How can you tell if a cat is pregnant

Good morning friends,

Today I would like to share some tips about cat pregnancy , just would like to share with you all, kindly advise me if the info that given is incomplete or not correct.

There are some signs you can watch out for to determine whether your cat is pregnant

• An increased appetite
• Swollen nipples that become pinker and softer.
• Showing more affection than usual.
• Vomitting, cats sometimes get morning sickness.

It can be hard to tell if your cat is pregnant before 3 weeks. From around the 4th week onwards you should start seeing some signs around the abdomen.

Your vet should be able to confirm the cat pregnancy from the 4th week by feeling around the abdomen area.

How long is a cat pregnant for?

The average cat gestation period is around 60 to 65 days, so roughly 9 weeks.

You can expect your cat to have somewhere between 1 and 8 kittens, although the record at the time of writing this is 19!

Caring for your pregnant cat

There are a few things you can do to help make your cats pregnancy comfortable and healthy.

Ensure your cat is free of worms and fleas, these can harm the kittens. If you suspect that a pregnant cat has either then you should contact your vet for advice. Do not treat her with your usual medicines without first contacting your vet.

Never give a pregnant cat any form of medication without first seeking advice from a vet as it may harm the kittens.

Give your cat a proper diet. A pregnant cat will require increased nutrients and vitamins, kitten food is ideal for this as it will contain the nutrients the unborn fetuses need. You can start introducing kitten food mixed in with normal food, gradually increasing the ratio of kitten food until near full term it is 100% kitten food. You should continue with kitten food during breast feeding as well to ensure the mother is passing on the required nutrients to her kittens. You may find when your cats pregnancy is nearing full term, your cat will not eat large meals because of the increased size of the kittens pressing on the stomach. You should feed her smaller meals more often if this is the case.

Try to avoid feeding your pregnant cat treats and scraps as this will fill her up and make her less likely to eat the more nutritious food she and the kittens need.

Always have fresh, clean water available.

Provide a safe environment for your pregnant cat. Try and keep her indoors. This will help keep her warm and will also help her avoid contact with other animals, reducing the risk of infestations and disease. Avoid uneceessary stresses like loud noises.

Show your cat attention. Your pregnant cat will want comfort and love and will look to you to help make it feel secure.

As your pregnant cat comes near to full term she will start to look for a safe nesting area. You can help by creating one for her . She is going to want to feel safe and secure during birthing, so place this in a quiet, warm area away from drafts and distractions. A cardboard box filled with paper and a soft towel will make an ideal nest. You should avoid using paper with ink that runs, like some newspapers. Place food, fresh water and a litter tray nearby to the nest. You can cut a hole in the box, leaving a lip so that the mother can easily get in and out without the kittens falling out all the time. Leave the lid closed, but easy to open if necessary during an emergency.

Labour day

As your pregnant cat nears full term there are a few signs to look for that labour is close.

• She may start calling, very similar to when she is on heat.
• She may start pacing or panting.
• You may notice some milk leaking from her nipples.
• She will probably lick more around her vaginal area.

The actual birthing process should be straightforward, your cat will most likely prefer to be left in peace. A lot of cats will purr while giving birth, this is normal and is believed to help with the pain. When a kitten is born, the proud mum will burst the sac covering the kitten and lick the kitten to encourage breathing and circulation. In the case this doesn’t happen you should burst the sac and place the kitten near the mothers mouth to encourage her to lick it. If she still doesn’t lick the kitten then you can replicate this by rubbing the kitten with a soft towel. The mother should also eat all the afterbirth and chew off the umbilical cord, this is quite normal and you should leave her to it as it contains a lot of nutrients.

On average 40% of newborn kittens are breech birth (tail first) this is considered normal.

In the sad case that one of the kittens is stillborn, all you can do is remove it from the birthing area and let the mother continue.

You may find after a kitten the mother might walk off and have a drink or something to eat. This doesn’t mean there are no more kittens to come, she is just taking a well deserved break. She may take 15 to 30 minutes in between kittens.

There should be no need for a vet to be present during the birthing process. In the rare case that a kitten gets stuck in the birthing canal for more than 10 minutes, your cat is in hard labour and having contractions for over an hour with no sign of a kitten, if a strong smelling green liquid appears or there is excessive bleeding then you should call a vet immediately.

The whole birthing process should take no longer than 6 or 7 hours. If after 7 hours no more kittens seem forthcoming and you are sure there are more inside then you should have a vet check her over. You should also count the placentas and make sure there are the same number as kittens. A placenta that gets left inside the mother can cause infection.

You should avoid touching the kittens for at least the first week. Let the mother care for them. She will take care of all their needs.

Congratulations, your pregnant cat is no longer pregnant and is instead the pr-oud mother of a litter of kittens.

Thank you for reading

-Carol-