How Often Does a Pregnant Cat Need to Eat
Per portion, dry food contains a higher number of calories than wet food. Therefore if your cat is on a wet food only diet, feed her more meals or larger servings to ensure she's getting the extra energy that she needs. You can also try mixing their wet food with a bit of dry to give her the best of both worlds.
How much should I feed a pregnant cat?
Your pregnant cat's food intake will gradually increase from the day she mates right up to the end of her pregnancy. By the end of her term, she'll eat about 50% more than her normal level (although it's not unusual for her to need up to twice her regular amount!). Fortunately, feeding pregnant cats is relatively easy. So long as you provide enough food, they're usually sensible, eating what they need and stopping when they've had enough. As kittens need extra nutrition during their early development, start feeding your pregnant cat kitten formula from the fourth week of her pregnancy.
Bear in mind your cat's preference when choosing what kitten food to give her – if she usually prefers wet food, remember that is has a lower calorie content than dry food. Try mixing the two together to get her the extra energy that she'll need. Always make sure that she has plenty of fresh water available to stay hydrated – especially if she prefers a dry food diet.
To give your cat's tummy an easy transition onto her new diet, introduce it slowly. Spend 7-10 days gradually adding the new formula to her standard food, until you have completely swapped them over. Taking this approach when feeding pregnant felines should make the change as smooth as possible for them.
To maintain mum's energy levels, give her lots of smaller meals throughout the day. If possible, try to make food available at all times, leaving dry food out for her to graze on, as well as plenty of fresh water. Her kittens will really start to develop from week 9 of her pregnancy, so her food intake should increase from then and continue gradually until after she has nursed her litter.
You might notice your cat's weight increasing as she starts to eat more. Some of this will be the fat she's laying down to help feed her kittens during nursing. This weight gain is completely normal and she should lose the excess weight during her 3-4 week long nursing period.
Don't worry if mum loses her appetite a little towards the end of her pregnancy. This is a common sign that gives you a clue that labour isn't far away. Even if she's got a bit fussy about eating, make sure that food and water is still available in case she wants a small snack during this time.
Nutrition for pregnant cats is important at all stages of her term. So, if you notice her appetite waning or that she starts to lose weight, contact your vet for further advice.
How Often Does a Pregnant Cat Need to Eat
Source: https://www.purina.co.uk/articles/cats/health/pregnancy/feeding-during-cat-pregnancy