How long are cats pregnant: advice, signs and things to look for

Cat pregnancy can be an exciting and stressful time for both cats and their owners.

You may find yourself looking through confusing common terms like "queens" for female cats and "kittening" for birth, but don't worry: we're here to help and keep things simple.

You don't need to be a vet to help your cat through their pregnancy, but staying in close contact with yours is essential.

Here, we answer how long are cats pregnant for in months and weeks, the signs, things to look out for and why a vet is essential for a safe, healthy birth.

How long are cats pregnant?

So, how long are cats pregnant in weeks and months?

On average, cats are pregnant for 63-65 days, which is roughly nine weeks, or just over 2 months. Sometimes, it can last up to 72 days, but this is rare.

Slight variations in the cat gestation period (pregnancy time) depend on a few factors like age, breed, family history and environmental factors.

Cats are actually pregnant for roughly the same amount of time as dogs.  There is wide variation between other mammals though. For example, a rabbit is pregnant for about a month, while an elephant is pregnant for nearly two years!

Unfortunately, a cat’s pregnancy length and when they show symptoms often means you don’t have long to prepare. 

How long are cats pregnant for their first litter?

A cat's first pregnancy may last a few days more than average. The top end is usually 70 days, about five days more than normal.

Outside of the first pregnancy, age doesn't impact the gestation period. But age can affect the size of a cat's litter. 

Younger cats tend to have a smaller litter, while litter size peaks when a cat is between three and four.

How long are cats pregnant before they show?

You won't notice a cat pregnancy until around three to four weeks or roughly 30 days. There aren't many symptoms before then.

That means you may only have around a month to prepare for a litter, which isn't long!

Signs that your cat is pregnant include:

• Appetite change (more or less)

• Behavioural changes, like nesting

• Enlarged abdomen

• Morning sickness and vomiting

• Pinker, swollen nipples

• Reduced activity and exercise

• Weight gain

But these can be hard to spot, and some may not develop until much later in the pregnancy, so you may need the help of a vet to confirm.

Cat pregnancy timeline in weeks

Weeks one-two

Fertilisation happens and the embryo starts development. There are minimal physical signs at this stage.

Three-four

You can see physical stages here, like pink, enlarged nipples. This is known as ‘pinking’ or ‘pinking up’.

Five-six

Your cat will start to put on weight and gain an increased appetite in this stage.

Seven-eight

The foetus starts to grow and develop rapidly, and you'll see increased abdominal size and movement. Mammary glands will start to enlarge and you may notice hair thinning around the nipples.

Nine

The cat prepares for labour and starts nesting.

Caring for a pregnant cat

Your cat will have different needs when she's pregnant, much like humans.

To care for a pregnant cat, focus on areas like:

Diet

A pregnant cat will need more calories and nutrients than usual. Pet nutrition is a deep topic, but for pregnant cats, you'll do fine by feeding her with high-quality cat food.

This will provide a higher level of calories per meal, which is essential for meeting her increased energy demands.

It's worth chatting to your vet about this.

Exercise

We recommend keeping this to gentle activity - it's important to keep an exercise routine up but don't be too excessive.

Strenuous or forced exercise may cause stress, which isn't good for pregnant cats.

Reducing stress

Avoid exposing your cat to too much stress. For example, if she doesn't get along with other pets, consider keeping them separated in their own spaces.

Regular vet check-up

You must keep up with regular vet check-ups. Your vet will advise and help you throughout the whole pregnancy.

They can also recommend the right de-worming protocol for your pregnant cat, which will stop the newborn kittens from becoming infected via her placenta or milk.

Safe spaces

We recommend creating a safe space for your cat so they can relax and destress. They'll also want somewhere secluded and quiet to give birth. 

How to tell how far along a cat is

You'll need a vet to tell, but generally, they can provide an estimate using:

• A physical examination to feel the foetus. This can happen as early as two to three into pregnancy

• An ultrasound can see a kitten's heartbeat around three to four weeks into pregnancy

• X-rays to see a foetus skeleton which happens around six to seven weeks

They'll use this combined with behavioural signs to estimate what stage of pregnancy your cat is in. 

Vets may also use these tests to see if your cat is having a phantom pregnancy, though this is much more common in dogs than cats.

Signs that labour is near

• Excessive grooming

• Excessive panting

• Hiding

• Increased restlessness and vocalisation

• Lower than normal body temperature

• Nesting - organising and staying in her kitten box

• Vulva mucous

Symptoms can be hard to spot and can vary between individuals, which is why it's important to know what to look out for. Most cats will give birth without assistance but keeping an eye on them will help to identify any developing problems. 

Warning signs that pregnancy has complications

Complications are rare, but they can happen during your cat's pregnancy. These could include: 

• Abnormal, foul-smelling discharge. 

• Different toilet habits - Blood in the stool, diarrhoea or squatting without peeing can indicate an infection.

• Excessive licking - A cat licking her vulva area excessively may indicate complications are happening.

• Going into labour and not producing a kitten - Abdominal contractions and active pushing should result in a kitten within 30 minutes. If your cat is struggling, contact a vet immediately.

• Sudden loss of appetite - While this often happens close to delivery, a drastic change in food habits at other points in the pregnancy can indicate problems.

• Visible stress - Any signs of distress, like agitation, aggression and crying.

How staying prepared helps

As your cat gets ready to give birth, it shouldn't be a time of anxiety and stress - you should be excited. 

A key part of preventative pet care is knowing big warning signs and having a good relationship with your vet.

If you have any concerns about your cat’s pregnancy or labour call your vet for advice immediately. This could potentially save the life of your cat and her kittens, so don’t delay.