Know the signs of a cat in heat.
How to recognise the signs of a cat in heat; what behaviour indicates
a cat pregnancy; how long is a cat gestation period, and what care to
give your pregnant cat.
Cats can breed from 6 months old or even earlier in some breeds and will start to show signs of a cat in heat from that time. If you want your cat to have kittens it is always best to wait until it is over one year old. Keep it away from un-neutered male cats until this time.
Female cats can remain fertile up to 14 years old and
will show signs of being a cat in heat throughout that time. They can
have up to three litters a year, but continuous pregnancies will exhaust
the mother cat and can damage its health as well as that of the kittens.
What are the signs of a cat in heat?
There are clear behaviour changes that you will notice with a cat in heat
(also known as 'oestrus' and being in 'season'). These are:
- Becoming excessively friendly,
- Rolling around on her back,
- Wailing and yowling in a different tone,
- Raising her hind quarters with her tail in the air and padding her
feet (especially when stroked on the back,
- Wanting to go out more often,
- Urinating more frequently to spread her scent around.
How often will my cat be in heat?
Female felines will show signs of a cat in heat on average for one week
every three weeks from late winter or early spring. This will continue
for nine months or longer, or until she has mated. If she does not mate,
the heat period can become more frequent until it is almost a continuous
state. If successfully mated, then the signs a cat in heat shows will
stop.
A female cat is most fertile between 3 to 4 days during the week she shows signs of being a cat in heat, and she is ready for mating when she raises her rear end off the ground when touched.
Mating triggers ovulation (the release off the egg from the ovary), and cats will mate several times to try to ensure fertilisation. If given free reign, a female cat will mate with several Toms over 3 to 4 days, and so a single litter can contain kittens from a variety of male cats.
If she comes into heat again in 2 to3 weeks time, then she is not a pregnant cat.
What are the signs of cat pregnancy?
The first signs of cat pregnancy that you may notice will be:
- She does not come into heat.
- She demands more food than usual.
- At 3 to 4 weeks of pregnancy her nipples will enlarge and turn a purplish pink.
- Her abdomen will start to swell and she will put on weight.
The vet can confirm you have a pregnant cat by feeling its abdomen from around 3 to 4 weeks.
Later in the cat pregnancy she may start to show maternal
behaviour, such as carrying toys around and trying to 'mother' them.
What care should I give during cat pregnancy?
Feed a good quality food and towards the last third of the cat pregnancy you can feed small meals on demand, up to four times a day. Specially formulated food for a pregnant cat is available and your vet may be able to recommend or prescribe some. If you make your own cat food then a calcium supplement may be recommended as well.
Worm your cat monthly and ensure the flea treatment you use will not harm the kittens (check with your vet).
How long is a cat gestation?
Cat gestation (the term of the cat pregnancy from conception until birth) lasts for about 61 to 68 days (approximately two months or nine weeks). If kittens are born before this time they may require specialised nursing.
Your cat can continue normal behaviour like jumping and chasing right up until near the end of the cat gestation period.
About a week before the birth, your pregnant cat will become more restless and begin to make 'nests' around the house in different places. It is a good idea to line some cardboard boxes with lots of newspaper, and place them in warm comfortable safe places.
She will choose which one she wants to give birth in and she will tear up the paper to make her nest. Wherever her bed is, ensure that it is warm and at least above 22 degrees Centigrade or 72 degrees Fahrenheit, otherwise it will be too cold for the kittens.
What problems might occur for my pregnant cat?
Miscarriage / natural abortion: This will show with a bloody discharge and is more common in cats infected with the feline leukaemia virus (FLV).
Re-absorption of the foetuses: Sometimes the eggs stop developing and are re-absorbed by the body.
Primary Inertia: This is when your cat fails to give birth by the 65th day. You should take her to the vet or call them out for a check-up.
Secondary Inertia: Call the vet as an emergency if your pregnant cat becomes exhausted during delivery and stops straining.
Obstruction: If your cat has been straining for 30 minutes to an hour without giving birth, call your vet as an emergency.
More cat pregnancy information
If you still feel a little unsure or worried about how to look after your preganat
cat or you would like more detailed information about cat pregnancy then
we would like to recommend the excellent Ebook advertised on the right.
Why not make a homeless cat a happy cat
by re-homing instead of having kittens:
Unless you are fully prepared for your cat to have kittens and you have safe happy homes lined up for all those that may come along, it is always recommended to have your cat spayed to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Cat re-homing centres are full to the brim of unwanted kittens and many cats are destroyed every year for the lack of good homes for them.
If you want your cat to have kittens because you want to have another cat in your home, then why not think about getting one from a re-homing centre instead? There is no evidence that a spayed cat 'misses' having kittens and having the operation can help prevent conditions like mammary and uterine cancer in the future.
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