Symptoms pregnant cat: How to Tell If a Cat Is Pregnant

Is my cat pregnant?

Female cats that haven’t been neutered (called ‘queens’) can easily get pregnant if they live with unneutered male cats or spend time outdoors. So it’s important to know how to spot the signs of pregnancy.

When can cats get pregnant?

Queens can fall pregnant as young as four months old. If she lives with her brothers, she can mate with them too as cats don’t discriminate when it comes to their partners. Unlike humans, females don’t go through menopause so they can keep getting pregnant until the last years of their life. 

How long are cats pregnant?

Compared to humans, pregnancies are short – usually lasting for 63 days, though pregnancies shorter or longer by a few days can also happen.

How to tell your cat is pregnant?

Although there might not be any signs in the first weeks, there are some common early pregnancy symptoms that can appear:

• Noticeable weight gain in a few weeks
• Swollen, pink nipples that appear around three weeks into the pregnancy 
• Vomiting (morning sickness like in humans)
• Increased appetite
• Sleeping more
• Changes in personality, like being more affectionate 

Important

If you notice any of these signs, talk to your vet.

During the later weeks of her pregnancy, she might be anxious and pace around. She may also start nesting during her seventh week of pregnancy, which means looking for a safe space to give birth.

Close to her giving birth, there could be red-coloured discharge on her vulva (the outside of her genitals). 

Tip

In the final weeks of her pregnancy, we recommend keeping your cat indoors, to ensure she’s safe when she gives birth. Take care not to disturb her, keep your distance and try to keep other animals away from her.

What should I do if I think my cat is pregnant?

You should take her to the vet if you think she’s pregnant. The vet can tell if she’s pregnant by doing a tummy check, although sometimes an X-ray or ultrasound is also needed. Your vet may also want to discuss the next steps with you.

Important

Make sure you do not press on her stomach as this can be very uncomfortable, and can even cause a miscarriage.

Even if your cat is pregnant, she can still mate with other cats for a few days and can give birth to a litter that has different fathers. After giving birth, queens can get pregnant after two weeks.

How to prevent cat pregnancy?

The single best way to prevent your pet from getting pregnant is by neutering them before they are sexually active, which can be as early as 4 months old. Not only will this prevent any accidental litters but it can also:

• reduce their risk of breast cancer
• reduce their risk of an infection of the womb (called pyometra)
• prevent any risks that pregnancy and birth can have

Neutering your cat will also reduce their chance of catching and spreading feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). If you have a male and female cat in your home, it’s best to get them neutered as early as possible to avoid surprises.

Read more about spaying your female cat or castrating your male cat.

How to Tell If a Cat Is Pregnant

By

Franny Syufy

Franny Syufy

Franny Syufy is a cat expert with over two decades of experience writing about feline anatomy and medical conditions. She is a professional member of the Cat Writers’ Association, won the prestigious PurinaOne Health Award for her writing. Franny has also authored two books on cat care.

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Editorial Process

Updated on 11/15/22

Reviewed by

Alycia Washington

Reviewed by
Alycia Washington

Alycia Washington is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with nearly a decade of experience as a small animal emergency veterinarian. She currently works as a relief veterinarian for various emergency and specialty hospitals. Dr. Washington recognizes the importance of education and also works as a freelance veterinary writer.

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Veterinary Review Board

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If you don’t own a purebred cat that will be used for breeding, it’s best to have your pet spayed as early as possible to avoid unwanted feline pregnancy. A kitten as young as four months can reach sexual maturity and come into heat, and unlike humans, cats do not experience menopause with a loss of fertility, and so can continue to come into heat, become pregnant, and give birth to kittens through their entire lives.

If your cat was recently in heat and had access to an intact (unneutered) male cat, there’s a good chance that she is pregnant. A pregnant queen (the term used for an unspayed female cat, especially while pregnant) will display both physical and personality changes that will become more evident around three weeks after breeding, including swollen nipples, enlarging abdomen, and nesting behaviors.

