If your cat is pregnant, you can expect changes in their appetite, energy level, and body shape as their body gets ready for kittens. Some signs are easy to miss at first, but they become more noticeable as the pregnancy moves along.
A pregnant cat is often called a "queen," and the process of getting ready to give birth is known as "queening." Cats can become pregnant as early as 4 months old if they are not spayed. Because they go into heat regularly, pregnancy can happen quickly without prevention.
How Long Are Cats Pregnant?
A cat's pregnancy lasts about 63-65 days.
What are the early signs that a cat is pregnant?
During the first week or two, you probably won't notice any changes. Your cat may even still go into heat or mate again.
By about week three, some early signs start to show:
- Nipples "pinking": Their nipples may become slightly bigger and take on a pinkish color. This is often the first visible clue of pregnancy.
- Heat cycles stop: Your cat usually won't go into heat after this point.
"Some cats may show increased affection or behavioral changes and sleep more and have increased appetite," says Petra Cerna, DACVIM, an RCVS-recognized feline medicine specialist and assistant professor of small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Georgia.
But the only way to know for sure is to take your cat to the vet.
What are a cat's pregnancy stages?
A cat's pregnancy moves quickly. In about nine weeks, your cat goes from newly pregnant to ready to deliver kittens.
Early pregnancy (weeks 1-3). During the first couple of weeks, the fertilized eggs are settling into your cat's uterus. Your cat may act completely normal. By around week three, hormone changes start to show, including pinking up. After day 21, your vet can detect the pregnancy by gently pressing, or palpating, your cat's belly. By day 25, they can confirm the pregnancy with an ultrasound test. Otherwise, your cat will probably act like their usual self.
Middle pregnancy (weeks 4-6). This is when pregnancy becomes more noticeable. The cat's belly will get bigger around 30 days after they mate. Around week four, some cats may feel a little queasy. They might throw up occasionally or not feel like eating as much. That can be normal, but if your cat is vomiting often or refuses food, call your vet. Toward the end of this stage, you might even notice movement in their belly. Try not to press on your cat's stomach. Only your vet should check for kittens this way.
Late pregnancy (weeks 7-9 and sometimes week 10). In the last few weeks, your cat starts getting ready to give birth.
By weeks 8 and 9, your cat's nipples will look larger, and they may groom their belly more often. Some cats become extra affectionate, while others may seem restless or pace around the house. You might see a small amount of reddish discharge near her vulva, which is normal and means labor is close.
Most cats give birth around week nine, but some pregnancies last into week 10. If your cat goes past week 10 without going into labor or if something feels off, call your vet.
One clue that the big day is coming: Cats usually stop eating 24 hours before they give birth, so if your cat suddenly turns up her nose at a meal, she could go into labor soon.
How Can You Tell if a Cat Is Pregnant?
The best way to find out is to see a vet. They can confirm that kittens are on the way, and get an idea of how many, in a few ways:
Feeling your cat's belly. Itis sometimes useful but not always accurate.
Ultrasonography. It is best performed at 25-35 days of gestation. Before 21 days, "false-negative" results can be seen. Ultrasound cannot tell you how many kittens your cat is carrying.
X-rays. They can determine the number of kittens to expect, but they are not always accurate. They shouldn't be done until your cat is at least 42 days pregnant and are generally not recommended until 55 days.
How to Care for a Pregnant Cat
It's rare, but in the earliest stages of pregnancy, your cat may have "morning sickness." It might show up as a lack of appetite or vomiting. If that keeps happening, take them to the vet. With the surge of hormones and changes to their uterus, they may show signs of fatigue. This phase will eventually fade after those first few weeks pass.
Just like many other females in the animal kingdom carrying a bun in the oven (or for a cat, an average of four buns per litter), your cat will need extra food and calories while they are expecting.
"Most important is nutrition," Cerna says. "Pregnant cats have not only much higher calorie needs but also require mineral and other essential nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, taurine, and DHA (omega-3 fatty acids). But oversupplementation is not good either — cats should be fed a well-balanced diet that is recommended for pregnant cats."
