Cat Mating Facts: Did You Know
Signs Of Pregnancy In Cats
The most common sign of pregnancy in cats is a change in behavior. For example, your cat may become more loving and affectionate, or to the contrary more aggressive.
In addition, she will begin to show signs of sudden excitement. This behavior is known as quickening, and it is a critical stage of a cats pregnancy in which the fetus begins to move.Like pregnant women, pregnant cats can also experience morning sickness.
During the third to fourth week of pregnancy, your cats belly will begin to swell. The swelling will also be more apparent in her pink nipples. Your cats appetite will also begin to increase, so a high-quality growth formula may be necessary. Talk to your vet about formulas for pregnant and lactating females.
Your cats pregnancy will become obvious around the sixth week. The symptoms of a pregnant cat will now encompass many changes in her behavior.
A pregnant cat will begin moving around with great care. She will try to avoid twisting and stretching actions. If she usually ventures outdoors, she will tend to prefer remaining indoors. The cats appetite will also continue to increase throughout the sixth week.
In addition to these behaviors, she will stretch, roll, and begin to search for a safe place to give birth. Therefore, it is advised to keep your cat indoors to ensure that she does not make her nest outdoors.
What Are Potential Complications From A Spay Procedure
Feline spay procedures are very routine and are among the most common surgical procedures performed by veterinarians. Like any surgical procedure, however, there is a potential risk for complications related to either general anesthesia or the surgery itself. The most commonly noted surgical complications associated with spay procedures include bleeding, incisional swelling, pain, and incisional dehiscence . Thankfully, the risk of complications following sterilization surgery in felines is very low.
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Is It Safe For My Cat To Give Birth At Home
Yes, but watch. She should have a kitten within 30 minutes of actively pushing and about two hours between kittens. So if shes not pushing, she can take a little bit of a break, but about two hours between each kitten coming out is what you should look for. Anything beyond that would be a red flag. Other things to watch for would be black discharge coming out. Black discharge is not good, and the same goes for bleeding. Delivery in cats is not usually a bloody process, so if youre seeing blood, that may be a sign that we need to do something about it.
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How To Stop A Cat In Heat From Peeing Everywhere
- Never rub a cats nose in urine or feces. This is an outdated training tactic that can alienate a pet from its owner, causing household tensions.
- Do not carry your cat to the litter box to show him this is where he should urinate after an accident. He will not make the connection.
- Never yell at a cat.
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What Age Do Cats Stop Having Kittens
DEAR RUBY: Cats do not undergo menopause, and a cat that has not been spayed will continue to be fertile and produce kittens throughout her life. Likewise, she will continue to have estrous cycles known as going into heat for her entire life. Most cats are capable of becoming mothers around the age of 6 months.
How Do I Know When My Cat Will Have Her Kittens
5 Signs To Know Your Cat Is In LaborMammary glands will increase in size. During the final week of pregnancy, the mammary glands of your cat will increase in size. Nesting behavior will begin. Temperature will fall. Behavior changes. Decrease in appetite. Licking, pacing, howling, and chirping.
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Other Notes & Tips For Cats To Adjust To New Home
In my experience, starting with play and distractions is the best because it is a very hands-off and effective approach without causing any stress. Its great to do for the first day that the cat arrives.
As cat parents wait and observe, the feline might begin to move around and explore. At that point, try a little hand-feeding, and see how the cat or kitten reacts. If they eat from your hand, you can progress further next time with hand-feeding and gentle touching. Once they learn to trust your hand, it sets them up for the future to be touched, pet, or even held.
Eventually, the cat will get to the point of complete trust with you and its environment. If youre still having trouble with getting your cat used to its new environment , this more detailed guide might help: How to Get Your Cat to Like/Trust You Again.
Keep The Nest Area Warm
Kittens are unable to regulate their own body temperature until they are 3 to 4 weeks old. So for the first four weeks of their lives, you should provide a warm, clean box or bedding for the mother and kittens to share.
