Seeing a litter of kittens come into the world is a magical experience. Small, wriggling balls of fur peek out one after another, are washed clean by their mother and crawl tentatively around to find the nutritious milk. Quickly they settle down to nurse and quiet falls, as both the new mother and the new lives relax. But before that, when does the journey begin?
How long is a cat pregnant?
A cat is normally pregnant for 65 days from mating and thereby fertilization. That corresponds to just over 9 weeks. This can vary somewhat between cats, in the range of 60-71 days.
How do you know if the female cat is pregnant?
During the first weeks it can be hard to know for sure whether the female cat is pregnant or not - it cannot be found out with a urine test as in humans. After about 3 weeks you usually start to see the first signs, when the nipples become swollen and pink. The cat's behaviour can also change, for example a changed appetite, her becoming more cuddly or seeming restless. During the second half of the pregnancy the belly starts to grow, and in the last weeks you can feel and sometimes see foetal movements.
Around 4-5 weeks the pregnancy can be confirmed with ultrasound, and around 7 weeks the number of kittens can be counted on an X-ray.
What are the nutritional needs of a pregnant cat?
When the cat is pregnant, her need for fat and protein increases. When she starts producing milk it also brings an increased need for minerals in the diet, especially calcium. Foods adapted for pregnant and nursing female cats are designed around these particular nutritional needs.
The female cat's energy needs vary depending on factors such as how many kittens she has, how far along in the pregnancy she is and how much milk she produces. During the first 4 weeks of the pregnancy she has roughly the same energy needs as usual, and therefore does not need an increased amount of food as long as she is not losing weight.
During the last five weeks of the pregnancy the cat's energy needs increase by about 25-50 %. The kittens can take up a lot of space in the belly, which can make the female lose her appetite and easily start vomiting if she eats too much at once. Then she may need to be fed several times and in small portions.
Here you can read more about our kitten food, which also suits pregnant and nursing females.
More reading:
Getting a kitten? Here is everything you need to know!
Petgood's food for kittens is here!