What One Can Expect When The Cat Is Pregnant With Kittens

Felines term of pregnancy is between 60 to 64 days from conception to birth of newborn
kittens.

Initially, you may not even notice that your precious cat is pregnant .  It takes time to realize when a cat is going to have babies, just as in other animals, signs of being pregnant
take time to become apparent.

Around one month  through the term  it becomes most apparent that a cat is going to have kittens.

 After about a
month of being pregnant, the felines stomach grows and quite often this looks like the cat is gaining weight, possibly
from eating too much food or too many treats.

Once the belly swells, it won't be long before nipples begin to protrude and it will be very obvious then that the cat is pregnant.

Numerous questions arise regarding what follows from this point with pregnant felines and
exactly  the things required of caretakers for preparation of kittens to
be born and keeping the mother's health good.

 About two weeks before birthing, sometimes the unborn kittens move around in such a way that one can see
their outline and gently stroking the mother's belly it often is possible to feel them too.

 When all this happens, it's time to prepare a place for giving birth. Cats prefer a quiet area away from everything and which is dark.  Closets can be ideal as they are dark and the door can be open enough to allow the momma cat to enter and exit at will.

Although a location has been
set up for the pregnant cat, it doesn't mean the cat will use it. Cats have their own way of thinking.   If the
mother chooses some other place, let her be where she's comfortable and do what you can to make it even
better, keeping safety and security in mind.   An expectant mother cat will look for the perfect birthing spot within days of giving birth and
she may stark looking around up to a week or even two weeks in advance.  It should be noted that although a place may be readied by the cat caretaker or the cat
herself, this doesn't mean the place will be used, expect the unexpected because she may suddenly give birth anywhere else, whether it's the living
room, garage, bathroom or under a bed but just let her be. In case the kittens are born in a less than ideal location, not to worry, the mother cat will generally pick them up and
move them to the place she had in mind for them to be and one should not get in the way of letting her do so.

 Approximately 24 hours or
less prior to birth, one may observe excessive licking going on as the mother will begin to lick herself incessantly near to the genitalia. 
 Thirty minutes or more before the actual birth, the water will break which looks like some kind of thick
fluid being sprayed from the mother cat.

Another popular question about pregnant cats is the question of how many kittens to expect . 
Most often, there are between one and four kittens born, however, there can be more. Getting an exam from your veterinarian may give a more accurate
answer.

Once the babies are born, they will be blind and deaf. Within a couple of weeks, the eyes will open and the kittens will begin to hear. All kittens
are born with blue eyes and within a short time the eye color often changes to the familiar green we see in cats

 It's a delight to touch a newborn kitten, however,
the momma cat may not want her babies to be bothered in any way. If she's OK with the babies getting stroked gently then it's OK to do so but if the
momma shows signs of becoming distressed over it then please DO leave those babies alone!

Newborn kittens will grow quickly but it will be two to three weeks to see them start moving around. Thereafter, they will be hard to keep up
with as they will be scampering around everywhere and eight to ten weeks they can be given away to loving homes. 

So now you know what to expect when your cat is expecting.  Always keep in mind to obtain necessary vaccinations to keep cats healthy.

Sometimes baby kittens have ear mites. Always observe their ears
and provide medication to eliminate the problem Be natural with Dr Dogs Ear Oil, fast, safe and effective for cats and kittens of all ages. Cat ear mites are common and require treating to get rid of them.