Cats can go into heat and breed as early as 5 … This gives her extra nutrition that she needs, so don’t stop her from doing this. However, if you're the owner of a purebred cat whose kittens are in high demand, or you've taken on a pregnant stray, understanding the stages of pregnancy will ensure a healthy gestation period. Usually, the fetuses are simply resorbed by the mother's body and no symptoms occur. Generally, in this time fertilization occur. A cat’s pregnancy lasts about 60-65 days. She has been writing for over 15 years; writing articles, whitepapers, product write-ups and more for multiple online media sites, blogs, company websites and individuals. So let’s go through the stages, starting with the beginning. 5 stages of cat pregnancy 5 Stages Of Cat Pregnancy Although most people often recommend cat neutering or spaying, there are chances that you may have to deal with cat pregnancy, due to deliberate breeding or an unexpected liaison at the shelter or clinic. Cat Tip of the Day: How to Deal With a Lazy Cat, How to Choose Cat Litter and a Cat Litter Box. During the first few weeks of pregnancy, or early stages, your cat will actually suffer what humans suffer with during their first trimester, and that is what we call morning sickness. From now until birth, the growth of the fetuses will be your cat's main objective, requiring a great deal of her body's energy. At this stage, the cat’s nipples become dark pink and sometimes red. Franny is an award-winning freelance writer who has been writing about cats since 1997. It is suggested to get the neutering done to form a vet and to make sure that you do not get more unwanted cats. and go through the stages of cat pregnancy. 11, 2013, pp. The prominent cat pregnancy symptoms are typically observed around the first three weeks of pregnancy. In the end, you can welcome a bundle of kittens. A nesting box with a warm towel or blanket for her, should be offered to her. She is also the founder of The Vetitud, a site for veterinary professionals. A cat about to go into heat will initially display signs of restlessness, become more affectionate, begin making low calls, and have increased appetite. A cat’s pregnancy length usually lasts between 58 and 67 days. Eclampsia is a veterinary emergency, and the cat should be seen immediately by a veterinarian at the first signs of symptoms. She’ll start licking her genitals and she’ll begin making sounds that tell you she is in uncomfortable. When the kittens are all weaned and old enough to find homes of their own, you will want to get your momma cat spayed as soon as possible because she can go right back into heat pretty quick once the babies are done nursing. The typical feline pregnancy is 63 to 65 days long. At approximately 4 weeks, when most of the organic structures have been formed, the embryos become fetuses and the first trimester is completed. Palpation of the Cat's Abdomen: Your veterinarian may be able to feel your pregnant cat's fetuses by palpating and gently pressing on her abdomen.This typically happens around the 17th to 25th day of pregnancy. A cat pregnancy week by week change will be observed in the form of the cat’s nipples becoming pinkish in color and also slightly enlarged in week 3 of feline pregnancy. But let’s say you do a cat business and t those breed kittens are in real demand or you have adopted a stray pregnant cat so you have to understand the pregnancy stages to ensure a healthy and normal birth. The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. All symptoms of abortion should be considered a veterinary emergency, and the pregnant cat should be seen immediately. She will need to be examined in case she retains any remaining fetuses, alive or dead. At around three weeks, small … The first stage is when a cat goes into feline estrus (also known as heat). She is also an advocate for brain malformations, including Chiari Malformation, and works closely with the non-profit organization, The Chiari Project, writing for their quarterly newsletters. The placenta begins to form at the time of implantation and allows for the exchange of nutrients and waste products between the mother and embryo. Just when labor is about to begin, you won’t help but be able to notice the signs. If you are curious to know how many kittens she’s carrying, your vet can perform an X-ray to see. This is also the time that if she’s palpable enough, you could even begin to feel the first little lumps in here belly that are the kittens developing. Once active labor starts, she should give birth to her first kitten. There are roughly 5 cat stages of pregnancy. 4. While she may decide, instead, to give birth on the cold, hard floor of your bathroom, at least you tried to accommodate her needs. 1. Your cat may want to be around you all the time. Learn how your comment data is processed. 