Cat gestation: everything you need to know about cat pregnancy!
Cats are undoubtedly the most loved animals, along with dogs. Mysterious and full of charm, they teach us the love of independence and remind us of the importance of knowing how to think also of ourselves.
There are many curiosities about cats that we should know to become more in tune with these intelligent animals and learn about their mysterious personalities, habits and languages. Here are a few in the video below.
Among the most useful things to know about the feline world, there is undoubtedly the question of the gestation of cats.
Below you can find all the information you need to take care of a pregnant cat and better manage her pregnancy, from the beginning of gestation to the moment of delivery.
Let's say first of all that the cats become fertile from 5-6 months of age, this means that, if they are not sterilized, from this moment of their life onwards, they are ready to go into heat and possibly be fertilized. Generally, the heat period runs from February to the end of summer each year and can recur several times over this period of time. This means that cats can get pregnant several times during the year.
The duration and intensity of the heat depend on several factors, including the breed, age, state of health of the cats and the surrounding environment. The main symptom that makes us understand that our cat has entered into heat is no doubt the appearance of excruciating meows.
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How to tell if your cat is pregnant
There are some unmistakable signs of pregnancy in cats, and they are evident starting a few weeks after mating. Here are the main ones:
- Nausea and regurgitation; this occurs especially in the first phase of cat pregnancy.
- Refusal of food, but only at the beginning of gestation, because later on, her appetite will triple, having more mouths in her womb to feed.
- Hard and round belly; this happens about halfway through the gestation period. By stroking it, it can also happen that kittens can be heard moving inside.
- Redness and increased volume of the nipples, as well as swelling of the vaginal area; these symptoms are usually in the final stage of pregnancy, closer to delivery.
One of the first behavioral signs that you can pay attention to in identifying a possible feline pregnancy, is if you see that, after days of intense meowing and continuous running around, your cat refuses the attention of a cat and keeps on the sidelines: this could mean that your cat has already been fertilized.
"My cat is pregnant": what to do?
The first thing to do when you realize that your cat is pregnant is to take her to the vet.
The doctor, carrying out an "ultrasound scan, will provide you with the details of the gestation, will make sure that the cat is healthy and that everything is going well; moreover, the veterinarian will give you useful suggestions about the most suitable diet to give to the cat during the pregnancy.
From the 45th day it will then be possible to know the number of kittens she will give birth. It is in fact at this moment that the bones of the kittens begin to form, therefore it will be advisable for the cat to eat specific treats, which give a greater energy supply and at the same time do not excessively clutter the intestine.
How long does a cat's pregnancy last?
According to an ancient saying, which read "Dogs and cats four months”, The pregnancy of dogs and cats would last for 4 months, but in reality this legend does not correspond to reality.
A cat's pregnancy lasts an average of 60 days, which is eight to nine weeks.
More precisely, from the moment of conception to that of childbirth, it can go from 63 to 69 days.
Before the 60th day, the birth is considered to be at risk: the puppies born before this term are in fact premature and may not be able to survive.
The number of newborn kittens varies by breed, but is typically around 4-5 kittens per pregnancy. In any case, it ranges from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 6 kittens.
As already mentioned, cats can go into heat several times during the year, leading to more than one pregnancy. If you want to avoid this, you can perform a cat sterilization operation.
When is she ready for birth? The signs that reveal it to us
How do we understand that the cat is now close to giving birth? Again, there are some pretty obvious signs, and they generally tell us that we are in the last week before giving birth. Here are the main ones:
- the nipples become enlarged and red, and small losses of milk may occur
- the mother-to-be cat sleeps practically all day
- in the last weeks close to the birth, she is more restless and anxious, especially if it is the first pregnancy
- the day before giving birth, she may have one of these attitudes: showing herself more affectionate, making small meows as a sign of moaning, or licking her genital area.
The latter, in particular, is an unequivocal signal: at this point, we are ready to witness the birth of the kittens!
The fundamental thing to do in these cases is to close wardrobes, drawers, cupboards and any type of furniture or closet, because it could slip inside in search of shelter to give birth in peace.
Instead, it is good to prepare a soft basket, with all the comforts, including his favorite blankets and soft toys, and store it in a quiet and secluded place in the house. Just like a dog, she will go there herself as soon as she feels the need to give birth to her kittens.
The time of labor
When she meows intensely and relentlessly, alternating these meows with the purrs, and begins to lick herself, panting with her mouth open, we can say that she has effectively entered labor.
Immediately afterwards the waters will break and the contractions will become more and more frequent, until, about an hour later, the kittens will be born one by one. There may be some waiting between the birth of one kitten and the other, especially for the last ones.
What to do next?
Once the kittens are delivered, the mother cat will take care of everything by herself: she will cut the umbilical cord and remove the placenta, which she will eat because it is rich in nutrients. Not only that, he will start licking the kittens, one by one, to push them to breathe and emit the first meows.
You will not have to do anything, because Mother Nature, as always, provides to plan every detail in a natural way.
If, however, you have the feeling that there is some problem, both in the birth phase and at the time of the birth of the puppies, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian and ask for help.
And if your cat is expecting kittens, why not start thinking about some names for them? Here are some tips to inspire you in case there are pink bows!