The gestation period for cats runs 64 to 66 days. You could consider 63 days, or nine weeks, as an average feline gestation period.

The Spruce / Maritsa Patrinos

Physical Changes in a Pregnant Cat

Looks for these signs in your cat’s body indicating pregnancy:

• Heat cycles cease: This may be the first sign you notice of a cat’s pregnancy. If a cat has been going through heat cycles every 10 days to two weeks, and suddenly stops, it is likely she is pregnant.
• Nipples swell and become rosier in color: Breeders call this “pinking-up,” and it may be the first visual sign you will see in a pregnant cat. This usually occurs at around three weeks into the pregnancy. There may be a slight discharge from the nipples, as well.
• Change in appetite: A pregnant cat may have a decrease in appetite early in her pregnancy. In the second half of pregnancy, she will show an increased interest in food. After all, a pregnant cat is not only eating for herself, but for several fetuses.
• Weight gain: Most pregnant queens will gain about 2 to 4 pounds of body weight over the course of pregnancy.
• Vomiting: Pregnant queens may be subject to a few bouts of “morning sickness,” much as human mothers-to-be. This in itself is not necessarily a reason to worry, but if the vomiting continues or is frequent, contact your veterinarian for help.
• Enlarged abdomen: Sometime around the fifth week of pregnancy, a pregnant cat’s abdomen will start to swell noticeably. It will continue to enlarge until time for birthing. It can be a little harder to spot an enlarging belly if your cat was overweight to begin with, however.

Personality Changes in a Pregnant Cat

These character and mood changes are also indicative of pregnancy:

• Affection increases: Your cat may become more affectionate than normal and frequently seek out your attention. By all means, give it to her! However, you might notice that your pregnant cat is less tolerant of other household pets during this time.
• Increase in sleeping: Many pregnant queens will sleep for more hours in a day than before pregnancy.
• Nesting behaviors: Typically, your cat will begin “nesting” a couple of weeks before she gives birth. Common behaviors during this time include finding a secluded spot and spending a lot of time there, and even attempting to drag blankets or other soft items into the nest. To prevent your cat from choosing an undesirable spot to give birth, such as in a drawer or in a difficult-to-access area, provide her with a birthing box that’s easy for her to get in and out of. Line the box with a few soft blankets that can be disposed of or washed as they become soiled.

Clinical Diagnosis of Pregnancy in Cats

If your queen has had regular veterinary care and the previous signs of pregnancy are evident, it may not be necessary to get an official diagnosis from a veterinarian. However, it’s a good idea for your vet to examine your cat and make sure she is in good condition.

• Palpation of the Cat’s Abdomen: Your veterinarian may be able to feel your pregnant cat’s fetuses by palpating and gently pressing on her abdomen. This typically happens around the 17th to 25th day of pregnancy.
• Ultrasound of Your Cat’s Abdomen: An ultrasound may detect fetuses as early as the second week of pregnancy, and heartbeats may be detected sometime after the third week.
• Radiographs (X-rays): Your vet can take a radiograph of your cat’s abdomen when she is further along in her pregnancy to determine the number of kittens she is carrying. This is a minor amount of radiation that will not be harmful to the kittens or the mother. Kitten spines and skulls begin to be visible on x-rays after about 42 days into the pregnancy.
• Pregnancy test: Just as with humans, there are pregnancy tests for cats that can detect certain hormones released during pregnancy. While usually you won’t need such a test, as your veterinarian can determine the pregnancy with the above methods, if there is uncertainty and the vet is unable to do an ultrasound or an x-ray, a pregnancy test is another option. In cats, the test requires a blood sample, unlike human pregnancy tests that can be done on a urine sample.

If your resident or rescued cat is indeed confirmed pregnant, some serious decision-making time is at hand. If you decide to spay her and prevent the pregnancy from coming to term, it should be done as early as possible. If not, be prepared to help care for the kittens and find them all good homes. 

