Here are the 7 stages of cat pregnancy: Fertilization Cats become sexually mature at six months of age; Oriental breeds can reach sexual maturity even earlier. Charleston Veterinary Referral Center, 2020, Pregnancy Diagnosis In Dogs And Cats. Below are the stages of feline gestation and what the owner can expect during these times. But if so, we answer some questions like, "How long are cats pregnant?" How to tell if your cat is pregnant. Pre-labor There are five major stages of cat’s pregnancy that every owner should be aware of it. This is also the time that if she’s palpable enough, you could even begin to feel the first little lumps in here belly that are the kittens developing. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. The affected cat is … And did you know that there can be more than one father cat per litter of kittens, and it all just depends on how many Tom cats are successful with mating with the female during heat. How Soon Can a Cat Go Into Heat After Giving Birth? After mating first 1-10 days male cat’s sperm finds the female cat’s eggs and fertilize them. If you are curious to know how many kittens she’s carrying, your vet can perform an X-ray to see. Cats show the first visible sign of pregnancy in this stages of cat pregnancy called pinking up in the third week of the cat gestation period. The depletion of calcium in the bloodstream can result in eclampsia, a life-threatening condition, which most often occurs when the kittens are one to five weeks of age and the mother is producing the most milk. A calcium supplement can help prevent this potential problem, particularly when caring for a pregnant stray cat, whose previous diet was undoubtedly minimal. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. If symptoms do occur, they may include fever, bleeding from the vagina, inappetence, and depression. Resorption is an interesting phenomenon in which a dead fetus is completely absorbed by the queen's system. There are rarely any outward symptoms when resorption occurs. Responsible pet ownership involves spaying and neutering cats. In order for a cat to conceive, she must first be fertile, or "in heat." About twenty-four hours before birth, your cat may have milky discharge coming from her nipples. By the third week of gestation, as the embryos start to develop, your cat will gain weight and increase her intake of food. 5 stages of cat pregnancy 5 Stages Of Cat Pregnancy Although most people often recommend cat neutering or spaying, there are chances that you may have to deal with cat pregnancy, due to deliberate breeding or an unexpected liaison at the shelter or clinic. If a cat's yearly age is determined by multiplying seven (a rough estimate, to be sure), then a cat pregnancy is really 14 months long. Similar to morning sickness in humans, your pregnant queen may go through a stage of vomiting. Her belly starts to swell and her kittens are really growing. At the very beginning of your cat’s pregnancy, mating and fertilisation occur, although you will not be able to tell definitively that your cat is pregnant for a couple of weeks. She may start to lay around more, and you may notice that she lays on her side more since her belly is growing. A cat is said to be ‘in heat’ which is the period when its body change and she is able to become pregnant. It is not at all easy to identify as if your kitty is pregnant or not. NP2-NP2. There are roughly 5 cat stages of pregnancy. For cats, there are essentially five stages of pregnancy and the first is easy; fertilization. Your cat will gradually gain between one and two kilograms, depending on the number of kittens. A cat’s pregnancy length usually lasts between 58 and 67 days. It has even been heard of that a cat can go into heat at about five months old, which is really why it is a good idea to get a cat spayed. As your queen nears her due date (approximately nine weeks from fertilization), she will exhibit clues to the arrival of kittens. When the kittens are all weaned and old enough to find homes of their own, you will want to get your momma cat spayed as soon as possible because she can go right back into heat pretty quick once the babies are done nursing. Days 8-14 : Week two. Watch for mating behaviors. There's a lot you need to know to make things go smoothly with your new friend. During the first few weeks of pregnancy, or early stages, your cat will actually suffer what humans suffer with during their first trimester, and that is what we call morning sickness. She has been writing for over 15 years; writing articles, whitepapers, product write-ups and more for multiple online media sites, blogs, company websites and individuals. All symptoms of abortion should be considered a veterinary emergency, and the pregnant cat should be seen immediately. She will need to be examined in case she retains any remaining fetuses, alive or dead. Eclampsia or Milk Fever. During this time she will generally be much more vocal and affectionate. The cat searches for a suitable place where she can deliver her kittens safely. This gives her extra nutrition that she needs, so don’t stop her