Is your cat pregnant?
Pregnant cats need extra love, support, and care.
When a mom cat gets ready to have kittens, we call it queening. Queens or female cats go into heat 2-3 weeks from spring to early fall. If you don’t want unwanted kittens, you should get your cat spayed before she’s 6 months old.
In this blog post, we will answer the question, “How long do cats stay pregnant?” in detail.
Let’s get started.
Is My Cat Pregnant? Let’s Take a Quick Look
The only way to confirm whether or not your kitty is pregnant for sure is by taking her to the vet. However, here are a few ways in which you can get a fair idea:
- An ultrasound is effective after day 16 of pregnancy and helps tell how many kittens to expect
- An X-ray scan can also help tell determine how many kittens to expect but isn’t very accurate
One of the biggest giveaways of pregnancy is a swollen belly. Your cat’s belly will grow in size around day 30. Her nipples will also start to enlarge and redden 3 weeks after she conceives.
Additional Signs of Pregnancy in Cats
Let’s take a look at some additional signs of pregnancy in cats, shall we?
- Cats experience symptoms similar to morning sickness as well! Don’t get surprised if your kitty goes through a stage of vomiting. However, if your kitty has been throwing up too much, or is unwell in any other way, take her to the vet immediately
- As expected, the queen’s stomach will start to swell. However, refrain from touching it too much to avoid hurting the mom or her kittens. If the swelling seems abnormal, contact your vet
- Depending on the number of kittens she’s carrying, your cat will gain 1-2 kgs during the pregnancy
- Your kitty will have an increased appetite during the later stages of the pregnancy. This, of course, will contribute towards her weight gain. However, an increase in appetite could also indicate illness or worms. Consult your vet if you’re suspicious
- A pregnant cat will start to become more maternal which means that she will start seeking extra attention from you and will also start purring more
How Long Do Cats Stay Pregnant?
On average, a cat’s pregnancy can last between 63-67 days.
The period of pregnancy depends on various factors such as breed, age, number of kittens, etc. The shortest gestation period is of 61 days while the longest gestation period is of 73 days.
Do you have any questions? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.