Signs Your Cat Will Give Birth Soon

Once your cat begins active labor, try to leave her undisturbed. Watch from a safe distance to make sure she does not go into distress. Generally, the first stage of a cat’s labor lasts an average of six to 12 hours, and is the period in which contractions begin and the cervix opens. The second stage of labor is the actual delivery of the kittens. There can be anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour between each kitten’s birth. After the delivery of each kitten, the queen will experience the third stage of labor, which includes the delivery of the placenta. It can take anywhere from two hours to more than a day for a cat to finish giving birth once stage two begins, but two to six hours is common.

These signs indicates kittens are on the way:

• Nesting Activities: As the birth gets closer, your pregnant cat may seek out quiet, private places for the birth to take place. This typically begins up to two days prior to labor, but it may only begin a few hours prior.
• Restlessness: About 24 to 48 hours before labor, the pregnant queen may seem restless or anxious. She may go in and out of her nesting area, almost as if pacing.
• Panting: Often, a female cat will pant as labor begins.
• Vocalization: In addition to the pacing and restless behavior, the pregnant queen may meow and cry out more than usual.
• Lowered Body Temperature: Within 12 to 36 hours of labor, your cat’s body temperature will drop below 100 degrees Fahrenheit (normal temperature is usually between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Loss of Appetite: Your pregnant queen will likely have had an active appetite during her pregnancy. As she comes close to labor, she will have a drastic decrease in appetite. 
• Vulva Licking: As labor fast approaches, your cat will begin licking her vulva to clean a mild discharge. You will likely not see this discharge, as she will want to keep the area clean.

ManuelVelasco / Getty Images

After the Kittens Are Born

Most cat mothers do just fine on their own, and it’s best to remain a respectful, but watchful distance from the nest while your cat tends to her brand-new kittens. The average feline litter is four to six kittens, and the mother will clean each newborn thoroughly as it emerges. The kittens should begin to nurse within an hour of birth. If your cat appears to be very distressed, straining, or unable to care for her kittens, contact your veterinarian for advice.

What to Expect When Your Cat Is in Heat

If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. 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.

Watch Now: Why Do Cats Purr?

Article Sources

The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Lamm, Catherine G., and Chelsea L. Makloski. Current Advances In Gestation And Parturition In Cats And Dogs.  Veterinary Clinics Of North America: Small Animal Practice, vol 42, no. 3, 2012, pp. 445-456. Elsevier BV, doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2012.01.010

2. Normal Labor and Delivery In the Cat. Auburn Animal Hospital.

3. Little, Susan E. Female Reproduction. The Cat, 2012, pp. 1195-1227. Elsevier, doi:10.1016/b978-1-4377-0660-4.00040-5

How to understand that a cat is pregnant Pregnancy in a cat, as a rule, becomes visually noticeable on days 21-25, despite the fact that the entire cycle of bearing kittens on average lasts from 63 to 65 days, and in Siamese cats it is even less – up to 57 days.

Experienced breeders can determine pregnancy by external signs, but it is possible to confirm this condition, find out the term and identify the presence (or absence) of pathologies only with the help of a veterinarian. nine0003

Signs of pregnancy in a cat

From the fifth week of pregnancy, the cat’s nipples become more intense in color, may begin to peel off, increase in size, the hair around them thins. However, be careful: this phenomenon is also observed in false pregnancy.

At the sixth week of pregnancy, the cat begins to gain weight, but in order to track this, you need to regularly weigh the animal. There is an active growth of kittens, the stomach is getting bigger.

After seventh week of pregnancy, the cat becomes restless, begins to prepare for childbirth. Palpation can already determine the shape of the fruit.

Changes in behavior may appear in a pregnant cat after about after three weeks : the animal may become more calm and sociable, or, conversely, begin to retire and behave more independently. Abrupt changes in behavior are worth paying attention to, but not all cats may be signs of pregnancy.

