Signs your cat is pregnant
- Around week 3: "pinking up", where the nipples get pinker and larger
- Heat cycles stop
- Increased appetite and gradual weight gain
- A rounder belly from about week 5
- Some cats become more affectionate; a few get mild morning sickness
A vet can confirm pregnancy by ultrasound from about day 15 to 20, or by X-ray after about day 42, which also shows how many kittens to expect.
Timeline
| Weeks | What's happening |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Fertilisation and implantation. No visible change. |
| 3 to 4 | Pinking up; vet can feel or scan the embryos. |
| 5 to 6 | Belly visibly grows; appetite rises. |
| 7 to 8 | Kittens may be felt moving; nesting begins. |
| 9 | Restless, may stop eating, temperature drops; labour within 24 hours or so. |
Caring for a pregnant cat
Switch gradually to a kitten food during the second half of pregnancy, since it has more calories and nutrients, and let her eat as much as she wants. Don't give flea or worm treatments or medicines without checking with your vet. Set up a quiet, warm box with towels in a low-traffic room a couple of weeks before the due date.
When to call a vet during birth
Call if she strains hard for 30 to 60 minutes with no kitten, if more than about two to three hours pass between kittens with more still expected, or if there's heavy bleeding or a foul discharge.
Frequently asked questions
How many kittens do cats have?
Usually 3 to 5, though first-time mothers often have smaller litters and some have as many as 8 or more.
How soon can a cat get pregnant after giving birth?
Very quickly. Cats can come back into heat within a few weeks, even while nursing.