Feline pregnancy is not an easy process for both the animal and its owners. Especially if the pet is waiting for its first kittens. There are a lot of questions: how long does a cat's pregnancy last? How to determine if a pet is pregnant or not? How to feed? Can a cat be allowed to go out? What to do during childbirth? And this is only a minimum of questions asked by the owner of the animal.
This article will help to understand some issues related to the pregnancy of a cat.
Features to Know
- It is extremely undesirable to knit a cat after the first estrus. The first estrus occurs at the age of 6-8 months, by this time the cat, in fact, a kitten. The reproductive system is not yet functioning properly. There is a great risk of killing the animal with a thoughtless viscous.
- As for the first mating of the animal, veterinarians claim that it is carried out after the second estrus. The optimal time for the first fertilization is the age from one and a half to two years.
- If a cat is bought "for the soul" and without a pedigree, it is better to sterilize it. The fact is that in the felinological world such cats are considered the "phenotype of" thoroughbred "relatives." In common parlance - "noblewoman" with an elite origin. And such a cat does not represent any value in breeding. Litter from such an animal can be handed out in good hands. To sell kittens for a good price will not succeed.
- It should be remembered that thoroughbred cats give birth harder than ordinary purebred animals. This is especially true of British and Scottish breeds.
- Before mating, a veterinarian consultation is required. Not all cats can tolerate kittens; for some, pregnancy is death. Therefore, it is better to know in advance about the health status of the pet.
- If the pet is a "lady" thoroughbred, with documents, participates in cat shows, then to select a cat, you can contact the breeder from whom the animal was purchased. Decent breeders oversee their "graduates" and will never refuse to help their owners.
When fertilization occurs
If the mating was successful, then the cat's egg is fertilized within 24-50 hours. In the event that conception has not occurred, and this often happens during the first mating, after 20 days the “hunt” can begin again.
How does pregnancy develop? The first stage and its features
It is worth starting with how long the pregnancy in cats lasts. From 60 to 72 days. It all depends on the breed and the individual characteristics of the future mother. Early childbirth is dangerous for the animal organism - until the sixtieth day. Most likely, kittens will be born dead, and the cat's well-being can deteriorate sharply. To avoid this, the owner must have the phone of the veterinarian or breeder. If you need advice, you need to call them.
How long does the pregnancy last for cats and how to determine if an animal is waiting for offspring? The answer to the first part of the question has already been given. Now it remains to deal with the second part.
It is possible to determine in the first 4 weeks (30 days) whether a pet is pregnant or not, only by changes in its behavior. The cat is sick, but the animal constantly requires food. It is recommended to feed the cat 3-4 times a day, not limiting in products containing calcium. The activity of the expectant mother decreases, she becomes more calm. From the thirtieth day, the cat's stomach begins to round. However, the stomach may not appear until the birth, so its rounding is not the most pronounced sign.
One of the main external signs of the onset of pregnancy is a clear discharge of the nipples. Nipples in cats are very light and almost invisible. On the 30-35th day, they acquire an intense pink color, become pronounced.
To find out if the pet is exactly pregnant, you should contact your veterinarian and get an ultrasound scan. On the 30th day it is already possible to determine the number of kittens and whether they are in the womb at all.
Second half of pregnancy
Starting from the 31st day, embryos actively grow and fall down the abdomen. During this period, a slight rounding of the cat’s tummy can be seen. By the 45th day, the length of future kittens is from 5 to 10 cm, but they have not yet moved.
The first movements of the fruit begin at a period of fifty days. The cat herself begins to demand affection, willingly goes into her arms, and can lick family members. Simultaneously with these changes in behavior, the expectant mother "talks" with her fetuses in her stomach. This is expressed in a gentle short purr, as if the animal is responding to someone.
Longhair cats, their features
How long does a pregnancy for cats with long hair last? Those pets, whom nature has awarded with thick and long hair, bear offspring from 65 to 72 days. Before giving birth, it is necessary to remove the hair from the genitals and prepare the nipples for meeting with the kittens - remove the fur around them. A veterinarian can carry out the procedure, but only at home. The animal in the late stages of pregnancy, any changes, including visits to the veterinary clinic, are not recommended.
Shorthair cats and their gestational age
In shorthair cats, how long does a pregnancy last? 60 to 65 days. Special preparation of wool for childbirth is not required. It is only necessary to remove it near the nipples of the animal.
