How to tell whether your cute cat is pregnant is a typical but surprising question from worried cat owners.
In any case, physical and behavioral changes in cats during pregnancy include increased weight, enlarged and colorful nipples, hunger swings, and a submissive demeanor.
Spaying your cat is the best bet against pregnancy as any matured, unspayed female cat can get pregnant.
Knowing whether a cat is pregnant is the most excellent way to guarantee that it receives the love and attention it requires.
Recognizing these signals will enable you to provide it with the highest level of care, enough comfort, and top-of-the-line preparation that a pregnant woman deserves.
You’ll be able to involve your veterinarian earlier in the process, allowing you to prepare your house for safe and healthy delivery adequately.
Because pregnancy is a distinct phase from the others, it is not without its own set of symptoms and characteristics.
Though these indications may differ slightly in cat moms, they are also frequently observed in humans.
The truth is that most of the classic pregnancy symptoms don’t show up until about week six of a nine-week pregnancy.
Cat Pregnancy Signs
The following are a few essential symptoms and features to keep an eye out for during the brief gestation phase:
a. Weight Gain: Owners will commonly notice a two- to four-pound weight gain, especially later in the pregnancy.
If a cat is overweight, it will be overweight, including its neck and legs.
Pregnancy-induced weight is distinct in that it frequently leads to a prominently bulging lower tummy as the pregnancy progresses.
b. Nipple Color and Size Changes: In unspayed cats, more prominent nipples indicate gestation period.
The nipples of the awaiting-mother cat will expand and “pink up” in color.
In certain situations, especially if it’s had multiple litters, the nipples may appear darker and more fully engorged.
However, it could not be easy to distinguish behind a thick coat of dark fur.
You may even notice the presence of milk at the end of the week, indicating the start of lactation in preparation for its kittens.
c. Appetite Swing: Because it’s feeding itself and the bundles in her tummy, your pregnant “queen” will likely crave extra food (approximately 1.5 times its typical diet) during this period.
However, around the seventh week, you may discover that your beloved pet has lost interest in eating as the pregnancy progresses.
If it entirely ignores its food bowls or at the very least has a small appetite, it’s a solid sign it’s approaching its due date, so be ready.
d. Affectionate Conduct: Many pet owners report seeing an unusual increase in affectionate and caring behavior in their animals.
You may notice that your pet is paying greater attention to you. Hormonal and neurological changes are to blame.
If your cat usually is distant and independent but suddenly starts headbutting you and won’t leave your side late in pregnancy, it could be preparing for its big day.
e. Sleeping for Longer Lengths: Your cat will desire to sleep for more extended periods.
f. Vomiting: Both humans and cats suffer from morning sickness.
Vomiting regularly could indicate that it’s pregnant early on.
Repeated puking of food alone is not sufficient to conclude pregnancy in a female cat, as you need to watch out for other signs. Where repeated vomiting is not pregnancy-related; it can be a pointer to another severe health issue.
g. Variation in Heat Cycle: Your cat will go through a heat cycle every 10-20 days.
Loud cries and rolling against objects and on the floor are usual heat displays. When it becomes pregnant, heat signs stop.
h. Nesting Behavior: This is not an early pregnancy indicator because it occurs later in the pregnancy as the queen cats prepare for delivery by seeking out hidden, quiet spots to have their litter.
Your cat may even begin arranging blankets or arguing with other animals about its territory.
i. Anxiety: Don’t be surprised if your ordinarily quiet, calm, and relaxed queen cat suddenly becomes agitated and twitchy.
During this crucial period, endless pacing and going around in circles are prevalent.
This nervous late-pregnancy behavior means it’s ready to start nesting, which means it’s looking for a calm, warm, quiet, and safe spot to give birth to its litter.
If you’re having trouble finding your cat, it’s likely because it’s on the lookout for the perfect position.
Make things simple and attempt to provide a warm nesting spot for it.
j. Swollen Abdomen: Your cat will show physical signs of pregnancy halfway through pregnancy.
On overweight cats, this distortion may be more challenging to detect.
A pregnant cat’s abdomen is swollen somewhat more than halfway from the neck to the tail when viewed from above.
Pregnant cats will appear swayback from the side, with a slightly round and bulging tummy.
k. Vocalization: Towards the end of a feline pregnancy, strange “calling” vocalizations may be seen.
Your cat may begin to meow and yowl incessantly, much to the annoyance of your ears.
Modern and Scientific Methods for Determining Whether or Not Cat Is Pregnant
Adopting a scientific method is the best way to determine if your unneutered kitty is already in the state.
While we can’t completely rule out the conventional indications described above, a combination of factors may cause one or more of them to fail to deliver the accurate result predicted.
For example, hunger may be a symptom of something else, and weight increase isn’t always alarming.
It can also be challenging to discern if an obese cat with dark fur is pregnant. To be sure, an owner should consult a veterinarian.
With one of the following methods, your vet will be able to tell you for sure if your cat is pregnant in as little as two weeks:
• X-Rays: Around 40 days into the pregnancy, X-rays will only reveal the bones of kittens. It’s the most effective means of displaying the number of kittens.
• Ultrasound: Ultrasounds can detect kittens as early as 21 days after conception, although counting the number of kittens can be challenging.
