If you are looking for specialized advice and information on the detection of signs of pregnant cat and the preparation of the future mother, you can see it here.
The pregnancy of your cat
Like us, the cats have fertility peaks in which they can get pregnant. The cats are in heat once every three weeks, so there is a lot of chance that your pet will get pregnant!
If you want to avoid an unexpected litter of kittens, we recommend you sterilize your cat before your first heat, since he can get pregnant very easily from that moment. Since raising a litter can be stressful for your cat and expensive for you, we recommend leaving the breeding to the experts (if possible).
The pregnancy of a cat usually lasts between 63 and 67 days, but it can be difficult to know exactly how long it have been pregnant. The gestation period of a cat can vary from a minimum of 61 days to a maximum of 72 days.
It is likely that your cat does not show any physical symptoms of pregnancy until a few weeks before delivery. If you think your cat is pregnant, take her to the veterinarian to confirm it.
If you want to know how to recognize for yourself if your cat is pregnant, there are several physical signs that you can detect from the second or third week.
How to know if a cat is pregnant
- Approximately, at 15-18 days of gestation of your cat, you will notice that her breasts increase in size and redden.
- As with the morning sickness of women, the pregnant cat can go through a period of vomiting. If you notice that your nausea is increasing or that you have any other discomfort, contact your veterinarian.
- Your cat’s belly will begin to swell, but avoid touching it so as not to hurt her or her kittens. There may be other causes for abdominal swelling: watch your cat closely for any signs of disease and consult your veterinarian if you are concerned.
- A future mother will increase little by little between 1kg to 2kg of weight (depending on the number of kittens she waits): this is a clear sign that she is pregnant.
- The cats usually experience an increase in appetite during pregnancy, which will also contribute to their weight gain. The increase in appetite can also be a sign of worms or disease, so you should consult your veterinarian to confirm it.
- Your cat can become more motherly, in the sense that it purrs more and demands additional attention from you.
- Some veterinarians can diagnose pregnancy by ultrasound, sometimes from the first 15 days of pregnancy. It is possible that, on the 40th day of gestation, the veterinarian can also tell you how many kittens your cat expects. Keep in mind that in the pregnancy of a cat, a larger kitten can hide smaller ones in the womb, so you can find more kittens than you expected!
Although your cat should be fully capable of handling the birth on its own, make sure you are ready when the final stretch of your pregnancy approaches. It is good to stay by her side to help her with reassuring words, and intervene if complications arise.