Cat Pregnancy. How to tell if your cat is pregnant - what signs to look for; and helpful advice on caring for your pregnant cat.

Female cats can have many heat periods in each breeding season. Each heat period lasts between five to 14 days.

If she is mated, the cat will usually go out of heat within 24 hours.

When in heat, the cat may display several signs. These may vary between breeds and even between individual cats.

Signs include the famous calling (loud meowing), increased appetite and restlessness. Many cats begin to roll on the floor and demand to be petted.

If the cat is not mated and does not become pregnant, she can go into heat repeatedly every two to three weeks.

This means that if your cat goes into heat - you can't simply keep her locked up at home, waiting for it to go away. Unless you spay the cat, she will keep going into heat practically every month.

The Pregnancy

Feline pregnancy, or gestation, usually lasts 63-65 days. The length of the pregnancy, from ovulation to birth can vary between different breeds - anything between 58-70 days is considered within normal range.

You should be able tell if your cat is pregnant by the second or third week of the pregnancy, as the nipples of the pregnant female become enlarged and change colour to deep pink.

Later on, the growing abdomen will become more visible and leave little room for doubt.

Take the cat to see the vet for a prenatal check-up. Your vet will be able to confirm the pregnancy using an ultrasound or other tests.

Occasionally, a cat may exhibit a condition called pseudo-pregnancy or false pregnancy, where elevated levels of hormones cause symptoms that look much like a pregnancy.This condition can last for several weeks and then gradually fade away.

A young and healthy pregnant cat usually needs little special care other than extra attention to her nutrition.

She may experience nausea and morning sickness for a few days during mid-pregnancy, due to hormonal changes.

She may also show a decrease in appetite and may even go off her food entirely a few days before the birth.

If she stops eating for more than a couple of days, or if you notice a decrease in appetite for more than three to four days, consult your vet.

You should never medicate a cat unless your vet instructs to do so. This is especially important during pregnancy, where relatively safe and common drugs can be harmful.