Most cats would prefer to be left alone, and they definitely don't want to be pet or touched while they are giving birth. It's best to give your pregnant cat as much privacy as possible while also leaving yourself the ability to monitor the birthing process for any signs of issues or distress.
This area will be very sensitive, and any touching there could cause her discomfort or hurt her unborn kittens. If you do have to pick your cat up, make sure to “scoop” her up from her bottom, rather than touch her stomach.
As the big day nears, your cat will become more affectionate and clingy. Young cats are often specifically anxious, especially during their first pregnancy. Don't leave them alone too much.
Provide a quiet environment for your cat as much as possible during her pregnancy. Keep her in a quieter part of the house away from daily chaos, but make sure to spend plenty of time with her, too. If you have other pets in the home, consider separating them from her unless they get along very well.
Absolutely! Petting your cat will not result in becoming infected. As a matter of fact, while Toxoplasmosis is a danger to an unborn baby, the chances of actually being infected are very low.
During her pregnancy, you will want to keep your cat relatively active in order to ensure she is fit for giving birth. Avoid any excessively rowdy activity towards the end of your cat's pregnancy, however. You will need to help her stay calm as she nears her due date, as anything too active could cause her stress.
Most cats would prefer to be left alone, and they definitely don't want to be pet or touched while they are giving birth. It's best to give your pregnant cat as much privacy as possible while also leaving yourself the ability to monitor the birthing process for any signs of issues or distress.
Licking, pacing, howling, and chirping
You might notice your cat licking her genitalia frequently – There is a discharge from the cat's vulva a few hours before birth starts. Your cat's water will break as well. Now is the time for pacing, restlessness, and howling, meowing, or chirping from your cat.
Restlessness – Around 24-48 hours before the birth, your pregnant cat may appear restless or anxious, pacing around her nesting area. Vocalisation – She might begin to meow and cry out more than usual. Don't worry. She's just letting you know the kittens are coming.
Your cat may also become restless or anxious and begin pacing in and out of her nesting area. Along with this behavior, she may become vocal, crying and meowing more than usual. As labor approaches, you will see your cat's appetite decline; her body temperature will drop to around 100F.
Unlike us, cats are unable to take pregnancy tests, so cats know that they are pregnant as their belly starts to grow, and their brain receives chemical stimuli. This is usually at the 2/3 weeks pregnant mark. At this point, your cat is likely to become less active and more protective.
The best way to confirm cat pregnancy is to take them to the vet, who can confirm pregnancy by feeling your cat's stomach and using ultrasound, depending on the stage of pregnancy they're in. Ultrasounds are usually performed at least 25 days into the pregnancy.
How long does pregnancy last in the cat and what are the signs? After the female cat becomes pregnant, her body slowly changes over the next 63 days as the fetuses grow.
Pregnant cats need higher amounts of calories and protein, both of which can be found in a high quality kitten food. Switching mum onto a kitten food will also help her litter, as they'll be able to copy her and try some of her solid food as they wean off her milk.
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!
Between weeks 4 and 6 of a cat's pregnancy, the foetuses of the future kittens will start to grow rapidly. This brings about significant physical changes for the mother to be: her back hollows out, her pelvis becomes wider and her abdomen swells.
The cervix relaxes (dilates) and uterine contractions begin. Your cat may purr and socialise during this time.
Your cat may start to follow you around more if she's pregnant. “If your cat is [an unspayed] female, she may be pregnant and looking for extra attention and support,” Hudson said. Some other signs to look for include increased appetite, weight gain, more affectionate behavior, nesting and swollen abdomen.
If the bleeding is noted during the early or middle stages of gestation, it's likely that the queen has had a miscarriage or aborted the babies. If the bleeding is noted at the end of the pregnancy, the mother may be going into labor early, and immediate veterinary intervention is necessary.
In cats the average length of full parturition (delivery) is 16 hours, with a range of 4–42 hours (up to three days in some cases may be normal). It is important to consider this variability before intervening. The third stage is delivery of the fetal membranes.
LABOR STAGE I
This is the time when the queen becomes restless and anxious. You may notice panting, pacing, refusal of food and maybe vomiting. Nesting behavior begins. This is the time to place her in the queening box (hopefully she is already accustomed to the box).
Leave her alone with the kittens, with the door to the room closed, to explore her new home. Adult cats can take a while to adjust to new places, and mom cats are no exception. They may take a few days or more to come out of hiding. Make sure mom has access to plenty of wet and dry food.
Birthing can get messy and you'll need somewhere to put any discarded towels after the birth. Dental floss and clean scissors. If the mother cat doesn't chew away the umbilical cord, you will need to tie it off with dental floss and cut the cord.
As long as they have a safe place to stay, a mother cat will usually do everything her kittens need, including cleaning them and drawing them close to her body for warmth. The mother cat should start nursing her babies within an hour or two of birth.
Preparing your home for your cat to give birth
Ideally, your pregnant cat should be allowed to have a room or space to herself at the end of her pregnancy. Queens (female cats) can become aggressive in the final two weeks of their gestation, so isolate her and keep her away from children.