Best Food for Pregnant Cats (2024): Feeding A Pregnant Cat

Today, we’re comparing and reviewing some of the best cat foods for pregnant cats. After all, when a female cat becomes pregnant, her dietary needs will naturally change. She’ll need to consume more food to accommodate her growing weight, and she’ll require extra nutrients to help nourish the little life (or often lives) inside of her. 

Choosing the right food for your cat can be challenging at any time, but it becomes particularly daunting when you’re caring for a pregnant cat.

Investing in the right nutrition for your pregnant feline friend not only helps to keep her healthy, but it also ensures you’re more likely to end up with happy and healthy kittens too!

Building on our own experience caring for pregnant cats, we’ve tracked down some of the most nutritious and high-value foods on the market today, specifically tailored to pregnant kitties. Read on for our top picks for your cat’s nutrition. 

Best Food for Pregnant Cats - Our Overall Pick

Purina ONE Healthy Kitten Formula Kitten Food can be a suitable option for pregnant cats due to its high-quality ingredients and nutrient-dense formulation. Pregnant cats require increased amounts of protein (which they can get from high protein food), fat, and essential nutrients for the health of both the mother and her developing kittens.

The 3 Top Foods for Pregnant Cats - Best, Value & Premium

The good news for pregnant cat owners is there are plenty of fantastic cat food options out there for pregnant cats. Primarily, it’s best to choose a kitten food for your mother cat, for reasons we’ll cover a little later in our buyer’s guide. For now, let’s take a look at some of the top options on our list:

So that’s a quick chart showing our three best foods for pregnant cats. Now let’s take a deeper look at the best and more.

To start with, let’s look at the top 3 in a little more detail.

Best Foods for Pregnant Cats: Alternative Options

We chose the three options above to appeal to a wide range of pet parents, but if none of those solutions work for your cats, there are still plenty of great alternatives out there.

 Here are some other fantastic picks worth considering for your pregnant feline.

Best Foods for Pregnant Cats: Buyers Guide

Choosing the right cat food for a pregnant feline can be a tricky process. However, it’s important to ensure your furry friend gets the right nutrition to support her health, as well as the development of her babies. The chances are, you’ll notice your cat eating a lot more food as she progresses through her pregnancy, so finding a meal she actually enjoys is crucial. 

You might also need to consider speaking to a vet about a new diet if your cat has any allergies or dietary issues that need to be addressed when you’re purchasing the right food. Overall, the most important thing is ensuring your cat gets the extra energy, nutrition, and sustenance you need. 

Why Pregnant Cats Should Eat Kitten Food

We mentioned above that often the best cat food for pregnant felines is actually kitten food. There’s a good reason for this. Kitten food is made with specific ingredients to help promote the development of healthy brains, eyes, hearts, and other crucial components. Those are the same minerals, and vitamins your pregnant cat will need more of when she’s progressing through her pregnancy. 

Kitten foods are also higher in calories, which your pregnant cat will typically need more of during her pregnancy. Being pregnant means your cat will expend more energy, which she’ll need to replace with the right nutrition.

Just make sure the extra calories in your chosen food aren’t “empty” calories, created by added grains and fillers. She will need an extra boost during her gestation period. 

Another bonus of kitten food for pregnant cats is that it’s packed with protein, which helps your cat to develop stronger muscles. Just make sure you’re adjusting the portion sizes you give your adult kitty to suit her weight and dietary needs. 

Read this next: Can Adult Cats Eat Kitten Food? (Or Is It Bad For Them?)

What To Feed a Nursing Mother Cat

Depending on your cat, you might find her needs are slightly different to most other felines. If your kitty has specific health issues or comes from a certain breed, and you’re not sure what to feed her during pregnancy, it’s a good idea to speak to your vet.

However, your pregnant cat will usually need the following:

FAQs:

How long should my pregnant cat eat kitten food?

It’s best to give your pregnant cat kitten food from the moment when you discover she’s pregnant. She may need weaning onto it slowly if she’s used to a different kind of food. You can continue to feed her this food until a few weeks after she gives birth, to help keep her strong, and ensure she has the energy she needs to support her new kittens. 

How Long Are Cats Pregnant?

On average, a cat pregnancy will last between 63 and 65 days. However, some cats can carry their litter for a little more or less time than this. The overall range is somewhere between 60 and 70 days. If it’s your cat’s first pregnancy, she may be pregnant for longer than most. Plus litter sizes will vary.

What foods to avoid with cats when pregnant?

Generally, you should continue to avoid all of the dangerous ingredients you would normally keep away from your cats while your feline friend is pregnant. Toxic foods include everything from onions and garlic to raw eggs and meat. Don’t feed your cat a diet or weight-reducing food when she’s pregnant, as she will need extra calories. 

Should pregnant cats eat wet or dry food?

It doesn’t really matter whether your pregnant cat eats wet or dry food during her pregnancy, so long as she gets plenty of moisture alongside her diet. If you’re feeding your cat dry food, ensure she always has access to fresh water too. 

What homemade food can I give my pregnant cat?

You can consider giving your cat extra sources of cooked protein, like chicken, beef, or fish, boiled in water. This is a wonderful way to give her an extra dose of nutrition during her pregnancy. Stay away from any raw foods, however. 

What is the best food to feed a pregnant cat?

Kitten food is the best option for a pregnant cat to maintain her energy needs and keep her body condition healthy. Opt for a high-quality, easily digestible food with plenty of protein, as well as added vitamins and minerals. Look for cat food with plenty of DHA and nutritional fatty acids, as well as calcium and taurine. 

Read this next: How to Tell if a Cat is Pregnant

Best Foods for Pregnant Cats: The Verdict

Feeding your cat the best foods for pregnant cats throughout her pregnancy and through her nursing offspring phase is the best way to make sure she stays healthy, and that her kittens are born healthy too.

The best option will always be a solid food that’s high in protein, minerals, vitamins, and essential fatty acids. 

Our favorite product from today’s list is the Purina ONE high-protein cat food. Not only does it feature all the correct nutritional needs and real chicken as the number one ingredient, but it also includes DHA for healthy brain and vision development, as well as antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals like calcium.

Last but not least, makes sure you monitor her water intake, she must remain well-hydrated at all times. So keep those bowls full!