from doing this. A cat’s pregnancy lasts about 60-65 days. At around two weeks, her nipples will become darker in color and begin to enlarge. During the early stages of pregnancy, your cat will begin to gain weight. Read our. By the third week of gestation, as the embryos start to develop, your cat will gain weight and increase her intake of food. Besides, the become more noticeable against her usual pale abdomen colouring. If you want to know how many kittens your cat is going to have, your vet may do an X-ray at this time. If she has the ability to be around male cats, let out to wonder around the neighborhood, the males will find her and try to mate with her. Many times, milk droplets form and drip out from them during this time. The Cat, 2012, pp. She’ll start licking her genitals and she’ll begin making sounds that tell you she is in uncomfortable. Pregnant cats go through many changes within a shorter amount of time than a pregnant woman’s nine-month gestation period. The 5 Stages of Cat Pregnancy. So let’s go through the stages, starting with the beginning. As the embryos continue to develop, the highly-evolved cells of the head (cranium) and body (thoracic region) develop first. 5 Stages Of Cat Pregnancy . She should also be kept indoors at all times. Nesting Behavior: This occurs during the advanced stages of pregnancy. Once all the kittens are born, healthy and happy, you will want to let them all stay together for a minimum of eight weeks. During the third trimester, as a … At this time, your cat's nipples may become swollen and darker in color. In the third week of pregnancy, you may feel so… Although it can be an exciting time to know you will have more little kitties to play with, there are things that you’ll have to do to prepare for the arriving brood, and meanwhile, mama cat will be doing her own preparing, all in anticipation of being a new momma. After approximately 15-18 days of a cat pregnancy, you may notice that your pet’s nipples become enlarged and red – this is known as ‘pinking-up’. An unspayed cat's fertility stage occurs every two to three weeks during spring and summer, as the sunlight triggers the release of hormones that activate ovulation. When your cat is in estrus, she is ready to mate and her eggs will accept fertilization for approximately seven days. The placenta begins to form at the time of implantation and allows for the exchange of nutrients and waste products between the mother and embryo. Once active labor starts, she should give birth to her first kitten. Is your cat pregnant? Your cat will get into her nesting stage and start looking for a nice, warm, safe place for her to birth her kittens, and this is the time you want to prepare a place for her. Nutrition is especially important in the early stages of birth. This is also the time when a veterinarian or trained professional will be able to feel the baby kittens inside her abdomen; however, this window is fairly small as the production of amniotic fluid as the fetus develop can make them hard to feel. The early stage of pregnancy is considered the first 4 weeks afterfertilization. August 28, 2020 August 28, 2020 admin 0 Comments cat breed, cat health, cat pregnancy, cat pregnancy calculator, cat pregnancy calendar, Cat Pregnancy Symptoms, Stages of Cat Pregnancy Cats are extremely fertile animals and if the cat is not spayed then it can deliver up to three times a year. That is the scenario when … (Image credit: Dragana Gerasimoski Shutterstock) Third trimester (weeks 28-40) changes in the mother's body. Journal Of Feline Medicine And Surgery, vol 15, no. “Morning sickness” can occur in stage three and your expectant mother may start to vomit from time to time. This article is designed to help you comprehend different stages of feline labor. You will not able to tell surely that your cat is pregnant. Your kitty will also start to refuse food about two days before she goes into labor, so if you notice this about her, you should know it’s about time for her to go into labor. During this time, it is natural for her to seek a male cat to mate with. Cat pregnancy and stages of cat pregnancy are rather fascinating, unique and above all, short. The kittens are getting bigger, and depending on how many kittens she’s carrying, she may start looking like she swallowed a football. Your cat may lack appetite due to nausea; catsmay experience morning sickness and will lose a bit of weight. Elsevier, doi:10.1016/b978-1-4377-0660-4.00040-5, Scherk, M A et al. All you need to do is just keep a watchful eye on how everything is going and make sure everything’s progressing as it should. Eclampsia is a veterinary emergency, and the cat should be seen immediately by a veterinarian at the first signs of symptoms. While she may decide, instead, to give birth on the cold, hard floor of your bathroom, at least you tried to accommodate her needs. This process occurs roughly two weeks after fertilization. A new stage in the third week of pregnancy, your pregnant cat begins hunt. 60-65 days it is natural for her to seek a male cat s! 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