Cat Pregnancy
What To Expect

Cat pregnancy can be rather worrying to owners who have never experienced their cat having kittens before. Worries such as:

am I feeding her the right food?
how long will it be before she gives birth?
do I have to do anything to help her?
what should I provide for my cat?

Generally speaking most cats , even first time mothers will be able to cope with the whole process themselves. Your role will simply be to support her and let her know that all is well. This page will tell you what to look out for if you think your cat may be pregnant and also what extra care you can provide during her gestation period.

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 behavior, such as carrying toys around and trying to 'mother' them.

What care should I give during 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 behavior 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 reabsorbed 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.

How To Take Care Of Your Pregnant Cat

If you still feel a little unsure or worried about how to look after your pregnant cat or you would like more detailed information about cat pregnancy then we would like to recommend the excellent Ebook advertised above.