122 Chapter 8● Avoid major environmental changes such as:
● Re-decorating.
● Building work.
● Moving to a new house.
● Time spent in a cattery or environment away from home.
● Avoid changes to the social environment such as:
● People moving in or out of the home.
● Frequent and/or long-term visitors.
● New pets, or visiting animals.
● Holidays or any situation that involves owners or usual carers spending con-
siderable time away from home.
● Changes to normal husbandry routine.
● Provide easy access to litter trays or other elimination areas. Extra litter trays may
be required as she becomes less mobile.
● Provide easy access to comfortable resting areas and safe hiding places. As preg-
nancy increases and her mobility decreases she may not be able to reach high
places where she may have previously felt safe.
● Avoid subjecting her to sudden changes in ambient temperature:
● Keep her living quarters comfortably warm, but avoid over-heating.
● Do not shut her outside in cold weather or extreme heat without access to
cool shade.
● Allow her to have control over her environment and social interactions:
● Do not restrict her access to places, people or other animals with which she
wishes to interact.
● Allow her to initiate interactions. Do not force interactions on her, and avoid
picking her up or excessive stroking or cuddling, especially by strangers or
people to whom she is not closely attached.
Preparation of the nest site
As her time to give birth approaches, the queen will try to find what she considers to
be the best place to give birth (Fig. 8.2).
● Provide her with two or three different nest site options:
● Give her a choice of locations and the option of being close to or at a distance
from family members.
● A few days or weeks following the birth it is normal for the mother to move
the kittens. If she is provided with other suitable nest sites there should
be an increased chance that she will move the kittens to one of these. Also,
the more suitable the nest site, the less frequently she is likely to move
the kittens.
● Nest sites should be in a quiet area where there is minimal risk of disturbance.
● The area should be dry, warm and free from drafts.
● Important resources, i.e. food, water, litter trays, etc. should be nearby and easily
accessed but separate from each other.
● Bright lighting should be avoided; the area should preferably be in permanent
semi-darkness.