Some would say having your cat neutered or spayed improves cat health, and reduces the risks of disease and injury — and they would be right. But say, you didn’t get your cat neutered, a pregnancy might come in at some point, and you want to be prepared for it. That is why this was prepared for you to enlighten you about what to expect when your cat is pregnant.
Below are the five stages of cat pregnancy:
1. Fertilization:
Before answering the question, “How long are cats pregnant for?”, you must first understand the sexual maturity of cats.
You see, cats reach sexual maturity as early as six months of age, while the oriental breeds reach that stage even earlier. And it is at this stage that cats begin to enter the heat period and can get pregnant. So, to answer the question, cats are usually pregnant within 58 to 72 days.
2. The Early Stage:
What should you expect when your cat is pregnant? You might begin to ponder on a lot of things like, “Do they experience morning sickness too?”
The answer is Yes. Cats get morning sickness, too during the early stages of pregnancy. They might eat less but fear not; by the third week of pregnancy, their appetite comes back, and they’ll start eating again and would most likely, also gain weight. You would also be able to feel the lumps of her developing kittens by this stage.
3. The Middle Stage:
There’s not much about this stage to notice except the weight gain. It might begin to look like she swallowed a basketball. Furthermore, if you’d like to know how many kittens she’s carrying, have your vet do an x-ray.
4. Pre-labor:
The pre-labor stage starts a week before your cat gives birth. You might notice her nipples being extra visible at this time, and you might even see drops of milk on them. She might also start seeking warm and safe places to create a nest for her kittens. You can help out your cat at this time by providing nesting boxes in the places she seems to prefer.
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5. Labor and Delivery:
It’s showtime! At this point, your cat will start showing signs of discomfort, pace around, and be very jumpy i.e., Anxious. She might also begin to lick her genitals. One thing is for sure; however, the first birth happens about an hour after the labor starts. The other kittens will come every 15 to 20 minutes until the last one is born.
Other things to note:
1. The mom cat will clean up the kittens by licking them.
2. If she wants to eat the placentas, let her eat it. It provides extra nutrition.
3. When in labor, do not panic.
4. The kittens need to be with their mothers for a minimum of eight weeks to be appropriately weaned, but 12 weeks with mom is better.
5. Once the babies are weaned, spay the queen else she might go into heat yet again.
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