Use a heating pad below the nesting box or a heating lamp above it to keep the kittens warm. But make sure there are accessible unheated areas, as kittens willneed tobe able tomove away from the heat source if they become too warm.
The warm area should be about 97°F.
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When To Wait And When To Worry
While many authors believe that problems in parturition are rare in the cat, others feel that with the progression of selective breeding these problems are becoming more common.
The effect of this has been shown in a survey of over 700 breeding cats, which found that cats with extremes of conformation, such as Siamese and Persians, experienced much higher levels of dystocia , 10 per cent and 7.1 per cent of births being affected respectively, compared to only 2.3 per cent of births being affected in cats with normal conformation. It is therefore very important that breeders are aware of the details of normal parturition so that they can recognise a problem when it arises.
In pregnancy, the foetuses are spaced along each horn of the uterus. Each foetus is contained within its own membranes and has its own placenta through which it derives nourishment. The uterus may be considered as a muscular, sausage-shaped bag, capable of contracting both around its diameter and along its length. To help in its passage, each foetus is contained within a fairly tough double-layered bag of foetal membranes, which are filled with slippery fluid in which the foetus floats. This serves as both protection and lubrication and provides a distending, stretching and dilating force when the uterus relaxes in front of it and contracts behind it during the course of parturition.
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.
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Can Kittens In The Same Litter Be Born On Different Days
Although kittens in the same litter can technically be born on separate days, that isnt typical. Cats, like humans, go into labor before delivering. Labor time can vary from minutes to hours. Once the delivery starts its mostly a simple matter of timing, with the occasional instance of multiday births.
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Why Do Cats Sleep So Much
For some reason, cats sleep so much, and for most of them, that is all they do. This is different than other animals in that they are able to rest and its totally natural for them. They have very low metabolic rates and need a lot of sleep to regulate their bodys temperature. Some scientists think that the cats method of sleep is a very important part of their biology and they are a special case, while others think its just a coincidence. They are nocturnal hunters and use their eyes during their sleep, which lets them get the most rest from their exhausting day.
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How To Help Your Cat During Birth
Consult your veterinarian before your cat gives birth to determine whether she will need any special care or treatment during her pregnancy or delivery. Observation and timing are the keys to being an effective cat midwife. Make sure you dont upset or scare her by keeping a distance and keeping an eye on her. In the event that your cat gives birth without your assistance, you should be aware of her and her kittens requirements so that you may assist if necessary. If you observe any anomalies, contact your veterinarian.
Preparation is key when it comes to dealing with feline emergencies, so make sure you have everything you need on hand. The three phases of birth, known as kittening or parturition, are each repeated for each kitten. Stages two and three are repeated often over the course of a kittens life. The delivery normally occurs within six hours after the beginning of the second stage, although it might take as long as 12 hours.
Every 1060 minutes, your cat should birth one new kitten. Any longer and your cat may experience suffering. With this timeframe, your cat should be able to deliver in less than six hours.
Should I Let My Cat Have Kittens
Your cat doesnt need to have kittens to live a normal healthy life, and there is an abundance of kittens and cats in rescue centres across the UK. PDSA recommends neutering before the first season to avoid unwanted pregnancies, especially if youre worried about dealing with the birth and finding homes for the kittens.
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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.
Cat Pregnancy Stages: A Week
It seems as though cats get pregnant easily and often. Neutering and spaying your pets are very important in keeping the population under control and reducing how many kitties end up in shelters, on the streets, or euthanized.
Plus, cats that have been neutered or spayed are often healthier. However, things happen, and cats do have kittens, whether you plan for it or it just happens.
When your pet is conceiving, you may be wondering how long your cat will be pregnant, and what the cat pregnancy stages are from week to week. Hopefully, this brief guide will help give you some ideas on what to expect when your feline is pregnant.
