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Your Pregnant Cat - Building A Nesting Box |
By:
Jane Tompsett |
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Your Pregnant Cat - Building A Nesting Box
Jane Tompsett
In the final week of your cat's pregnancy, you will be able to see her displaying an important behavior - nesting behavior. Although she may be the most pampered cat ever, she will still think that she is living in the wild and will feel compelled to search out a birthing place that is safe,warm and secure.
Under - or even on - your bed is often a prime choice!
Giving birth to kittens is a messy business and you may also be called on to give help if needed. Because of this, it is a good idea to prepare a nesting box so that you can have easy access to your new mother cat and her kittens. This way, your cat thinks that she has made her choice of birthing place but you also can remain in control.
To provide an acceptible nesting place, find a roomy cardboard box that is large enough to allow your pregnant cat to move around in during birth and to have her kittens close to her whilst she delivers subsequent ones.
Afterwards, there will need to be enough room for all the kittens to suckle easily and for their mother to care for them.
Choose a box that has sides high enough to let your cat feel secure and private and find an old towel that will be able to partially cover the top of the box. You will need to cut away one side of the box so that your cat can have easy access in and out to feed and to use her litter box. Make sure that you leave a lip at the bottom around 3 inches high though, as this will ensure that your small kittens cannot accidentally fall or clamber out of their box before they are fully ready.
The best bedding material to use is old newspaper. Line the box with a generous amount and top this with some shredded paper. Finish off with a number of individual sheets that you can then remove easily as the need arises following the delivery of each kitten. You can then dispose of the soiled bedding appropriately.
The nesting box should be made ready at least two weeks before your cat's expected delivery date. Give her free access to it so that she becomes familiar and comfortable with it. Find a quite, warm and draught-free position where your cat can feel secure and unthreatened so that she is able to get on with the business of giving birth without stress or anxiety.
Almost certainly, she will not feel that you have chosen an appropriate place for her nest, so keep an eye on her for signs that she is sorting out her own nest elsewhere. If this is the case, simply move the box close to that position.
You must be certain not to let your cat out of the house for two or even three weeks before you think that her kittens are due. If she is allowed to make her nest outside you may find that she disappears into it unexpectedly and you will not then be able to find her. Should this happen, the consequences may not be at all good.
Once you have constructed your lovely cat a nesting box, you are all ready to welcome your new kittens!
Are you sure you're prepared for the start of your pregnant cat 's labor? Discover all you need to know about http://www.howtodeliverkittens.com/ building a nesting box and subscribe to Jane Tompsett's free http://www.howtodeliverkittens.com/ Cat Owners Confidential newsletter by following these links.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article71732.html |
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