What Age Can A Cat Get Pregnant
A cat can get pregnant as soon as shes about four months old, which is why its so important to get her spayed early on. Typically, a female cat may experience heat around that time. A cat doesnt experience menopause like a human does; it can keep getting pregnant until the last few years of its life. Therefore, a cat that hasnt been spayed can get pregnant both very young and very old.
If you have more questions about feline pregnancy that havent been answered here, feel free to . Consider coming in for a visit to make sure and get ready. There are many medical reasons to check up on your cat, especially if this is her first litter.
How Many Kittens Can A Cat Have Per Litter
Depending on the breed, health, surroundings and numerous other external factors a female cat can bear a different number of kittens each time she gets pregnant. But just because some breeds are significantly larger than others, dont expect the Munchkin to give birth to one kitten, whereas the Maine Coon to ten.
On an average scale female cats give birth to 4 kittens per litter.
However, this is an average statistic and cant be applied to every single situation. Its completely normal for your healthy, average-sized adult indoor cat to give birth to 5 kittens per litter and then for it to have only 3 kittens from the next litter.
Of course, similarly to humans, the feline reproductive capacity decreases with age. This means that the older your fluffy lady friend gets, the less kittens she will bear per litter.
During the last stages of a cats pregnancy you can easily tell how many kittens the litter will produce. As they start kicking and moving inside her belly, youll be able to see and feel them. Ultimately, at an earlier stage you can take the cat to the vets office. The doc can tell how many kittens shell bear via ultrasound.
Part 2 Of 3: Looking For Signs Of Pregnancy
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What Are The Signs Of Estrus
It is not common to observe vaginal bleeding from a cat in heat. The most notable signs of estrus in cats are behavioral. Most cats become very affectionate, even demanding; they persistently rub against their owners , constantly wanting attention. They roll on the floor. When stroked along the back or spine, they raise their rear quarters into the air and tread with the back legs. They also become very vocal. These behavior changes often become annoying to owners, and sometimes owners think their cat has some unusual illness.
Some female cats will urinate more frequently or may even spray urine on vertical objects when they are in heat. The urine contains both pheromones and hormones, both of which act as signals of her reproductive status to other cats. This is the reason that queens in heat attract intact male cats. In some cases, this may be the first indication that a young cat has reached puberty.
Tomcats that have never been seen before in your yard or neighborhood will appear. They may spray urine on the house to mark the territory as theirs or may even attempt to enter the house to mate with the female.
How Is Miscarriage Diagnosed
If miscarriage is suspected, ultrasound is used to assess the pregnancy and determine whether the fetuses are viable. Progesterone level monitoring can also be beneficial in pregnancy monitoring; abnormal progesterone levels may indicate a failing pregnancy.
“Finding a cause for the miscarriage may improve outcomes in future pregnancies.”
After a miscarriage has occurred, testing of both the mother and the fetus may be recommended to look for infectious causes of miscarriage. Blood tests performed on the mother, cultures of vaginal fluids, and histopathology of the fetus may determine a cause for the miscarriage.
Finding a cause for the miscarriage, especially if that cause is a treatable condition, may improve outcomes in future pregnancies.
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When Do Kittens Go Into Heat
A heat is part of your kittys estrus cycle a reproductive cycle that shares some similarities to a humans menstrual cycle. If your female cat hasnt been spayed, shell go into heat by six months of age .
Here are some things you should know about your cats estrus cycle:
- A cat can go into heat as often as every 2-3 weeks, year round.
- Pregnancy can occur as early as the first heat.
- Cats dont experience menopause, so they continue to go into heat well into their senior years.
- A cats heat may be identified through tests at your veterinarians office, but most commonly, its identified because of a cats behavior.
What Nutrients Does Your Feline Need When Theyre Expecting
- Top quality healthy protein
- Quality calories
- Vitamins & minerals to preference
Female felines need more highly healthy food as a resource of power. Maintaining the fetus from the start of maternity to giving birth is challenging and tiring. Particularly in contractions throughout giving birth, must be very draining pipes.
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When During Her Heat Cycle Can My Cat Get Pregnant
Because cats are induced ovalators , a cat can get pregnant at any time during the days in which she is in heat.
For the eggs to be released , however, a female must mate three to four times during a 24-hour period.
Once ovulation is completed, the cat will go out of heat within a day or two.;
As a female cat can mate with different tomcats during the time in which she is in heat, a litter of kittens may have several different fathers.
