If you have a pregnant cat, or are looking to breed your cat, there's a lot to consider as a cat owner. So if you want to know how to tell if a cat is pregnant, how long are cats pregnant, signs a cat is pregnant and, most importantly, how to care for a pregnant cat, this article is for you.

A female cat (queen) can produce several litters of kittens every year throughout her life. If you don’t want to take on a litter of kittens, or the responsibility of finding good homes for them, you should have your female cat neutered. If you want to avoid further pregnancy in your cats, then you should also neuter any male cats that you own. If you do decide to breed from your cat, or you discover that your cat is pregnant unexpectedly, there are various things to consider.

What Age Can Cats Get Pregnant?

Some female cats reach sexual maturity from around 4 months of age. It’s not advisable to let your cat get pregnant so young, as she should be fully grown before breeding from her. Your vet can advise you as to whether your cat is the correct age and whether she’s in good health for breeding.

How Long Are Cats Pregnant?

A cat is pregnant for around 63 - 68 days which is around 9 weeks, but it can range from 60 - 70 days. The period a cat is pregnant for is known as the “gestation period”. If your cat's pregnancy is longer than 10 weeks you should immediately contact your vet.

The number of kittens a cat will deliver varies pregnancy to pregnancy. You can expect anywhere between 1 - 9, but most litters will average 4 - 6.

What Are the Stages of Cat Pregnancy?

During the first few weeks the fertilised eggs are implanting in your cat’s womb. You’re unlikely to notice any signs of pregnancy at this early stage. Between weeks 3 and 6 of the cat pregnancy period the developing embryos are growing and turning into kittens. From week 6 to week 9/10 the kittens continue to grow, and your cat’s body prepares for giving birth.

How to Tell If a Cat Is Pregnant?

Experienced breeders are very tuned in to the signs a cat is pregnant, but if this is your first cat pregnancy then it’s advisable to monitor your cat for the following pregnant cat signs:

• One of the early signs a cat is pregnant is that her nipples may enlarge slightly and become pinker. This usually happens around week 3 of the pregnancy. This is sometimes referred to as 'pinking up'.
• Your cat’s abdomen will enlarge, and with that weight gain. Their pregnant belly may show signs after about the 4th week.
• During your cat’s pregnancy time, you may notice a change in her behaviour. Some queens demand more attention or become more independent.
• “Calling” (when your queen is in season and “calls” for a mate) may stop during your cat’s pregnancy period, but not always.
• Your cat’s appetite may reduce near the time of the birth. Some cats also seem to suffer from reduced appetite during the pregnancy and this “morning sickness” may be similar to that experienced by some pregnant women.

Your vet will be able to confirm pregnancy about 3 - 4 weeks into the pregnancy, usually using an ultrasound scan.

How to Care for a Pregnant Cat

Your pregnant cat should be kept indoors so you know they’re safe and not being exposed to physical harm or infectious diseases. If keeping your cat indoors is very stressful for her then you’ll need to balance up the risks vs benefits of letting her outside. Ideally, she should be kept indoors for the last 2-3 weeks of the pregnancy.

Your cat will need extra food during pregnancy, but perhaps not as much as you may expect! Always check with your vet what to feed your pregnant cat. Some cats require special diets for ongoing medical conditions and your vet can advise on this.

For an otherwise healthy queen, no extra food is required in the first 5 weeks, and you may notice that she eats a little less than usual on some days. After 5 weeks you should very gradually increase the amount of food that you offer. By the time she gives birth she should be eating approximately 25-50% more calories than usual. At this point she will need several small feeds a day, rather than two larger meals, as her kittens are taking up space in her tummy.

Heavily pregnant queens may struggle to consume enough of their usual food, so it may be necessary to switch to a higher calorie food towards the end of the pregnancy. Any changes to the diet should be made slowly, to avoid diarrhoea.

Underfeeding your pregnant cat may result in her becoming underweight, kittens being of low birth weight and your cat not producing enough milk. Overfeeding may result in larger kittens and an overweight mother, risking complications at birth.

If your cat is on any medication, speak to your vet to find out whether this is safe to continue during pregnancy. Your vet can also advise you as to appropriate worming and flea treatments during pregnancy.

How Can I Prepare for Cat Labour?

In the last weeks of cat pregnancy, it’s important to prepare a kittening area or nesting box. The area should be quiet, private, warm, and clean so your cat feels safe and relaxed there. A cardboard box lined with clean sheets/blankets can make a good “nest”. Your cat will need water, but make sure it's raised off the ground, so that kittens cannot fall into it.

When Should I Call a Vet About My Cat’s Pregnancy?

Call your vet if you have any worries at all, even if your cat just doesn’t seem quite themselves. Your vet can advise you as to whether something is a normal sign of pregnancy or whether your cat needs a check-up at the veterinary surgery.

Particular warning signs to look out for your pregnant cat are:

• Vaginal discharge
• Being off their food
• Weight loss
• Straining
• Aborted kittens or parts of the placenta
• Painful nipples
• Your cat has reached week 10 of pregnancy and there is no sign of kittens

If you notice any of the signs listed or have any other concerns, then you should contact your vet immediately.

Planning for the arrival of kittens is exciting and forward planning can ensure that their safe arrival comes with minimal stress for your queen, and for you. Your vet should always be your first port of call for advice and support. 

Everypaw Cat Insurance

Everypaw's Cat Insurance comes with 24/7 unlimited access to vets and vet nurses that can help with your pet's health, care, nutrition and behaviour. So you can rest assured your kitty will be well looked after.

Please be aware, treatment related to pregnancy, giving birth or breeding and any complications caused by them is not covered.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.