Find Secrets How Long Is a Cat Pregnant? Trusted Cat Pregnancy Guide

 How Long Is a Cat Pregnant?

How Long Is a Cat Pregnant? A cat carries her babies for close to two months. Cats generally stay pregnant for 63 to 67 days, but it can sometimes be as long as 72 days.

Most cats don’t start showing pregnancy signs until they are two or three weeks along.

The pet owner has slightly more than a month to make plans and get things ready.

What are the basics of cat reproduction?

At approximately 4 months old, cats are able to start breeding. It’s best to have your cat neutered around 4 months old to avoid unwanted kittens.

Reproductive activity likely starts when days get longer, signaling better weather and more food for the cat, so by the time the kittens are born after 9 weeks, there will be enough food for them.

Cat pregnancies and births are more common in March, April, and May in the northern hemisphere and less common from October to January. The pattern is reversed in the southern hemisphere.

Cats living near the equator likely don’t see much change in how often they reproduce during the year.

What Age Can a Cat Get Pregnant?

A cat can get pregnant as early as four months old, so it’s important to have her spayed early. Around that time, a female cat might start her heat cycle.

A cat doesn’t experience menopause like a human does; it can keep getting pregnant until the last few years of its life.

Therefore, a cat that hasn’t been spayed can get pregnant both very young and very old.

Signs a Cat Is Pregnant  

Here’s how people used to check if their cat was pregnant.

1.      Heat Cycle Change:

Expect your cat to go into heat roughly every 10 to 14 days. Yowling and rolling on the floor is common, but it will stop when she becomes pregnant.

2.      Increased Appetite: 

Your pregnant queen will probably need more food now, about 1.5 times her usual amount, since she’s eating for herself and her kittens.

4.      Darkened Nipples: 

The cat’s nipples will grow larger and pinker. They might seem darker and more swollen, especially if she’s had kittens before. You might have trouble noticing it beneath the dark fur.

6.      Weight Gain:

During the later part of pregnancy, owners often notice they’ve gained two to four pounds.

8.      Affectionate Behavior:

Pet owners often see their pets being more affectionate and looking for attention more. This happens because of changes in their hormones and brain.

How to Tell if Your Female Cat Is Pregnant

It’s challenging to detect pregnancy in cats during the early stages. The first sign you may see is changes in the nipples, which usually happen about 16–20 days into the pregnancy.

At this point, a queen’s nipples show pinker and become more visible. During their first two trimesters, cats tend to be more affectionate and easygoing.

During the last 20 days of pregnancy, you can see more obvious growth in the belly and breasts. Queens might pay extra attention to grooming their belly and the area under their tail. They will search for the right spots to make their home.

How will my vet know if my cat is pregnant?

There are different ways vets can check if your cat is expecting kittens.

Procedure	Description
Palpation	At the beginning, your vet will softly check your cat’s belly. If your cat is past 17 days of pregnancy, they might be able to find the kittens.
Ultrasound	An ultrasound might be recommended by your vet to find out if your cat is pregnant, but only if she’s been pregnant for at least 14 days.
X-rays	If your vet thinks your cat is over 42 days pregnant, they might advise getting an X-ray. Digital X-rays are safe and can provide information about how many kittens are coming and when.

How many kittens can a cat have in one litter?

Litters usually have between one and ten kittens. First-time mothers often have just two or three kittens. Older female cats usually have smaller litters.

The size of the litter can also depend on the breed, with Siamese cats often having more kittens and Persian cats having fewer.

It’s a good idea to ask your vet how many kittens to expect, as a first-time mother might not deliver all her kittens, which can be dangerous.

Pet owners might be surprised by new kittens arriving because there’s usually a 10-minute to an hour gap between each one.

Tips to Prepare for the Big Day

Make your home a comfortable spot for the kitten’s birth. If you usually let your cat go outside, stop doing that to prevent her from going into labor while she’s out.

Around two weeks before she’s due, your cat might show different behavior as she starts to make a nest. To help, you can look around your home for a good place for them to give birth.

Find a medium box with a low entrance and put newspapers, old towels, and soft blankets inside to set up a comfy space for the mother cat and her kittens. Set the nesting box in a peaceful area of your home.

Let your cat visit the spot regularly before she delivers her kittens to help her get used to the place and feel comfortable. Remember, you can prepare everything perfectly for your cat, but they will still do things their own way.

They’ll give birth wherever they want, whether it’s in a laundry basket, behind the garbage can, or in the back of your closet.

Preparing for Labor and Delivery

When your cat reaches the last part of her pregnancy, give her a comfortable place to settle. Cats want a peaceful, private area when they have their babies.

If you don’t give them an obvious choice, they might choose a spot that’s less convenient for you.

A perfect birthing nest helps you monitor the cat and kittens for any issues, while still giving them enough space.

