The infection doesn’t make cats sick so you wouldn’t know if your pet was carrying it. Posteriorly presented, or tail-first, kittens occur quite frequently, so much so that this could almost be considered a normal presentation, often causing no delay in birth. It's important to understand the disease. Prevent your furbaby from having unwanted kittens by spaying her early in life. Sixty-three days is full-term so this otherwise tiny cat was getting pretty close to popping. Either that or she’s got lots of kittens in there! But with cats, you also have to be careful about dealing with cat poop. Full term pregnancy in cats is usually between 63 and 65 days during which time energy requirements increase to 1.5 times normal. Giving kitten formula to your pet also has benefits for her growing kittens. After the female cat becomes pregnant, her body slowly changes over the next 63 days as the fetuses grow. Don’t touch stray cats or kittens. If you prepare any meat for yourself or your cat, make sure it is thoroughly cooked. A cat can get it if it eats prey, raw, or undercooked meat with the parasite, or comes into contact with contaminated soil. Your baby's risk of becoming infected rises as your pregnancy progresses. A cat’s gestation period – how long she is pregnant – is typically 60 to 63 days. You do not need to stay away from cats while you're pregnant. Pet owners, particularly older adults, are more likely to have lower blood pressure and higher self-esteem, and are less likely to be depressed than people who don’t have companion animals. We recommend switching her back to kitten food, from the start of her pregnancy until after her kittens have been weaned. If you want to get your kitten spayed or neutered when it is two months old, then look for signs that it is that age. Although most cats deliver their litter without any assistance, problems can occasionally arise which require the attention of a Vet. (It is best to disinfect the pan with boiling water for five minutes before refilling it with litter.) She'll start making attempts to escape your home so she can find a mate outside. Because it's difficult for cats to transmit toxoplasmosis directly to their caregivers, a pregnant woman is generally unlikely to contract the disease from her pet cat. Only cats who ingest tissue cysts get infected. The first sign of pregnancy occurs at about three weeks into her pregnancy, when her nipples will get … You do not need to stay away from cats while you're pregnant. They mate from instinct. She will have no psychological effect if she is spayed while pregnant. You may be wondering why. If you have an indoor cat, the likelihood for infection is smaller. Spay FIRST! Your kitty only ovulates when she mates with a male tom cat, which can happen within minutes. Flatulence is defined as excess gas in a cat’s stomach or intestines. If your kitty goes into heat, you'll have to wait until her cycle is finished before having her spayed because of the increased risk of bleeding during surgery that can occur, according to Catster. In the cat pregnancy generally lasts for 63 to 65 days; however, it is not unusual for some cats to carry a normal litter for either a shorter or longer time (range 58 to 70 days). The cat gestation period can vary from as short as 61 days to as long as 72 days. The process of a mama cat getting ready to have kittens is called "queening." Some people cannot bear the thought of killing fetal kittens. The cat’s behaviour alters little until the final week of the pregnancy. Spaying a pregnant cat terminates the pregnancy, making this a controversial issue. About 85% of pregnant women in the United States are at risk for toxoplasmosis infection. Always seek veterinary advice if any of the following occur: Twenty minutes of intense labour without a kitten being delivered. A blood test can tell you whether you’ve been exposed to toxoplasmosis in the past. Bella: That cat does look like she’s pretty far along. The Anti-Inflammatory Diet: 5 Steps To A Healthier Pantry, The Anti-Inflammatory Diet: How To Make Your Fridge Healthier. Have someone else change your cat’s litter box while you’re pregnant. Kittens as young as four months old can get pregnant, and can have up to 3 or 4 litters a year. Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a parasite that can infect your cat. During her heat cycles, your kitty's periods of estrus last anywhere from three to 16 days at a time, with breaks in between of three to 14 days, according to the Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine. If you want to get your kitten spayed or neutered when it is two months old, then look for signs that it is that age. I have a 1year old male cat and now own an 18week old female kitten. Don’t handle or adopt stray cats, and don’t bring a new cat that might have been an outdoor cat into your house. She needs enough nutrition for her own body to grow, as well as feeding her kittens, so make sure she gets enough quality food. Not only will it mean that they get high quality milk, but it will also help them wean, as they will copy her and try some of the food she eats. Getting toxoplasmosis while pregnant could lead to a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage or can cause blindness, hearing loss, or mental retardation in your baby. However, it's best that you don't change cat litter. She’s about seven months old and probably as many weeks along in her pregnancy. As hard as it may be to believe, your 4-month-old little kitten can become pregnant if she has reached puberty by this age. Even if you’re not immune, you can reduce your risk, by following the tips below from the CDC: Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox, Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. The infection, toxoplasmosis, can be passed to humans via cat feces. The health and physical risks alone to the pregnant kitten are too scary to think of, not to mention the fact that a kitten does not have the proper mental capacity to raise kittens herself. However, there’s very little outward change in the first weeks of the pregnancy, and the first sign owners may see is a ‘pinking’ (becoming pinker in colour) of the nipples, which also become more visible. After the female cat becomes pregnant, her body slowly changes over the next 63 days as the fetuses grow. Cat feces can contain the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. Your cat (queen) often won’t show any physical symptoms of pregnancy until she is a few weeks into her term. The infection doesn’t make cats sick so you wouldn’t know if your pet was carrying it. If no one else is available, wear rubber gloves while changing the litter, and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water afterwards. They will NOT miss the kittens if they don't have them. Is there anything to worry about? The answer is – cats can get pregnant again immediately. The reason cats find themselves in the crosshairs when it