It means that your cat wants attention and trusts you enough to touch her belly. Remember your cat's belly is the most vulnerable spot on her body. If she allows you to pet her in this area, then she trusts you completely.
Each cat has a different personality, and each pregnancy is different. If she liked belly rubs before, she will probably still enjoy it unless she's sensitive.
Since the temperature of your body may be slightly higher during pregnancy, your cat may like to snuggle up with you more when you're expecting. Your cat may rub against you, sit on your pregnant belly, or even lie down beside you and put their paw on your belly.
You may also become aware of weight gain, specifically around her tummy, which is otherwise unexplained. Pregnant cats can gain around 1-2kg, depending on how many kittens they are carrying, which should be noticeable if you look at her body shape from above.
In the week before delivery (called queening) your cat will likely become less active—apart from "nesting" behavior. You'll probably find Mama preparing a queening nest in a quiet, secluded area of the house. This is where she plans to have her kittens.
Some felines will want extra attention just before giving birth and may even seem a little more loving and needy than usual. If you notice that your cat is having contractions, you should expect to see the kittens soon.
Contractions & Restlessness
During the first stage, your cat will have contractions, but you may not be able to see them. Your cat will become restless, panting, and vocalizing in anticipation because contractions can be quite painful. Her body temperature will also decrease to prepare for birth.
Yes, you can keep your cat. You may have heard that cat feces can carry the infection toxoplasmosis. This infection is only found in cats who go outdoors and hunt prey, such as mice and other rodents.
As labor approaches, your cat's discomfort and restlessness will increase. She may meow a lot or even howl, and she may wander about the house as if looking for something. Your cat will also begin to hunt for a secluded place to birth her kittens, if you do not provide her with one.
Kittens knead their mothers to stimulate milk production for nursing, and as PetMD explains, "even though kneading a soft surface doesn't yield milk, adult cats forever associate the motion of kneading with the rewarding comfort of nursing." Kneading a human, therefore, might be a cat's way of showing her love and ...
"Your pets probably don't understand that in nine months a new baby will be joining your family, but dogs and cats do detect differences in your mood, posture, behavior, and body chemistry that clue them in to the enormous changes you're going through," she said.
Handling and cuddling
From early on in her pregnancy a soon-to-be-mum cat will become more maternal and affectionate due to her hormones; she'll show more love and look to you for comfort. Cuddles and affection are an important part of taking care of your pregnant cat and making her feel safe.
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.
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.
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.
A green or dark discharge is seen coming from the cat's vulva prior to giving birth, or if a discharge is present 12 hours after giving birth.
Kittens may be passed stillborn, either before their due date or on their due date. In some cases, a deceased fetus may become mummified within the uterus. Mummification occurs when the body creates a protective membrane around the fetus, allowing it to remain encased and walled-off within the uterus.
Time between delivery of kittens is usually 10 to 60 minutes and stages two and three are repeated. The birth is usually complete within six hours after the start of the second stage, but can last up to 12 hours.
Week Seven
She will have a large, rounded belly and may begin the process of nesting. Nesting is when your cat starts looking for a safe and comfy place to birth her babies. It's similar to the human nesting instinct.
Your cat's labour should go smoothly, but it's useful to have help on hand to keep her calm and in case she runs into any complications. Get hold of your vet's out-of-hours phone number prior to your cat giving birth, as delivery often happens during the night, or they might need an emergency helping hand.
Prior to pregnancy, cat's nipples are virtually invisible- they are flat, quite light in colour and almost always hidden by their fur. However, a pregnant cat's nipples will appear pinker, showing a visible contrast to how they were before.