After mating, your cat may become pregnant. In this article, you’ll learn how long a cat’s pregnancy lasts, the first signs to look for and how to care for your cat during this special time.
How Long Are Cats Pregnant?
A cat’s pregnancy usually lasts 63 to 65 days, or about 9 weeks.
However, the length of pregnancy can vary. A normal pregnancy can last anywhere from about 58 to 67 days, and some healthy cats give birth to normal kittens a few days later than that. If your cat goes past 67 days, or shows signs of distress, contact your vet.
The number of kittens in a litter varies too. The average is around four, but a litter can range from one kitten to eight or more. First-time mothers and older cats often have smaller litters than cats in their prime, at around two to five years old.
The First Signs of Pregnancy in Cats
- “Pinking up”: the nipples become larger and turn a brighter pink, usually around the third week of pregnancy. This sign can be less obvious in cats that have had litters before.
- Weight gain and a rounder belly, which usually becomes noticeable from around the fourth or fifth week.
- No more heat cycles. A cat that has stopped calling may be pregnant.
- Behavior changes. Your cat may become calmer and more affectionate, sleep more and look for quiet hiding places.
- A bigger appetite, especially in the second half of pregnancy. Some cats have a mild, short-lived “morning sickness” with occasional vomiting in early pregnancy.
If you’re not sure whether your cat is pregnant, take her to the vet, who can confirm it. The vet will ask about your cat’s history and examine her. An ultrasound can usually detect a pregnancy from about three weeks after mating and check that the kittens are developing well. An X-ray after about 45 days, once the kittens’ skeletons are visible, is the most accurate way to count them. Read more: how to tell if your cat is pregnant.
Important: don’t try to feel for the kittens yourself. You could harm both the unborn kittens and the mother. Only an experienced vet should feel the belly to check for kittens, from around the fourth week of pregnancy.
If your cat is healthy, the vet will probably just give you general advice. If there are any concerns, your vet may recommend blood and urine tests or tests for infections such as FIV and FeLV.
Read also: Giving birth: how to help your cat during labor
Caring for a Pregnant Cat
Food. A pregnant cat needs more energy and nutrients, especially as the kittens grow. Most vets recommend gradually switching her to a high-quality, complete kitten food (or a food labeled for “growth and reproduction” or “all life stages”) from around the fourth week of pregnancy, and continuing it while she nurses. In the second half of pregnancy, her appetite will increase, and she may eat up to 1.5 times her usual amount. Don’t restrict her food: instead, offer smaller meals more often, since the growing kittens leave less room in her stomach. Many breeders let pregnant and nursing cats eat as much as they want.
Don’t give your pregnant cat calcium supplements, vitamins or dairy products unless your vet recommends them. A complete kitten food provides everything she needs, and extra calcium during pregnancy can actually increase the risk of a dangerous condition called eclampsia after the kittens are born.
Make sure your cat always has fresh, clean water.
Exercise. Don’t cut out physical activity completely. Try to prevent jumps from high places, especially late in pregnancy, but don’t make her lie around all day either. Gentle play and normal activity are good for a pregnant cat.
Health care. Don’t give your pregnant cat any medication, flea treatment, dewormer or vaccine without checking with your vet first: many products aren’t safe during pregnancy. Your vet can recommend safe parasite treatments. Ideally, your cat’s vaccinations should be up to date before she becomes pregnant.
A calm environment. Avoid stressful situations for your cat, and treat her with affection and understanding. Read more: how to calm a stressed cat. If she goes outside, it’s safest to keep her indoors during the last few weeks of pregnancy, so she doesn’t give birth somewhere you can’t find her.
A nesting box. About two weeks before the due date, prepare a spacious cardboard box lined with soft, washable towels or blankets, in a warm, quiet, draft-free spot. She may well take to it, and it will be ready as her birthing place.
Take your cat for checkups with your vet during pregnancy if possible, and agree on a plan in case of problems during the birth, including an emergency vet’s phone number. Care for your cat with extra love and attention, and she’ll reward you with the birth of healthy, beautiful kittens.
Unplanned pregnancy? Every year, shelters in the US and UK take in huge numbers of kittens that need homes. If your cat isn’t part of a responsible breeding program, talk to your vet about having her spayed after she has weaned her kittens, or about your options if she’s early in her pregnancy.
