Pregnancy in felines lasts about two months. A cat stays pregnant between 63 to 67 days , though it may be as long as 72 days. That gives a pet owner a little more than a month to plan and prepare. For instance, hunger alone may be a sign of other issues, and weight gain is sometimes normal. Also, it can be hard to tell when an obese cat with dark fur is pregnant. An owner might want to visit the vet to know for sure. Your trusted, local vet will be able to tell you for certain if your cat is pregnant by using one of these strategies:.
There are typically between one to 10 kittens in a litter. Which signs will tell if a cat is pregnant? Body Behavior Medical Weight gain Midnight cat calling stops Ultrasound Darker nipples called pinking up Becomes affectionate X-ray Morning sickness Noticeable frequent purring White nipple discharge Infrequent vomiting Swollen abdomen Increased appetite Intolerance towards other pets Loss of appetite towards labor Nesting happens closer to delivery A check-in with the foster team and the veterinary partner could also determine whether a cat has additional health issues causing similar signs of pregnancy.
Week-by-week: Cat gestation timeline Three weeks into gestation may be the first time that physical cat pregnancy symptoms become visible. Week 2: Estrus ends The first behavioral sign of pregnancy for a cat is that estrus, also known as a heat cycle, comes to an end. Cats are in heat for up to two weeks during breeding season. Without estrus, females stop attracting males through long, drawn-out cat calls at night. Week 3: Pinking up Three weeks into the cat gestation period, felines show the first visible symptoms of pregnancy called pinking up.
Week 4: Morning sicknesses Some cats experience a similar morning sickness condition to the human version in week four of gestation. Nausea and vomiting may initiate food refusal during this time. Do not push on or touch her tummy as this may affect the growing kittens. Always ensure a cat has fresh water available, and set her feeding and drinking bowls on the ground for easier access as jumping up may be difficult for her and could hurt the kittens.
Week 6: Affectionate, frequent purring Cats are known to become more affectionate. The cat gestation period can vary from as short as 61 days to as long as 72 days. If you think that your cat is pregnant, take her to the vets for confirmation. If you would like to know how to tell if a cat is pregnant yourself, there are several physical signs that you should be able to spot after two or three weeks have passed. Although your cat should be more than capable of handling labour herself, make sure that you are prepared as she approaches the end of her term.
There are some signs however, such as discoloured discharge and mum straining without producing kittens, which could suggest complications. If you notice either of these or have any other concerns, contact your vet. See our guide on labour and giving birth for more information on cats giving birth. We believe people and pets are 'Better Together'. Our programme promises to support you through every stage of your journey.
Next article. Cat Labour and Giving Birth. Cat Pregnancy. The eggs implant in the uterus and the resulting fetuses line up in two rows in the two horns of the uterus.
If mating does not occur the eggs are not released and the cycle is repeated again about two weeks later. After the female cat becomes pregnant, her body slowly changes over the next 63 days as the fetuses grow. Without the protection of a human home, the safety of her kittens is far less certain. The female may even select several nests so that she has safe alternatives should any danger threaten her original site. The cat will look for a quiet, safe and often dark place to have her kittens.
The bed should be suitable for snuggling into but should not be able to wrap the kittens within pockets or folds. Just before the birth, the female cat may become restless or meow or purr or pant or all or none of these things! She will clean around the birth passage and the teats. She will go through several different stages of labour see our information on normal cat birth.
Each kitten is born in a sac of amniotic fluid that the mother licks and nibbles to free the kitten. Most cats especially non-pedigree ones , will give birth without a problem and will need no human intervention. The female encourages the kittens to suck and keeps them warm by lying on her side and encircling them. The kittens are guided by scent and warmth to her nipples where they find colostrum, the first type of milk to be produced which is rich in antibodies to help protect the kittens from disease in their early weeks of life.
The mother cat purrs while the kittens are sucking — the kittens are not able to hear when they are first born, but they can follow vibrations to move towards her. They have a built-in rooting or nuzzling behaviour which helps them to find the nipple, latch on and stimulate the milk to flow. The sucking reflex then takes over and they feed. Kittens tend to return to the same nipple to feed, perhaps to stop them squabbling and to ensure that milk continues to be produced there because there is a demand.
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