Feeding a nursing cat — how much should she eat, and what should she eat? Pregnancy and nursing are the two times in a cat's life when food needs change the most, and they change in opposite directions at different times: a pregnant cat needs only a little more food for the first half of pregnancy, then much more in the last three weeks, and a nursing cat needs the most food of all — two to four times her normal amount at peak lactation, around three to four weeks after birth. This guide works it out properly: how long pregnancy lasts, the calorie table by weight, what food to give, how often to feed, and the warning signs that mean a vet visit, not more food. Every figure is an estimate, and the amount for an individual mother should be set with her vet, because litter size, body condition, and health all move it.
A nursing cat is feeding a whole litter as well as herself, and her energy needs rise to two to four times her normal maintenance amount at peak lactation, around three to four weeks after birth. The exact figure depends on the size of the litter: a mother nursing one or two kittens needs far less extra food than a mother nursing six or eight. That is why the feeding plan for a nursing cat is set by litter size and body condition, not by a single number, and why the mother should be weighed weekly while she is nursing. One rule holds through both stages: feed a complete and balanced kitten food, not an adult food, because a pregnant or nursing cat needs more calories and more nutrients per mouthful than an adult food provides. The other rule is to weigh the mother weekly and watch her body condition — she should not lose weight while nursing, and she should not gain weight fast in early pregnancy. If she is losing weight while nursing, she needs more food; if she is gaining weight fast in the first half of pregnancy, she needs less. The cat food calculator works out maintenance calories for any weight, and the dog gestation calculator works out the due date from the mating date.
How long is pregnancy in cats?
Pregnancy in cats lasts 63 to 67 days, usually around 63 to 65 days from mating. That range is wide because mating does not always happen on the day of ovulation, so the count from mating is only an estimate — your vet can date the pregnancy more accurately with an ultrasound, usually from about three weeks after mating. The due date matters for feeding because the calorie increase is timed to the last three weeks: feed too much too early and the mother gains fat, not puppies or kittens, and a fat mother has a harder birth; feed too little too late and she has no reserves for nursing.
During pregnancy the mother should keep her normal routine as far as possible: regular walks or play, normal sleep, and a quiet place to rest. Exercise should stay regular but gentle in the last two weeks, and she should not be asked to jump, run hard, or work. In the last week, set up the whelping or nesting area where she will give birth — a quiet, warm, draught-free place with clean bedding — and let her get used to it before labour starts. If she has not given birth by the end of the expected range, or if she is straining for more than an hour without producing a kitten, or if she has a smelly discharge, a fever, or stops eating in late pregnancy, call your vet the same day: those are signs that need a vet, not waiting.
How many calories does a nursing cat need?
Start with the resting energy requirement, or RER — the calories a cat burns at rest. The formula vets use is: RER equals 70 times body weight in kg to the power of 0.75. Daily needs are the RER multiplied by a factor: about 1.6 for a typical neutered adult dog and about 1.2 for a typical neutered indoor cat, rising to about 2.0 in late pregnancy and to about 2.0 to 4.0 during nursing, depending on litter size. The table below gives the daily calories for a nursing cat at different weights, at the maintenance factor, at the late-pregnancy factor, and at two nursing factors — use the row nearest her weight, then pick the column that matches her stage and litter size.
| Body weight | Normal adult (maintenance) | Late pregnancy / nursing, small litter | Nursing, medium litter | Nursing, large litter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kg | 140 | 235 | 355 | 470 |
| 3 kg | 190 | 320 | 480 | 640 |
| 4 kg | 240 | 395 | 595 | 790 |
| 5 kg | 280 | 470 | 700 | 935 |
| 6 kg | 320 | 535 | 805 | 1075 |
If she is between two rows, take the lower figure first and adjust by body condition: you should still be able to feel her ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, and see a waist from above. Note that calories are the real target and cups are only a translation — different foods have very different calorie densities, so always check the kcal per cup or per 100 g on your own bag or tin and work from that. The cups figures in this guide assume a typical dry food at around 350 kcal per cup, but your food may differ by a wide margin, and the bag's number always wins over this guide's. The cat calorie calculator works out the same figures for any weight.
What should a nursing cat eat?
Feed a complete and balanced kitten food, not an adult food. A kitten food is more calorie-dense and richer in the nutrients a growing litter needs, which matters because a pregnant cat in late pregnancy cannot eat a large volume at once — the litter takes up space in her belly, so she needs more nutrition per mouthful. The same is true for a nursing cat: she needs to take in a lot of calories without eating a mountain of food. Choose a food labelled complete and balanced for growth or for all life stages, from a manufacturer that employs veterinary nutritionists and runs feeding trials — the label and the company's transparency matter more than the marketing on the front of the bag.
Do not add supplements without veterinary advice. Extra calcium, in particular, is a common mistake: giving calcium to a pregnant cat can disturb her own calcium balance and make problems more likely at birth, not less. A complete and balanced kitten food already contains the calcium, vitamins and minerals she needs, and extra supplements unbalance it. The same applies to extra vitamins, herbal products, and home remedies — none of them are needed if the food is complete and balanced, and some of them are harmful. If you are worried about her nutrition, ask your vet to check her, not the pet shop shelf. The homemade cat food recipes guide explains why a homemade diet needs a veterinary nutritionist to check it.
