed to all lactating queens. Ample energy intake allows sufficient milk production and prevents drastic weight loss in the queen. Energy efficiency during lactation may affect the quantity of milk that is produced. If milk quantity is affected, compromised kitten growth and increased risk of neonatal morbidity can result. Adequate water intake is also important for the production of a sufficient volume of milk.

 Practical feeding tips: gestation

• Feed a diet that is highly digestible and energy and nutrient dense.
• Do not increase feed intake until the fifth or sixth week gestation.
• Provide several small meals per day during late gestation.
• Increase feed intake by approximately 25 - 50% by the end of gestation.
• Queens should gain no more than 15% to 25% of their body weight by the end of gestation.
• They should weigh 5% to 10% above their normal body weight after giving birth.

The stress that lactation imposes on the queen depends on her nutritional status and weight at giving birth, her litter size, and her stage of lactation. Queens with large litters, and queens that have minimal body energy reserve at giving birth are at greatest risk for excessive weight loss and malnourishment during lactation.

Depending on the size of the litter, a queen will consume two or three times her normal amount of food per day at the peak of lactation. Even when a premium-quality food is fed, the quantity of food that the queen requires during peak lactation may exceed the capacity of her gastrointestinal tract. Therefore the daily ration should be divided into several meals or should be fed free-choice.

Water is also of utmost importance during lactation. Inadequate fluid intake will lead to a significant decrease in the quantity of milk that is produced. Fresh, cool water should always be readily accessible to the lactating queen.

 Feeding the queen during weaning

By three to four weeks of age, kittens begin to be interested in solid food. The amount of milk that is consumed by the kittens will decrease as their solid food intake gradually increases. At the same time, the queen's interest in nursing starts to decline. As this occurs, the queen's daily food intake should be slowly reduced. By the time that the kittens are of weaning age (seven to eight weeks), the queen's food consumption should be less than 50% above her normal maintenance needs. It is advisable to feed the queen separately from the litter to prevent kittens from consuming her food.

 Practical feeding tips: lactation

• Feed a diet that is highly digestible and energy-rich.
• Provide adequate calories to prevent excess weight loss.
• Feed two or three times maintenance during peak lactation.
• Provide free-choice feeding or several meals per day during peak lactation.
• Slowly reduce the queen's food intake after the fourth week of lactation.
• Provide clean, fresh water at all times.

 A wise choice: Eukanuba Kitten

Although feeding the queen adequately is going to take some thought and effort, the time you spend doing this is well worth it. It is a fact that the most common cause of inadequate lactation is inadequate nutrition. Besides sufficient energy intake, sufficient water intake is crucial for good milk production. Feeding kittens is a huge job for your queen!

The Iams Company has invested a lot in nutritional research. For neonatal management we recommend Eukanuba Kitten. It is highly nutritious and energy-rich, and will also provide pregnant and lactating queens with all the extra energy, vitamins and minerals they need during this exhausting time.

From: Canine and Feline Nutrition, A Resource for Companion Animal Professionals, Linda P.Case, M.S., Daniel P. Carey, D.V.M., Dianed A. Hirakawa, Ph.D., Mosby-Year Book, Inc. 1995.