Is your female cat expecting kittens and you're wondering how long she will be pregnant? In this post, our Lithia Springs vets discuss pregnancy in cats, including how long they will be pregnant and how you can care for them.
Pregnancy in Cats
If a kitten is unspayed, she can go into heat and become pregnant as young as 4 months old, which can be dangerous for the young queen (the term for a pregnant cat) and the kittens alike. If your kitten or cat is not spayed and left unsupervised or lives with intact (unneutered) male cats, she can become pregnant without you knowing.
If you do not wish your cat to have litters of kittens, it is strongly recommended to have your pet spayed. This prevents unwanted litters of kittens, and can also help to prevent several health conditions in your cat.
How Long Cat Pregnancy Lasts
As mentioned above, kittens can get pregnant as young as 4 months old. Unspayed female cats can go into heat every two to three weeks from springtime through the autumn, which means that they can get pregnant and birth kittens rapidly - and they can start having litters as young as 6 months old themselves.
How long are cats pregnant in months?
Cats are usually pregnant for about two months, but further diagnosis (e.g. an examination from a veterinarian) may be needed to determine how far along she is, how many kittens she is carrying, and identify any potential health risks or problems.
To answer the question 'How long are cats pregnant in weeks?', the answer is about nine weeks. However, similar to humans, kittens can be born a bit early or a bit late, but you can expect them to be born somewhere around the nine-month mark.
Signs of a Pregnant Cat
- If your cat tolerates it, gently palpating (feeling along) your cat's belly can sometimes be helpful but isn't always correct
- The cat's belly will grow bigger and rounder about a month after mating, and their nipples will also become darker and redder
- Fatigue, though this should pass after a few weeks
- A sudden increase in appetite, especially when combined with the above signs
- Although unusual, some cats experience 'morning sickness' as human parents do; this can appear in the form of nausea/lack of appetite
For a more accurate look at your cat's pregnancy status, your veterinarian has access to several diagnostic methods and tools. They can use ultrasound to confirm the presence of kittens 16 days into gestation, though it cannot determine how many kittens your cat is carrying. X-rays can give an idea of the number of kittens, but aren't always accurate and aren't safe for the unborn kittens until at least 42 days into gestation. Ideally, X-rays shouldn't be taken of pregnant cats until they are past 55 days of pregnancy.
Preparing for Your Cat's Pregnancy - and Kittens!
Like many other species of animal, your pregnant cat will likely need extra food to remain healthy and strong until she gives birth, which means more access to healthy calories. Expect your cat to eat about one and a half times as much as they usually would, especially nearer to when your vet has determined she may give birth. It's also likely that your vet will recommend you feed your cat kitten food or food for pregnant and lactating cats, both during the pregnancy itself and while they are feeding their kittens.
Like newborn babies, new kittens are vulnerable to viruses and conditions that can spread from the mother, so it's important to keep your cat's vaccinations up to date. Check with your vet to see if scheduled vaccines or other preventive medicines are safe for your pregnant cat.
Getting Ready for the Kittens
Although the following are useful tips for making your home a comfortable and inviting place for your cat to have her kittens - cats will ultimately do what they want. If your cat decides to give birth in your bathtub, under your bed, or in your laundry basket, being ready to support the new mother and her tiny kittens is going to come in handy.
If your cat is an indoor and outdoor cat, keep her indoors closer to her due date to ensure that she doesn't go into labor somewhere unsafe where you can't find her.
About 2 weeks before the kittens are due, your cat's behavior might change into 'nesting mode'; you can help by finding cozy areas around the house that could be a good birthing spot for your cat. The selected areas should be quiet, dry, and clean.
You can place a medium- to medium-large box with walls low enough to contain the new kittens and allow you to observe your cat and kittens without disturbing them too much during their first days. To make the box or nesting area cozy, 'furnish' it with newspapers, old towels, and soft blankets to create a relaxing area for the mother and kittens.
Other hints that their cat may be getting ready to go into labor include a lack of eating about 24 hours before, and the cat's temperature will drop under 100ºF.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.