Producing milk for a litter of kittens takes a lot of energy. A nursing cat (queen) needs more food than at any other time of her life: at the peak of milk production, around 3–4 weeks after birth, she may need two to three times her normal amount, or even more for a large litter. Here’s how to feed a nursing cat so she stays healthy and her kittens grow well.
What to Feed a Nursing Cat
- Keep feeding a complete kitten food, or a food labeled for “growth and reproduction” or “all life stages,” throughout nursing. It’s energy-dense and contains the extra protein, fat and calcium she needs.
- Let her eat as much as she wants. Most vets recommend leaving dry kitten food available at all times and offering wet food several times a day.
- Put her food and water close to her nest, so she doesn’t have to leave her kittens for long.
- Don’t switch to a new food brand during this time unless you need to.
Water
Milk is mostly water, so a nursing cat needs to drink a lot. Keep several bowls of fresh water near her nest, and offer wet food, which also adds water to her diet. Don’t give her cow’s milk: it can cause diarrhea, and it doesn’t help her make milk.
Don’t use folk remedies, herbal teas or supplements to increase milk production. They aren’t proven and some can be harmful. Plenty of the right food, water, rest and a quiet nest are what she needs. If you’re worried she isn’t producing enough milk (kittens crying constantly, not gaining weight), call your vet.
Warning Signs
Call your vet urgently if the mother cat:
- becomes restless, panting, wobbly, trembles or has muscle twitching or seizures: this can be eclampsia (low blood calcium), a life-threatening emergency that usually occurs in the first weeks after birth;
- has hot, hard, red or painful mammary glands, which can be a sign of mastitis;
- stops eating, has a fever, smelly discharge or seems unwell;
- is losing a lot of weight.
Don’t give calcium yourself, even if you suspect eclampsia: it needs to be given by a vet.
Weaning
Kittens start to try solid food at around 3–4 weeks old, and are usually fully weaned at 8 weeks. As the kittens eat more solid food and nurse less, the mother’s food needs gradually decrease. Once the kittens are weaned, switch her back to adult food gradually and adjust portions to bring her back to her normal weight. Read more about feeding a kitten and feeding a pregnant cat.
Once her kittens are weaned, it’s a good time to talk to your vet about spaying.