3-4 days before giving birth, the behavior of a cat changes dramatically, she can walk on the heels of the owner all day long, meow and prepare a place for herself to give birth. Body temperature during this period drops to 37 degrees. Fetal movement can often be seen or felt by hand through the abdominal wall.

Instrumental diagnostic methods and tests to help determine if a cat is pregnant

Ultrasound. This is the most accurate method for determining pregnancy, it can be used as early as two to three weeks after mating, since during this period the heart rate of the embryos is well determined. With the help of ultrasound, it is also possible to identify any deviations in the development of future offspring. nine0003

Determination of the level of hormones in the blood. Sometimes it is possible to determine whether a cat is pregnant or not using a blood test for specific hormones.

Palpation. The method is effective on days 21-25, until the 35th day of pregnancy, each kitten can be identified individually, then the fetuses become too large. But if you do not have the proper experience of palpation determination of pregnancy, you should not do this, as you will not only determine nothing, but can also cause irreparable harm to future kittens. nine0003

X-ray. It is applied approximately 40 days after mating, when the skeleton is formed in future kittens. X-ray is not informative in terms of diagnosing the very fact of pregnancy. With its help, you can only determine the number of future offspring.

How to care for a pregnant cat?

In advance, before the onset of the planned pregnancy, it is necessary to limit the contact of the cat with other animals, refuse exhibitions and free range. By the end of the term, provide the cat with a secluded place to which she will get used in advance and give birth to kittens there. nine0003

How to feed a pregnant cat?

From the first day of estrus, throughout pregnancy and until the end of lactation, the cat must be gradually transferred to a specialized diet (more on this can be found in our article “What to feed a pregnant cat”). After all, it is during this crucial period of life that an animal needs an increased content of energy and nutrients.

It is worth monitoring the daily feed intake to avoid overweight, which can adversely affect the health of the animal and cause complications during childbirth. nine0003

These cats can be offered the Queen diet from the first day of estrus until the end of lactation. In some cases, you can use the Mother&Babycat and Babycat instinctive food lines. By the way, the same food can be given to kittens during the weaning period and up to 4 months.

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How long does a cat’s pregnancy last, signs of pregnancy in cats? There are many factors that affect the reproductive process of an animal. Body size, breed, general health, and even daylight hours all matter in one way or another. As a result, the age of a cat for a first pregnancy can range from 3.5 (meaning even small kittens get pregnant) to 18 months. nine0003

Readiness for mating is expressed by a peculiar behavior: the cat becomes very restless, constantly requires attention, may sleep less and eat worse. In addition, a characteristic posture appears when the cat falls on its front paws, arches its lower back, rolls on the floor and purrs or meows invitingly.

How to know if a cat is pregnant

Pregnancy in a cat can be recognized by changes in behavior, and a veterinarian can help determine the fact of pregnancy. Around the 21st day after conception, he can feel if there is a fetus in the uterus. However, there are symptoms that will tell you that the cat will soon have kittens: changes in the mammary glands, fatigue, toxicosis and more frequent urination are all signs that your cat is expecting offspring. nine0003

Changes in the mammary glands

This symptom usually accompanies the first pregnancy in cats. The duration of the uncharacteristic cat behavior can vary, so you may not notice it the first time, but redness and swelling of the nipples should alert you. If your nipples feel hot, your cat may be pregnant.

Fatigue

Drowsiness, lethargy, unwillingness to run and frolic… Is this the same cat that loves to play so much? Pregnancy days can change a pet’s behavior, and fatigue is one of the signs. nine0003

Toxicosis

Early pregnancy in cats may be accompanied by toxicosis. Nervousness, poor appetite, morning vomiting – toxicosis is unpleasant, but safe for the cat and her offspring. Make sure that diarrhea and dehydration do not add to these signs – in this case, the cat must be shown to the veterinarian.

