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Learn how pregnant cats behave, how long cats are pregnant, and what to feed your pregnant cat
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Are kittens on the way? If you’ve noticed recent changes in your unspayed cat’s behavior or appearance, we're here to help you figure out if your suspicions are correct. Of course, the best way to tell is with a vet visit, but there are some telltale clues to watch for. This article “litter-ally” covers everything you need to know about feline fertility! Plus, we’ll share info on how to treat your queen (pregnant cat) like royalty and give her the care she needs during the 64–69 days of gestation. Keep reading to find out whether you might soon have a litter of kittens to love.
Steps
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Determine if your cat has matured enough to be fertile. Once a cat reaches about 80% of her adult weight, she can go into heat—as early as 4 months old! If your cat isn’t spayed and has recently been in heat, she might be pregnant. [1] X Research source
- Domestic cats typically go into heat as the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, usually between spring and fall.
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Watch for mating behaviors. If your cat is in heat, she will try to attract a mate by “calling” (insistently meowing or mewling). She’ll also seem more affectionate and may lose her appetite. This lasts for about 4–6 days. [2] X Research source
- Tell if your cat is about to go into heat by looking for signs of restlessness, increased affection, and a bigger appetite. She will also begin making low calls.
- A cat in heat will roll around and prop her hindquarters up in the air while treading her back paws and holding her tail to the side. [3] X Research source
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Pay attention to your cat's behavior to determine her fertility phase. After being in heat, a cat enters a “quiet phase” lasting about 8–10 days, and her behavior calms down. Following the quiet phase, your cat will go into heat again and continue to go into heat approximately from April to September. [4] X Research source
- If your cat was recently in heat and had the opportunity to interact with male cats, pregnancy is a definite possibility. [5] X Research source
- The length of time from the beginning of one heat cycle to the beginning of the next typically falls in the range of 12–22 days. [6] X Research source
- To prevent your cat from getting pregnant, spay your cat as soon as it’s safe to do so. It's best to hold off until at least 2 weeks after the mating season, as surgical complications are more common while your cat is going through her heat cycles. [7] X Research source
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Check for enlarged nipples. About 3–4 weeks into the pregnancy, a pregnant cat’s nipples will “pink up,” or become red and enlarged. [8] X Research source
- Enlarged nipples are also signs of being in heat, so bear in mind that growing nipples are not exclusively indicative of pregnancy.
- The mammary glands enlarge and may produce colostrum (a milky liquid). [9] X Research source
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Look for weight gain and a "pot belly." From the side, pregnant cats frequently look somewhat swaybacked, with a slightly round and bulging abdomen. Meanwhile, her ribs and spine may look bonier. [10] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
- Many female cats assume this "burro shape" later in pregnancy.
- If your cat is merely overweight, she’ll be heavier all over, including her neck and legs, and not just in her abdomen.
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Watch for signs of “morning sickness.” Around the third week of pregnancy, some cats experience “morning sickness” like humans do. Your cat may vomit because she has an upset stomach. [11] X Research source Keep an eye on her water intake and make sure she stays hydrated.
- Test whether your cat is dehydrated by gently lifting the skin over her shoulders and seeing whether it quickly snaps back to its original position. If your cat is well-hydrated, that will happen almost immediately. [12] X Research source
- Entice your cat to drink more water by adding a splash of low-sodium chicken broth to her water dish. [13] X Research source
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See whether your cat seems sleepier than usual. Growing kittens takes a lot of energy! If your cat is spending more time snoozing, she may need the extra rest if she’s pregnant. [14] X Research source
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Notice any nesting behavior. A few days before giving birth, your cat will begin to show nesting behaviors as she prepares for the arrival of her litter. She may find a quiet place like a closet and start arranging blankets, towels, or other fabric to create a cozy place for her kittens. [15] X Research source
- If you notice nesting behavior and you hadn’t previously realized your cat was pregnant, take your cat to the vet as soon as possible for a prenatal checkup.
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Take your cat to the vet if you suspect pregnancy. At 17–25 days gestation, an experienced veterinarian can usually feel the embryos. The vet will also provide advice on caring for your queen cat and helping your cat during delivery . [16] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
- Leave feeling for embryos to the vet—your prodding could lead to a miscarriage. [17] X Research source
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Ask for an ultrasound. If the vet is unsure after feeling your cat for embryos, they can instead use an ultrasound to determine whether or not your cat is pregnant and, if so, with how many kittens. [18] X Trustworthy Source American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Professional association of OB/GYNs focused on education and public outreat initiatives Go to source
- A vet can detect fetal heartbeats by day 20 of gestation with an ultrasound.
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Ask the vet to take radiographs (x-rays). At approximately 45 days of gestation, the skeletons of the kittens can be seen with an x-ray, which will confirm the pregnancy and the number of kittens in the litter. X-rays won’t hurt your cat or her kittens. [19] X Research source
- The vet will typically take 2 x-rays in order to get views of the abdomen and count kittens while also looking for potential problems.
- An X-ray is better for counting fetuses than an ultrasound, though it still isn’t 100% accurate.
