How Long Are Cat Pregnant

Top Tips To Care For Your Pregnant Cat

• Take her to the vet early on in the pregnancy
• Feed her kitten food throughout the pregnancy
• Increase the amount of food you provide during pregnancy she will probably need to eat one and a half times more than usual your vet will be able to advise on the best diet and quantities
• Examine your cat for fleas, ticks and other parasites, as these can harm her unborn kittens
• Pregnancy can be tiring for your cat, so its normal for her to be less active, and to need more rest than usual
• A pregnant cat should be wormed but you should discuss with your vet which product to use as some wormers can be harmful to the kittens
• Keep her inside as her due date approaches so that you can keep a close eye on her
• When she is in labour although it is important to monitor her for signs of complications try to give her some privacy and keep the environment calm and stress free. Try not to interfere unless you are concerned that there may be a problem. In this instance it would be sensible to contact your vet for advice.

Is My Cat Pregnant How To Tell & Tips For Care

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Has your female kitty always been on the slender side but is now packing on the pounds? If so, it’s natural to wonder if she might be pregnant. Luckily, how to tell if a cat is pregnant usually comes down to a few common signs, such as:

• Noticeable weight gain in a few weeks
• Swollen and pink nipples
• Distended abdomen
• Increased appetite
• Vomiting
• Personality changes

If you have a female cat that is still intact, meaning she has never been spayed, and checks off some or all of these boxes, you’ll want to confirm the pregnancy with your veterinarian right away. They can perform a blood test, an X-ray and an ultrasound to identify if your cat is pregnant and how many kittens she’s carrying.

Which Kitten Food Is Best For Pregnant Cats

Caring for a pregnant cat through a healthy, safe delivery and then onto a new home begins with a high-calorie diet that will keep her looking and feeling good, while also ensuring her kittens are given the best start in life. Before changing a pregnant cats diet, always consult with the rescue group or shelter first.

With the foster teams approval, gradually transition a cat onto kitten food only, over 7 to 10 days, then continue to feed the same diet three weeks after the litter arrives. Dry kitten food is higher in calories than wet food and provides cat mothers with good quality nutrition that she passes onto her litter during weaning.

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Create A Nesting Environment

Provide your cat with a safe, comfortable place in which to labor and give birth. As they prepare to deliver, “most mother cats will seek their own nesting area in the last week or so of pregnancy,” explains Veterinary Partner. “If you wish to help her, expect her to require soft bedding, an area with minimal human traffic, and separation from other pets in the home.” Additionally, ensure that everyone in the home respects her privacy and boundaries.

Physical Changes In A Pregnant Cat

Looks for these signs in your cat’s body indicating pregnancy:

• Heat cycles cease: This may be the first sign you notice of a cat’s pregnancy. If a cat has been going through heat cycles every 10 days to two weeks, and suddenly stops, it is likely she is pregnant.
• Nipples swell and become rosier in color: Breeders call this “pinking-up,” and it may be the first visual sign you will see in a pregnant cat.
• Change in appetite: A pregnant cat may have a decrease in appetite early in her pregnancy. In the second half of pregnancy, she will show an increased interest in food. After all, a pregnant cat is not only eating for herself, but for several fetuses.
• Weight gain: Most pregnant queens will gain about 2 to 4 pounds of body weight over the course of pregnancy.
• Vomiting: Pregnant queens may be subject to a few bouts of “morning sickness,” much as human mothers-to-be. This in itself is not necessarily a reason to worry, but if the vomiting continues or is frequent, contact your veterinarian for help.
• Enlarged abdomen: Sometime around the fifth week of pregnancy, a pregnant cat’s abdomen will start to swell noticeably. It will continue to enlarge until time for birthing.

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Why Is My Molly Fish Laying On The Bottom Of The Tank

Molly fish can stay at the bottom of the tank due to swim bladder infections, ich, or pregnancy. Its possible that your tank isnt the best environment for your fish. Staying near the bottom of the tank could be a sign that you need to perform a water change or that the water quality is poor.

Mollies can be kept in a variety of aquariums, but they are most commonly found in small, shallow tanks. They are also known to live in groups of two or three, although this is not always the case.

If you want to keep a mollie in an aquarium, it is best to choose a tank that is large enough for them to be able to move around freely. The tank should also have plenty of hiding places to hide in, such as rocks, logs, and other objects.

A tank with a shallow bottom is also a good choice, as it will allow the fish to have more room to roam around and hide from predators.

