Most cats are more than capable of looking after themselves throughout pregnancy, but there are still a number of ways in which you can help to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Feeding
During the first half of pregnancy - up to around 30 days or so - the developing foetuses won't put any excessive demands on the mother-to-be. But from the fourth week, however, things start to change. Pregnant queens begin to need an extra boost to help them through a period of physical stress. With this in mind, you should increase the protein and calories you feed your cat by about 15% per week from the fifth week of gestation. It's often easiest to do so by switching to a high quality manufactured kitten food. The higher levels of key nutrients are just what a pregnant cat needs.

Fortunately, pregnant cats are sensible eaters. As long as you provide enough food, your cat should regulate her daily intake to suit her own needs. Don't worry too much about weight gain - it's just a sign of pregnancy, and most cats put on around two pounds within a four week period. In fact, you can expect to see an overall gain of 40% during pregnancy when compared to your pet's pre-mating weight.

Vaccinations
Ideally, your cat will have had a series of boosters immediately prior to breeding. Healthy mothers pass on immunity to their kittens in the first milk they produce, so it's good to ensure antibody levels are at their peak. However, it’s best to avoid giving medication during pregnancy because of the possible harm it can cause to developing foetuses unless advised by your vet. The only exceptions are certain anti-parasite medications, such as flea preparations, but always check with your vet first.

Complications
Complications during pregnancy are very rare in cats. There are occasional problems with the delivery of very large kittens, and a caesarean section may be necessary if the birth canal is compromised because of previous trauma (such as pelvic fractures). Eclampsia is unusual but possible. Affected cats will show signs of twitching and may eventually have seizures if not enough calcium is present in the diet, which is most often the case for raw food diets.  A good commercially manufactured cat food should prevent this occurring.

When it comes to the actual birth, infectious diseases are the most common reason for kitten mortality.  Good husbandry, clean surroundings and reduced exposure to other cats until vaccinations have been given are all essential safeguards.

After the birth
Newborn kittens are entirely dependent on the milk supplied by their mother for the first four weeks of life, which obviously has implications on what you should be feeding her. Producing milk, never mind having to deal with a litter of curious kittens, means a new mother requires a lot of energy, so it’s usually best to stick with the kitten food for some time after the birth. Depending on the number of kittens she may eat as much as four times her normal food while nursing. Only after weaning, as mum begins to lose interest in nursing, and her kittens start nibbling solid food, should you move back to a regular adult formula food.