1. Pregnancy Test: The earliest physical sign of a cat's pregnancy is the nipples changing color from light pink to deep pink, and the hair around the nipples falling out, making the nipples appear especially prominent. These symptoms should appear within 3 weeks after mating. At 3 to 4 weeks post-conception, a distinct round swelling is noticeable. Beyond this time, the fetus is not as easy to feel, but it can still be palpated. If necessary, an ultrasound can be done between 2 to 3 weeks to view the fetus; and at 5 and a half weeks, an X-ray can be taken to check the number of fetuses.

　　2. Care The cat's gestation period is about 63 to 66 days, though some can last up to 71 days. If premature birth occurs, most kittens are stillborn or die shortly after birth. Pregnant cats need more protein and calories, but if you feed high-quality, balanced food, there is no need to change the food quality during the first 2 to 3 weeks of pregnancy.

　　3. Nutrition High-quality protein, such as dairy products, eggs, and meat, can be added to dry food (about 10% of the total amount) to increase protein content and flavor without disrupting nutritional balance. Kitten formula milk powder can also be given to pregnant and nursing cats. The feeding amount should gradually increase as the pregnancy progresses. Near the end of pregnancy, the cat should eat twice as much as before pregnancy. However, since the growing fetuses compress surrounding organs, the cat cannot consume the full required amount in two meals, so you must increase the feeding frequency or leave food out so the cat can eat freely.

　　4. Preparation for Birth During the pregnancy, avoid overfeeding or insufficient exercise that causes obesity and muscle relaxation, which may lead to delivery difficulties. The simplest and best delivery box is a cardboard box with an opening 10 to 15 cm from the bottom to allow the cat to enter and exit easily and keep kittens from falling out. It’s best to have a cover that can be opened to check on the kittens when needed. Start familiarizing the mother cat with this box a week before delivery by placing clean soft towels inside to encourage her to sleep there.

　　5. Labor Usually 1 to 2 days before delivery, the mother cat loses her appetite, becomes restless, meows more, tears apart materials in the delivery box, or even vomits. As labor approaches, she will lick her abdomen and genital area more frequently. If you have not set up a "birth room" for the cat, she may give birth on your bed, in a cupboard, or other places......

　　6. Delivery Once kittens are born, the amniotic sac should be immediately broken to allow the kitten to breathe freely. Most mother cats do this right away, but inexperienced or nervous cats may forget. If this happens, you should break the sac immediately; otherwise, the kitten will suffocate and die. If the umbilical cord does not fall off at birth, the mother cat will clean the kitten and naturally bite the cord to break it. If the mother cat has not started cleaning the kitten 15 minutes after birth, you can tie the cord 1 to 2.5 cm from the kitten’s body with clean string or unwaxed dental floss, cut off the excess cord but not too short to avoid infection, and dip the cut end in iodine or disinfectant.