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Avoid feline medications and vaccinations while your cat is pregnant. Vaccines in particular may be dangerous to the queen or her kittens during gestation. Consult your vet before giving your cat medication , including dewormer. [20] X Research source
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Increase her caloric intake in the last few weeks of her pregnancy. You may notice your cat consuming more food and gaining weight as she gets closer to giving birth. Because the kittens are developing rapidly during the last third of pregnancy, it's best to feed your pregnant cat a growth (kitten) formula to provide sufficient calories. [21] X Research source
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Keep your queen inside during the last few weeks of pregnancy. As your cat gets closer to going into labor, keep her indoors so she won’t deliver her kittens outside. [22] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source Prepare a whelping box for her inside the house. Place a box in a warm, dry, quiet place in the house and line it with newspaper or an old towel or blanket.
- Set your cat’s litter box, food, water, and nearby and encourage her to sleep in the whelping box in the days leading up to the birth. [23] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow long does a cat stay pregnant for?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.The length of pregnancy is called the gestation period. An average gestation period for a cat is 64 to 67 days.
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QuestionDo cats get aggressive when they're pregnant?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.Not usually, but your cat may become protective of her kittens after they are born. After a mother cat has had her kittens, she becomes protective of her babies and may become aggressive if she feels they are threatened. However, aggression is not normal during pregnancy.
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QuestionCan red nipples be a symptom of a cat being in heat?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.No. Red nipples are not a recognized sign of being in heat. "Pinking up" or having prominent red / pink nipples is more commonly a sign of pregnancy.
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Tips
- Some vets offer to "remove the pregnancy" or spay a pregnant cat. Many vets will not perform the surgery within 2–3 weeks of your cat's due date. [24] X Research sourceThanks
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Warnings
- Every year, thousands of unwanted cats and kittens end up in shelters. Many are not adopted and end up being euthanized. Consider having your cat spayed to avoid contributing to this problem. [25] X Trustworthy Source Best Friends Animal Society Nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to saving animal lives by operating and supporting no-kill animal shelters Go to sourceThanks
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about diagnosing pregnancy in cats, check out our in-depth interview with Natalie Punt, DVM .
References
- ↑ https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/cat/health-and-injuries/is-my-cat-pregnant
- ↑ https://icatcare.org/advice/cat-pregnancy/
- ↑ https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/pregnancy-and-kitten-care/caring-for-your-pregnant-cat
- ↑ https://woodgreen.org.uk/pet-advice/cat/pregnancy-in-cats/
- ↑ https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/pregnancy-in-cats
- ↑ https://www.purina.co.uk/articles/cats/health/pregnancy/spotting-the-signs-of-cat-pregnancy
- ↑ https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Animal_Services/Foster_Care_Manual/NURSING_MOTHER_CATS_AND_KITTENS.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cats.org.uk/media/1029/eg18_pregnant_cats-_birth_and_care_of_young_kittens.pdf
- ↑ https://health.osu.edu/health/animal-health/litter-box-and-pregnancy
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16620942/
- ↑ https://catpeople.org.au/how-can-i-tell-if-my-cat-is-pregnant/
- ↑ https://kittencoalition.org/critical-care-for-kittens-dehydration-part-3-of-4/
- ↑ https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/hydration
- ↑ https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/cat/health-and-injuries/is-my-cat-pregnant
- ↑ https://cthumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Pregnant-Animal-Care-Handout-2021.pdf
- ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/cats-and-babies
- ↑ https://caringheartscatrescue.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Pregnant-Cat-and-Kitten-Handbook.pdf
- ↑ https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/ask-acog/is-it-safe-to-keep-a-cat-during-pregnancy
- ↑ https://cat-world.com/pregnancy-in-cats/
- ↑ https://riversidevets.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Feline-Pregnancy-Tips.pdf
- ↑ https://co4h.colostate.edu/projects/manuals/Cats-WashingtonState-U3.pdf
- ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/whelping-and-caring-for-newborn-puppies/
- ↑ https://americanpomskykennelclub.org/knowledge-base/whelping-box
- ↑ https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/neutering
- ↑ https://bestfriends.org/pet-care-resources/cat-spayneuter-what-expect-and-why-its-important
About This Article
Article Summary
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To tell if a cat is pregnant, check her for enlarged nipples. Starting at about 15-18 days into the pregnancy, the cat’s nipples will become pink or red and enlarged. Her back may start to look swayed, while her abdomen will begin to bulge. A few days before she gives birth, a pregnant cat will show signs of nesting, when she will start seeking out a quiet place to have her kittens. If you suspect your cat might be pregnant, take her to the vet for verification and advice on prenatal care. Keep reading for tips from our medical reviewer on how to care for a pregnant cat!
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"I was concerned with my cat's behavior and some signs of her activity that she doesn't do like she used to. Sleeping more than usual set off alarm bells, and she did leave the area of my home recently and came back. This helps me understand step by step. Thank you, this is very helpful to me!"
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"Our sweet pea seems to be in heat from Sept - April, and we try to keep her in the house, but she got out. Now we think our queen is having kittens. This info was very helpful, because now I know the signs I need to look for. We love our baby very much. Thank you."
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"Thank you for the steps to determine if my cat, Pretty, was pregnant. The nipple test assured me that she is. I appreciate the tip about not deworming, because I currrently do it every month. This article has been very helpful in multiple areas. Thank you!"
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"Our adopted stray came to us pregnant. We will have her spayed as soon as she can be after the birth. Our tomcat is neutered, and the queen is very aggressive to him. I thought it was because she is pregnant, but now I know it's just her."
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