Will my cat's behavior change during pregnancy? During pregnancy, the cat's behavior alters very little, although some cats become more loving, and a few become aggressive. During the final week, the queen may search for a suitable kittening bed or nest.
A female cat that is expecting kittens can suddenly become very affectionate and in need of company or, on the contrary, become moody and seek solitude – this emotional rollercoaster is perfectly normal so don't be alarmed! After the 3-week mark, you may notice that your cat's teats have become larger and darker.
Since the temperature of your body may be slightly higher during pregnancy, your cat may like to snuggle up with you more when you're expecting. Your cat may rub against you, sit on your pregnant belly, or even lie down beside you and put their paw on your belly.
Handling and cuddling
From early on in her pregnancy a soon-to-be-mum cat will become more maternal and affectionate due to her hormones; she'll show more love and look to you for comfort.
Week 5: The kittens now take up a lot of space and the mother's belly starts to look swollen. Week 6: This is a period of rapid growth when the kittens are fully formed and continue to grow and mature. Week 7: Entering the final third of pregnancy, the growing kittens drain a lot of energy from the mother.
If you do have to pick your cat, Purina, a pet product company, says to "scoop" her up from the bottom to avoid touching her sensitive belly which might cause her discomfort or possibly hurt the kittens. Avoid juggling your cat in any way, especially toward the end of the pregnancy.
When a cat acts angry toward a pregnant owner, such as by hissing or scratching, understand that this aggressive behavior is a defense mechanism that is hardwired into her DNA, and by no means indicates that your child and your cat cannot go on to have a loving relationship.
The cat gestation period (cat pregnancy length) is about 63-65 days on average, or about two months.
Fearfulness - Fearful cats may become clingy out of a need for security. Cats who have had traumatic experiences or are naturally shy and fearful may seek out close contact with their owner as a way to feel safe and secure.
By the 7th week, it will be very apparent that your cat is pregnant. She will have a large, rounded belly and may begin the process of nesting.
Pregnancy hormones and the weight gain from pregnancy both tend to upset the mother to be. Your cat is not able to move around as easily as she used to. She is feeling more vulnerable because of this. She is getting ready for her kittens.
Unfortunately, other cats react negatively to their pregnant owner's changes by acting out aggressively or withdrawing from the family. It's common for cats to act jealous or territorial when they feel they're getting less attention than usual, so it is important to keep giving your cat attention.
Causes of fear aggression include the cat's living situation and people's interactions with them, lack of socialisation, genetic predisposition, and a cat's general personality. Inappropriate human-cat interactions, such as a history of punishment, can lead to the development of fear aggression.
If your cat isn't getting enough exercise or isn't being given enough attention, he may become stressed and take it out on those around him. Cats also don't like change, so anything from moving to a new house to rearranging the furniture can trigger your cat's aggressive behavior.
For reasons that remain unknown, some cats may suddenly become aggressive when being petted. Possible explanations include overstimulation and an attempt by the cat to control when the petting ends. Handling, bathing, grooming, and nail trimming can also cause this type of aggression.
Cats have an average of four to eight kittens per litter, although it's normal to encounter larger and smaller litters. For example, first-time cat moms often have just two or three kittens.
Between one and nine kittens will be born in a litter – most commonly four to six. First-time queens usually have a small litter size.
It usually takes 4-16 hours for all kittens to be born, but it can take longer. WARNING: contact your vet if your cat has been straining for 20-30 minutes without producing a kitten, is crying out in pain, or you are concerned at any point.
As your cat's pregnancy hormones come into effect, she is likely to be more loving and look for more cuddles. Love and affection is a big part of caring for a pregnant cat, and it's important to remember that as her body changes, you will have to be careful how you handle her.
She's looking after you and getting you ready for birth. Female cats do this with each other when pregnant. They are very nurturing. My pregnant cats needed me to do this for them too. Lots of reassurance.
Pregnant cats may not allow you to touch their belly because they're being protective of the fetuses. However, if your cat is not pregnant, not allowing you to touch their belly may indicate pain.
When a cat gives birth to Kittens in your home: Giving birth to kittens by a cat is considered to be a good Omen for the head of the house owning the cat as it is believed that evil spirits will never enter such house. It is also believed that there will be prosperity in the family within three months.
Beyond some minor vet care and the nutritional changes, your pregnant cat should not have any special needs during most of her pregnancy. However, as she gets closer to queening (giving birth) she will start looking for a safe, quiet place to begin nesting. 2 This usually begins a day or two before birth.
Your cat could be meowing excessively because they are hungry, afraid, sick, or when they need your attention and love. There are different meow sounds that cats make at certain times. If your cat is meowing non-stop, it can be very challenging for you to figure out the issue.