How often should a nursing cat be fed?
Little and often. A pregnant cat in late pregnancy cannot eat a large meal at once, because the litter presses on her stomach, so split her daily amount into three or four smaller meals a day. A nursing cat should be fed three or four times a day as well, and many vets suggest leaving food available at all times during nursing, so she can eat whenever she is hungry — a nursing mother with a large litter can be hungry almost constantly, and restricting her food is the wrong approach. Fresh water should always be available, in several places, because a nursing mother drinks a lot: milk is mostly water, and she needs to replace it constantly.
Weigh her weekly, at the same time of day, on the same scales, and write the number down. A pregnant cat should gain weight gradually — roughly a quarter to a third of her starting weight by the end of pregnancy, most of it in the last three weeks — and a nursing cat should hold her weight steady or lose it only very slowly as the kittens start to eat solid food. If a nursing mother is losing weight fast, she needs more food, not less, and if she is losing weight despite eating well, mention it to your vet: it can be a sign that something else is wrong. The how to weigh your cat at home guide explains the bathroom-scale method, and the how much water should a cat drink per day guide gives the water figures by weight.
Warning signs — when to call the vet
Most pregnancies and nursings go well, but some signs always mean a vet visit, not waiting and not more food. During pregnancy: a smelly or coloured discharge, a fever, loss of appetite in late pregnancy, vomiting that does not settle, or straining for more than an hour without producing a kitten. During labour: strong straining for more than an hour with no kitten, a kitten that is stuck, or a gap of more than two hours between kittens. During nursing: a hot, hard, painful mammary gland, a mother that will not let the kittens feed, a mother that is lethargic or off her food, or kittens that are crying constantly, losing weight, or cold to the touch.
After the kittens are weaned, the mother's food should go back to her normal adult amount over about a week, not overnight — a sudden cut leaves her hungry and can cause digestive upset. If she gained a lot of weight during pregnancy, the weight should come off slowly over the next few months with measured food and regular exercise, not with a crash diet. She should have a vet check after weaning, and a discussion about spaying if she will not be bred again. The kitten feeding schedule guide covers feeding the kittens once they start on solid food, and the how much food should a kitten eat guide gives their calorie tables.
Common mistakes with feeding a nursing cat
The most common mistake is feeding too much too early: a pregnant cat does not need extra food in the first half of pregnancy, and extra food then becomes fat, not puppies or kittens, and makes birth harder. The second is feeding too little during nursing: a nursing mother needs two to four times her normal amount, and a mother that is not fed enough will lose weight fast and her milk will suffer. The third is giving calcium or other supplements without veterinary advice, which can do more harm than good. The fourth is switching foods suddenly in late pregnancy or during nursing, which upsets digestion — if a food change is needed, make it gradually over a week, mixing the old and new in increasing proportions. The fifth is forgetting water: a nursing mother needs a lot of water, and a mother without enough water cannot make enough milk.
For related reading, see the cat food calculator, the cat calorie calculator, the how much food should a kitten eat guide, the kitten feeding schedule guide, the how to weigh your cat at home guide, the homemade cat food recipes guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a pregnant cat eat?
In the first half of pregnancy, roughly her normal amount. In the last three weeks, about one and a half to two times her normal maintenance amount, split into three or four smaller meals a day. A cat of 3 kg needs about 190 calories a day normally, and about 320 in late pregnancy. Weigh her weekly and adjust by body condition, and ask your vet to set the amount for her litter size.
How much should a nursing cat eat?
Two to four times her normal maintenance amount at peak lactation, depending on litter size — a mother nursing a large litter needs the most. A cat of 3 kg needs about 190 calories a day normally, and about 480 to 640 while nursing. Feed three or four times a day, keep fresh water available at all times, and weigh her weekly so she does not lose weight fast.
Should a pregnant cat eat kitten food?
Yes — a complete and balanced kitten food is the right choice for a pregnant or nursing cat, because it is more calorie-dense and richer in nutrients than an adult food, and a pregnant cat in late pregnancy cannot eat a large volume at once. Choose a food labelled complete and balanced for growth or for all life stages, and do not add calcium or other supplements without veterinary advice.
How long is pregnancy in cats?
Pregnancy lasts 63 to 67 days, usually around 63 to 65 days from mating. That range is wide because mating does not always happen on the day of ovulation, so your vet can date it more accurately with an ultrasound from about three weeks after mating. If she has not given birth by the end of the expected range, call your vet the same day.
How often should a nursing cat be fed?
Three or four smaller meals a day, because a pregnant cat in late pregnancy cannot eat a large meal at once, and a nursing cat is hungry often. During nursing, many vets suggest leaving food available at all times so she can eat whenever she is hungry, with fresh water available in several places at all times.
When should I call the vet about a nursing cat?
Call the same day for a smelly discharge, a fever, loss of appetite in late pregnancy, vomiting that does not settle, straining for more than an hour without producing a kitten, a hot and painful mammary gland during nursing, or a mother that will not let the kittens feed. Those are signs that need a vet, not waiting and not more food.
Results on this page are estimates for general information only and are not veterinary advice. If your pet is ill, underweight, overweight, pregnant, or has a health condition, consult your veterinarian before changing diet or care.