If you have a female cat, one of the most worrying aspects is that she could become pregnant. It is always better to have your cat spayed before she can become pregnant. Ensuring that your cat has become spayed not only prevents unwanted pregnancies, it also helps to reduce the chances of your cat suffering from a urinary tract infection or a reproductive cancer.
If you do not feel that you would be able to cope should your cat have kittens, and you do not know what you would do with these kittens, having your cat spayed is the best option for you and your cat.
As cats can have kittens when they are just 4 months old and can go into heat every two or three weeks during spring to autumn, I understand that sometimes the situation is out of your control and you have found yourself with a cat who has become pregnant.
If she fell pregnant before you had the chance to have her spayed, or you have adopted a female cat and then found out she was pregnant, I hope that the information contained in this article will help you to look after your cat during this process and that she gives birth to healthy and happy kittens.
A cat in ‘heat’
Cats usually go into ‘heat’ when they are approximately 6 months old, but some cats can begin to go through this phase when they are just 4 months old.
When a cat is entering into this phase, she can be more affectionate, even towards strangers, and long to escape to the outside. She could also roll around on her back more than usual, and her yowling could have a different tone.
This phase normally lasts for around seven to ten days, but if your cat does not find a mate during this time, she will go back into ‘heat’ within three weeks, which could gradually become more frequent, leading to the stage when she is in ‘heat’ continuously.
You may imagine that a cat will not go back into heat once she has had kittens, but she can re-enter this phase very quickly. A female cat can become pregnant again as soon as she has given birth to her litter.
What food should I give to a pregnant cat?
Although the adult food you would feed to your cat is normally full of all the nutrients and vitamins she needs to remain happy and healthy, a pregnant cat needs extra nutrients to help support her and her kittens. By the time your cat gives birth to her kittens, she will probably be eating more than 50% of what she normally eats.
It is very important that you feed your cat enough that she does not become malnourished – this could have a detrimental effect on her kittens.
Feeding your cat food specially formulated for growth is important during a cat’s pregnancy. Wet food would be better than dry food on this occasion. If, however, your cat prefers to eat dry food and turns up her nose at wet food, or you would prefer to feed your cat dry food, you should ensure that this food is made of ingredients of high quality.
If at any time during your cat’s pregnancy, you are concerned about the right amount or quality of the food you are giving to her, you should consult your vet for advice.
Pregnant cats need to have extra protein and calories than normal, which can usually be found in a kitten food of high quality and should be given to her throughout her pregnancy and then for a few weeks after she has given birth. Giving the mother cat a high-quality kitten food would also help her kittens because they could copy their mother, and will try some of her food.
Ensuring that your cat drinks enough water is also crucial because it is vitally important that she remains hydrated, especially whilst she is pregnant.
If your cat has a health condition, has been put onto a diet of any kind, or you have any other concerns about which food would be best to support her, you should consult your vet for advice before making any changes to her diet.
If you feed your cat homemade pet food, you should always consult your vet before proceeding to ensure that you are providing all the right protein levels, nutrients, and vitamins to your cat. You should also ensure that you give your cat a calcium supplement along with this food so that she can provide high-quality milk to her kittens.
Providing your cat with a high-quality diet after she has given birth is also important because she has to look after her kittens, and she will be the main source of their food for the first few weeks after the births.
Your cat will need to remain as healthy and strong as possible to look after her kittens, so will probably eat much more during this time, certainly much more than before she became pregnant. If you feed your cat dry food, then this should be moistened to encourage the kittens to start eating solid food.
You are advised to keep feeding her this amount of food until six weeks after she has given birth. It is important to gradually reduce the food levels over the next few days to bring her food intake back down to its normal levels.
What happens during a cat’s pregnancy?
There are many tell-tale signs that your cat may be pregnant. One of the main ways of checking is to look to see if her nipples are enlarged or have become a deeper shade of red.
Another sign is that she may start vomiting, just like a human, a process which normally lasts for approximately two weeks, and she will probably not want to eat much during this time because of her feelings of nausea. She will normally begin to eat more after these two weeks, and you will begin to see lumps as her kittens develop.
Not all pregnant cats go through any stage of sickness, but if she does, you should watch her and if she appears to be unwell, or vomits more frequently, you should take her to the vet to ensure that nothing is more seriously wrong.
Another sign that your cat may be pregnant is that she may begin to have a swollen belly, but this is not so noticeable, especially if your cat is overweight. A cat normally becomes two to four pounds heavier during her pregnancy, but this is dependent on how many kittens she is carrying.
In the latter stages of your cat’s pregnancy, she may become more affectionate towards you and will purr more often, but at the same time, you must be aware that she may become less tolerant of other pets in your home.
If you suspect your cat may be pregnant, it is prudent to consult your local vet for advice, who will be able to tell you whether or not she is pregnant by giving her an ultrasound or X-ray. X-rays are generally safe for your cat, so you do not need to worry about the radiation having a bad effect on her kittens.
Your vet will also be able to give you the best advice as to how to look after your cat during this process. You are advised to see your vet weekly during your cat’s pregnancy to ensure that the pregnancy is progressing as it should and that your cat is not being adversely affected.
How long does a cat’s pregnancy normally last?
A cat’s pregnancy from conception to birth normally lasts approximately 60 to 65 days, depending on which source you consult, but this is estimated and is known as the cat gestation period. It is important to remember that, like with any premature birth, that should your cat have her kittens before this time period has elapsed that they may need specialised care.
Can my cat give birth to kittens from different fathers?
It is possible that a cat’s litter could include kittens from different fathers because a female cat will mate several times with different cats whilst she is in ‘heat’, which normally lasts for one to four days. If you imagine that her kittens could not possibly have the same father, you could very well be right!
