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Cat Pregnancy: Everything You Need to Know | Purina

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Having kittens is a very exciting and emotional time for you and your cat. Before you can get piles of hair into your home, you need to know how to tell if your cat is pregnant and what you can do to make sure her pregnancy is as happy as possible.

When planning kittens, it’s important to remember that your cat and litter will have demands that you’ll need to be prepared to handle. To help you support your pet through pregnancy and delivery, we cover everything you need to know about pregnant cats.

cat pregnancy

Just like us, cats have periods of peak fertility when they can become pregnant; this is known as being in heat or in heat. female cats can go into heat once every three weeks, so there are plenty of opportunities for your pet to get pregnant!

If you want to avoid an unexpected litter of kittens, we recommend neutering your cat before her first season, as she can become pregnant very easily after that point. Since raising a litter can be stressful for your cat and expensive for you, we recommend that you leave the litter in the hands of experts if possible.

how long is a cat pregnant

A female cat’s pregnancy typically lasts between 63 and 67 days, but it can be hard to tell exactly how long a female cat is pregnant. the gestation period of the cat can vary from 61 days to 72 days.

Your cat (queen) will often not show any physical symptoms of pregnancy until she is a few weeks pregnant. If you think your cat is pregnant, take her to the vet for confirmation.

If you want to know how to tell if a cat is pregnant, there are several physical signs you should be able to spot after two to three weeks have passed.

how to tell if your cat is pregnant

  • Just like morning sickness in humans, your pregnant queen may go through a stage of vomiting. if you notice her illness becoming frequent, or if she is unwell in any other way, contact your veterinarian.
  • Your queen’s tummy will begin to swell, but avoid touching her so you don’t risk hurting mommy or her unborn kittens. there may be other causes behind abdominal bloating, so monitor your cat closely for any signs of illness and see your vet if you’re concerned.
  • a mum-to-be will gradually gain 1-2kg (depending on the number of kittens she has) – this is a strong sign that she is pregnant.
  • Queens tend to have an increased appetite later in pregnancy, which will also contribute to their weight gain. an increased appetite could also be a sign of worms or disease, so check with your vet to confirm.
  • your pregnant cat may act more motherly, meaning she purrs more and seeks more attention and fuss from you.
  • Some veterinary offices can diagnose a cat’s pregnancy by ultrasound, sometimes as early as 15 days after term. Your vet can also give you an indication of how many kittens your cat is expecting by day 40 of her pregnancy. keep in mind that in a female cat pregnancy, a larger kitten may hide smaller kittens in the womb, so you may have more kittens than expected!
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