Care & how-to
How Long Are Cats Pregnant?
Cats are pregnant for about nine weeks, typically 63 to 65 days, with a normal range of roughly 60 to 67 days. Because cats ovulate in response to mating and may mate over several days, the exact start date is often unclear. A vet can usually confirm pregnancy by about three to four weeks, and an X-ray late in pregnancy shows how many kittens to expect.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 14, 20264 min read2 sources
Cat gestation length, explained
VCA Animal Hospitals gives a gestation of 60 to 67 days, averaging 63 to 65, and the Merck Veterinary Manual puts it at 60 to 65 days, with delivery usually 64 to 66 days after breeding. The spread exists because cats are induced ovulators: the act of mating triggers ovulation, and a queen in heat often mates several times over two or three days, sometimes with more than one tom.
In practice, if you know roughly when your cat was in heat, counting nine weeks from then gives a fair estimate. If she was an outdoor cat or a recent stray, you may only know she is pregnant once her belly shows, in which case your vet's exam and an X-ray are the best way to estimate a due date.
Signs your cat is pregnant, week by week
Weeks 1 to 3: there is often little to see. Her heat behavior (loud calling, rolling, rubbing) stops. Around the third week her nipples may become pinker and more prominent. Some cats eat a little more or seem more affectionate, though behavior often changes very little.
Weeks 4 to 6: her belly begins to round out and her appetite grows. Weeks 7 to 9: the abdomen is clearly enlarged, you may see kittens moving when she rests, and she starts checking out quiet, enclosed spots for a nest. In the final day or so she may stop eating, become restless, and her temperature can drop below 100°F.
How a vet confirms pregnancy
A vet can often feel the developing kittens by gently palpating the abdomen around three to four weeks after mating, and an ultrasound can detect pregnancy from about day 21 to 30. Palpation should be left to your vet, as pressing on a pregnant cat's belly at home risks harming the kittens.
Kitten skeletons show on X-ray from about day 45, and an X-ray after day 55 is the most reliable way to count them. Knowing the number helps you tell when labor is finished, which matters because a retained kitten can make the mother seriously ill.
Caring for a pregnant cat
A pregnant cat's nutritional needs climb steadily, to roughly one and a half times her usual intake late in pregnancy and even more while nursing. Vets generally recommend switching her to a food labeled for growth (kitten food) or for gestation and lactation, served as more frequent meals. Ask your vet before giving any supplement or medicine, including flea products.
Keep her indoors so she does not give birth somewhere you cannot reach. In the last two weeks, set up a quiet nesting box lined with washable towels in a warm, low-traffic room, with food, water and a litter box nearby. Keep handling gentle and let her choose when to be touched.
Labor and delivery: what is normal
Early labor can last several hours: restlessness, repeated trips to the nest, scratching at bedding, panting and loss of appetite. In active labor you will see stronger contractions and straining, and each kitten usually arrives within 5 to 30 minutes of hard pushing, followed by its placenta. Gaps between kittens vary, and some cats rest for a while mid-delivery.
Most cats deliver without help, so watch quietly from a distance. Make a note of each kitten and each placenta, and keep your vet's number and the nearest emergency clinic's number on hand before the due date in case anything changes.
When to call your vet
Call your vet or an emergency vet if she strains hard for 20 minutes or more without producing a kitten, if a kitten is visibly stuck, if there is fresh bleeding from the vulva for more than 10 minutes, or if she seems weak, very lethargic or feverish. Merck also flags labor lasting over 24 hours, or long gaps of more than one to four hours between kittens while she is still straining.
After birth, watch for a foul-smelling discharge, fever, hot or hard mammary glands, kittens failing to gain weight, or tremors and restlessness in the mother, which can signal low blood calcium. Plan her spay with your vet for after the kittens are weaned to prevent another litter, since cats can become pregnant again soon after giving birth.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
How many kittens do cats usually have?
Litters commonly range from one to around six kittens, with first-time and very young mothers often having smaller litters. An X-ray in the last week or two of pregnancy is the only reliable way to know the number.
How soon can a cat get pregnant after having kittens?
Surprisingly soon. A cat can come back into heat within weeks of giving birth, sometimes while still nursing. Keep her indoors and away from intact males, and talk to your vet about spay timing.
Can you tell if a cat is pregnant at 2 weeks?
Usually not at home. Visible signs are subtle that early, and pinking of the nipples tends to appear around three weeks. A vet can confirm pregnancy by ultrasound from about three weeks on.
Can a pregnant cat be spayed?
Spaying during pregnancy is possible and ends the pregnancy. It is a decision to discuss with your vet, who can explain the surgical considerations at your cat's stage of pregnancy.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.