The eggs released during ovulation can survive for 24 hours, so it is entirely possible that should she mate with many different cats during this period that each egg could be fertilised by a different cat! If the female releases 6 eggs, and these are all fertilised by a male cat, 6 kittens will be born. You may find, although this is unusual, that each kitten in her litter has a different father!!
How do I know when my cat is about to give birth?
Just before your cat gives birth, she could refuse her food and may not seem like herself. It is also possible that she may become agitated just before she goes into labour and will continually want to wash herself. Your cat may shed fur on her belly, but this is completely natural, and the fur will grow back once she has given birth to her kittens.
If your cat begins to hunt around the house for a secluded place, it may be because she is about to go into labour, and is looking for a safe place to deliver her kittens. You may be able to help her by preparing a birthing area for her in advance, such as lining a cardboard box with towels and blankets.
You should not, however, be upset if your cat chooses a different place to give birth to her kittens. If there are areas of the house you would rather that she did not give birth to her kittens, however, then it is best to close off her access to these areas if possible.
Your cat should be kept inside during the last few days of her pregnancy to ensure that should she suddenly begin to give birth that you know where she is and can offer assistance if necessary.
What happens during the birthing process?
Once your cat begins to give birth, things normally progress well, and you should leave her alone. You should, however, maintain a watchful eye over her just in case something were to go wrong so that you can offer help more quickly. Do not interfere unless absolutely necessary, however; it may upset your cat and slow down the birthing process.
Once your cat begins to give birth, the time between subsequent births can vary but can be 10 to 60 minutes apart, with labour lasting from 2 hours to 24 hours, depending on the number of kittens. Kittens are born in amniotic sacs, which are normally removed by your cat.
If the mother cat does not remove this sac and just ignores the kitten, you should carefully cut the sac, and encourage the kitten’s breathing by rubbing it with a towel. You may also need to do this if the mother cat produces her kittens quickly and has no time between births to perform this action. Mother cats normally encourage their kittens’ breathing by washing them with their tongues.
The mother cat will normally rest between the births of her kittens, but she should be allowed to clean and look after the kittens already born. During the birth of the kittens, some discharge may flow from her vagina, but if this looks dark in colour, you should consult your vet because something could be wrong.
What should I do if complications arise during the birthing process?
If you see that your cat is straining to give birth, but no kittens have emerged, you should consult your vet, who will be able to advise you on the best course of action to take.
If you feel that there are still kittens to come after your cat has begun to give birth, and they have not emerged after two hours have passed, you should again consult your vet, who will examine your cat to ensure that all is well and that there have been no complications.
The placentas can be expelled up to 24 hours after the kittens’ births, but if these have not been expelled, you should again consult your vet for advice because if they have not been expelled, your cat may develop a uterine infection.
It is prudent to count the number of placentas and the number of kittens to ensure that all placentas have been expelled. Please be aware, however, that your cat may sometimes eat the placenta, which is normal, but this is another reason why you should always watch over her!
If a kitten becomes stuck in the birth canal for more than 2 minutes, you should consult your vet, who will be able to offer you advice as to how to help with this. Kittens are normally delivered head-first, but can also come out tail-first, which is known as a breech birth.
Sometimes, as sad as it is, some kittens can be born stillborn. If this occurs, you should remove the kitten from the birthing area so that the mother cat can concentrate on giving birth to her other kittens.
If your cat begins to bleed heavily following the birth of her kittens, a trip to the vet will be necessary because this would be considered an emergency.
What happens after my cat has given birth?
Approximately 24 hours after your cat has given birth, both the mother cat and her kittens should be examined by the vet to ensure that they are alright.
The first one to two weeks after your cat has given birth are important because the kittens are developing, and should be kept in a quieter part of your house to allow the mother cat to adjust to her new kittens.
Keeping the cat and her kittens warm is essential, so you must ensure that the room they are in is kept warm enough, but you must know when to take a step back. If the mother cat shows signs that she does not want you to interfere in her care for her kittens, you should abide by her wishes.
If the kittens seem like they are doing well and are progressing in the right way, you will not need to interfere. You should, however, step in if the kittens do not look like they are progressing as well as they should be, and take them and the mother cat to the vet if necessary.
During the first few weeks, your cat and her kittens should be kept in a box large enough to be able to accommodate both the mother cat and her kittens. This box should be lined with towels that can easily be replaced and cleaned because the kittens will defecate.
At the three week stage, the mother cat licks the anal area of her kittens to encourage them to eliminate waste. If for any reason, the mother cat is not able to fulfil this task, you should perform this action on her behalf by taking a warm cloth and gently rubbing this area. This is also the time you should begin to think about introducing the kittens to wet food.
Risks to the mother cat after birth
If after a few hours have passed, the mother cat seems agitated or restless, this may suggest that she is suffering from eclampsia, so you should consult your vet immediately, and should not allow her to nurse her kittens for at least 24 hours. You should instead feed them with a milk replacer so that they can still get the nutrients and protein they need.
If the mother cat does not want to eat her food after a few days have passed, shows signs of being depressed, or suffers from a lack of energy, you should consult your vet to ensure that nothing is wrong.
It is completely normal that the mother cat will have some vaginal discharge after giving birth, but if this discharge is discoloured or smells foul, you should immediately seek veterinary assistance because she could be suffering from endometritis, which is a feline uterine infection.
I hope that the information contained within this article will help you to feel better prepared for your cat to give birth to her kittens and that the process is simple and straightforward for you and your cat. Although I have mentioned possible problems in this article, most cat’s pregnancies go well, and I am sure that your cat and her kittens will thrive.