comes to toxoplasmosis and pregnancy is cat litter. It just goes to show that cats can get pregnant even as young as four months of age, which is far too young. Women who have recently gotten a cat or have outdoor cats, eat undercooked meat, garden, or who have had a recent mononucleosis-type illness are at increased risk. I’ve just learned that I’m pregnant. In general, a kitten that is two months old should weigh approximately two pounds, as long as it has had proper nutrition and care. Cats do not get pregnant because they want to have a family. Your kitty will usually only go into heat during the spring and summer months, although warm, tropical climates can trigger estrus in your kitty all year long, according to the VCA Animal Hospitals website. Do not get a new cat while you are pregnant. The parasite that causes the infection is carried by many cats and passed in their stool. This means that your little 4-month-old kitten could give birth to kittens at only 6 months of age. Diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration, and although it’s rare, salmonellosis can cause a blood infection (bacteremia) or meningitis. If she is allowed to mate with an available, mature male cat while in estrus, she has the ability to become pregnant, regardless of how young she is. Pregnant women may assume they need to give their cats away because toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects in children. Others raise concern allowing the pregnant cat to have kittens contributes to the pet overpopulation problem. Avoid stray cats, especially kittens. The first pregnancy is always a bit risky, moreso if the cat is still growing herself. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. I suspect this is an old wives tale. Approximately one-third of women in the United States are immune; the likelihood of immunity is highest among women who have owned cats for a long time. Should Pregnant Cats Be Spayed? Your kitty will usually only go into heat during the spring and summer months, although warm, tropical climates can trigger estrus in your kitty all year long, according to the VCA Animal Hospitals website. This will reduce the risk. It’s safest to offer your cat commercial cat food (not raw) for the duration of your pregnancy. When you get them spayed. Labor takes place in 3 stages: 1) nesting behavior and comfort seeking are seen, and the cat may stop eating within 24 hours of birth; 2) active stage of labor where contractions may be seen, and kittens are produced. Late pregnancy and premonitory signs of parturition. Can Kittens That Are 4 Months Old Get Pregnant? Two pounds is the weight that is required for your kitten to get desexing surgery. Several factors keep the chance of such transmission low. No. Cats can get it from raw or undercooked meat. You can get it into your body by touching infected poop and then touching your mouth. While this danger is real, it is remote. Kittens as young as 8 weeks old can safely be spayed by a veterinarian, as long as they weigh around 2 pounds, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Like dogs, you have to watch out for bites, scratches, and ticks. She's indoors, so the risk is much lower and my husband does the litter box. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), humans are more likely to contract toxoplasmosis from eating undercooked meat or from gardening than they are from contact with a cat. Cats can give birth successfully at 8 months old. Yes, and this is why people are frightened that petting their cats while pregnant might endanger a gestating fetus. Infection can follow handling of cat litter because it can be found in the stool of cats, so pregnant women are advised not to handle cat litter. About 85% of pregnant women in the United States are at risk for toxoplasmosis infection. If possible, have the litter changed daily. However, it's best that you don't change cat litter. My husband says that we should get rid of our two cats because they could endanger my pregnancy. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. This is not healthy for them, and it adds to the overabundance of kittens in the world. On Friday I saw a gorgeous grey kitten named Goldie (go figure). Her Heat Cycles Stop. No. : How Early Can My Cat or Dog Get Pregnant, Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine: Feline Estrous Cycle, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Early Spay/Neuter, The Cat: Clinical Medicine and Management; Susan Little. The recommendation regarding cats during pregnancy is due to toxoplasmosis, a parasite that can cause serious infections in humans and deformities in the developing fetus. In general, a kitten that is two months old should weigh approximately two pounds, as long as it has had proper nutrition and care. This way you won't have to worry about a surprise litter of kittens from your own little kitten. When a pregnant cat is allowed to have her kittens, even if good homes are found for them, you can bet that there are that many bright eyed little fluff balls in the local kill shelters that will have to killed for lack of homes. If you’ve been infected in the past, you’re probably immune and cannot pass the infection on to your baby. If thye are inside cats, get them spayed now - do not wait till they are older. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. The act of mating causes cats to ovulate, so although not common, it is possible for a single litter to contain kittens from different fathers. Wear gloves when gardening, and wash your hands carefully after contact with soil or sand where cat waste may have been deposited. Based in Las Vegas, Susan Paretts has been writing since 1998. (You can also pick up the parasite from unwashed fruits and vegetables.) Getting toxoplasmosis while pregnant could lead to a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage or can cause blindness, hearing loss, or mental retardation in your baby. To prevent your little one from having to go through estrus at all or have the possibility of becoming pregnant, have her spayed prior to 3 months of age. The only way a kitten can become pregnant is if she has gone into estrus, commonly referred to as heat. I have a Siamese and she's no issue. She is capable of becoming pregnant during her first period of estrus. Pregnant women may assume they need to give their cats away because toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects in … Flatulence is more common in dogs than in cats, but cats can develop gas when food ferments in the digestive tract, when they swallow air after eating too fast or too much, or if there’s a disorder of the stomach, small intestine or colon.. A little gas is a natural part of the digestive process and usually passes quickly. Many kittens born will wind up as Free Kittens. Paretts holds a Master of Professional Writing from the University of Southern California. 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