Early Signs That My Cat Is Pregnant

Cats can get pregnant several times a year.cat image by matko from Fotolia.com

Your outdoor cat has quite the social life. If she is at least six months of age and not spayed, there is a good chance she may become pregnant. On average, a female kitten experiences her first heat cycle around six months old (sometimes even younger). That cycles lasts for about a week, if the cat does not mate. If kitty becomes highly affectionate, mews while gazing out the window and rolls around on the floor a lot, it is in heat. Letting your furry pal out may lead to pregnancy.

Early Signs

Cats are somewhat like humans in that it is difficult to tell they are pregnant, early on. It takes about two week of gestation before kittens can be picked up on an ultrasound. That is nearly one-fourth of the entire nine-week pregnancy period, from conception to birth. The only clue you may have is the knowledge that your cat was outside while in heat.

As the cat's pregnancy progresses, its nipples begin swelling and look pinker. This is one of the earliest visible signs of pregnancy in felines.

Just like a woman eating for two, a cat whose hunger takes a sudden upward shift may be pregnant. Cats generally have more than one kitten in a litter, necessitating greater food consumption.

Morning sickness is another sign that your cat may be pregnant. Some cats have nausea and vomit in the early stages of pregnancy, sometimes at a similar time each day. Call your vet if the situation continues for more than a few days, or if it worsens. Make sure kitty gets plenty of water.

About half way through the pregnancy your cat's belly starts to expand to accommodate the growing kittens.

While these two behaviors are not early signs of pregnancy they are an additional sign that develops in the last half of pregnancy. If you have not already had your cat checked out by a vet, you should, so your feline gets the proper care and treatment during and after pregnancy.