Will My Cat’s Diet Need To Be Changed During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the queen’s nutrient requirements will reach one-and-a-half times her pre-pregnancy level. By the time of weaning, it may exceed twice the pre-pregnancy level. It will be necessary to increase the number of meals given and feed a diet formulated for pregnant females or kittens, since this provides the additional nutrients required for pregnancy and nursing.

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Supplies For The Birthing

Your cat might want to hide to give birth. However, you can prepare a birthing area, such as a cardboard box or laundry basket lined with towels or blankets. If the cat uses this spot, it will be easier for you to observe and attend to the birth.

• Absorbent pads: Get absorbent pads to line the delivery area.
• Towels: You will need clean towels or paper towels to clean the area and stimulate the kittens, if necessary.
• Nesting box: If you have brought your pregnant cat to the vet, and you know how many kittens to expect, get a nesting box large enough for the brood. Although a cat can have from one to 12 kittens, an average litter is about four kittens. A standard, 8-pound cat should be fine with a box that is 16-inches by 24 inches. The larger the cat, the bigger the box it will need.
• Heating pad: Put a heating pad in the bottom of the box with a blanket or several towels over it to prevent the kittens from getting chilled. Never place the kittens directly on a heating pad it can burn them. If the box does not have a lid, then drape a clean towel over the top to hold the heat in and keep out drafts.
• Refuse bin: You will have a bunch of soiled towels after the birth, so have a laundry basket, plastic bag, or extra box ready for discarding them.
• Dental floss and clean scissors: If the mother cat does not break away the umbilical cord, you will need to tie it off with dental floss and cut the cord.

How Often Can A Cat Have Kittens

Your cats pregnancy will last about 9 weeks, with the average length being 63-65 days. And, a cat can get pregnant again very quickly after giving birth! Nursing her kittens wont prevent pregnancy, and your kittys next heat may occur just a few weeks after her kittens are born.

To prevent another pregnancy, ensure your kitty isnt around any male cats, and talk to your vet about spaying your cat.

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Litter Size: What To Expect

Kitten litters are smaller than those of dogs most feline litters include three to five kittens. Its ideal to know how many kittens to expect so that you can start finding homes for them. Taking your kitty to the vet for an X-ray will help determine how many kittens shes expecting so you know how many to watch for when shes in labor. Abdominal X-rays can be taken after day 40 of gestation. Several factors determine how many kittens your cat may birth, such as their age, health, genetic makeup, and the number of pregnancies theyve had in the past.

Cat Labor Emergency Kit

If your cat is pregnant, its always a good idea to prepare an emergency kit ahead of time with items you may need. In many cases you dont have to do a thing, nature takes care of it. But its good to have one on hand, just in case. Note that you should never try to help your cat unless you know there is a real problem. Cats are quite good at having babies without any human intervention.

In your kit, make sure you have plenty of clean sheets and towels. Flannel is great, especially for after the kittens are born because they are less likely to get their little claws tangled up in this material.

Make sure you have a clean pair of scissors on hand or a suture kit to cut any of the cords if necessary, and stock iodine to swab the kittens little bellybuttons and prevent infection. You should stock your emergency kit with disposable gloves too, in case you have to handle the kittens at all, as well as sterilized gauze pads and non-waxed dental floss. The dental floss will be used to tie off the cords if your mother cat doesnt do it on her own.

Another good idea to keep in your emergency kit is a notebook and pen so you can take notes on the birthing process and note any other important information like the time and date. You can also make sure your vet information is written in there in case you need to call them for help.

Cat Breeding at This Time of Year Vet Westm Accessed May. 2019.

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Consider Spaying And Neutering

According to the ASPCA, a cat can have an average of four to six kittens per litter, and can have one to two litters per year. That adds up to a lot of kittens!

Shelters are full of cats and kittens across the United States. To help with the serious problem of overpopulation, talk to your veterinarian about spaying or neutering your cat.

It is also important to consider the risk of pyometra , which is a life-threatening condition that can happen in intact cats.

The best way to prevent this serious and expensive medical condition is to spay your cat. Spaying before the first heat cycle , can also reduce the risk of mammary cancer in your feline friend.

Here are some tips for caring for your cats kittens safely.

How To End Cat Homelessness: Spaying

There are 94.2 million cats living in homes in the United States. Overpopulation is cited as one of the biggest problems in shelters, and adoption, spaying or neutering considered the most effective way to minimize homelessness amongst cats.

Since cats can conceive as young as four months, the ASPCA recommends spaying or neutering by five months. As a foster pet parent caring for a pregnant cat, consult with your shelter and rescue group team about when to sterilize felines.

While some veterinarians prefer spaying after weaning in 6 to 8 weeks if she can be quarantined indoors during that time, every team will have a recommendation on a procedure to prevent further unwanted pregnancy.

