Pregnancy of cats

Content

• the heat in the cat
• pregnancy stages
• How do I know if my cat is pregnant?
• Preparing for childbirth
• prepare the nest
• Symptoms that the moment has arrived
• the birth
• the puppies
• Mother's special care
• food
• Deworming

At cats they are excellent mothers and breeders. As a general rule, they give birth and raise their puppies without any problems. Before the first year of age they have their first heat and can get pregnant if they are with a male. If you haven't sterilized your cat, even though she's a house cat, it's likely that sometime she runs away from home she'll get pregnant. In each pregnancy, cats can have between 1 to 6 kittens and can have more than one birth per year.

Having a litter at home can be very rewarding and beautiful, but we must also think about the amount of abandoned animals, so it must be a decision taken with responsibility. If it's your first cat or if you've never taken care of kittens, this article will help you learn a little more about the gestation of cats.

If you suspect that your cat is pregnant, continue reading this article by PeritoAnimal where you will learn everything that is related to pregnancy and the birth of puppies.

the heat in the cat

Traditionally, the cats' heat occurred due to the seasons and hours of daylight. However, these days domestic cats can have heat practically throughout the year. A cat's first heat usually appears between 6 and 9 months old, depending on each cat.

During heat the cats are restless, meow stronger than normal and can rub their belly against the ground by tilting their hips up. It is on these days that he will attract males from the area and try to leave the house to meet them. It is in these romantic encounters that we hear the typical screaming of cats crossing.

If you do not want your cat to become pregnant, you should avoid leaving the house during these days, but be aware that she will meow during the day and night until the heat passes. You must be patient and wait a few days. Find out more about cat heat in our article.

If you don't want your cat to have puppies, consider the sterilization. During estrus the cat suffers, especially if copulation does not occur. If you want to know more about the topic, read our article on the benefits of neutering a cat.

pregnancy stages

Pregnancy in cats lasts approximately 2 months. Depending on each cat, it can vary between 60 and 67 days. We often do not know exactly when she conceived, so from the 60th onwards, we must wait for delivery:

• 10 days: In the first 10 days, nausea and vomiting may appear.
• 4th week: From this moment on, the cat's belly starts to be noticed. The embryos are one month old and measure about two inches long and about 7 or 8 grams in weight. In the following days and weeks they will increase their size considerably. The breasts swell and become pinker in preparation for lactation.
• 5th week: The cat may start to have pain and discomfort. Nausea may occur from the changes produced in your body due to the hormones of pregnancy.
• 7th and 8th week: It is the final stage of pregnancy. The cat has significantly increased in weight and you can notice the movements of the puppies in her belly.
• Days 60-67: During these days is when childbirth will happen. If the pregnancy lasts longer than 67 days consult your veterinarian. It is recommended to touch and caress your belly gently to notice the movement of the puppies. If the delivery does not occur and you do not observe movements, complications may exist.

How do I know if my cat is pregnant?

In the early stages of pregnancy it can be difficult to detect. In addition, not all cats are the same, some go through the pregnancy with normality and others show more evident behavior changes.

We must be attentive to changes in behavior, which can indicate the new status:

• loss of appetite: Eat in smaller quantities, you can ask for food and then just taste it, including your favourite. It's normal and in a matter of days you'll eat normally.
• sleep for more hours: Becomes more listless, unwilling to play. You will notice this if you spend time with more cats, you will try to be alone and rest.
• It becomes more affectionate and homely: After meeting the male, the cat often does not want to leave the house. It's a sign that copulation has taken place, because as you'll remember during heat, your priority is to go out and meet a male. Will ask for more caresses and will be more cuddly than usual.
• It can get cranky: The opposite situation can also happen, your cat can become more moody and doesn't want to have a relationship. Cats who are not homey or who freely enter and leave the house may be less affectionate than before. It totally depends on the cat's personality and its relationship with its owner.

From the fourth week of pregnancy, you will be able to notice the physical changes caused by pregnancy:

• It starts to be noticed the protruding belly.
• The breasts become inflamed, become bigger and acquire a shade more pink than usual. It is a sign that they are preparing to give milk. Over the weeks you will notice how the breasts fill with milk and increase in size.

Preparing for childbirth

The moment of giving birth will occur from the 60th of pregnancy but as it is often difficult to determine the moment it is important to be prepared. We recommend consulting the veterinarian for an ultrasound of the pregnant cat. This will help us know how many puppies are on the way, if there might be complications in the birth, etc.

prepare the nest

To give birth, cats usually look for isolated places, warm, quiet and low light. If your house has an attic or garage, it is possible that the cat will choose a place to give birth. As a general rule, they are looking for a place they like, you should observe her and choose a quiet place, far from where people can pass and where the cat spends the first days after giving birth as calmly as possible. Some advices:

• prepare one cardboard box or bed with blankets or clothes. Keep in mind that it will get stained with blood and fluids, so it's better that it's not the bed you usually sleep on.
• In this place the cat must have water is food. If the sandbox is too far away, take it there for the first few days. Many female cats don't want to be separated from their kittens, especially if there are a lot of people at home.
• Ideally, you have a place prepared for the time of giving birth and for the first few days, and then you can take them elsewhere. Please note that the puppies are born with their eyes closed, so do not expose them to light sources. It's best to stay in dimly lit places until you've opened your eyes. In the first moments also avoid taking pictures with flash too close, acts like this can damage your eyes in the first days of life.