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Reason : Her Owner Left Or Something Else Changed
Cats may be more dependent or independent while giving birth. A cat that is more independent might try to hide once they start going into labor. Theyll feel most comfortable in a towel-lined box or another cozy area inside a closet or a private room.
If you try to approach your cat and she seems distressed or angry, she may be going into labor and she may be the type that likes to do it alone. While you should still pop in periodically to check on her, give a queen that wants to be alone during birth some space.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, some cats are very dependent on their owners during the birthing process. They are most likely to find somewhere cozy nearby to give birth. Some cats even choose to have their kittens in their owners bed- especially if the bed is already one of their favorite areas to hang out. These are also the cats that will bring you their kittens after theyre born!
If your cat seems to be the dependent type, shell want your comfort while giving birth. She may enjoy snuggling against you with her head or being pet. For cats that are more dependent, they may pause birth and wait for you to come back if she goes into labor.
While you cant always move your schedule around if she has kittens born on different days, you should try to be there if possible. If you cant be there, somebody else that your cat is familiar with should be there in case there are any problems during the delivery.
When Is A Cat Too Old To Have Kittens
Around five or six years of age, a cat is too old to have kittens in terms of her health and should stop getting pregnant. Cats can get pregnant and give birth throughout their senior years however, getting pregnant at too old can be detrimental to a felines body and health.
Cats dont get menopause-like humans, so their bodies continue to cycle for their entire lives. However, as a cat ages, her litters often become smaller. According to experts, its best to cut off the breeding cycle at around five years of age and have a feline spayed.
Many breeders elect to spay their queens at around age five the health risks are too great for mama and kittens!
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Monitor Nursing And Lactation
Colostrum is the first milk that the mother cat produces for her kittens. It is imperative that the kittens receive an adequate amount of colostrum because it contains vital nutrients and immunoglobulins that are necessary for proper immune system maturation.
Newborn kittens should be nursing every one to two hours, so your cat will likely be with them constantly for the first week or two. If you think that your cat may not be producing milk, or isnt letting the kittens nurse, contact your veterinarian right away.
Use caution when approaching the kittens, as some mothers may show aggression to humans or other household pets if they perceive a threat.
Avoid giving medications and vaccines while your cat is nursing.
If your cat becomes ill, call your veterinarian immediately and make sure to let them know that she is nursing so that they can prescribe safe medications if needed. Contact your vet if you your cat does any of the following:
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Becomes very lethargic
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Has redness and swelling in any of her mammary glands
How Old Is A Kitten When It Goes Into Heat
Expect your little one to begin going into heat before she hits her first birthday. First Heat Female kittens often enter into their first heat cycle or estrus at around 5 to 6 months in age. The time frame varies, however, with some kittens entering into heat at as young as 4 months old, particularly from the Siamese breed.
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What To Expect During Birth
Your female cat may want to hide when giving birth, but you can help prevent this by providing her with a suitable nesting box. It can be as simple as a cardboard box or laundry basket lined with towels and blankets.
It doesnt hurt if you put down some absorbent pads underneath in preparation the birthing process can be a messy one.
As the pregnant queen prepares to give birth, she may start to pant, pace, and groom excessively. If youre monitoring your cats body temperature, youll notice a drop to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit and you may see the cats teats getting larger, pinker, or darker. In the hours leading up to the birth, you may also see a vaginal discharge of blood or other fluid.
Once the birthing process begins, the first kitten should be born in anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes.
Kittens are born with their amniotic sacs, which the mother cat will remove, and she will stimulate the new kitten to start breathing on its own by licking it. The mother will also sever the umbilical cord herself and may eat the placenta to obtain its nutrients.
The number of kittens determines how long the birthing process will take.
There could be a pause of 30 to 60 minutes sometimes more between births but if you are sure there are kittens remaining and there is a delay of 2 hours or longer, call your veterinarian. Even with a smooth birth, you should have your cat and her litter of kittens seen by a vet within 24 hours.
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