Spaying and neutering is when an animal is altered through a surgery in order to not have the ability to have babies. It is performed on dogs as well as cats. There are many reasons why people decide to have this done, but most often it’s because they don’t want their pet to ever have babies. A newborn cat can remain inside of its mother for up to about 17 weeks, which is what happens if gestation occurs for 50 days or more. The reason that it takes so long (17 weeks) is because cats tend to stay inside of their mothers during the early stages of being born; at times they also help feed their siblings while they are still in the womb.
Some cats may experience morning sickness prior to their pregnancy, but this will not last long. After 35 days, the cat will begin showing signs of her pregnancy with enlarged belly and nipples full of milk. After 40 days, things will start taking a turn for the better in the matter of a couple weeks or so, and the cat should give birth shortly after that.
Taking care of the pregnant phase of your cat can be challenging. There are a few tests that should be done early on in the pregnancy and some recommended visits to vet in the subsequent weeks (anywhere around three, including two days before and two days after) that must not be skipped. During this critical time, if you notice anything out of the ordinary, please consult your vet immediately. Not every kitty will go through its gestation period without any problems so it’s important to ensure them your constant presence to ensure they’re feeling well. And when they’re ready to give birth, it’s good to know that kittens have their own period underneath which ends when you take out their placentas from the womb (aka your cat has finished giving birth.)
When taking care of a cat, it is important to be mindful that some pregnancy complications can be serious and even fatal if the proper precautions aren’t taken. If birthing a new arrival at home is planned, making an appointment with your vet should be done around 8 weeks prior to the expected arrival time of said feline’s darling little bundles of joy. By observing these precautions, they will have all the information they may ever need to provide support and ensure your furry friend stays safe through all stages of their live cycle!
