How Long Are Cats Pregnant? A Complete Guide
How long pregnant? Bringing in a litter of kittens may be a thrilling activity. Nonetheless, a pregnant cat needs special attention and care. Knowledge of the indications of pregnancy, gestation period, and preparation of the delivery will make the process of giving birth safe and healthy for both the mother cat and the kittens.
It is a guide that caters to all your questions on cat pregnancy. What is my cat breed? We will discuss the ways of finding out whether your cat is pregnant, the period of gestation, and practical tips on how to take care of her during the important period. You may or may not be an old cat owner or a new pet parent to cats, but this knowledge will enable you to take care of your cat as she prepares to give life to the world.
How Long Is a Cat’s Pregnancy?
The gestation period, or pregnancy, of a cat is surprisingly brief. The average length of the pregnancy of a cat is 63 to 65 days, or around nine weeks.
This time may be somewhat different, based on the breed and the particular cat. Pregnancies may take up to 60 days, and some may take up to 70 days. In case your cat becomes pregnant after this period, then it is necessary to seek the services of a veterinarian so that there is no complication.
A cat pregnancy calculator can help you get a more accurate answer to the question of when your cat will have its nextborn. These internet tools compel you to key in the estimated date of copulation. Although not entirely true, they give a good guideline on the time when you should be ready since the kittens will soon come.
How to Find Out Whether Your Cat Is Pregnant or Not.
Detecting a pregnancy at the early stages cannot always be an easy task because the symptoms can be very mild at the beginning of the pregnancy. The symptoms become evident as the pregnancy advances. The following are some of the typical indicators that can be observed.
It is important to note that during this period of pregnancy, the embryo is developing, and the pregnant woman ought to emerge as the primary caregiver who supports the baby. <|human|> Early Signs of Pregnancy (Weeks 1-3)
Picking Up
This is one of the most observable signs in the early stages, which take place in the third week. The nipples of your cat will swell, and they will acquire a darker and rosier shade. This is usually the physical sign that is clear at the beginning.
Morning Sickness: As human beings, some cats are also affected by morning sickness. This can include either a lack of appetite or a sort of vomiting. This stage is normally short and need not raise panic unless it is severe or chronic, in which case a visit to the vet is inevitable.
Alterations to Heat Cycles
An unspayed female cat (a queen) enters into heat every few weeks. These cycles will cease in case she has been pregnant. This is usually the first indicator of the owners keeping a close eye on the reproductive cycle of the cat.
Mid-Pregnancy (Weeks 4-6) Indications.
Weight Gain: Your cat will begin to gain weight. During the period of her pregnancy, she can put on 2 to 4 pounds (1 to 2 kg) depending on the size of the litter.
Swollen Abdomen: The belly of the kitten will start swelling and rounding out as the kittens gain weight. She should not press on her stomach because this might damage both the mother and the growing kittens.
Enhanced Appetite
The morning sickness disappears, and the appetite of your cat is likely to rise quite high. She requires additional calories and energy to fuel her and her litter, which is growing. Last trimester (Weeks 7-9)
Nesting Behavior
When the birth date comes closer, your cat will then begin to seek a safe, quiet, and comfortable place to deliver the kitten. She can begin to pack blankets in a remote area, a cupboard, or a box. This is a good indication that the work is close.
Higher Affection or Seclusion
The behavior of your cat can alter drastically. She could be more loving and want to draw your attention, or she could just want to be by herself. Both are normal responses.
Visible Kitten Movement
You may also be able to see or even touch the kittens moving in her stomach in the last weeks.
Mammary Gland Enlargement
Her mammary glands will also become very large as they get ready to produce milk. Also, you might find some slight discharge of milk at the nipples.
Loss of Appetite
During the 24-48 hours preceding labor onset, many cats will lose their appetite.
What about Feral Cats?
It may be more difficult to establish how to tell whether a feral cat is pregnant. It is only in later stages that you can observe the physical symptoms, like a swollen belly that is visible or their enlarged nipples. You cannot deal with these, and therefore, watching them at a distance is important. In case you think that a feral cat is pregnant, it is possible to ensure that you provide her with shelter, food, and water to increase the probability of survival of her and her kittens significantly.
Verifying a Cat Pregnancy in a Veterinary
Although the physical symptoms are outstanding clues, a visit to the doctor can only ensure certainty.
Palpation
A skilled vet may palpate the stomach of the cat to identify the fetuses. This can normally be done at about 20 days of gestation.
Ultrasound
A cat ultrasound during pregnancy is the best way of confirming pregnancy. It may be done as early as day 25. An ultrasound can confirm the pregnancy and also identify the heartbeat of the kittens and help to estimate the litter size. This is a non-invasive technique that is not harmful to the mother and kittens.
X-ray: X-ray is best used at later stages of pregnancy, which in most cases has passed day 45. The skeletons of the kittens will have already been calcified at this stage and can be seen on the X-ray. This is the best technique for counting the number of kittens, which is significant in determining when labor is finished.
Is There a Pregnancy Test for Cats?
With cats, no cat pregnancy test can be purchased over the counter, like in human beings. A less frequent option is the use of an ultrasound or X-ray, which has been identified to detect the hormone relaxin, produced during pregnancy, which can be determined by carrying out blood tests.
Stages of Cat Labor
Cat labor has been categorized into three steps. Their knowledge will make you understand what you should expect and when to intervene in case anything goes wrong.
Stage 1: Pre-Labor
The time is between 12 and 24 hours. Your cat will get restless and start pacing, panting, or meowing too much. She will probably cease to feed and go and nest in her selected location. You can also observe a decrease in her rectal temperature below 100°F (37.8°C).
Stage 2: Active Labor and Delivery.
It is at this stage that the kittens are born. The cat will start developing intense abdominal contractions. The kittens are all born in their own amniotic sac, which is licked and torn by the mother. After that, she will wash the kitten, licking it to make it breathe, and biting the umbilical cord. Kittens are normally delivered anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes, although this may vary. The whole delivery process may require between 2 and 24 hours.
Stage 3: Placenta Delivery
Once all the kittens are born, the placenta is expelled. The mother cat will normally consume the placenta, and this is a normal behavior that gives the mother cat nourishment. The number of placentas should be counted to make sure that each kitten is passed. The condition of a retained placenta may cause a severe uterine infection.
Possible Pre- and Post-Partum Complications. Although the majority of cats do not have any problems with the birth, there might be complications