Pregnancy and cat birth: signs, warning signs and other tips
Just like with us humans, cats also have peak phases of fertility in which they can become pregnant - these phases are called heat or raving. Cats usually go into heat every three weeks - so the probability of pregnancy is high!
To make sure you're prepared for the birth of a cat, it's important to find out what's in store for you and how to interpret the first signs of potential complications. We answer all questions about pregnancy in cats and give you tips so that you can best support your velvet paw.
Gestation period in cats: How long are cats pregnant?
Pregnancy in cats usually lasts 63 to 67 days, but it is difficult to determine exactly how long a cat is pregnant. The gestation period varies between cats and varies between 61 and 72 days.
Signs of pregnancy in cats
Often, there are no physical signs of pregnancy in a pregnant cat for the first few weeks. If you think your cat is pregnant, have it checked by the vet.
If you want to know for yourself how to tell if a cat is pregnant, there are a few physical signs of pregnancy in cats that you can look out for after two to three weeks.
- After about 15 to 18 days after pregnancy in cats, their teats are swollen and take on a pink to reddish color.
- Similar to morning sickness in humans, your pregnant cat may also experience nausea and vomit for a period of time. However, if you notice that she vomits regularly or feels unwell, talk to the vet.
- Your cat's belly is slowly getting bigger, but you should not touch it. Otherwise, you could hurt the mother or her unborn young. However, there are other reasons for a bloated belly. Therefore, you should monitor your cat for any symptoms of illness and contact the vet if you are worried.
- Your cat will gain between 1 and 2 kg over the gestation period (depending on the number of kittens) – this weight gain is a clear indication that it is pregnant.
- Female cats have an increased appetite at the end of their gestation period, which also affects their weight. However, an increased appetite can also be an indication of a worm infestation or disease. Therefore, have your cat examined by the vet.
- Your cat may become cuddly, meaning it purrs more and demands more care and attention from you.
In some veterinary practices, pregnancy can be detected as early as 15 days after mating with the help of an ultrasound examination. In addition, from the 40th day of gestation, the veterinarian can also tell you how many kittens your cat is expecting. However, keep in mind that during your cat's pregnancy, a larger kitten may cover its smaller siblings in the womb, which could mean that you end up facing more kittens than expected!
Tips for pregnancy in cats
Is your cat pregnant? That's great news! In addition to all the excitement, remember that your cat needs special care, security, and attention during pregnancy.
The switch to kitten food
A plus in protein and energy ensures that your cat has sufficient energy reserves during pregnancy. Normal recipes for adult cats are ideal for daily feeding, but are not adapted to the additional needs of the expectant mother. Therefore, we recommend that you give your cat kitten food again from the first weeks of pregnancy until after the kittens are weaned. You can find out more about the correct feeding of pregnant cats here.
Cuddles
When your cat starts to produce pregnancy hormones, it will most likely become a little more trusting and in need of cuddles. Love and affection play a huge role in caring for pregnant cats. However, remember that the more their body changes, the more careful you should be with your cat. Of course, you can still pet your pregnant cat, but avoid her belly. This area is very sensitive, and touching it could make her uncomfortable or even hurt the unborn young. If you need to pick up your pregnant cat, make sure that it supports itself on your hand with its hind legs as it lifts it. Avoid overly boisterous behavior towards the end of pregnancy in cats and try to give her as much space as possible. Make sure she stays as calm as possible during this time, because overly energetic movements will only cause stress.
Vaccinations
Ideally, your pregnant cat has received all the necessary vaccinations right before mating. Healthy mothers can pass on their immunity to their young by suckling, which is why the largest possible amount of antibodies should be ensured. Ask the veterinarian to test your cat's blood for antibodies and determine if further vaccinations are needed.
However, you should keep in mind that some vaccinations are not suitable for pregnant cats. So if you are already pregnant and vaccinations are due, you should always discuss with the vet which vaccinations are harmless for the mother and kitten.
If your cat is pregnant but hasn't been vaccinated, there's no need to worry. Everything should go well, but if you have any concerns, talk to the vet.
Parasites
Worms can be passed from mother to young, so deworming should be continued throughout pregnancy. You should also continue to treat your cat for fleas – ask the vet what medications you can use without harming the mother or kitten.