They'll eat about 1.5 times their normal diet as their pregnancy draws to a close, so make sure they have constant access to their normal food. Your vet may recommend feeding your pregnant cat kitten food or food labeled for pregnant and nursing cats throughout their pregnancy and while they nurse their young ones.
Viruses can spread to kittens before they're born, so keep up with your cat's vaccination schedule. If your pregnant cat needs their regular vaccination, deworming/flea treatment, or any medication, check with your vet first to make sure the treatment is safe for them. It is best to vaccinate prior to breeding, as most vaccines are not safe to give during pregnancy.
Late in the pregnancy, it is important to provide the queen with a safe place to deliver her kittens.
How Can You Tell if a Cat Is in Labor?
As your cat gets close to giving birth, their behavior will likely change. Early labor can last 6-12 hours.
During this time, your cat may:
- Act restless or be more vocal than usual
- Hide or search for a quiet spot
- Groom more often
- Pant or eat less
Some cats also pass a small amount of red or brown mucus and may scratch or pace around their nesting area.
When active labor begins, you will see strong contractions and straining. Kittens are usually born within about 30 minutes after straining starts, and additional kittens often arrive every 10-60 minutes.
Call your vet right away if your cat:
- Strains for 60 minutes without delivering a kitten
- Cries out in pain
- Seems in distress or if anything worries you
How Do I Help a Cat Give Birth?
Make your home a comfortable place for the kittens' birth. If your cat usually goes outside, keep them indoors. This would prevent them from going into labor while outside.
About two weeks before the due date, you may notice your cat is acting different as they get into nesting mode. To help out, you can scan your home for a good birthing spot for them. Find a medium-sized box with a low opening, and cover it with newspapers, old towels, and soft blankets to create a relaxing area for the mother and their future kittens.
You should place the nesting box in a quiet corner of your house. Let your pregnant cat visit it often, before the birth, so they get used to the area and feel comfortable.
Keep in mind that you can guide your cat as much as possible and set up the ultimate birthing spot, but they will do what they want. If they want to give birth in a laundry basket, behind the garbage can, or in the back of your closet, they will.
When you notice that the cat is in nesting mode, take them to the vet for their final prenatal visit. The vet will give you more information about how to prepare for the delivery, check on the mother and kitties' health, and tell you what to do if there's an emergency during the birth.
Takeaways
Cats are pregnant for about 63-65 days (around nine weeks). Early signs are subtle: darker nipples and changes in appetite or energy; later, you'll see a larger belly and nesting behavior. See your vet to confirm your cat's pregnancy and get care advice, and call them if your cat's labor is prolonged or she seems in distress.
Cat Pregnancy FAQs
At what age can a cat get pregnant?
Cats can become pregnant as early as 4 months old, once they reach sexual maturity. If your female cat goes outside and isn't spayed, pregnancy is very likely. If you're not planning for kittens, your vet can help you decide when to spay.
How long does it take a cat to give birth?
Once labor begins, the first kitten usually arrives within about 30 minutes, and additional kittens often follow every 10 to 60 minutes. Most cats deliver the entire litter in 4-16 hours, though it can sometimes take longer.
How many kittens will a first-time pregnant cat have?
First-time pregnant cats tend to have smaller litters. Most litters have four to six kittens, though the total can range from one to nine.
Is it safe for a 4-month-old cat to get pregnant?
Although a cat reaches sexual maturity at this age, her body is still growing until around 10-12 months of age. A pregnancy before she's fully grown can strain her health and make it hard to support a healthy pregnancy.
"Even though the female can be sexually mature, the body of such a young cat is not developed, and they are still growing. The pregnancy can put a lot of strain on the body at such a young age," Cerna says.
Is it safe to stimulate cat labor?
Stimulating or inducing labor at home is definitely unsafe and can be fatal for the kittens.
Only a veterinarian can assess the risks of stimulating labor based on the cat's presenting condition. If a cat is having trouble, your vet may decide that safely using medication to start labor is safer than letting her give birth on her own.
