Pregnancy and Birth

Depending on how long the female cat has been with the stud, her heat will continue a while after she comes home. A mating will not shorten an ongoing heat.
A normal cat pregnancy lasts nine weeks. A reliable due date can be found by counting nine weeks from the first mating one has observed. A deviation of a couple of days to either side is normal, however.
When the cat is three weeks gone, you will be able to see the first sign of pregnancy: the nipples become larger and more pink. Don't be so eager checking this that you touch the nipples too much, because this in itself can make them swell, even in a not pregnant cat. Instead you may blow the hairs on the abdomen apart to be able to see the nipples.
Already at this time the cat should be given kitten food, which is the only food that can keep up with the increased protein need of a pregnant cat. Buy it as dry food, or you will be ruined (see to it that the cat has plenty of drinking water).
If your cat never gets out, it shouldn't be necessary to deworm it during pregnancy. If your cat has been going out, you may deworm it just before the birth, so you're sure the kittens aren't born with worms (do this in collaboration with your vet, not all vermifuges are suitable for pregnant cats).

Some cats alter their mentality during pregnancy - often towards the more motherly and considerate.
A few cats, however, become aggressive and moody during pregnancy - this often indicates that something is wrong and should make you consult your veterinarian.
App. halfway into the pregnancy you can see the cat's belly starting to expand. At this point the cat will start increasing its food intake considerably.
Most cats do not seem to be particularly bothered by their condition - I myself have a cat that leaps and runs like usually until a few hours before giving birth.
There are, of course, a few "attitudinizers" who know how to get a maximum of sympathy of their condition!
Towards the end of the pregnancy the nipples will begin to produce milk.
It is a good idea to give a calcium supplement the last week before the birth. The usual calcium tablets available for humans at the pharmacy are excellent (and cheaper than the special ones for cats). You administer one to two tablets a day from the eighth week - and preferably also one tablet a day during the first through the third week of the suckling period, unless the cat has very strong opinions about having to take pills ...

Danger Signals (Contact your Vet):

- negative changes in temperament which cannot be explained by altered ranking in the flock or other immediately intelligible connections
- blood in urine and/or feces

NB! The cat is the domestic animal which has been domesticated for the shortest time. That is why it has most of its original instincts and behavioral patterns intact and is by far the best at bearing of our domestic animals. The vast majority of cat pregnancies and births happen with no problems at all. The above mentioned danger signals therefore should not be seen as a reason to panic!

The Birth

Pregnant Cat Taking Care of Adult Daughter a Few Hours Before Birth

Signs that it's getting closer:

- the cat seems restless, but at the same time very tired

- she follows you around like a little dog

- rummages vigorously around in the sheets of the birthing box

- is perhaps carrying little things the size of a kitten around

- you may observe wave motions on the cat's abdomen as a sign that the kittens are "warming up" (this may already be seen a week before)

- premonitory pains: it is not always you can see the labor itself, but it may be observed as kicking of the hind legs

Case Sheet

It is a good idea to write a case sheet of the birth for a number of reasons. First of all, if veterinarian help should be necessary during the birth, the vet will be pleased to be able to read about the earlier progress.

Note:

- when you observe labor and how long it lasts.

- the time of each birth and your estimate of the sex of the kitten

- the weight of the kitten

- if the placenta was delivered and, if this happens at a later time, when

- how lively the kitten seems

What to have ready by the birthing box:

- paper and pen for the case sheet

- a clock

- a waste bag

- kitchen roll

- Turkish towels

- cream with grape sugar and a disposable syringe with which you can give the cat a fortifying "pick-me-up" directly in her mouth, if she seems exhausted during the process

- scales, preferably with one-gram-intervals

- the phone and the phone numbers of your vet/the emergency veterinarian service and friends with experience in this field, if you know any

The Normal Cat Birth

At a given time the cat will enter the birthing box, maybe rummages vigorously in the sheets and then lies down on her side.
Shortly after the antepartum contractions will start, and after fifteen to twenty minutes the first kitten will arrive, usually followed by the placenta.
The cat will now start eating the placenta and then move on to licking the kitten.

It is supposed that the licking stimulates the kitten to start breathing on its own.
Soon the kitten will head directly for the nearest nipple with little seal-like movements.
When all kittens have been born, the cat will position herself in a relaxed crescent shape, proudly purring or exhaustedly sleeping with her sucking kittens, and the owner now has the time to phone everyone who would like a bulletin.

Situations you should deal with yourself:

- The kitten is stuck in the birth opening for more than a minute's time: if it is turning the "authorized" way, put two fingers in behind its shoulders and pull synchronously with the labor. If it is a breech birth, pull at the tail.

- if it takes the kitten long to start breathing on its own: rub the kitten vigorously (they are more solid than they look) with one of the above mentioned Turkish towels. If this isn't enough, try to suck mucus out of its airways by closing your mouth round its nose and mouth and sucking all you can.

Situations when you should call a vet:

- if there has been unmistakable labor for more than an hour with no result

- if the cat seems faint and gasping and it doesn't help to administer the above mentioned "cream pick-me-up"

Again: the vast majority of cat births happen with no problems whatsoever, so it is not likely you'll ever experience these danger signals. But you should know them anyway.