Building a Throwing Camp
During the last two weeks of pregnancy, you should keep your cat indoors to prevent them from giving birth to their kittens outdoors. You can prepare your cat for birth by building them a whelping camp or whelping box where they can make themselves comfortable during and after birth. The best way to do this is to use a cardboard box and lay out clean sheets, duvet covers or towels in it. Make sure the box is large enough for your cat and their litter, but also has enough height to prevent the curious kittens from exploring. Place the litter camp in a pleasantly warm place at room temperature. Don't be surprised if your pregnant cat chooses a place other than the whelping camp you have prepared for the birth. In this case, simply take the kittens to the whelping camp after birth if you think they will be more comfortable there. Make sure the new place is warm enough for her when her mom isn't there to warm her. It is best to put a grain pillow warmed up in the microwave; a hot water bottle is not so suitable, as the kittens could cause holes in it with their pointed teeth or their claws!
Cats during pregnancy: Recognizing complications
Several symptoms can indicate a problem during pregnancy in cats. If you notice any of the symptoms below, contact your veterinarian immediately:
- Your pregnant cat doesn't want to eat anymore. A loss of appetite may occur shortly before birth, but during the rest of the gestation period, your cat should be awake and healthy in every way.
- She is obviously disturbed and restless, screams more than usual and licks her sex more intensively without kittens coming out.
- You notice abnormal, foul-smelling discharge from their sex or blood during pregnancy.
She goes to the litter box again and again, squats down without urinating, or blood leaks. These could be signs of a urinary tract infection, which could also affect the unborn kittens if left untreated.
The Cat Birth
How many kittens can cats have?
How many offspring a cat gives birth to is always different and depends on many factors such as the cat breed. As a rule, cats have 3 to 6 kittens per litter. An exception is the first litter: Here the average is 2 to 3 kittens.
Signs of imminent childbirth
Although your cat is quite capable of going through the birth all by itself, you should still be prepared at the end of the gestation period. It's always good if you're right on the spot, reassuring her and being able to help if the worst comes to the worst. There are some signs of an upcoming cat birth that you should look out for:
- If your pregnant cat refuses food, becomes restless, and looks for an undisturbed place, it's quite possible that labor will start very soon.
- Your cat's body temperature will drop to about 37.8°C within the last 12 to 24 hours before birth.
- Shortly before the birth, the expectant mother may become a little louder, appear more restless or want to clean herself constantly.
- Birth is preceded by strong contractions in the lower abdomen, followed by some vaginal flow. If the discharge is thick and black or bloody, you should contact the veterinarian. After this discharge, the kittens should follow very quickly!
Pregnancy and cat births usually go smoothly. To help you identify any complications in time and intervene, we have listed the most important warning signs for you:
Warning signs of problems during labor
When your heavily pregnant cat goes into labor, it becomes restless before it lies down to give birth. Check on a cat regularly during the birth of a cat. But you don't have to stay with her all the time. You should only intervene and call the vet in the following cases:
- The cat has been in heavy labor for more than an hour and has not yet given birth to any kittens. Contractions can be recognized by the fact that the abdominal area hardens.
- Even after three to four hours, there are still no kittens in the world (see Contractions and Birth).
- Not all kittens are born within 24 hours of the start of the birth process.
- Measured by the number of young, there are not enough placentas to be seen – this can be an indication that placentas have not yet been excreted.
- You can see a kitten by your cat's sex, but despite fierce pushing, the kitten is not fully born.
While it may be a sad experience for you, some kittens may not survive childbirth. In the event of a miscarriage at a later stage of pregnancy in cats, the veterinarian should examine your cat to make sure that an infectious disease was not the cause.
Warning signs after the birth of a cat
- The mother cat is shivering, restless or agitated – these could be signs of eclampsia.
- The mother is still pushing, even though all the kittens are already in the world.
- The mother is not feeling well, she refuses to eat, vomits or has a fever. Typical signs of fever are loss of appetite, depression, listlessness, reduced water intake, trembling or rapid breathing.
- Your discharge is foul-smelling or contains fresh blood (black/reddish discharge is normal until a few weeks after birth).
- The mother cat's mammary glands turn red, harden or obviously hurt.
- Discharge from the teats that smells bad, is brown in color or bloody.
- You notice "caretakers" among the boys. Careless kittens are kittens that are weak, hardly gain weight, suck poorly or generally appear very calm.
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