How Long Are Cats Pregnant For?

Female cats can spend a good part of their year in heat, as heat in cats is related to sunlight. During a this phase, the female will be able to be mounted by males who after copulation, when withdrawing their penis covered with spines, induce ovulation. Due to the long duration of a cat’s heat, cats are considered as highly fertile animals. For more, take a look at our article on; How Long Is A Cat’s Heat.

Pregnancy in cats usually lasts for about two months, which translates to around (58-67 days). This length of cat pregnancy is relevant to cats that have experienced pregnancy before, as well as first-time pregnant cats^[1].

The general duration of cat pregnancy is about eight weeks. If your cat’s heat is interrupted, one can assume cat gestation has taken place. However, during the first couple of weeks of cat pregnancy, there are no apparent signs or symptoms that your cat may be pregnant.

Do you think your cat may be pregnant? If so, a veterinarian will be able to confirm this around day 20 of your cat’s pregnancy. During gestation period in cats, if you don’t want your cat to have kittens, a veterinarian can perform an ovariohysterectomy. In fact, this procedure can be performed throughout a cat’s pregnancy, however, the further along the pregnancy is, the higher the risk of complications.

Towards the middle of a cat’s pregnancy term, you will be able to notice the main symptoms of pregnancy in cats. The main sign that your cat is pregnant would be a notable increase in her size. Once pregnancy is confirmed, you must make sure you feed your cat adequately and correctly, making sure she and her kittens receive all of the necessary nutrients. For more, take a look at our article on; What Is The Best Diet For A Pregnant Cat.

During the end stage of your cat’s pregnancy, you may notice that if you place your hands on the sides of her abdomen, you can feel movement from the kittens. Additional cat pregnancy signs include:

• Swollen or larger abdominal area.
• Enlarged breasts, preparing for breastfeeding.
• Your cat will look for a quiet place to rest, free of distractions.
• Her appetite will decrease.

The appearance of vaginal discharge in your pregnant cat is usually a sign that labor is imminent. So, simply put, specific symptoms can help you determine how long your cat has been pregnant for. If you still aren’t know, we recommend consulting a veterinarian. For more, however, take a look at: How To Tell If My Cat Is Pregnant.

In general, is is important to know that a pregnant cat needs to be left to give birth naturally. However, we always recommend having your vet’s number close by in case of any complications during the birth.

You may be wondering how many kittens a cat can have, but there is no fixed answer. The average number of kittens per litter is four. However, this figure can vary between 1 and 5 kittens per litter. Before pregnancy, you can consult your veterinarian to find out how many fetuses are apparent during your cat’s pregnancy. This figure should match the amount of kittens born. If it does not, we suggest consulting your veterinarian.

Cats are seasonal polyestrics, which means that during months of more sunlight, generally from the end of winter to the beginning of autumn, they are constantly jealous and uncomfortable due to their heat phase^[2].

Now knowing how long a cat's pregnancy lasts, it is easier to calculate that a cat can give birth to more than one litter per year. Neutering a cat is important not only for your cat, but to also avoid unwanted litters. Cat sterilization can be performed before a cat’s first heat. In addition to controlling the birth rate of kittens, neutering your cat holds several health benefits for the animal. These benefits include, avoiding uterine infections and/or, breast tumors. If you want to know more about why you should neuter your cat, take a look at our article where we discuss: The Benefits of Neutering A Cat.

If you found this article helpful, take a look at our YouTube video below to find out: How to know if your cat is pregnant.

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