More frequent urination

During pregnancy, cats may void more frequently than usual. If the urine is clean, without blood impurities, and the process of urination is painless and does not cause anxiety in the cat, then everything is in order with her health. nine0003

How long does a cat’s pregnancy last?

A typical cat’s pregnancy lasts 9 weeks – 55 to 63 days. This period also varies depending on the breed and number of kittens. For example, in Siamese and Oriental breeds, pregnancy sometimes lasts longer than 9 weeks. Multiple pregnancies often lead to a shorter period.

For those who are planning to breed kittens, it is interesting to know how many pregnancies a cat can have per year. Domestic cats are able to bear offspring up to three times a year, but this, of course, is a great stress for their body. According to veterinarians, it is advisable for a cat to bring kittens into the world no more than once a year. nine0003

How does a cat’s pregnancy develop week by week?

• 1-3 weeks of pregnancy

There are no “two strip” tests for cats, and pregnancy cannot be accurately determined in the first week. During pregnancy, a cat may sleep more, become less active, and eat more.

By the third week after fertilization, especially if this is the first pregnancy, the cat’s nipples turn pink and enlarge – this is the first sign that your pet will have kittens. From the 21st day, the veterinarian can diagnose the pregnancy of the cat during examination: the doctor draws conclusions after palpation (soft touch) of the abdomen. Most importantly, in no case do not try to feel the cat’s stomach on your own, especially in the early stages of pregnancy. nine0003

Unprofessional probing can harm kittens and lead to unfortunate consequences.

If you wish, you can do an ultrasound and thus determine with certainty whether the cat is pregnant. This procedure compares favorably with the fact that it allows you to determine the exact number of kittens, as well as their viability (heartbeat and mobility). And from the 30th day of pregnancy, during the ultrasound procedure, you can examine the internal organs of the babies.

• 4-6 weeks

If you have not resorted to the help of a veterinarian, then it is during this period that you can see obvious signs of pregnancy: the cat eats a lot and sleeps for a long time, the nipples are distinctly pink, the belly is rounded – from the sixth week it begins to grow faster. At this time, an experienced veterinarian can feel the number of embryos.

• 7-9 weeks

This gestation period in cats is characterized by a rapid increase in the abdomen, the cat eats less, sleeps a lot and often goes to the toilet. Putting your hand on her stomach, you can feel the kittens moving. By the end of the term, the stomach drops: it used to start right behind the ribs, and now it is located in the hips. The cat constantly follows the owner and at the same time begins to look for a place for a nest. By the way, it is worth taking care of it in advance. nine0003

Caring for a pregnant cat

A cat’s first pregnancy can make owners nervous. Try to provide your cat with nutritious food and give her more fluids. Let the cat’s toilet always be clean – during this period it is very important for a cat. Pay more attention to the cat – she needs affection. And, of course, organize a place where she will be comfortable giving birth.

Cat is in labor

Here are the signs by which you can tell that your pet is going into labor: she becomes restless, eats poorly or refuses to eat at all, licks herself often and – most importantly – begins to breathe quickly. At the second stage of labor, the cat settles in the nest – the place that she has determined for the birth of kittens – and no longer leaves it until the end of the process. nine0003

In most cases, cats are able to cope with childbirth on their own; excessive attention will only cause them stress. So let your pet handle everything by itself. But if you see that something has gone wrong (delivery has dragged on, bleeding has occurred), you should call a veterinarian. It does not matter what pregnancy the cat has in a row. After giving birth, cats may go without food for up to 24 hours, but they should always have fresh water and access to a litter box. nine0003

How to take care of newborn kittens

It is better not to take newborn kittens once again if the cat is able to take care of them. And her milk will fully provide the babies with nutrition in the first four months of their life. Be sure: you will have a lot of time ahead to look at and caress the kittens.

False pregnancy in cats

It is very difficult to distinguish a false pregnancy from a real one by external signs. This condition is the result of a hormonal imbalance in the cat’s body.