Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: LesleyW on June 25, 2007, 10:26:00 AM

Title: What's the best food for a new mum
Post by: LesleyW on June 25, 2007, 10:26:00 AM

As you may know, have taken in two mums with kittens and everyone is doing well (hoping to get piccies on soon I promise).  Just wanted a bit of advice as to what is the best food for mum and if I should give any supplements.  The only reason I am worried is that last year I had a very young mum with five kittens and when they were five weeks old, she died of what we think was eclampsia, which I belive is partly caused by calcium deficiency.  It just came on so fast there was no time to get her to the vet and she died in my arms.

I just don't want the same thing happening again so want to keep both mums in tip top condition.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Title: Re: What's the best food for a new mum
Post by: Felix (Caroline) on June 25, 2007, 11:21:12 AM

I think you can feed her on kitten food because it is higher in protein that the normal cat food, untill she has finished nursing her young :Luv:

Title: Re: What's the best food for a new mum
Post by: Team Svartalfheims on June 25, 2007, 11:23:21 AM

Kitten food is the best thing in my opinion. Royal Canin Babycat or kitten and Hills Kitten are both fab foods. Maybe try giving the mum some Royal Canin Babycat milk if she will drink it as well.

Title: Re: What's the best food for a new mum
Post by: LesleyW on June 25, 2007, 11:32:48 AM

Yes, I've got them on Felix kitten pouches and Royal Canin Kitten, though they prefer wet to dry food.  Have tried her with some Whiskas milk and Asda kitten milk but they do not seem too mad about either of those.

Any other calcium type supplements I could try.

Title: Re: What's the best food for a new mum
Post by: Millys Mum on June 25, 2007, 19:10:10 PM

Cimicat/KMR would be ok to offer her, better too if the kittens drink some. I think supermarket cat milk is 6 weeks plus?
Is she underweight?

Title: Re: What's the best food for a new mum
Post by: LesleyW on June 25, 2007, 19:37:42 PM

No, I don't think she's underweight.  She is slightly oriental so she is slender but I just want to keep her as in tip top condition as I can after losing a previous mum.

Title: Re: What's the best food for a new mum
Post by: Team Svartalfheims on June 25, 2007, 20:47:11 PM

The Royal Canin Babycat and Kitten foods (as well as other high quality kitten foods) will have the appropriate amount of calcium in them for lactating queens so thye should be fine on that. The Babycat milk is def worth getting if you're really worried though as it's kitten replacement milk so will be very high in calcium.

Title: Re: What's the best food for a new mum
Post by: LesleyW on June 25, 2007, 21:03:45 PM

I have got alot of Babycat milk from when I get the orphans in so I wil make some up for her.