A cardboard box filled with old pillowcases or towels is a good option. Keep kittens in a spot without drafts because they are sensitive to cold.

How Long Are Cats in Labor?

Cats usually finish delivering their kittens in six hours, unless something interrupts the process. It’s normal for there to be a longer gap between kittens, but if strong contractions last too long, it might be a problem.

If your cat is having contractions for over 20 minutes without giving birth, or if a kitten is stuck in the birth canal for more than 10 minutes, contact a vet.

How do I care for my pregnant cat?

When your vet tells you your cat is pregnant, they will guide you on how to look after her. These general recommendations can help keep a cat’s pregnancy healthy.

1. Avoid putting pressure on her belly, as this could cause pain and possibly result in a miscarriage.
2. You should clean her litter box once or twice daily and ensure it’s easy for her to reach as her belly gets bigger.
3. Make sure to give your cat nutritious food. She might eat 25% more than usual when pregnant or nursing. Consult your vet for the best food.
4. Set up a clean, warm, and quiet place for her to deliver and care for her kittens, keeping it away from kids, other people, and pets.

Can you pick up a pregnant cat?

It’s fine to pick up a pregnant cat, just make sure to be gentle and careful. Put one hand under her chest and the other under her hindquarters to support her.

Avoid pushing on her belly, since it could cause problems for the kittens. When the cat appears stressed or uncomfortable, give her some space and let her rest.

Be careful when children are near animals because they may not know how to be kind to them.

How to tell if a feral cat is pregnant?

You can tell a feral cat is pregnant by seeing if her belly is larger if she eats more, and if her nipples are pinker and stand out more.

She could gain weight, start showing new behaviors like nesting or extra affection, and be less active as she gets further into her pregnancy.

These signs, particularly when seen together, are good clues that someone might be pregnant.

Can you spay a cat that is pregnant?

Spaying a pregnant cat is usually not recommended unless it’s needed for the health of the cat or her kittens. When you spay a pregnant cat, it stops the pregnancy, which might be hard and dangerous for her.

If a cat is pregnant and needs spaying, a veterinarian should do it to make sure it’s done safely. If you’re dealing with this problem, seeing a vet is the right step.

What happens during a normal cat birth?

Right before birth, a female cat might get restless, make noises, or pant. She usually cleans around her birth area and teats. People think she leaves a saliva path to help the kittens find her teats after they’re born.

She will move through multiple stages of labor. Newborn kittens are covered in a sac of fluid, and their mother frees them by licking and biting it.

She chews through the cord, eats the placenta, and then licks the kitten to clean it and help it start breathing. In most cases, cats, especially non-pedigree ones, can handle giving birth without any help from humans.

How do I care for newborn kittens?

The cat lies on her side, wrapping her kittens to keep them warm and guiding them to nurse.

The kittens are drawn by smell and warmth to their mother’s nipples, where they find colostrums, the first milk that has antibodies to shield them from sickness in their early weeks. As the kittens drink milk, the mother cat purrs.

The newborn kittens can’t hear, but they sense the vibrations and find her. Their built-in behavior of rooting and nuzzling helps them locate the nipple, latch on, and start the milk flow.

Kittens feed by sucking, and they usually go back to the same spot to ensure there’s enough milk and avoid conflicts. When kittens are born, they weigh around 100 grams.

They will double this weight in a week and triple it by the end of three weeks. Cat milk contains a lot of protein and fat, needed for them to grow quickly.

They feed for hours daily and help the milk flow by pressing their mum’s belly with their paws, which they might also do on our laps or a soft blanket.

Kittens need their mother’s care for about two to three weeks, depending on her for food, warmth, cleanliness, and bathroom assistance. After four weeks, they copy their mother by using the litter box.

At six weeks, they start grooming themselves and forming connections with each other.

When they are four weeks old, the mother begins switching their diet from milk to solid food and shows them how to catch prey.

If all goes according to plan, you only need to feed the mother cat and make sure she has what she needs for the first few weeks.

When you realize your cat is pregnant, it’s good to give her a growth diet for her and the kittens.

You should keep giving this food to the mother cat after she has her kittens until they are weaned.

If a mother cat is unwell or unable to feed her kittens, owners might decide to take care of them by hand.

Taking care of tiny kittens is a lot of work, so you need to consider it seriously.

Sometimes, kittens might be rejected if they are sick or have problems. Hand-rearing them can be tough and may not always work

Postpartum Cat Care

After all the kittens are born, make sure they are dry and that their noses and mouths are clear.

If you can do it without bothering the new family, remove any dirty bedding from the nesting box to keep the kittens dry and warm.

During the first week, the temperature in the nesting box needs to stay between 85 and 90°F.

Healthy kittens typically find their first meal by themselves and need little help. Observe your cat to confirm she’s nursing her kittens normally. If you worry she’s not accepting them, have her evaluated by a vet.

FAQs: How Long Is a Cat Pregnant?