Pet Articles
Expecting Kittens
Pregnancy signs in cats – cat is pregnant
Expecting kittens – Dr. Bruce Fogle DVM
- Early on, there are few outward signs of pregnancy.
- The cat may adopt a more serene disposition.
- Sensible nesting activity begins.
Pregnancy in cats lasts about nine weeks, but during the first half of that time a typical expectant cat gives few clues that she is pregnant. She hunts, rests, and generally behaves normally.
Under the influence of progesterone, the hormone of pregnancy, and with an ever increasing weight in her abdomen, she soon moderates her behavior, gradually reducing her activity level and resting more.
Is my cat pregnant?
If you think your cat might be pregnant, the first check her nipples. These become more prominent and pinker by three weeks of gestation. By four to five weeks after conception, your vet will be able to feel golf-ball sized swellings in her abdomen. At this time the developing fetuses are usually quite easy to count. Shortly afterward, her belly becomes a visibly enlarged.
Multiple fathers
Unplanned breeding of pedigree females by both pedigree and non-pedigree males, producing litters of both purebred and crossbred kittens, confirmed what breeders had long expected: a litter may be sired by several males. This could have a survival potential for the offspring.
In large cats, such as the lion, when a new male takes over a pride, it is not uncommon for him to kill all cubs sired by the previous dominant male.
The frequency of infanticide in domestic cats is unknown, but at least one highly respected world authority, zoologist David MacDonald of Oxford University, England, has observed a strange male cat enter a communal nest among bales of hay and kill six kittens belonging to three mothers before the cries of the survivors brought the mothers running back.
Risks during pregnancy
The greatest risk to unborn kittens occurs during the first three weeks of development in the womb. Both drugs and infections might seriously impair healthy development. If, for example, the mother is exposed to feline infectious enteritis (FIE, or panleukopenia) at this time, the surviving kittens will be born with severe brain damage. Even exposure to live panleukopenia vaccine is dangerous. Cats should be vaccinated before they are pregnant, to increase the amount of passive protection they pass in the first milk to their kittens.
Never vaccinate pregnant cats to increase the level of inherited protection. Never vaccinate other cats in the household of a pregnant cat. Live vaccine virus can be shed by vaccinated cats and affect the pregnant cat’s fetuses.
Pregnancy and hormones
During pregnancy, the production of progesterone rapidly increases, peaking at around the 35th day after conception. This induces the more serene disposition of pregnancy. At the same time, the belly starts becoming visibly more rotund.
Pregnancy can be as short as 57 days or as long as 70 days, but a few days before birth the female becomes restless and searches out her chosen shelter.
She rearranges her bedding material and spends increasing amounts of time in her chosen nest. This impregnates the region with her own scent, something that will eventually help her kittens orient themselves toward home.
As birth approaches, the mother loses her appetite and restlessly paces in the nest until contractions begin.
Pregnancy checklist
- Do not even think of breeding from your cat unless you know you can find homes for the resulting litter.
- Do not breed from your cat until she is emotionally as well as physically mature.
- Ensure that your cat is well nourished during pregnancy, and especially after, during her period of milk production.
- Test your cat and the proposed father, to ensure they are not carriers of viral diseases such as FIV or FeLV.
- Do not let your cat “follow nature’s course” and breed with a feral tom. Feral toms are excellent breeders. They are also the most likely source of life-threatening infections such as FIV, FeLV, and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)
Cats do not become visibly pregnant until after about five weeks. Shortly before this time, your vet will be able to tell you how large the litter will be.
A few days before birth, a pregnant cat will begin looking for a good nest, which she will scent-mark. This will help her newborns recognize home.
Excerpted with permission from Cat Owner’s Manual by Dr. Bruce Fogle published by Dorling Kindersley Copyright 2003. All rights reserved. You can purchase the Cat Owner’s Manual at Amazon.ca
thanks alot this really helped me during my cats pregnancy.
My cat has been progressively shedding, since the beginning of the shedding. is this a problem? she’s at the stage where her abdomen has enlarged a considerable amount. please help! i’m worried.
Cats shed – that’s just what they do. They often shed MORE when they are in direct sunlight regardless of what season it is.
I do not understand the connection between enlarged abdomen and shedding….
Hi. i was given a cat a few months ago when she was 7 months old, and had just had a litter of 4 of which none survived. could this have been because she was too young or not mature enough to birth live babies? Also i think she may be pregnant at the moment, as she eats pretty much non-stop but is not fat as such. Her belly is quite big but not overly so, if pregnant, she would only have a week or so remaining. For a very placid and affectionate cat, in the last day or so has started attacking me when i try to give her affection. Is this common during a feline pregnancy?
And what can i do to make her more comfortable during this time, if she is indeed pregnant?
Thanks
Cats can usually birth on their own but in order to keep the pet overpopulation under control – Please spay your cat.
Hi- I have just been adopted by a cat.
For 3 days I thought it was a lost overweight domestic male- but some of the behavior patterns allerted me to the possiblility it was a female and very pregnant…
Imagine my surprise.
She is quite fat- by that I mean width not necesarily actual fat.
