When owning a cat, it is important to know what the symptoms of a pregnant cat are. When a cat becomes pregnant, pregnancy symptoms are initially noticed at approximately the three week stage of pregnancy. The average gestation period for cats is 63 days.

Listed below is a basic timetable of pregnant cats to enable you to detect the symptoms of a pregnant cat.

o Week 3

The nipples of your pregnant cat will begin to enlarge and be pinkish in color. There will be no signs of swelling in her belly during this period.

o Week 4

It is during this week that your cats belly will begin to swell slightly. The swelling will also be more apparent in her nipples. Your cats’ appetite will also begin to increase.

o Week 5

It is advised by many cat experts that you consult your vet for a growth formula. This will satisfy the increased diet of your pregnant cat.

o Week 6

It is by this point that the pregnancy of your cat becomes obvious. The symptoms of a pregnant cat will now include changes in her behavior. She will begin moving around with great care. Stretching and twisting actions will also be avoided by her, and if she generally ventures outdoors, you may find that she will prefer to remain indoors. Her appetite will also continue to increase throughout the sixth week.

o Week 7

The largest symptoms of pregnant cats are their behavior. She will undoubtedly begin to show signs of excitement. This behavior is referred to as “quickening”, and it the stage of the cat pregnancy when the fetus begins to move. She will roll and stretch and begin her search for a place to give birth. For this reason, it is advised to keep your cat indoors to ensure that she does not make her nest outdoors.

o Day 61

Labor can begin as early as 61 days after conception and as late as 70 days.

The symptoms during labor will include:

o Stage 1

Your cat will begin to show signs of restlessness, and begin either growling or purring rhythmically. This behavior can last for a few hours or as much as 24 hours.

o Stage 2

She will now begin with the contractions. The contractions may initially be once every 30 minutes or even longer. The contractions will then gradually begin to become more frequent until just before the first kitten is born. The contractions will then occur every 30 seconds. The cat may continue to growl and repeatedly
lick her vaginal area to stimulate the arrival of the remaining kittens.

It can take as long as 24 hours before all of her kittens are born, especially if she is having a large litter. Four is the typical size of a litter for a cat.

Therefore, recognizing the symptoms of pregnant cat is of great importance, to ensure that she remains healthy during the complete process.