Cats, as a general rule, are very good at delivering their litters all on their own. However, if you are a cat breeder or you have a domesticated queen (the term given to a pregnant female cat) who is about to give birth for the very first time, you want to ensure that the kittens are very healthy indeed. Cat midwifery for these felines is no joke; they may need more help than feral cats because they lack the experience. As a cat midwife, here is how you can help your queen deliver lots of healthy, adorable little fluff-balls via good prenatal care.

Cat Vaccinations for Your Queen

Like most expecting mothers, your cat will need all of her regular vaccinations plus a few extra ones. These cat vaccinations typically should be given before or at the start of your cat's pregnancy, but if the vet decides that your cat cannot go without, some vaccinations may be given later in the pregnancy. Some of these vaccinations include feline distemper, feline pneumonia, feline HIV, feline deworming and feline leukemia. All of these help keep the mother safe and healthy as her body bears the burden of a litter of kittens and readies for motherhood. These vaccinations may also help build antibodies in the unborn kittens' developing bodies, which will help them survive the birth and the first few days of life until they get their own vaccinations.

Cat Pregnancy Vitamins 

All pregnant animals need extra vitamins. What they do not and cannot get from their food will need to be supplemented through vitamins. Your vet will prescribe and supply these vitamins, some of which may be injected for faster absorption. The rest of the vitamins your queen will need will have to be administered orally by you.

Extra Nutrition and Dietary Restrictions

Queens will need to eat more frequently toward the ends of their pregnancies, but they will need smaller meals too. Because the litter of kittens your queen is carrying will push up on her stomach, lungs other internal organs, it will be difficult for her to consume her usual quantities of food without vomiting. Give her smaller portions more frequently throughout the day and give her more water, which will be vital to the kittens' development in utero as well as helping the mother during labor and delivery.

Your vet will test your queen for gestational diabetes during this time too. If your queen has gestational diabetes, your vet will prescribe a special dietary food just for mother cats and may also recommend insulin shots. The insulin keeps the mother from going into a coma while encouraging continued growth and weight accumulation of the kittens inside her.