Pregnancy in cats?When my friend, Emma, first saw her cat, Bella, begin to act a little bit weird, it was not the sort of change that one would necessarily notice unless he or she knew the cat quite well. She was curled up into small warm nooks, like one that has a secret.
Initially, Emma only thought that Bella was simply in one of her quiet moods. Cats do what they do like that high speed antics to zen meditation with no real reason. However, new little clues came in the course of the days.
It happened much quicker than usual, that Bella came to the food bowl. In the evenings she began to nudge under the chin. Then Emma felt the slightest swelling of her belly.
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One rainy afternoon she asked me to come in a very low voice which might be overheard by Bella. Is this one of the signs of pregnancy in cats?
It was exciting, curious, and a bit of late night Googling and that is where the process began. And in case you ever found yourself asking the same question regarding your own cat, you are not alone.
So here we go-the early stages, visiting the vet, the labor and aftercare of both mother and kittens through those first sweet weeks.
Spotting the Signs of Pregnancy in Cats
Cats famously keep to themselves. They would likely keep a pregnancy in cats an absolute secret till the kits were almost ready to set off on the road. Even the most discreet cat does give a couple of pointers.
The first signs of someone pinking up, as vets refer to it as, come through almost immediately. At around week three, her nipples will appear to be more articulate and turn pink. It is not a sudden overnight dramatic change, but one can notice it should you be observant.
Oh, then there is her appetite. A cat that previously nibbled like a finicky diner may one day empty its food bowl and with the well-known expression of “I am still hungry”. Bella was just taking a bite here and a bite there but now she was clearing every meal and then hanging around her bowl in a sort of demonstrating mode.
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This leads to weight gain, which does not become dramatic at the beginning; however, it is consistent. In a normal sized cat, you may find two pounds added in the period of pregnancy. At week five, the belly becomes round and somewhat like she is carrying a small piece of bread under the fur.
Other cats will swear and act much more affectionately, making more effort to be with you more. Others isolate and would love to be left alone. Bella fell more solidly into the “puppy cuddles, thanks” bracket.
Cats too can experience something which resembles morning sickness. You may find yourself vomiting here and there. It does not occur as frequently as it does among human beings but it does. However, vomiting itself is not a sufficient indicator- there has to be a vet to be sure of what is actually happening.
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When Should a Pregnant Cat See a Vet?
When you first see signs of pregnancy in cats in your pet.
A veterinarian will be able to determine it by a soft palpation of the abdomen, ultrasound, or (in the future) an X-ray. Early assurance notifies you in advance so you can be ready and see to it that she is receiving proper nourishment.
Upon taking Bella in during week four, Emma got to know by ultrasound that there were four small kittens soon on their way. It was during that early visit that Emma was able to put Bella as well on high-quality kitten food, which contains more protein and calories than everyday adult food formulas.
Routine visits are not a mere formality, they will help detect any possible issue at the early stages. Should you experience anything of a worrying nature, loss of appetite, too much vomiting, bleeding, even a strange discharge, do not hold back. Although the majority of feline pregnancies run without incident, complications do and can occur.
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Getting to Know the Cat Labor and Delivery Stages
After the pregnancy in cats, the normal course of labor takes place over three stages but understanding what to expect will help to eliminate a good deal of the nerve-wracking.
- Stage One: There is restlessness. She may tend to clean herself excessively and walk around trying to find some quiet corner. The duration of this stage may be a day. Bella had searched every inch of Emma’s house before getting to the corner of the bedroom done by Emma.
- Stage Two: The kittens are actually born. They generally come half an hour to one an hour apart. When kittens are more than two hours between it is time to call your vet.
- Stage Three: The push of the placenta after every kitten. This sounds unusual, but numerous cats will consume the placenta. It is an instinctive thing-vitamin rich and conducive to process.
Cats usually make good, instinctive mothers, though it always pays to have the number of your vet available. Red flags are indicated by how she appears to be in distress or pushing to no avail as well as uncharacteristically low energy.
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How to Care for a Nursing Cat
When the kittens are born, the actual work starts; at least it starts with the mother cat. It is your responsibility to take care of her as she gets into the task of feeding and mothering her litter.
The most important is nutrition. Nursing is an energy-intensive activity, and to keep up the output, calorific food and the easy availability of fresh water will be a requirement. Kitten food is ideal at this period.
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She also will require a calm, secure area in which she can breastfeed without disruptions. Emma had put Bella’s bed in a cheerful lonely spot, which was also sufficiently high on all but one side, to prevent the kittens wandering, yet level enough to permit Bella to come and go.
Be on alert in case of mastitis: skin reddening, swelling in the breast or heat. Moreover, observe the kittens so that they are nursing. When a smaller one or one that appears to be driven away becomes smaller, it may require assistance of latches on and possibly even supplementary feeding under the direction of your vet.
Aftercare for a Mother Cat and Kittens
The post-natal months are finally concerned with stability.
The initial week should only be devoted to minimal contact with the kittens. The mother will keep them warm, clean and fed–all you have to do is make the environment clean and quiet. New bedding is necessary, and a constant room temperature is needed, without the presence of drafts.
One of the optimal methods of tracking the health of the kittens is to monitor the weight gain. Kittens ordinarily add 10 to 15 grams per day. The surprise in this process is that a digital kitchen scale can come in really handy. In case a kitten does not gain weight or drops its weight, contact your vet right away.
Mind the mother too. Eating disorders, fatigue, or any vaginal abnormal discharge may indicate problems during postpartum.
Read more: Find out about what to do after your cat gives birth and postnatal cat care in our free guide.
Cat Pregnancy Timeline
Ordinary pregnancy in cats period takes approximately 63 days, 65 days. So here is a fairly fast breakdown:
- Weeks 1-3: Fertilization is taking place and there is some physical change, which however is minimal.
- Weeks 4-6: The increase in appetite, the change in color of the nipples along with the hint of gaining weight is noticed.
- Weeks 7 to 9: Abdomen curves substantially and the nesting behavior is observed. Fidgeting is an indicator of work about to start.
Bella stuck to this schedule as close as she could, and this made Emma be informed every time to have all things in order.
How To Prepare for Cat Birth at Home
The war is fifty percent prepared.
A cardboard box, which is lined with soft and washable blankets, is a wonderful birthing space. Put it in a dormant, minority trafficked room. Have food, water and a litter box readily accessible to the mother, but do not make them too accessible- hygiene becomes a problem in that case.
Read more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHC4G-Ffmd4 https://www.royalcanin.com/us/cats/kitten/helping-your-pregnant-cat-give-birth-at-home?srsltid=AfmBOorExAUkFzFlofcK4v6J5oRc1i71Q59HNxK9FJXCrzWF36fhmSC5
You will also need clean towels, hand gloves, which you can discard and the contact information of your vet. In most cases such births are smooth but being prepared always helps in case of any eventualities.
Even Emma had her own “kitten corner” all prepared weeks before her turn and when it came to Bella, everything she needed was waiting.
Conclusion
Felines have a beautiful combination of instinctive and caring pregnancy in cats. Watching the initial symptoms to be present at the first little mew, it is an adventure as much emotional as it is pragmatic.
Emma and her Bella help to prove that given some preparation, patience and a bit of added love, it is possible to safely take a cat through pregnancy, child-birth and the wobbly first few days of motherhood. But once you witness those little paws stretch out into the world, the first time, you will feel that all of the care was well worth it.