1st week of cat’s pregnancy is very beginning. As a cat owner, you will probably be head over hills for the arrival and preparing everything for it. Ultrasound of Your Cat's Abdomen: An ultrasound may detect fetuses as early as the second week of pregnancy, and heartbeats may be detected sometime after the third week. Besides, the become more noticeable against her usual pale abdomen colouring. In cats, milk fever (also called eclampsia or lactation tetany) may occur three to five weeks after the birth of kittens and is due to a sudden drop in the amount of calcium circulating in the bloodstream, associated with the heavy demands of milk production. MTA Worker Saves Dozens of Cats from Subways and Railroads, Philosopher Suggests Living the Good Life Can Be Learned from Cats, Missing for 4 months, Beloved Cat Returns Home for the Holidays, Cats May Love Their Pet Parents More Than We Thought, 10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Arabian Mau, 10 Things You Didn’t Know about The Chocolate Point Siamese, Why You Should Always Bathe Your Cat in the Sink, A Few Facts about National Hairball Awareness Day, A Quick Guide on How to “Cat Proof” Your Windows, The 10 Most Serious Cat Diseases to Be Aware Of. Although lots of people often suggest pet cat neutering or spaying, there are opportunities that you may need to handle feline maternity, as a result of calculated breeding or an unexpected intermediary at the shelter or clinic. A feline goes into heat for approximately four to ten days. But it could go the other way, as well (hormones are known to do crazy things). Erratum: 2013 AAFP Feline Vaccination Advisory Panel Report. The signs that you may think of pregnancy may come out to be because of some other reasons or vice-versa. At the very beginning of your cat’s pregnancy, mating and fertilisation occur, although you will not be able to tell definitively that your cat is pregnant for a couple of weeks. Dr. Smith is part of The Spruce Pets' veterinary review board. In the second week, you may notice that your cat has pink nipples that are swollen and sensitive to touch. There's a lot you need to know to make things go smoothly with your new friend. Breeding Your Cat. In order for a cat to conceive, she must first be fertile, or "in heat." For this reason, it is important to have at hand the phone number and location of the closest emergency veterinary clinic—everyone who has lived with cats for any length of time knows that they never get sick during normal clinic hours. Yes, cats get it too, and you may notice her not eating as much, she may experience nausea and some vomiting, which you may think could be illness, or hairball related. Postnatal Care of a Mother Cat and Her Newborn Kittens. To remember: people 9 months, cats 9 weeks. The middle stage of cat pregnancy. Stages of Cat Pregnancy – Feline Labor and Birth. The fertilization of a cat's egg (ovum) involves several steps. For cats, there are essentially five stages of pregnancy and the first is easy; fertilization. Cat pregnancy can be both exciting and nerve-wracking for pet owners. Days 8-14 : Week two. You will not able to tell surely that your cat is pregnant. Or the fetus may be stillborn with no prior symptoms or signs. Each step results in a new stage in the embryo's development and implantation in the lining of the uterus. Not only does spaying reduce the number of unwanted cats, but it also protects your own cat from contracting various diseases, like cancer, that can occur in the reproductive system. Her belly starts to swell and her kittens are really growing. SAGE Publications, doi:10.1177/1098612x13511888, Eclampsia In Cats. In general, any unusual symptoms during gestation should be followed through with a call or visit to your veterinarian. Initial pregnancy is the four week period following conception. When a cat goes into heat, she displays clear behavioral changes meant to attract a mate that will last about four to six days. Pre-labor Resorption is an interesting phenomenon in which a dead fetus is completely absorbed by the queen's system. There are rarely any outward symptoms when resorption occurs. This, as we mentioned before, will depend on the age, breed, size and health status of your cat. If she happens to encounter multiple males that mate successfully with her during that heat cycle, she can have several male cats who are fathers of her kittens. By the third week of gestation, as the embryos start to develop, your cat will gain weight and increase her intake of food. Your cat will gradually gain between one and two kilograms, depending on the number of kittens. The Cat, 2012, pp. An unspayed cat's fertility stage occurs every two to three weeks during spring and summer, as the sunlight triggers the release of hormones that activate ovulation. When your cat is in estrus, she is ready to mate and her eggs will accept fertilization for approximately seven days. Cats show the first visible sign of pregnancy in this stages of cat pregnancy called pinking up in the third week of the cat gestation period. This marks the beginning of organ development in the embryos and creates a surge of hormones in your cat. Since there are usually multiple kittens in a litter, you may never know this occurred as the birth of the rest of the kittens will proceed as normal. If symptoms do occur, they may include fever, bleeding from the vagina, inappetence, and depression. Handling Cat Pregnancy. 5 stages of cat pregnancy. This is known as ‘nesting behavior’. If a cat's yearly age is determined by multiplying seven (a rough estimate, to be sure), then a cat pregnancy is really 14 months long. Week one : Days 1-7. She is the published author of her memoir, “It’s all in Your Head,” and a children’s book. Cat Pregnancy is in Full-Flow When you enter the third of these cat pregnancy stages, your expectant mother will display an even more significant weight gain and a belly or bump in the exact spot where the kittens are developing. London Vet Clinic | 86 York Street, London W1H 1QS, 2020. This is a cat’s fertile period. What Cat Toys Should You Buy for Your Cat? She should also be kept indoors at all times. It is not at all easy to identify as if your kitty is pregnant or not. Stages of cat pregnancy. Cat Pregnancy StagesIn this video, we are going to talk about the stages of cat pregnancy and what to expect. After mating first 1-10 days male cat’s sperm finds the female cat’s eggs and fertilize them. But if so, we answer some questions like, "How long are cats pregnant?" