How long are cats pregnant?

1 Cat pregnancy period
2 The number of times a cat is pregnant per year
3 The number of mating times required to conceive cats
4 symptoms of pregnancy in cats
5 How to take care of cats during pregnancy
6 Video What do you know about cats?

Cat gestation period

Cats reproduce through pregnancy and childbirth (reproduction), and the cat’s gestation period extends from 63-65 days. Cats’ pregnancy begins at the age of 4 months and gives birth at the age of 6 months. The duration of cat gestation may vary to a maximum of 72 days and a minimum of 61 days.

This difference does not depend on the type of cat, but rather depends on the time when the cat is known to be pregnant, as it is difficult to know when the cat is pregnant due to the delay in the physical symptoms that appear on it, and these symptoms often appear after the second or third week of pregnancy.

Childbirth has several stages and rituals:

stage of labour

At this stage, the cat's uterus begins to prepare for childbirth, and contractions begin and fatigue appears on it, and it is possible to feel the movement of the fetuses on the wall of the mother cat's abdomen, and often at this stage she needs a sense of safety from her owner, and some cats before labor begin to pant, as a result of pain and exhaustion, and when labor begins The cat refrains from eating (the last 24 hours before giving birth), and the labor period lasts 36 hours in some cats.

birth stage

At this stage, the muscles of the uterus contract greatly and repeatedly, and the fetus moves to the pelvic region to prepare for exit, and the fetus is enveloped in membranes that facilitate the birth process and the passage of the fetus from the uterus to the pelvis. 10 minutes to an hour.

The stage of separation of the placenta and rupture of the membranes

When the cat gives birth to her fetus, she gets rid of the placenta, tears the membrane, bites the umbilical cord and eats it after giving birth, and begins to clean the kittens, especially the ear and mouth area, by licking them.

The number of times a kitten gets pregnant per year

The number of times a cat gets pregnant depends on the estrus cycle, as this cycle comes to female cats seasonally, often in the spring and autumn months (twice a year), and during this period pregnancy occurs, and during this cycle that lasts from 9-10 days if not Mating takes place, they end after four days.

The cat breeding season practically begins in early February and continues until late December, and therefore it can be said that February is the beginning of the mating season.

The number of mating times needed to conceive cats

In the ovulation stage, in cats, the cat needs the mating process from three to four times, within a period not exceeding 24 hours. The mating process between cats does not exceed two minutes, and this is sufficient time for pregnancy to occur, and mating may be between one female and more than one male, and here it should be noted That the kittens may be from different fathers.

During this period, a cat breeder must be present to provide the necessary care and support for the cat, as sometimes mating between a male and a female is refused, which results in fights and severe injuries, in addition to the need to be careful due to the emergence of aggressive behavior in some females at times, It performs some disturbing behaviors, such as: scratching or biting the breeder.

Symptoms of pregnancy in cats

Cats show symptoms that indicate their pregnancy, and the most important of these symptoms and signs are as follows:

A change in the color of the nipples, as after the third week of pregnancy, the cat's nipples become dark in relation to their normal color and enlarged size, and a brown substance may be secreted during pregnancy, although milk is not secreted until after birth.
Nausea occurs, some females are exposed to symptoms of nausea, especially in the morning period, and it is preferable to see a veterinarian in the event of frequent nausea.
Flatulence: Flatulence in cats with a heavy weight may be difficult to distinguish, but the continued increase in the size of the abdomen in the cat is evidence of pregnancy, and cats during pregnancy often gain 1-2 kg.
Choosing a quiet place to stay. After the first weeks of pregnancy have passed, the cat begins to search for a quiet place to stay. During this period, it shows behavior that is characterized by kindness and tenderness and makes a purring sound, and it may have little tolerance for the animals around it.
After the 40-45th day of pregnancy, an ultrasound can be used to find out if the cat is really pregnant or not after the previous symptoms appear. In some cases, the veterinarian accepts an ultrasound, but it will not be of much help, especially in knowing the number of cats. X-rays to detect pregnancy in cats are safe.

The cat's eating habits can be observed, as the pregnant cat may begin to refuse to eat, and in other cases after the third or fourth week, the cat will refrain from eating for long periods of time that may reach three days, and on the contrary, it may be exposed to excessive appetite, and some cats begin to eat more than the usual .

One of the most important things that must be paid attention to is the distinction between obesity and pregnancy in cats, as when looking at the cat from above, the belly of the pregnant cat will be swollen from the middle of the neck to the tail, and from the side the abdomen will appear round and swollen, while obesity is the cat’s swelling from all sides including its feet and neck.

Cats may be exposed to false pregnancy as a result of unsuccessful mating or due to artificial ovulation, as the female cat shows symptoms of pregnancy, such as: enlarged nipples and lymph nodes, but these symptoms disappear after the fortieth day automatically.

How to take care of cats during pregnancy

The cat breeder must deal with the cat during pregnancy in a natural and calm manner as possible, as dealing very sensitively with the cat during this period may cause many problems, especially during childbirth, so it is necessary to follow the following instructions in providing care for cats :

Preserving the amount of food and not increasing it except in the last stage of pregnancy, especially the last two weeks. What must be taken into account is that the female in the last periods is offered all or eats in very small quantities at several times during the day.
Get rid of cat tools that allow them to jump from high heights, as medium activity is allowed, especially during the last stage of pregnancy.
Refrain from using pesticides, especially within the area where the pregnant cat is.
Monitoring the cat's excretion status, as constipation may be a sign of danger, and therefore special laxatives must be provided.
When using any medical drugs for the presence of any disease, it is necessary to ensure that they do not affect pregnancy and fetuses.
Work on preparing a place for childbirth, especially in the late stages of pregnancy, by providing a box of wood or plastic, and a number of pillows and absorbent papers for liquids that can be disposed of after the birth process, which helps the cat to feel safe and comfortable.

The cat pregnancy stage lasts from 63-65 days. This stage is characterized by the sensitivity of the cat, in which some friendly features appear, especially for those who raise them, but in return they show some hostile features to the animals in their surroundings, and this period requires providing physical and nutritional care to the cat, without Excessive or short, and it is preferable that the cat be born in a closed place to feel safe and not threatened.