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How long
is a cat pregnant for?
The
gestation period for a cat is 63-65 days. This varies
between cat though, and anywhere between 60 to 70 days is
normal.
What are
the signs of pregnancy in cats?
Unlike
humans, it is not possible to determine a pregnancy via
a blood or urine test in cats. However, there are often
indicators that your cat is pregnant, some signs
include;
-
By the
third week of pregnancy the cat's nipples will become
enlarged & pink. This is known as 'pinking up'.
-
By the
fourth week of pregnancy she should have gained enough
weight to make her pregnancy visible.
-
By 3-4
weeks your veterinarian should be able to palpitate
the abdomen & feel the babies.
How does
my veterinarian confirm pregnancy?
An
experienced veterinarian will be able to palpitate the
abdomen & feel the kittens around 17 - 25 days. Do NOT
attempt to do this at home as you may cause miscarriage
or damage to the developing kittens. After 32 days the
developing fetuses & fetal membranes become difficult to
distinguish.
The fetal
bone structure can be seen on x-rays around the 43rd
day. X-ray should be avoided in early pregnancy.
Pregnancy
can also be detected by ultrasound. By around day 26 the
fetus & heartbeats can be seen.
Morning
sickness:
Just like
humans, cats can experience morning sickness also & may
go off their food around the third week of pregnancy.
Does a
pregnant cat have any special requirements?
A good
quality, nutritious diet is important. Your veterinarian
may recommend a kitten food for your queen as this
contains higher protein & calcium.
Avoid supplementing the diet unless your veterinarian
has given the go ahead to do so.
Over
feeding & excessive weight gain should be avoided as
this can complicate labour.
Keep her
indoors for the last two weeks of pregnancy to ensure
she doesn't give birth to the kittens elsewhere.
You should
take your queen to the veterinarian early in pregnancy
for a health check, your veterinarian will also advise
on the care of your queen during pregnancy. He/she will
probably want to see the queen again in late pregnancy.
Do I
need any equipment for the cat's birth?
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Kittening box. This can either be a sturdy cardboard
box or a commercially available kittening box.
-
Sterile
surgical gloves.
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Eyedropper or syringe to aspirate the mouth & nose
secretions.
-
Dental
floss or cotton thread for ties.
-
Antiseptic to apply to the umbilical stumps.
-
Scissors.
-
Clean
towels.
-
Your
vet's phone number in an easy to reach place.
-
An
emergency vet's phone number.
-
Kitten
milk replacer.
How to
prepare for the birth:
During the
last week of pregnancy, the kittening box should be
placed in a warm, quiet, draft free room which is off
limit to children & other pets. She should be encouraged
to sleep in this box.
Obviously,
food, water & a litter tray also need to be placed in
this room.
The
kittening box can be lined with old newspapers which can
easily be changed or an old blanket. Make sure that the
blanket isn't going to snag the kitten's claws. The
bedding should be changed regularly.
How do
I know when my cat is going into labour?
-
The
mammary glands increase in size during the last week
of gestation.
-
Around two
days before the queen gives birth she will start
producing milk.
-
She may
start nesting.
-
Drop in
temperature to around 99 F.
-
Her appetite may wane in the last day or two of
pregnancy.
-
Change
in behaviour. During the last week or so your queen
may become either reclusive & seek out a secluded
place or she may become more affectionate, especially
if she is particularly bonded to one carer.
Danger
signs:
Seek
veterinary attention immediately if you notice the
following signs;
-
If your
queen stops eating for more than 24 hours
-
If she
has an elevated temperature
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If she
becomes depressed or lethargic
-
If she
has any unpleasant smelling discharge coming from the vagina
Can I
give my cat medications while pregnant?
Some
medications can cause birth defects & or abortion in
pregnant cats so it is vital that you speak to your
veterinarian before giving your cat any medications.
Can I
worm my cat when she is pregnant?
No,
worming should be avoided in pregnancy.
Can I
flea my cat when she is pregnant?
I believe
there are some flea products which are safe to use on
pregnant cats. These are available from your
veterinarian, so it is best to speak to him/her. DON'T
ever use a flea product on a pregnant or nursing cat
without the okay from your veterinarian.
Other
things not to do:
Do not use
human antiseptics and the like - such as Dettol etc as
these can be poisonous to cats and also burn the skin.
If you need to use any antiseptics, use one recommended
by your veterinarian.
Do not handle the newborn kittens a lot in the first two
days - minimal handling - let the mother bond with her
babies. Cats have been known to kill and eat their
babies if threatened by other animals or too much human
interference.
Reminder - Female cats can again become pregnant within
as little as 2 weeks after giving birth but more usually
between 8 weeks and 10 weeks so great care that the
queen is kept safely confined during this time.
If it is intended to get her de-sexed - around 7 weeks
is a good time - she can still nurse her kittens
afterwards.
Is this
litter planned?
Breeding a
cat is a huge responsibility & should only be carried
out by breeders with experience. In many cases
everything will go along fine, but there are risks
involved to both the queen & the kittens.
If this is
an unplanned pregnancy are you prepared for the
unexpected? Some problems which may be encountered are:
-
Difficulty in birth, requiring an emergency c-section
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Death of
the mother
-
Death of
the kittens
-
Mother
rejecting the kittens, this will mean that the kittens
will have to be hand raised for the first few weeks.
Hand raising kittens is a rewarding but challenging
job, which requires around the clock feeding for
several weeks.
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Have you
found suitable homes for the kittens?
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Are you
prepared to keep hold of the kittens until they are at
least 10 weeks old?
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Remember
that microchipping is mandatory in some states in
Australia, and all kittens must be microchipped before
they go to their new homes. So please remember to
factor this into your budget.
-
Kittens
will also need to be wormed & vaccinated prior to
going to their new homes.
-
If both
the male & female haven't been tested, there is a
possibility of contracting FIV & FeLV.
Please
remember that there is a huge problem with unwanted cats
& the shelters are overflowing with cats desperately in
need of a good home, so don't contribute to the over
population of cats unless you are a registered breeder.
Related
articles:
Estrus in Cats,
Birth in Cats,
Raising
Orphaned Kittens,
Raising Premature Kittens,
Postnatal Care
for Cats
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