How to Tell If Your Cat is Pregnant
For background info, I wanted a kitten. That is all. Just one kitten to watch frolic and play. Unfortunately, in Sweden they have to be a full 12 weeks old before they can be adopted out. That means they have gone through the absolute cutest part of their kitten-hood before you can take one home with you. I resigned myself to this and began the search. What I found over here is that people start advertising kittens the day they are born, so by the time they are ready to be adopted out, they have already been claimed. Some were even advertised while the mother cat was still pregnant. So, I decided to grow my own, so to speak.
I found a farm full of cats owned by a really cool lady from Denmark who agreed to let me have a beautiful tortoise shell female. Kahlan was just under a year old. I knew she was fairly feral, but she was gorgeous. I brought her home and began the slow process of making her feel safe inside a house, and with my husband and I. She scoffed at my attempts to be friendly and pet her for about 6 weeks.
Then something changed. This cat suddenly became very affectionate. I grew suspicious. As I found out later, this is indeed one of the key ways to tell if a cat is pregnant. They begin demanding attention. I mean Kahlan began stalking me all through the house. She didn't want to be out of my sight. When I tried to feel her belly, she got mad and gently warned me away from that tender area and would even guide my hand back up to rub her chin and head.
Then she threw up a few times. That is another thing to watch for if you think your cat is pregnant. Apparently, cats experience morning sickness just like us humans do. Mine only did it twice that I know of, but it was enough to make me sit back and wonder.
This was the point that I decided to find as much out as I could about cats and pregnancy. I could not tell by looking her at all that she was pregnant. I found that this is the case most of the time. Many folks are quite taken by surprise to wake up one morning and find their cat has birthed a small tribe.
A cat's normal gestation period is approximately 63 days. They can give birth a few days earlier, or as long as 70 days. This did fall within the right time frame if Kahlan had been just impregnated when we got her.
Our cat, being feral, always was looking for good private spots in the house, so this part was not strange to us. If your cat is perfectly domesticated, though, then this is another sign that she is pregnant. The closer she gets to delivery time, the more determined she will be to find a safe spot to give birth undisturbed.
I was fairly certain she was pregnant after finding out about all of these signs, but still was not 100% sure until 2 days before the kittens were born. At this point I think contractions had begun because Kahlan began wanting me to rub her belly for her instead of making me stay away from that area. That is when I could feel kittens moving inside her. Oh what a cool feeling!
Sure enough, she had a small litter of 3 this past week, making me a proud gramma of the cutest little hooligans ever.
In sum, if you suspect your cat is pregnant, look for: a sudden need for affection; seeking hiding spots; morning sickness; and tenderness when you try to pet her belly. If she has been outside within the past 70 days or less, it is a good bet that she is indeed pregnant given the presence of these signs... even if you cannot tell by looking at her.
Published by Lori Leidig
US citizen living in Sweden; Retired shrink cum criminologist who is now trying to string two coherent words together for various publications. View profile
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31 Comments
Post a Commenti have a bunch of stray cats around my house and they keep reproducing but there so cute does anyone know way little kittens are so cute? i got them at my house and i just meltwhen i see them
I don't know if my cat is pregnant or not. She has been eating more than normal, and she seems more affectionate and she rubs up against my face in the mornings. Also, she got out 2 or 3 times all night, but I don't know if she was in heat at the time. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME, IS MY CAT PREGNANT?
BTW...My message I just left was for Ceira Blake, Thanks and good luck Ceira!!
Since ur cat is an outdoor cat there is nothing u can do to makesure the kittens dont freeze to death! BRING the mom inside before she has the kittens that way the kittens will be safe!!
Wow I never new a cat could be so dificalt.
Make a nice worm bed for her in a garage or shed or have a relitive or friend watch her untile the weather is warmer. Just keep an eye on her belly and watch her persinality to see if it changes. Or try every single day to see her niples untile she finally lets you. Try to look for a scar on her stomach by seperating the fur around on her belley. Man she sure sounds like one hecktick cat Girl
You all have great fasinating story. But I have one big problem I have a female cat at home and I don't know if she can even get pregnant because the reson why I have her in the first place is because she just showed up one day. so I don't know if shes been fixed or not. But if she hasn't been fixed I'm pretty sure shes pregnant. But I can't tell if she is or not because I can't ceck her niples to see if thier red because shewon't let anyone tuch her anywhere beside her head and still it depends who it is that is petting her. But I know one thing for sure I know she has done what she has to do to be able to get pregnant. Oh and one other thing shes an outdoor cat so if she is pregnant what do I do to make sure the kittens don't frezze to death in this weather
I NEED to no if my cat is pregnate!!
i still dont no if my cats pregnet she eats heaps and always kissing me and cuddling up to me and now she always falls down on her side for a gental belly rub she hates it when i rub my hand on her boobs (my cat)
we dont no but thanks for the info its great
il look out for the signs
!
WOW THIS IS SUCH A GREAT ARTICLE!! NOW I KNOW FOR A FACT MY CAT IS PREGNANT. NOW I KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT!! THANKS ALOT