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Stages of pregnancy over nine months. How Many Times Can a Cat Become Pregnant? August 28, 2020 August 28, 2020 admin 0 Comments cat breed, cat health, cat pregnancy, cat pregnancy calculator, cat pregnancy calendar, Cat Pregnancy Symptoms, Stages of Cat Pregnancy Cats are extremely fertile animals and if the cat is not spayed then it can deliver up to three times a year. When a female cat is not spayed, she goes into heat many times a year. 5 Stages Of Cat Pregnancy . Once all the kittens are born, healthy and happy, you will want to let them all stay together for a minimum of eight weeks. At this time, your cat's nipples may become swollen and darker in color. As your queen nears her due date (approximately nine weeks from fertilization), she will exhibit clues to the arrival of kittens. This is a strong indication that she is pregnant. This process occurs roughly two weeks after fertilization. If this is her first litter, she may act a little anxious and do a lot of pacing or other nervous-types of actions. And did you know that there can be more than one father cat per litter of kittens, and it all just depends on how many Tom cats are successful with mating with the female during heat. Little, Susan E. Female Reproduction. There are five major stages of cat’s pregnancy that every owner should be aware of it. If your cat is fertile and has been in contact with a male tom cat, however, she is … Elsevier, doi:10.1016/b978-1-4377-0660-4.00040-5, Scherk, M A et al. If her nipples are pink, which happens at about 3 weeks, then the … The kittens are getting bigger, and depending on how many kittens she’s carrying, she may start looking like she swallowed a football. She may start to lay around more, and you may notice that she lays on her side more since her belly is growing. Below are the five pregnancy stages of a cat that you must watch out as you prepare to welcome new healthy kitties. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. As the embryos continue to develop, the highly-evolved cells of the head (cranium) and body (thoracic region) develop first. Michigan Animal Hospital, Miscarriage In Cats. During this time, it is natural for her to seek a male cat to mate with. By the third week of gestation, as the embryos start to develop, your cat will gain weight and increase her intake of food. For cats, there are essentially five stages of pregnancy and the first is easy; fertilization. About twenty-four hours before birth, your cat may have milky discharge coming from her nipples. Your kitty will also start to refuse food about two days before she goes into labor, so if you notice this about her, you should know it’s about time for her to go into labor. Make sure they test her for FeLV (feline leukemia virus) and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and discuss the pros and cons of vaccinating during pregnancy.. Some oriental breeds can be ready to bear kitties as early as 5 months. A cat is said to be ‘in heat’ which is the period when its body change and she is able to become pregnant. It is natural and it is needed.One thing you can do as your cat’s caretaker and owner, is to not panic when she starts labor and rush her into the vet. Fertilisation If you are anticipating breeding, you should consider the age of your cat. Gestation is approximately 63 days or 9 weeks. Save Saved Removed 5. Kitten Development in the First Six Weeks of Life. Many times, milk droplets form and drip out from them during this time. Maria McCutchen is an author and freelance writer living in Chattanooga, TN. Pregnant cats go through many changes within a shorter amount of time than a pregnant woman’s nine-month gestation period. It has even been heard of that a cat can go into heat at about five months old, which is really why it is a good idea to get a cat spayed. Is your cat pregnant? Although it can be an exciting time to know you will have more little kitties to play with, there are things that you’ll have to do to prepare for the arriving brood, and meanwhile, mama cat will be doing her own preparing, all in anticipation of being a new momma. This includes nesting—snooping around in closets and secluded areas for an appropriate place to bear her kittens. The time is ripe for you to prepare an area in a private place, with a box or basket lined with soft towels. In the third week of pregnancy, you may feel so… However, if you want to help them along, there are special foods specifically for the mother cat and the kittens. The affected cat is … During this time she will generally be much more vocal and affectionate. The following are a few conditions to be aware of so that you can spot the symptoms if they should occur, and take proper action. 3. Erratum: 2013 AAFP Feline Vaccination Advisory Panel Report. 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