The Maine Coon is an American cat breed that appeared about 250 years ago. They are considered one of the largest cat breeds in the world. Maine Coons grow up to five years old and can reach a weight of 16 kg. They have the most incredible colors.
They can be described as an animal with high intelligence, a friendly character and the ability to train. They differ not only in their peculiar behavior and physiology, but also in their gestational age.
So how long does pregnancy last for Maine Coons?
Maine Coon cats have a longer gestation period than others / Yandex Collections
Signs of pregnancy
On average, the first changes associated with the interesting position of the cat are observed three weeks after mating. One of the clearest signs that a cat is pregnant is the absence of estrus. The cat begins to behave calmly and gains weight.
In the fourth week, the pet may begin to experience toxicosis, which is accompanied by drowsiness, deterioration or loss of appetite.
Toxicosis occurs due to hormonal changes in the pet’s body. An exception may be incorrect or unsuitable food for the cat.
Newborn Maine Coon kittens/Yandex Collections
Toxicosis lasts about ten days. If the condition remains severe, the animal should be seen by a veterinarian. Characteristic symptoms of toxicosis include increased nervousness in the pet and an unhealthy appearance of the coat.
After toxicosis, the cat develops a round belly and begins to quickly gain weight. The pet is noted to be affectionate and calm during this period.
Around the seventh week, the Maine Coon begins to look for a place to give birth and becomes restless. During the ninth week, the cat is already actively preparing for childbirth and begins to carefully lick the vulva. This period is considered the last stage of pregnancy.
Help for the expectant mother
The appropriate age for the first pregnancy is 8 - 10 months.
It is during this period (not earlier) that the pet is physically and hormonally ready to become a mother.
The correct course of pregnancy and appropriate care will help not only to avoid complications in the process of bearing kittens and subsequent births, but also to maintain the health of the cat.
It is advisable to start taking care of the animal even before mating with a cat. Therefore, it is important for the owner to know the basics of proper pet care (food, rest, help during toxicosis).
Childbirth
By the tenth week, the cat is ready to give birth. At this time, she may begin to experience contractions - this process can last about a day. First, the woman in labor will meow loudly, prepare herself, and look for a place for future birth.
It’s better to prepare the “maternity ward” in advance! This should be a quiet place where the future kittens and their mother will not be subject to stress and anxiety.
It is better to have contact with a veterinarian at this time, the birth process is unpredictable and in some cases urgent doctor's help is required.
By the tenth week, the Maine Coon cat is ready to give birth/Yandex Collections
Contractions are the stage of labor during which the muscles of the uterus contract. The amniotic sac will expand the birth canal. A little furry can be born in this bubble.
After the birth of each kitten, the interval between subsequent births increases.
After labor ends, the woman in labor delivers the placenta. During the postpartum period, your cat may develop red, odorless discharge.
If the discharge is dirty in color or has a pungent odor, then you should consult a veterinarian.
When are we expecting babies and how many will there be?
How long does pregnancy last for cats of different breeds? The pregnancy of large Maine Coons lasts longer than that of small cats - Munchkins, Skookums, Dwelfs, etc. In ordinary cats, gestation of kittens takes 62-65 days. In large Maine cats, this will take 9 to 10 weeks, but usually does not exceed 72 days.
The time it takes for the cubs to be born depends greatly on the number of babies in the litter.
With a large number of kittens, the cat gives birth faster, as this helps reduce the load on the body. Kittens born before day 62 are usually too weak and at risk. Important! Do not try to feel the belly of the future mother cat to find out the number of future kittens.
Technically this is possible, but it hides the threat of miscarriage. The cat's uterus is shaped like a "Y" and embryos can be found in its two horns. Maine Coons have 4-6 kittens in a litter. There are cases where a cat carried and successfully fed 10 kittens.
Adviсe
During Maine Coon pregnancy, it is better to provide the cat with a calm, cozy place. Avoid stressing your pet, including delaying vaccinations if possible.
The Maine Coon is a breed that is distinguished by its demands for attention from members of the household. During pregnancy, it is important to focus on the animal’s nutrition and provide it with a balanced diet.
Otherwise, your pet may experience complications. For the formation and development of healthy kittens, you can give the mother in labor vitamins.
It is better to discuss this issue with a specialist and select dietary supplements according to his recommendations, so as not to encounter side effects.
During pregnancy, it is best to leave a Maine Coon alone/Yandex Collections
To maintain the health of the expectant mother, it is better to start preparing for pregnancy in advance. The optimal age for the first mating is no earlier than eight months, after the third heat.
Before pregnancy, it is also important to monitor the stability of your pet’s hormonal levels.
A cat and its owner: childbirth for two
Since Maine Coons are born mainly in kennels and the order of their breeding is controlled by clubs, cases of unplanned matings and pregnancies are rare. Sometimes, when a cat has been bred several times during estrus, according to the observations of breeders, premature kittens may also be born along with normal kittens. During pregnancy and childbirth, a special relationship is established between the owner and the cat: the animal understands its defenselessness and vulnerability and turns to humans for help.
It has been repeatedly noted that shortly before giving birth, a cat is constantly looking for human society, and when kittens are born, it does not let go of its owner, even if the process is going normally and she does not need help. Maine Coons are friendly and sociable by nature, and this trait is especially pronounced in pregnant cats.
Complications
If there is a lack of adequate nutrition, the cat may face the problem of lack of milk. If the pet has an excess of milk, then it may be overtaken by mastitis - this is an inflammation of the mammary glands.
When a cat has mastitis, it requires special treatment; it experiences painful yellowish discharge from the nipples.
Even in early pregnancy, a cat may have a miscarriage. It can be caused by hypothermia or the development of pathogenic flora.
