When can a cat get pregnant?

Seeing kittens being born is usually a very touching experience, but due to the super-population of felines that there is, and considering that it is very difficult to find a good home for all of them, it is important to know when can a cat get pregnant to take action in the event that we do not want to raise it.

And it is that, contrary to what is sometimes believed, an adolescent cat can already have her own offspring without problems, hence we have to take certain measures if we do not want her to have kittens.

At what age can a cat get pregnant?

The cat may have the first heat between the 4 and the 6 months, being more common about 5 or 5 and a half months. From that age, her sexual organs are fully mature, so she can become pregnant if she is in heat and meets a cat. In the event that she has no way of meeting a male, she will stay home meowing, especially at night, and will be much more affectionate than usual with her family.

How long is the pregnancy of a new cat?

The pregnancy of cats, whether they are first time or not, lasts between 62 and 67 days. It may be the case that there are certain breeds, such as Siamese cats, that remain in condition for up to 70 days, but they are exceptional cases. In any case, if in doubt, it is best to take them periodically to the vet for a physical examination and / or ultrasound in order to know more or less when the due date will be.

Related article:

The reproductive cycle of cats

What are the symptoms of a pregnant cat?

Feline pregnancy symptoms are the following:

• At 15-18 days the breasts increase in size and become red.
• During the first days especially, you may have nausea and / or vomiting.
• Your appetite, and consequently your weight, will increase.
• She can become more loving, more demanding of attention and pampering.

How many mounts does a cat need to get pregnant?

Female cats release an egg every time they mate with cats. This makes their breeding system very efficient, since although they can mate several times during one, two or three days, with a single mount the pregnancy is -almost- assured. For this reason, and knowing that the litters are from 1 to 12-13 kittens, you have to think very well if it is worth leaving it like that, having heat from time to time, or taking it to castrate.

Up to what age can a cat give birth?

Cats can start having puppies very soon, with about 4-5 months, and become mothers again up to the 13 years, maybe more. However, if she is 10 years old or older, it is advisable to neuter her due to the high risk of complications.

How to avoid unwanted pregnancies?

Take her to castrate

If you do not want to raise your cat, the most recommended is castrate her. You can do it soon, with 5 months. At this age you can already intervene without posing a risk to your health; This way you also avoid having to go through heat.

It is an operation that veterinarians perform daily, and it will not prevent you from leading a normal life. Under general anesthesia, the reproductive glands will be removed and with it also the possibility of having heat.

During the first two days after the intervention, you may see her a little sad or listless, but she will recover quickly 😉.

Advantages of castration

There are several:

• Zeal and the behaviors associated with it are eliminated.
• It tends to become more homemade.
• It will be calmer in general (although there may be exceptions).
• Their life expectancy may be slightly extended by reducing the risk of diseases related to heat and reproduction, such as uterine or ovarian cancer.
• More abandoned kittens are prevented.

Can a pregnant cat be sterilized?

Before answering that question, it is important first to know what it means to spay and what it means to neuter:

• Sterilize: It is a minimally invasive surgical intervention in which the female's tubes are ligation, and the seminiferous ducts are cut in the case of a male cat.
  Recovery is much faster, being able to lead a practically normal life from day one.
• Castrate: Castration consists of removing the ovaries (oophorectomy) or also the uterus (ovariohysterectomy) from the cat, and the testicles from the cat.
  Recovery takes a little longer, 3-7 days if all goes well.

So, can a pregnant cat be spayed? In principle yes, but If you want to castrate her, you should keep in mind that after four weeks of pregnancy it is not recommended since the development of the puppies is very advanced. In addition, as the gestation period progresses, the cat's blood vessels thicken a bit, with which the postoperative period can be complicated and / or lengthened more than usual.

I hope I have solved your doubts on this subject; otherwise, do not hesitate to contact us 🙂.