Cats are also indiscriminate when it comes to mating, which means that inbreeding can easily take place, with, for example, siblings mating with siblings.
This means that your cat can still get pregnant no matter what relation an unneutered male has to it.
Cats will continue to go through heat cycles their whole lives if they are not spayed. A cat with a lifespan of 15 years can give birth to up to 180 kittens during their lifetime!
Watch For Vaginal Bleeding
Vaginal bleeding is abnormal during any feline pregnancy and should be a cause for concern.
If the bleeding is noted during the early or middle;stages of gestation, its likely that the queen has had a miscarriage or;aborted;the babies.
If the bleeding is noted at the end of the pregnancy,;the mother may be going into labor early,;and;immediate;veterinary intervention is necessary.;;
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Keep The Scales Ready
Keep a protocol of the birthing process.;Write down both order and weight of the kittens at delivery. Give them names. Take a picture , so that you can match the data more easily later on. In case the kittens all look alike, recording the data can be hard later on, while a variety in appearance makes things a lot easier.;To weigh the tiny new kittens, a digital scale works best.
How Long Are Cats In Heat
When a cat is in heat, the cycle can last anywhere from one to two weeks. But while the length of the cycle is pretty standard, the frequency can be a bit harder to pin down.
Unlike human females , a cats reproductive cycle is less predictable. Cats are polyestrous, which means they go into heatand can become pregnantmultiple times per year. The time between cycles can last anywhere between a few days to a few weeks.
For cats that live outdoors and are exposed to nature on a daily basis, the hormone cycle is triggered by sunlight. Outdoor cats go into heat far more often from spring to fall, when there are more sunlight hours throughout the day. But sunlight isnt the only cause for a cat going into heat.
When cats arent exposed to the elements, the hormone cycle can be harder to predict. Indoor cats who are exposed to artificial lighting may go into heat at any time of the year, seemingly without warning.
So, in a nutshell, when a cat is in heat, it typically lasts one to two weeks. If your cat isnt spayed, theyre likely to be in heat multiple times throughout the year.
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Stages Of Cat Pregnancy
Pregnant cats go through many changes within a shorter amount of time than a pregnant womans nine-month gestation period. Heres a cat pregnancy timeline with pictures, which you can refer to anticipate the stages of your cats pregnancy and how you can help.
Stage 1 Implantation and Fertilisation
At this stage, the cat shows no physical signs or symptoms of pregnancy.
Stage 2 Kittens Organ Development
Your cat will then show the following signs and symptoms:
- Weight gain
- Nipple enlargement
- Nipple color turning pink
- Thinning/receding hair around the nipple.
- Morning sickness
How You Can Help:
- When vomiting is prolonged or particularly severe, consult your veterinarian.
- During this early stage, your vet can discuss with you the option to terminate the pregnancy and spay your cat, especially if its an unexpected pregnancy.
- Do not pick your cat up to avoid inadvertently hurting her kittens.
- If you need to take her anywhere, use a small cat carrier.
Stage 3 Mid Stage
Week five shows an almost complete organ development. As the kittens continue to grow, you might see visible movement inside your cats tummy by week six. After week seven, the ultrasound will show the kittens skeletons and some fur.
The obvious signs at this stage are:
- Increase in appetite as your cat is building up food stores she will need to nurse the kittens.
- Increase in belly size
- Constant self-grooming
Stage 4 Pre-labor
General Tips When Caring For A Pregnant Cat
- Prepare a labor emergency kit with the following essentials:
- Plenty of clean sheets and towels
- Clean pair of scissors or suture kit
- Stock iodine help swab kittens belly buttons and prevent infection
- Disposable gloves
- Sterilized gauze pads
- Heating pad to keep them warm use this only when necessary especially in a super cold weather
- Little suction bulbs help clean mucus from kittens mouths and noses
- Non-waxed dental floss help tie off the cord if your cat does not do it on her own
- Notebook and a pen write time of birth and the birthing process
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How To Cope With So Many Adorable Kittens
Unless you want to purposefully breed your pet, chances are you wont get to have so many kittens. The healthcare can be extremely pricy not to mention other non-health-related annual feline expenses.
On top of that, taking care of a pregnant female and her newborn kittens is challenging on many other levels.
What you can do is make sure your precious furball wont become a breeding machine. This means trying to limit her access to any males, unless youre willing and capable of fully devoting yourself to dozens of kittens each year. Spaying the kitty is another option, although many pet parents are against it. Feline overpopulation is a serious issue, though, and contributing to it isnt the best idea.