Symptoms that the moment has arrived

There are several signs that may indicate that your cat will give birth in the next few hours:

• behavior changes: The cat is restless, lies down and gets up frequently. He licks his genitals and shifts his position like he's not okay.
• Fast: Hours before the party will not eat. This will prevent vomiting during contractions.
• The vision: Many cats when the time is approaching look for their owner and meow calling their attention. It may be that she wants me to go with her to the place chosen to give birth. It depends on the relationship you have with your cat, in other cases she will retire alone, without warning. You must respect her, especially if it is your first birth.
• contractions: Contractions will repeat every few minutes. There are small spasms in the cat's belly.
• Expulsion of the mucus plug: A whitish or yellowish mucosa is expelled from the vulva. It's a sign that delivery is imminent.
• lower body temperature: Your body temperature drops below 39°C before giving birth.

the birth

Cats tend to have their kittens without difficulties. After the expulsion of the mucus plug, minutes or hours may pass before the first pup comes out. However, it is no use preparing the emergency veterinarian's phone number if you have decided that you are going to give birth at home. You should also know what to do to help the cat give birth.

THE mother helps the puppies to leave, lick them and eliminate the remains of blood and placenta. With your teeth cut the umbilical cord of each puppy.

usually pass several minutes between one puppy leaving and the next, but it can happen that they all come out in a row. In this case and if you observe that the mother is very tired and cannot take care of all the puppies, you can help her. With a damp towel, clean the puppy with gentle caresses. It is better for the mother to cut their cord, but if not, she can do so by tying two cords at two points on the umbilical cord, separated from the baby's belly, and cutting carefully with disinfected scissors.

After all the puppies have left, the cat will expel the placenta. If it doesn't, it can cause an infection. When expelled, the cat will eat it, it is normal and also brings many more nutrients after giving birth.

sometimes a cat it can take a whole night to give birth to all her puppies. Hours can pass between one and the other. It's best if you leave her alone during these hours and from time to time you can supervise to see if everything is okay.

If after the night or all day you see that there is still a puppy in there, but it looks like she has just given birth, go with her to the vet. Sometimes they can give birth to dead puppies and can take time to expel them.

Image: Reproduction/@EuDavidThomaz

the puppies

When the puppies are born they will seek their mother's breasts for their first food. If present, you can bring them together to nurse. It is better that in these first hours do not pick up the puppies, take pictures or move them. You will have time to play with them when they were older, think that the cat could refuse them.

The first meals are very important, as the female in the days following birth produces the colostrum, a special milk full of nutrients and antibodies that will protect the puppies.

many cats can get grumpy if anyone touches your puppies. With you, your human companion is normal to feel comfortable but it is better that visiting people or people who do not know the cat do not pick up or enter the cat's space during the first days.

The relationship you have with your cat will be reinforced during these days. The cats are excellent mothers and will be able to enjoy him and the puppies in a few days.

the puppies at birth can't see or hear, are very delicate and will not move away from their mother and brothers to keep warm. From the first week of life or week and a half they will start to open their eyes. Your eyesight will improve little by little and at 10 weeks you will be able to see perfectly.

The cat will be responsible for taking care of the puppies, you just have to confirm that everything is fine. In a few weeks you will have your puppies running around the house and they will start weaning from 3 weeks of age.

Mother's special care

food

During pregnancy, cats must maintain a balanced diet identical to the rest of the year but increasing some 25-35% its amount especially from mid-pregnancy. There are specific rations for pregnant cats that will give you the necessary nutrients. It is recommended that you always have food available because, at certain stages of pregnancy, they tend to eat little or vomit.

During the lactation period the value of calories, protein and calcium should be higher. Cats store an amount of fat that will be used after giving birth to nurse their kittens. During this period you can give vitamin supplements. Check with your veterinarian to find out which one is best.

Weaning will take place about 3 weeks after the puppies are born.

Deworming

Deworming is very important throughout your cat's life but especially during pregnancy. You must make sure your cat is free of both internal and external parasites. If this is not the case, complications may occur during pregnancy and the infection of puppies at birth. In a baby cat, internal parasites can be very dangerous to its health.

If you want to know more about the topic, check our article on deworming in cats and find out how to protect your cat from parasites.

If you want to read more articles similar to Pregnancy of cats, we recommend that you enter our Pregnancy section.