Your kitty has been looking extra chubby lately. Is she pregnant, or just packing on the pounds? This article intends to address how to tell if a cat is pregnant, as well as their heat cycles, gestation period, how to help a cat through labor, and why spaying a cat is the best option.
Is My Cat Pregnant?
The only way to absolutely confirm a cat’s pregnancy is with an x-ray or ultrasound at a veterinarian’s office. However, Animal Path states cats will show signs that may indicate a pregnancy, such as swelling in the abdominal area or enlarged nipples. Many cats will also have morning sickness, and most will begin to build a birthing nest.
How Long Are Cats In Heat?
According to Animal Path, cats can be in heat once every three weeks, and the breeding season lasts from January to October. They are able to be impregnated as young as 4 months of age. Cats in heat begs to be let outside, howl, and will often be found in the breeding position–standing with her tail straight up and her bottom in the air.
How Long Are Cats Pregnant?
Ruff Patches indicates that the average cat pregnancy lasts 63 days. It can be as early as 58 days and as late as 68 days.
How to Help a Cat Give Birth
Ruff Patches states that the best thing you can do for your cat is to watch from afar as she is in labor. When labor begins, a cat will typically meow and moan. She will try to find a place to hide, as cats like to give birth in private, and she will begin to wash her genital area. Place her litter box nearby and make sure the environment is as calm as possible. Dim the lights and cut back to as little noise as possible.
Generally, a cat giving birth is capable of delivering and caring for her own kittens. Once they are born, she will clean them and chew off the placenta and umbilical cord. Although your cat is more than capable, you should always make sure to observe from afar. If a kitten is not breathing, it may need its nasal passages cleaned out or CPR. If labor seems to stall or a kitten seems stuck, it is time to take your cat to the veterinarian.
How Many Kittens Can a Cat Have?
International Cat Care indicates that litters can range anywhere from 1 to 12 kittens.
When Do Kittens Open Their Eyes?
Kittens do not open their eyes until 8 to 12 days after birth, according to the Kitten Lady.
Getting a Cat Spayed
Unwanted pregnancies can be avoided by spaying your cat as soon as possible. Spaying a cat involves a surgical incision in the abdomen and the removal of the uterus and ovaries. This can be done as soon as an animal reaches two pounds.
There are more advantages to spaying a cat than preventing unwanted litters. For one, your cat will never go into heat again, meaning all the moaning and unwanted urination will never happen. She will also live a healthier life, as removing the uterus completely prevents pyometra, an infection of the uterus that, if left untreated, can kill a cat. Additionally, spaying cuts down the risk of the development of mammary tumors, which, according to the ASPCA, are 90 percent malignant in cats. Spay your cat before her first heat in order to reap these health benefits.
Your cat means the world to you. Now that you know the signs, you should be able to determine whether or not your cat is pregnant. Most importantly, now that you know the advantages of spaying, you will no longer have to deal with unwanted litters or costly, life-threatening health issues.