Is there anyway to confirm she is infact A female and B. Pregnant? I checked for the above signs- but her nipples are not pink nor enlarged….I tried to palpate her stomach, but I really don’t know what I’m doing.
She is very friendly now- is that going to change?
Hi Katherine,
Please take the at to the vet so you can be sure everything is okay. Please also condsider spaying the cat. Good luck.
So my cat has been pregnant for awhile now but i dont exactly know how far along she is. Im guessing she might be anywhere between 7 or 8 weeks. She’s VERY big and has been lying around and grooming herself alot.(especially in the past couple of days). Late last week i did notice her kittens moving around in her stomach and theres not alot of fur around her nipples anymore. Shes alot more affectionate towards us now, to the point where she turns over and lets us rub her tummy. Despite all these late pregnancy signs, i havnt really noticed her nesting. I have seen her searching through closets but she dosnt really have a favorite place which is why i think shes not as far along as i hoped she would be. I did make a box for her with old towels and newspapers but she didnt really seem too interserestd in it…is it possible she will choose a spot last minute?
I have 11 month old female cat. She has already had one heat about 6 weeks ago and I have been waiting for her second session to start but it nothing has happened. she is scheduled to get fixed next week. But now im getting a little concerned with the fact that she hasnt went back into heat, she managed to get outside on me about 3 weeks ago. Could she be pregnant? and is it normal to for her heats to be this far apart? Also im not seeing any visible signs of pregnancy after 3 weeks should she be?
my little one was cared for by the Humane Society after a plane hit our house & we were told that they spayed her, however she is very obviously pregnant. From what I have read on the internet I am guessing around 9 weeks give or take a day or 2. It is very easy to feel kittens squirming around & I can feel at least 2 possibly 3 “lumps” in her belly. I have noticed that her belly is slightly warmer than the rest of her & was wondering if that is normal or if I should have her looked at by a vet. The kittens are quite active & I am afraid she will probably have them before I can even get her to the vet anyway since they are making appointments for next week already. I am restricted with transportation & there is only 1 vet within the radius I can travel with my power chair. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, thanks
The cat should see a vet before birthing if you are concerned. I don’t know where u live but many cities now have mobile vets that come to your house.
Perhaps do an Internet search for your area?
Good luck – Marko
Hi, I have been adopted by a young cat, she turned up about 2 weeks ago and we have been looking for an owner, but nobody has come forward, so it looks like she’s staying. When she arrived she was thin (not overly so) and very active, now she has got quite round in shape to the rear of her abdomen and likes to lie on the sofa watching tv. I think she may be pregnant. She is very young, i would say less than a year old, and she keeps “stealing” our neighbours 8 week old kitten.
I have been feeding her kitten since I’ve started to suspect. How far along could she be? I don’t want to feel for kittens as i don’t know what i’m doing. I’m going on holiday in a few weeks, will she be ok in the cattery? I have 2 dogs and 3 cats (all mine are spayed, as will this one be when her kits are weaned) and they will be going to kennels/cattery the week i’m away, but I don’t want to have to move a nursing queen and little ones.
Any advice appreciated.
Kyla
I highly recommend posting this same question on our bulletin board. (It’s free).
You’ll get a much better back and forth that way.
That was ment to say kitten food by the way. The dry complete stuff.
Also is it right that i shouldn’t get her vaccinated if she is expecting?
i have a cat who had kittens 18 weeks ago ive now noticed my cats belly getting larger but i cant figure out how to tell if shes pregnant her nipples sag fro the last litter the kitten weve kept still likes to get a drink now and then so im so lost on what to do
Your cat could well be pregnant again. What you should do is take her to a vet and get her spayed. This site is a Pro spay and neuter site because millions of cats are put too sleep every year simply because nobody wanted them. Please help this problem by spaying your cat.
hello. My cat is 11 month old and managed to escape when in heat two weeks ago, I am a little concered she might be pregnant as only a week before her heat she had her first of her vaccinations. She is due to have the second injection in a week, now i’m not sure whether too or not with the risk of hurting possible unborn kittens!
Any advice here would be great.
Thank you,
Paula.
well we had a healthy delivery & the info provided here was extremely helpful. we had 4 babies 9/1/11
Hi. I was coming home yesterday when a cat ran up to me meowing. People are constantly dumping cats at my apartment complex. It was raining so I took her Inside. She is overly friendly and isn’t shy towards me or my boyfriend. She’s very vocal as well. She’s rather thin but I noticed that her nipples are sagging but they’re very full. I was wondering if she’s possibly pregnant or if she has had kittens. And if she’s already had them is there a way to tell by her body how long ago she had them. And also if she’s had them recently will she still take care of them since I’ve taken her in? Because I let her outside about three times last night just in case she did have kittens outside somewhere and she would disappear for a couple hours and then come back to my patio. If you could give me advice it would be greatly appreciated!
Hi my cat mated with our male cat at the beginning of December 2011 and she is starting to get rather round i was wondering if she was pregnant i have looked at many sites but don’t seem to no what im lookin for can someone please give me some advice