Learn more about fostering cats from experts. to the Petfinder Newsletter.

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What Months Do Cats Go Into Heat

Cats will usually go into heat 6-9 months after they are born, but it can be as early as 4 months and as late as 12. Cats like to have between 14 and 16 hours of daylight to mate, and this light can be natural or artificial, so it can happen nearly anytime. In North America, the typical breeding season runs from January to October. Cats only need a few weeks off after giving birth until they are ready to go into heat again and can have multiple litters per year.

How Long Is A Cat Pregnant

Cat pregnancy normally lasts between 63 to 67 days, but it can be tough to know exactly how long a cat is pregnant for. The cat gestation period can vary from as short as 61 days to as long as 72 days.

Your cat often wont show any physical symptoms of pregnancy until she is a few weeks into her term. If you think that your cat is pregnant, take her to the vets for confirmation.

If you would like to know how to tell if a cat is pregnant yourself, there are several physical signs that you should be able to spot after two or three weeks have passed.

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How To Tell If A Cat Is Pregnant

It can be very difficult to see the signs that a cat is pregnant. The most definitive ways to confirm pregnancy include a blood test, ultrasound, x-rays or abdominal palpation.

When a cat is pregnant, they are typically referred to as a queen. Usually a queens behavior will not greatly change during pregnancy, but some cats may become either more affectionate or aggressive.

Eventually, the cats abdomen may look rounder or her nipples may become more prominent. However, these signs will sometimes not occur until later in the pregnancy.

Cats can also suffer from false pregnancy, or pseudopregnancy. Its believed to be caused by hormonal imbalances that allow non-pregnant queens to show symptoms such as lactation and behavioral changes. These changes usually occur one to two months after her heat is over and can last for up to a month.

Pregnant cats have different nutritional needs. Heres what you need to know about providing the right food for a pregnant cat.

Later Stages Of Cat Pregnancy

In addition to the early signs, a growing belly is another sign your cat is pregnant. A pregnant queens stomach will begin to swell, and she can gain two to five pounds depending on how may kittens are present, says Dr. Marks. Her appetite will increase in the later stages of pregnancy, and she may act more maternallike purring more, and being more clingy to human parents. Like humans, a queens growing belly will likely mean more trips to the litter box to urinate. Or she could have constipation as the growing kittens crowd and narrow the space of her organs. Show extra love to your catthese are the best gifts for your feline friend.

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How Do Vets Confirm If My Cat Is Pregnant

One way to find out how long cats are pregnant is to confirm a cat is indeed pregnant. Dr. Nascimento says pregnancy can be confirmed by an ultrasound early on at around two weeks. There are also special hormonal blood tests. At around 40 days, Dr. Marks says a radiograph can be taken not only to confirm pregnancy but also to get an estimate of how many kittens are in the litter. Getting your cat to the vet can be an ordeal itself, but learning how to get your cat in a carrier without getting your eyes scratched out can help.

How Did My Cat Get Pregnant

The fecundity of the cat has been acknowledged throughout its history with man it has in consequence been worshipped by some and persecuted as wanton by others. What it does mean, is that if you fail to neuter your female cat before she becomes sexually mature and you let her outside, an unneutered male cat is likely to find her and before you realise what has happened she will be pregnant! You are probably unlikely to notice this until she starts to get rather plump and wonder what you have to do. Heres how it happens

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Start Socialization When The Kittens Eyes Begin To Open

Kittens eyes generally open around 7 to 10 days of age. At this point, if the queen will allow it, its a good idea to get the kittens used to your presence. Socializing them at an early age can help ensure that they fit well into a household.

Kittens should NOT be taken away from their mother and go to their new homes too quickly, as they learn very important social rules and behavior from their mother and siblings. They should never be separated from their mother if they are younger than 8 weeks old.

Waiting until they are closer to 10 weeks old to adopt out or place the kittens in homes will have an even greater behavioral benefit.

Mammary Glands Will Increase In Size

During the final week of pregnancy, the mammary glands of your cat will increase in size. Her mammary glands are arranged in 2 parallel rows running along the outside body wall that extends from the groin area up to the underside of her chest. Cats usually have 4 pairs of mammary glands. Approximately 2 days before your cat gives birth, shell start to produce milk.

You may notice some cream colored thick secretions coming out of her nipples. Your cat might lick it off or she could just let it dry up and youll notice that her nipples will have small whitish scabs on them. Its commonly believed that each nipple has its very own unique smell, which kittens use to attach themselves repeatedly to the same nipple.

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