Pregnancy Scottish Cats
Each breed has its own characteristics during the bearing of kittens. Particular attention should be paid to such a breed as a Scottish fold cat. How long does a Scottish cat's pregnancy last? From 63 to 67 days. But if kittens are born on the 60-62th day, this is not scary, because it is considered the norm.
As with other breeds, in the first three weeks the pregnancy of a fold cat is not outwardly expressed. However, starting from the sixth week, if the animal has more than two kittens at the same time, the stomach becomes large and round. And at the end of the seventh week it is already possible to observe the movement of the fruits and even feel their heads. An inexperienced owner is better not to do this, because careless palpation can lead to miscarriage.
During the last week, the cat begins to actively look for a place for future births. She becomes restless, insistently demands masterful attention. The appearance of white discharge from the vulva indicates that childbirth will begin in two to three days.
The question of how long the pregnancy in a Scottish cat lasts and how it proceeds is resolved. Now it remains to learn how to prepare for the birth of a thoroughbred pet.
What you need to prepare for the birth of kittens
- Box for childbirth. An ordinary cardboard box of large sizes, and a specially designed plastic box with a hinged lid and a cathole for a cat, are also suitable.
- The place where the cat will give birth should be quiet and dim. The room in which the "house" is located must be regularly ventilated. At the same time, there should not be drafts in it. A warm and dry room will be an excellent option for the birth of kittens. Scottish kittens are very sensitive to temperature conditions, so in the first seven days of their life, room temperature should be 29 degrees. Then weekly it is reduced by 2-3 degrees.
- Disposable diaper napkins. Immediately after birth, there will be a need to replace the used diapers with new ones.
- Nail scissors. They should be disinfected with alcohol. Scissors are necessary in case of intervention of the owner. If the cat refuses to cut the umbilical cord on its own, then its owner will have to cut it.
- Medical gloves, in case you have to pull kittens out.
- Phone of the veterinarian. It should be prepared for the fact that the first birth in lop-eared cats is difficult, with pathologies. Therefore, the presence of a veterinarian nearby is very desirable. It is unacceptable to bring a giving birth cat to a veterinary clinic, a specialist should be called to the house.
- The owner must be present next to the animal. His voice and affection will help the animal calm down a bit.
After it became known about how long the lop-eared cat's pregnancy lasts, how it proceeds and how to prepare for the birth of the pet, it is worth turning to the question of the diet of any pregnant cat.
How to feed a pet
If a cat eats dry food, then it is better to transfer it to super-premium food. If a pet prefers natural food, then she needs:
- 150-200 grams of boiled lean meat daily.
- Low-fat varieties of fish, boiled and boneless - 3 times a week for 150-200 grams.
- Boiled chicken - 200 grams twice a week.
- Offal - 2 times a week for 100 grams.
- Low-fat cottage cheese, for example, intended for baby food - 50 grams 4 times a week.
- Kefir - 4 times a week. Fat content up to 3.2%.
- Starch-free vegetables - 1-2 tablespoons per day. Vegetables will help normal bowel function.
- Pure water in a cat should always be freely available.
Some more useful information
- With the gestational age in days is understandable. And how long does a cats pregnancy last in weeks? Nine weeks, on average.
- Can a pregnant cat be allowed to go outside? In no case. Especially in the second half, when the animal becomes more dispersed and slow.
- Pregnancy is not a disease. It should not be forbidden for the expectant mother to play and actively move. The only thing that is undesirable to admit is high jumps.
- Do not give medication to a pet without the consent of a veterinarian. Even the most harmless, at first glance, the drug can adversely affect the development of embryos.
- If a cat has difficulties with hygiene, it is necessary to help her with a cotton pad soaked in warm water.
- If the cat’s body temperature drops from 38-38.5 degrees to 37-37.5 degrees, this is a sure sign that childbirth will begin in the next 12-24 hours.
Finally
What do you need to remember? How many months the pregnancy in cats lasts - 9 weeks or 2 months. The first signs of an approaching birth are white discharge from the vulva and lowered body temperature. Self-treatment, without the recommendation of a veterinarian, should be absent. And the last - the essentials that need to be prepared before childbirth: a warm, darkened room with a temperature of 29 degrees, a box for childbirth, hygienic diapers, manicure scissors treated with alcohol. The veterinarian and host must be present during childbirth.