8 Ways To Find Pregnancy Sign In Cats

Cats are beautiful and quite a popular pet in many parts of the world. But if you have an unspayed feline in your house, you have reasons to watch out for pregnancy sign in cats. If you have bred your cat recently, then such a sign is expected, but if your cat had conceived without your knowledge, then you need to be more careful.

The pregnancy sign in cats are behavioral and physical ones. Cat pregnancy cannot be determined by blood or urine tests like humans. A healthy cat pregnancy gestation can last from any where between 60 to 70 days. It can be detected in the following ways:

1. Pinking Up: One of the most common and noticeable signs that indicate pregnancy in cats is the enlargement and pinking of the nipples of a female pregnant cat (also known as queen). They will appear swollen and larger than their normal size. This change comes generally in the third week of pregnancy.
2. Irregular Heat Cycle: One more significant sign to look out for is missed or irregular heat cycle of your queen. One should know that cats can have a heat cycle even during the pregnancy.
3. Weight Gain: By the fifth week of gestation, your queen can gain enough weight to look pregnant. Its abdomen protrudes and it looks rather fat. But never try to touch the belly and feel the kittens inside, as it may cause miscarriage or any other harm to the unborn babies.
4. Increased Appetite: The mother-to-be cat tends to eat more. An increased appetite and more interest in food are easily noticeable in a queen, in about 23-25 days of gestation.
5. Morning Sickness: Cats can have morning sickness during pregnancy, just like humans! The queen may reject or throw off food sometimes. She may be very irritable or quiet too. It's a normal sign and one must not be worried till your cat over does it.
6. Nesting: Preparing for the new family is a natural tendency in all animals and your queen will also show signs of nesting, late in the pregnancy period. It will roam around the home in the search for a safe, warm and secluded place to give birth. One can easily notice its strange behavior and attempts to try new and hidden places. It is recommended that you provide a nesting box to your cat.
7. Seeking More Attention: Your queen may become clingier and will need more of your attention. Especially if it's her first litter, she will be more attached to you.
8. Veterinarian Check: The best confirmation of your cat's pregnancy can be made by your veterinarian. If you find any of the above pregnancy sign in your cat, just check with your vet. He can feel the abdomen of your queen and confirm the presence of babies. Don't ever try this at home. This is best done when the pregnancy is just 20 - 25 days old. It can be tested by an ultra sound too, after this period. An X-ray of the queen's abdomen can also show the bone structure of the babies too, but this is not recommended before 43 days of gestation.

Pregnancy sign in cats are plenty and easy to detect, but one must of watchful of them. So, don't worry for your beautiful queen any more, just get ready for the delivery.