In reality, spaying is a humane decision. Not only does it prevent the mood swings, anxiety and stress that come with each heat cycle, but it also reduces the chances of having your pet run away from home. Moreover, this way you also wont have to worry if you cant find proper homes for each kitten she bears. After all, each kitty on the planet deserves to have a good life with responsible pet parents who surround it with care, love and devotion.
How To Tell If Your Cat Is Pregnant
There are several signs that will help tell if your cat is pregnant without going to the vet. Its important to note that the;average length of pregnancy in cats is 65 days . But it can vary from 61 to as long as 75 days when you know exactly when your cat was in heat.
But if you have no idea if your cat was in heat, there are a few indicators you can use to help determine if maybe she was in heat.
- Time of the year; Spring and fall are the prime months for cats to go into heat because of the rising temperature, so there is a possibility that she could have gone into heat but you werent around to witness it.
- Age of the cat; If you have an adult cat, then most likely shes gone into heat multiple times since shes already gone through puberty.
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Cats Behaviour On Heat
The phase of a cats readiness to mate is called being randy or on heat.;Hormones;playa significant role here: During this period, the oestrogen levels are rising, the; ovulation is near and the female starts looking for a tom cat if there are several prospective partners around, things can get pretty exciting!;In the open wild, the cat may accept several mating partners, which is why the kittens often look so different from each other.;;
What Nutritional Issues Are Relevant Leading Up To Pregnancy
Good nutrition sets the stage for successful breeding and pregnancy. A malnourished queen – both over- and under-weight – will suffer reproductive consequences, as will her kittens. Obesity is the most common nutrition-related problem in reproducing queens. Obesity can decrease the number of eggs released at ovulation, resulting in smaller litter sizes.;Also, obesity can decrease milk production during lactation, negatively impacting kitten health and growth. An overweight or obese queen should lose weight before breeding. There are no specific nutritional requirements for a queen during her heat cycle.
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When Does Cat Get Pregnant
The cats can mate during any time of heat cycles. They are the induced ovulate, i.e., the act of breeding triggers the release of eggs from the ovaries. Some cats need 3-4 mating with a period of 24 hours to get the ovulation to happen. Cats take one to two minutes to mate. Thus they can repeat the process multiple times within a short period. A queen may mate with different tomcats during the heat cycle to make it possible that a litter of kittens may have different fathers. Once the appearance of ovulation occurs, the female cat will go out of the heat cycle within one to two days.
Discuss Medical Care With Your Veterinarian
You should also contact your veterinarian to ask when the kittens should first be examined.;
They may want to see them right away to evaluate for cleft palates, umbilical hernias, and other health concerns, or they may advise you to wait until they are a bit older.;
Many veterinarians recommend deworming at regular intervals, starting at;2 to 4;weeks of age, and vaccinating at;6;weeks of age.;;
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What Is A Feral Cat
A feral cat is a wild animal that is not socialized to humans. It was likely born in the wild and has lived its whole life with minimal to little human contact. These felines live most of their lives hidden from human eyes. They hunt in the dark, either in the early morning or late at night, when their prey is most active. They stick to concealed areas and dont approach homes, vehicles, or household pets.
A feral cat is different from a stray cat in a few key ways. Whereas a stray cat may have belonged to a human and a family at one point in time, a feral cat likely never had human influence or hasnt for years. A stray may have run away from home or simply gotten lost, while a feral cat is a wild animal that is well adapted to living independently on the streets or countryside.
Importance Of Cats Being Spayed Or Desexed
Spaying is a surgical procedure that removes the ovaries and the uterus in female cats, meaning that they are no longer able to come on heat and become pregnant.
Apart from the prevention of unwanted kittens, spaying also has a number of medical benefits for your cat.; These include preventing an inflammation of the uterus or infection in the uterus , mammary gland tumours and other neoplasm of the reproductive system and ovarian cysts.
Many people decide to get their female cat desexed as they are concerned about her getting out when she is on heat. Not only is there a risk of her getting pregnant, but there is also a very high risk of her getting hit by a car or getting injured as her only focus is on finding a male to mate with.
There are many things to consider when deciding whether to breed or desex your female cat . Please feel free to contact your veterinarian or veterinary nurse to discuss any queries that you may have.
“Compendium of Animal Reproduction Intervet International 1995
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