• Palpation: As early as the 20th day of pregnancy, an expert veterinarian can gently push on the cat’s abdomen and feel the fetuses.
It may be tempting to stroke your pregnant cat’s belly, but this can be dangerous.
If you are not a veterinarian or have not been trained in this, touching and pressing a pregnant cat’s tummy is not recommended.
This area of its body will be susceptible, and any improper contact with it could cause it discomfort or harm its unborn kittens.
While it’s OK to brush your pregnant cat, stay away from its stomach.
This area will be susceptible, and any contact with it could make it uncomfortable or harm its unborn kittens.
If you have to pick up your cat, whether for fun or out of need, make sure you support it from its bottom rather than touching its tummy.
When Can a Cat Become Pregnant?
It’s difficult to envision an adorable little 6-month-old kitten pregnant.
From birth to about one year of age, a young cat is referred to as a kitten.
On the other hand, a cat can become pregnant as early as four months old.
If you’re worried about an outbreak of unwanted animals in your neighborhood or if you won’t be able to cope with a possible feline population explosion, it’s critical to have it spayed as soon as possible.
Depending on the breed, a typical potential-mother cat may experience “heat” around four months old to as long as 12 months in some breeds. The variation in maturity is because certain cat breeds mature more quickly than others.
Siamese cats frequently go into heat at four months, although Persian cats don’t reach full maturity until they’re nearly a year old.
A cat, unlike a human, does not go through menopause and can continue to become pregnant until its final years.
As a result, a cat that hasn’t been spayed or neutered can get pregnant at any age.
There are various medical reasons to keep an eye on your cat, especially if it is its first litter.
Care for Pregnant Cat
One of the most crucial things your pregnant cat will require is a well-balanced diet to ensure that the kids inside it grow correctly.
It’ll require more calories as it gets further along in its pregnancy.
After all, it’s feeding more than one person. Select a food that is good for reproduction.
Generally, kitten food is a decent option. As your pregnant cat approaches its due date, increase the amount of food you feed.
Even if the queen cat shows no signs of illness, it’s good to schedule one or two visits to your veterinarian to ensure everything is going well medically.
At this point, avoid giving any supplement, medicine, or treatment that a veterinarian has not prescribed. Such drugs could be harmful to it and its unborn children.
Provide your cat with a box or similar shelter a few weeks before its due date so it can give birth to and care for its babies.
You can use soft blankets or towels to line the box. Choose materials that are simple to launder, clean, and replace.
Place the box in a peaceful, familiar spot and ensure your cat knows where it is.
What Is the Best Cat Food for a Pregnant Cat?
If you’ve just discovered that your cat is pregnant or you’re planning for it to become a mother, the next best thing is to ensure the protection of the intending mother cat and the kittens inside it.
Protein is an essential ingredient for pregnant cats, but not all protein is the same.
Make sure it’s made with animal products like chicken, turkey, or fish, and that one of these is the first ingredient on the list.
Kitten food contains more protein sources, but it also contains more calories.
Calcium is another essential vitamin for pregnant cats, as they require extra support for their bones and teeth.
Nourishment is critical not just for the mother but also for the kittens as they grow and develop.
Omega fatty acids are essential and are mainly found in fish or fish oils.
These are beneficial for a healthy coat and skin and the kittens’ overall growth.
Immune support is vital for pregnant cats, so look for immune-boosting fruits and vegetables and antioxidants like blueberries or cranberries.
Because pregnancy saps a lot of energy from your cat, an appropriate diet is essential during this time.
Pregnancy Calendar for Cats
A cat’s pregnancy lasts between 63 and 67 days, but it can last 72 days.
It, therefore, implies that your cat’s pregnancy calendar is two months long.
A cat may not show signs of pregnancy until two or three weeks into the pregnancy.
A pet owner will have a little more than a month to plan and prepare.
Of course, knowing the kitty’s due date is contingent on that knowledge.
You’ll soon hear the pitter-patter of kitten feet, whether they’re shorter or longer.
How Frequently Do Cats Become Pregnant?
When you find out your cat will be a mother, you may experience emotions, from excitement to horror.
Those darling kittens may be adorable, but if you allow their mother to become too familiar with a tom while it’s still nursing, they may soon be joined by more siblings.
Cat overpopulation is a global problem that affects everyone, from big cities to sleepy suburbs.
The problem is caused by short gestation periods, large litter, and unfixed animals roaming the streets.
Consider becoming a part of the solution by having your child spayed right away.
Frequency of Cats’ Pregnancy
A female cat can conceive again almost immediately after giving birth to its litter.
Queen cats that are reproductively mature move into and out of “estrus,” or the “heat cycle,” seemingly incessantly, every two to three weeks.
The heat cycle lasts around a week on average. As a result, a cat can mate and become pregnant again when in heat.
Although the usual feline mating season lasts from around March to the end of the fall, cats can become pregnant at any time, including during the winter.
A queen cat can produce as high as half a dozen litters of kittens in a year, depending on the breed, the diet supplied to the cat, the wishes of the cat owner, and the overall environment.
It could give birth to just one kitten on the low end of the scale, or it could give birth to six kittens at once on the high end.
The size of the litter is usually determined by the mother cat’s age and experience.
The litters of young first-time mother cats are frequently smaller than those of more experienced queens.