Having Kittens – Is Your Cat Pregnant?

Cat breeders can easily tell if their cat is already pregnant but for those who are not breeding their cats, how could you really tell if your cat is having kittens soon? There are lots of ways on how to tell if your cat is pregnant and it is important to know these things to be able to prepare your self, your home, and your cat for the baby kittens.

One of the most common symptoms and signs that a cat is pregnant is the way her nipples appear. You can tell if a cat is pregnant just by looking at her nipples. If they are brighter and bigger than usual, chances are, your cat will be having kittens soon. Though there are some cases where the cat’s nipples didn’t turn into a brighter shade of pink, these are only rare cases. Some cats develop this sign at around 3 weeks of pregnancy but the time really varies from one cat to another. Some cats may develop pink and bigger nipples at around 4 weeks or even later.

Just like human beings, cats could also gain some weight during pregnancy. But pregnant cats will not get fat all over. They will only develop bulges around the tummy area and not in the other parts of the body. You can touch your cat’s tummy to see if she has some lumps and to feel some swelling around the area. Just be careful in doing this and make sure that you will do this very gently and without pressure to avoid hurting your cat’s tummy. You could also notice an increase in your cat’s appetite especially at the time when it is almost time to give birth.

You should also watch and observe your cat’s behavior. Pregnant cats tend to be lazy but most of them are becoming more loving, warm, and affectionate. But your cat could also be very protective and this is just normal for any pregnant cat. Observe her behavior first and be really gentle when picking her up. A pregnant cat could have the tendency to be violent by scratching people or other animals who will try to come close to her during this period.

When your cat feels that she will give birth to her kittens soon, she will start preparing the area where she will give birth. This is also known as nesting. You will notice that she will seem to arrange the blankets or towels that you have put for her and the kittens. This is her way of preparing for the arrival of her kittens.

You can tell if your cat is ready to give birth if you notice that she is becoming restless and makes sounds as if she is calling to you. You will also notice that she will just prefer to sit or lie down quietly on her blanket. There will be some milk discharge from her nipples and she will start licking her vaginal area. Cat pregnancy could last for up to 9 weeks so make sure that you will make her comfortable during that period until the time she gives birth to her kittens.