Your Cat Is Pregnant - But How Can You Tell?
Jane Tompsett
Your cat's pregnancy will last for around nine weeks but it is very unlikely that you will know that she is expecting a litter of kittens until she is more than halfway through her pregnancy. The first signs that your cat is expecting can easily be missed or simply put down to normal cat contrariness.
However, at the three week stage you pet's appetite is likely to change - either decreasing or disappearing altogether. Do cats experience morning sickness? If they do, that would explain why food changes its appeal around this time. During the first stages of pregnancy, your cat's nipples will 'pink up' but as they are buried deep in her tummy fur, you will be forgiven for not noticing.
In the fourth or fifth week of your cat's pregnancy, it is quite usual to find that she completely changes how she acts towards you and your family. It may surprise you to find that she may become one of two things - either extremely attentive and affectionate or, at the other end of the scale, totally disinterested and stand-offish in her attitude.
It isn't until week five or six that you may start to think that your cat is looking much more rounded than usual and it is at this stage in her pregnancy that the previous signs suddenly start to make sense to you. Her nipples will be very noticeably pinker now and will be becoming enlarged.
week seven you will be the proud owner of a very obviously pregnant cat. Her round shape will be making grooming herself uncomfortable and, if she will allow, your help in keeping her fur well-groomed and in good order will be appreciated. Your cat's appetite will be altering once more but it could either increase or decrease - either are possible
Weeks eight and nine are exciting ones as you will be able to see the unborn kittens moving around in your pregnant cat's tummy. You will need to be strong willed to resist feeling them as this can so easily cause problems or injury at this stage. The developing kittens will be making huge demands on your cat's body and her appetite will have doubled to keep up with their needs. In spite of the increased food intake, constipation is often a problem now and a few drops of liquid paraffin in her food will keep thing moving along nicely.
Finally, in week nine, as she begins to prepare for the birth, your cat will start searching for a good place in which to give birth. As she roams around the house she will be looking for somewhere that is safe, warm and private. She will need to feel secure during her confinement and this may cause her to seem unsettled.
It is important that you make sure that you help guide her into making a choice of birth nest that fits her needs and also is acceptable to you. After all, many an owner has found that their pet has chosen to give birth in the middle of their bed -a place that is neither desireable nor convenient from your point of view!
After nine, long weeks, it will be time for the kitens to be born. Your soon-to-be mother cat may appear to be feeling anxious or unsettled as she repeatedly enters her birth nest and tries to arrange the nesting material to fit her requirements. This is know as 'treading' as that is exactly what your cat will be doing - treading on her blanket or newspaper. You will certainly hear her purring loudly as she feels the change in her body as it prepares for the birthing process to begin. Her pregnancy is over and it will be your responsibility to be around to assist her during the birth of her kittens, should she need you.
It is your obligation as a pet owner to have made yourself familiar with your cat's birthing process. If you have prepared adequately for the birth of the kittens, you will be aware of what to expect, what is normal behavior and what to look out for if things don't go to plan and the vet needs to be called in to assist. After the anticipation of your cat's pregnancy, proper preparation will ensure that the kittens' birth will be worry-free.
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