In case of an unsuccessful miscarriage, the cat often develops inflammation and putrefactive processes.
During childbirth, your cat's cervix may rupture, causing excessive bleeding. If the process is not stopped in time, the animal may die.
Complications include eclampsia. A lack of calcium in the body can lead to cramps, weakness, rapid breathing, and cat falls. The animal may refuse to feed the kittens in this condition.
Nutrition and vitamins
Proper nutrition during pregnancy plays an important role in the formation of future babies. Therefore, veterinarians advise feeding your cat a balanced diet (there are special product lines designed for pregnant women). In addition to the daily diet, you can give your furry pet vitamins (Doctor Zoo, Seva, Canina, etc.).
You should not combine fortified feed and vitamins, as this can lead to the development of vitamin deficiency.
Rules for caring for a cat in an interesting position
- Veterinarians recommend giving your animal a complex of vitamins and calcium daily.
- Vaccinations are given exclusively before mating. If the cat owner did not do this before pregnancy, then it is necessary to wait until the birth. If deworming is not carried out on time, you should consult a specialist.
- It is imperative that the area around the nipples of cats be trimmed free of hair before the kittens are born, using blunt-ended scissors to avoid injuring the animal.
- The animal should be given the opportunity to walk in the fresh air if it is a private house, or simply ventilate the apartment daily.
- Before giving birth, Maine Coon owners should spend more time with their pregnant pets, care for them, and pet them.
- During pregnancy, cats are not recommended to be taken to exhibitions or transported over long distances. Excess stress can negatively affect the health of future babies.
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Features of feeding
Cat nutrition plays an important role in Maine Coon pregnancy. What the owner feeds the pet depends on the health of the cat itself and its cubs. If you decide to feed specialized food, then you should buy the food that is intended for pregnant cats. Then it is necessary to add a vitamin complex as a supplement to such a diet. It is worth paying attention to the composition of dry food, since if it contains vitamins, they cannot be given additionally; hypovitaminosis may occur.
If the cat owner chooses natural food, then it is worth remembering that you can feed only fresh, boiled food. Every day the diet should contain meat and offal - turkey, beef, lean pork, chicken, rabbit, beef and chicken liver, hearts. It is recommended to give fish 2 times a week. You cannot feed your animal sweet, fried, fatty, salty or spicy foods. You should also avoid canned fish and meat in jars.
Fermented milk products will be beneficial, but milk should not be given; it is not advisable for adult cats to drink it.
Risks and complications during pregnancy
The most dangerous thing for a cat can be a miscarriage if it is not properly cared for and maintained. These consequences can lead to:
One of the dangerous conditions of an animal during pregnancy is intoxication of the body.
- blows from the pet in the abdominal area;
- improper and unbalanced diet;
- overheating or freezing of the body;
- presence of infectious diseases;
- cat hormonal imbalances;
- intoxication of the body.
Most often, the threat of miscarriage appears at the beginning of pregnancy, at 3-4 weeks. In exceptional cases, it can happen at the end of this period, when signs of pregnancy have disappeared, then there is a danger that the lifeless bodies of the babies may remain in the womb and surgery will need to be performed. If this is not done on time, dead fetuses can begin the process of decomposition, which leads to inflammatory processes in the cat's uterus. For this reason, it is necessary to immediately seek help from a veterinarian for surgery.
If, after taking out the dead cubs, the pet’s condition does not improve, then it is possible to remove the uterine horn or this entire female organ. During the period of bearing cubs, it is worth paying special attention to the Maine Coon, creating good conditions for living and caring for it, and providing high-quality nutrition. If you have no experience in delivering a baby, it is advisable to invite a specialist in this matter, because pregnant cats are especially sensitive.
Dry and wet food
Dry and wet cat food is divided into several classes:
- economy (up to 4% meat, flavoring additives, grain fillers and meat production waste);
- premium (up to 10% animal protein, soy and grains may be present);
- super-premium (up to 20% protein from meat, grains present);
- holistic (more than 20% meat protein, grain-free sources of fiber);
Maine Coons should be fed super premium food. Veterinarians recommend choosing the following brands:
- Eukanuba;
- Royal Canin;
- Hill's;
- Nature Holistic;
- Nutro Choice;
- Nature's Protection;
- Go Natural;
- Brit Care;
- Carnilove;
- Farmina N{amp}amp;D;
- Leonardo;
- Summit;
- Bosch;
- Grandorf;
- Acana.
You need to add as much wet food as the cat will eat at one time.
Acana cat food. Bosch cat food. Brit Care cat food. Carnilove cat food. Eukanuba cat food. Cat food Farmina N{amp}amp;D. Go Natural cat food. Grandorf cat food. Leonardo cat food. Nutro Choice cat food. Pronature Holistic cat food. Royal Canin cat food.
What can be done to ensure a successful pregnancy in cats?
— A cat’s pregnancy should take place indoors to prevent infection with infectious diseases and parasites. — During pregnancy, a cat, when living together with a cat, the cat should be isolated from the cat, to protect against double pregnancy (superfetation), because some cats leak during pregnancy. — Provide the pregnant cat with proper nutrition, rich in calcium, vitamins and proteins. Feed with special food for pregnant cats or food for kittens. — Do not give a pregnant cat any veterinary drugs, except in emergency cases. You cannot vaccinate, worm or treat a pregnant cat for fleas. — Make a cozy nest for your pregnant cat to give birth. Both a box and an exhibition tent, with clean rags or disposable baby diapers, will do. The cat's nest should be in a warm place protected from drafts. — Try to allow your pregnant cat to climb heights. Since it is difficult for a cat to maintain balance during pregnancy. — Due to the growth of the abdomen, a cat’s pregnancy makes it difficult for her to lick herself; wipe the cat’s private parts with a damp cotton wool.
