Bald sphinxes are one of the most extraordinary representatives of the cat world. They are distinguished by a non-standard formidable appearance, combined with a surprisingly flexible character. During pregnancy and childbirth, a pet requires a special attitude, the state of a newly-minted mother and the health of her cubs largely depend on the quality of care for the animal during this period.
Signs of pregnancy
The mating of a cat and a cat does not always end in pregnancy, and the reasons for this can be very different - from fear of a partner to ordinary incompatibility. A cat may refuse to mate with a cat if she is hungry, worried, or does not feel her own safety. But if the breeders are 100% sure that the “close acquaintance” did take place, then it will not be difficult for them to understand whether a pregnancy is taking place - the fact is that the cat in the position begins to behave very differently than in the usual condition.
From the very first days, the pregnant sphinx asks for love and affection from the owner, and also begins to be picky about the food offered. There are even cases when the animal completely changes its taste habits, often a short-term refusal of ready-made dry food occurs. Do not worry - sooner or later the female sphinx will return to its usual diet.
Usually during this period, the cat begins to eat more and more often, because she has to feed her nascent offspring. A categorical refusal to eat is extremely rare and should be an occasion to consult a veterinarian.
At this moment, the cat often shows aggression towards other pets and even in some cases to the owner.Do not be scared, as soon as she gets used to her changed state, everything will return to square one.
In the third week, you can already recognize the pregnancy for sure - at this moment the nipples of the animal begin to rise and become milky. The cat is recovering, and in the fourth week manifestations of morning toxicosis are possible.
Weight gain is already especially noticeable in the fifth week of pregnancy. On the sixth, there is an increase in the mammary glands and their filling with milk. At this moment, the cat has a complete loss of interest in the opposite sex, estrus stops, and the cat spends most of the time in a state of sleep.
How long does it take?
Sphynx cats carry kittens from 63 to 66 days, and if the animals walk 4-5 days longer - this is not considered to be outside the normal range. The following signs indicate the approach of childbirth in the animal:
- the appearance of whitish discharge;
- the sphinx becomes very lethargic and lethargic;
- protruding nipples, areas of hair around them are thinning;
- the mammary glands begin to enlarge.
Experts have noticed several patterns. The older the cat, the greater the number of kittens that it can bring, while the larger offspring reduces the duration of pregnancy - therefore, you should keep a calendar with an age cat and record all changes that occur with it, so as to roughly calculate the date of birth. Too large deviations lead to the hardest pathologies of kittens and even their loss.
It should be borne in mind that puberty in animals of this species occurs in about 7 months, but if progesterone is produced in insufficient volume, estrus can pass every 3 months, and if the cat mates these days, then any mating can lead to fertilization.
As a result, kittens are born of different ages - the very first will be healthy, but the subsequent ones will be underdeveloped and in most cases unviable.
The duration of pregnancy in this situation is calculated from the very first contact with the cat. And if the cat experienced stress during pregnancy (the reasons can be very different, from loud noises in the house to a short separation from the owner), then with a high degree of probability it will give birth much earlier than the due date.
Care Features
A sphynx cat waiting for kittens is best fed special feeds containing all the vitamins, micro and macro elements necessary to maintain a healthy state of the cat and its babies. A lot of protein and calcium should be present in the diet. It is not necessary to experiment with medical procedures and prescribe any medications to the animal on its own, taking medications should always be coordinated with the veterinarian observing the animal.
During this period, one should not conduct anti-parasitic therapy, get rid of worms and fleas - all this can most negatively affect the health of the mother and her cubs.
Cats in this period need their own house, where the animal can relax, feeling protected by a sovereign mistress. It is best to purchase a suitable design in the store, but you can also build it yourself out of the box. Keep in mind that housing should not be high. - The female sphinx during pregnancy should be protected from high jumps and too sharp movements - they can harm her or lead to intrauterine bruises of kittens.
If possible, protect your pet from other pets, often the discontent of the animal leads to fights that are not at all appropriate in her position.
It is very important at this moment to maintain the hygiene of the pet, for this you need warm water and a clean soft cloth. In the early stages, you can walk a cat a couple of times, but in later it is better to exclude self-walking for safety reasons.
Just before the birth, try not to leave the cat alone, take care of the presence of a veterinarian in advance - you can seek help from a doctor who visits the house, or you can find the addresses of the nearest veterinarian where, if necessary, the cat can be provided with full medical care by delivery.
Postpartum care
Usually, sphinxes give birth quite quickly, but much depends on the health status of the cat as a whole and on the number of kittens. Childbirth rarely lasts more than a day with long breaks, the smaller the interval between the birth of newborn kittens, the better for both the mother and the unborn cubs. Otherwise, it is best to contact professionals.
When the very last kitten is born, cats begin to actively engage in issues of their own hygiene and licking their babies, after which the newly-made mother finally relaxes and begins to rumble. If the animal is too weak and unable to cope with licking on its own, then the owner should go to the rescue - for this you need to wipe the baby with a soft towel dipped in warm water and put it closer to the mother.
Immediately after lambing, it is necessary to change the litter to clean, after which the animal should be given a bowl of warm milk, and the kittens should be placed near their mother.
Be sure to check so that each of them can find the nipple and start sucking milk - It contains antigens that are important for kitten's health. Try to minimize any noise - this can scare the cat, then it can direct aggression towards children or try to hide them, it is possible that during such "transportation" it injures the cubs inadvertently.
After delivery, within a week, the discharge from the cat's vagina leaves, if they do not stop after 7 days, then the animal must be shown to the veterinarian, especially if they are purulent or bloody.
The specialist in the next video talks about the features of caring for a pregnant and lactating cat.
