How Do I Know If My Cat Is Pregnant? - Purely Pets

Whether you’re a new parent to your fur baby or you’ve had your kitty cat for a few years, you’ll know just how precious they are. One thing is for sure though, if you have a female cat and she’s yet to be spayed it’s important to be able to tell if she has become pregnant or not.

You may be purposely breeding her or it might be a total accident but, either way, there are a few tell-tale signs to look out for.

If you do find that your little tabby is indeed expecting, then it’s handy to know just how to take care of a pregnant cat. Purely Pets does not offer cover for accidents and illnesses that are pregnancy related.

Furthermore if your cat has had two or more litters, then this will be deemed as commercial breeding and in turn will be excluded from cover.

Did you know...

Did you know that a pregnant cat is called a queen? It’s a moniker you’ll probably come to agree with once you experience her demands throughout pregnancy.

Your little queen is likely to become more vocal or ask for affection to seek comfort or due to discomfort from her growing belly and potential false labour contractions.

How can you tell if your cat is pregnant?

Just like humans, felines have some tell-tale markers of being pregnant from behaviour to body changes and characteristic weight gain.

Your cat likely won’t show any signs of pregnancy in the first few weeks so if you do think she could have kittens on the way, it’s important to take her to your vet for confirmation.

In case you do not own a cat and instead a dog, read our recent blog to find out more details on how long a dog is pregnant for. You may also want to read about how you can offer the best care for a dog in season and how to help successfully breed a dog.

Here are just some of the symptoms to watch out for.

It’s all about the nipples

One of the first and most obvious indicators of pregnancy in your cat is changes to her nipples. Aroundtwo to three weeks into pregnancy your pussycat will start showing enlarged and red/pink nipples.

Morning sickness

Just like humans, cats can experience sickness during pregnancy. She might go through a phase of vomiting or lethargy.

It’s important to note that isn’t one of the most common signs and if your tabby does show signs of sickness, it's good to keep an eye on her; if it doesn’t pass quickly, be sure to take her to the vet.

Eating for two or three or more

Keep an eye on your cat’s feeding habits if you think she is pregnant – it will almost always change quite drastically.

If she is not experiencing sickness then it’s likely your furry friend’s appetite will increase enormously, especially towards the end of her pregnancy.

Remember, your cat can have several kittens so she’s not just eating for two!

Tubby tabby

The combination of growing unborn kittens and mama’s increased appetite will lead your cat to gain some weight; usually around 1-2kg depending on how many kittens she is carrying.

If her belly is rounded and swollen then this is a strong sign she is pregnant.

Nesting behaviour

Near the end of the pregnancy (around two weeks before her due date) you’ll notice your queen scoping out a quiet and comfortable spot around the house or a nearby barn.

She’ll possibly be dragging soft blankets, old towels, straw or scrap paper to make a cosy place to birth her kittens. If you see this nesting behaviour, help her out and line a cardboard box with newspaper or towels for her to use.

How long are cats pregnant for?

The gestation period for a cat is usually around 65 days though you might find for some cats this can vary between 61 and 72 days.

It’s best to confirm with your vet how far along she is before you start tracking the days.

How do you take care of a pregnant cat?

You’ve confirmed your precious pussycat is pregnant – congratulations! As the excitement subsides, you might be wondering just what extra care and preparations your little kitty might need to ensure she has a safe, happy and comfortable pregnancy.

Feeding and nutrition

A cat will need a lot more protein and energy to keep her strong throughout her pregnancy. Whilst normal adult cat food has kept her healthy until now, it won’t have the added nutrients she will need to grow her kittens.

It may actually be more beneficial to switch her back to kitten food throughout her pregnancy and until the newborn kittens have been weaned. However, make sure to seek advice from your vet if you are planning to make this change. It’s important to switch foods gradually with cats to avoid dodgy tummies and fussy eaters. It is always important to seek advice from your vet.

Switching to kitten food has multiple benefits, not just for the pregnant cat but for the new kittens, too. They will get top quality milk from the extra nutrients their mum is consuming and, as they grow, they will start trying some of mum’s food, which will help them to wean a bit further down the line.

You might find that as her belly swells and is taken up by growing kitty cats, your pregnant cat can’t eat masses of food in one go, so small, frequent meals are the way to go.

It will be handy to leave out high-quality dry food for her to graze on throughout the day as she feels necessary.

As well as changing up their food, it’s vital that your cat has access to water throughout her pregnancy and as she nurses. Though once the kittens have been born this must be out of reach of the little ones to prevent them from drowning.