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How can you tell if your cat is pregnant?

CatChannel veterinary expert, Arnold Plotnick, DVM, explains the heat and gestation cycles of female cats.

Q: How can you tell if your cat is pregnant? How long are cats pregnant for? How can you tell if your cat is in heat?

A: Heat (the period of time during which a female cat will allow a male cat to mate with her) produces characteristic behaviors in some cats. Females in heat will become very vocal and will yowl or “trill” around the house. They will assume a body posture called “lordosis,” with their rear end up in the air, their tail off to one side, and their little back feet treading into the carpet. This position can be induced by simply touching the cat’s rear quarters. Cats become more affectionate when they are in heat.

If the female cat is successfully bred at this time, kittens will be born approximately 63 days later. In the early stages of the pregnancy, you won’t be able to tell if the cat is pregnant. As the weeks progress, however, the cat will develop an enlarged, rounded belly, and her nipples will begin to swell and produce milk.

Veterinarians often can detect swellings in the uterus (fetuses) between day 20 and 30 of gestation. After that, the abdomen becomes too distended to clearly feel distinct swellings. Perhaps after day 50, individual fetuses again can be felt, this time because they’re now quite large. Pregnancy diagnosis by palpation (feel) is an art, and it depends on the skill of the veterinarian, the size of the litter, the body condition of the cat, the temperament of the cat, and other factors. X-rays can help in the diagnosis. Fetal skeletons can be seen on X-rays by day 42 of gestation. Ultrasound is a more sensitive test. By day 16 to 20, fetal vesicles can be seen, and by day 25, fetal heartbeats can be detected.

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How can you tell if your cat is pregnant?

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Reader Comments
I have been feeding a feral female cat for several months now. She has ventured into the kitchen, being sure door is wide open, with extreme caution to eat but will not let any one near to her. I am sure she is pregnant. How can I help her since she will not stay inside nor let us touch her.?
Carole, Tarzana,, CA
Posted: 3/27/2011 2:11:08 PM
Hello. I have been letting a stray live in my garage for 3 months, I don't know if she has been spayed, but she's gotten a pretty big belly very quickly. I never noticed any heat behaviors, in fact, she has always chased males off. Are there any other reasons a cat's belly would do this? I do not feel any "golfballs" and she isn't lying on her side or pinking.

Thanks a bunch.
kelly, las cruces, NM
Posted: 1/17/2011 9:10:17 PM
my cat,nightshade was outside when she was in heat,i haven't seen any toms around and it's stiil alittle early,but i have a feeling that she maybe pregnant,how can i tell so soon???
lori, MINOT, ND
Posted: 6/23/2010 7:56:05 AM
she will gain 2-3 pounds her belly will poke out the side her nipples will enlarge and she will start to lay on her side
Selena, New York, NY
Posted: 7/6/2009 11:19:28 AM
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