Symptoms of pregnant cat

Fertilisation in the queen takes place in the oviducts and 6-8 days post-mating the blastocysts migrate into the uterus. Implantation is thought to occur 11-14 days post-mating.

Pregnancy in cats is most commonly confirmed by abdominal palpation: a series of discrete, firm spherical uterine enlargements can be readily felt by days 17-25 of gestation. Developing kittens can be seen using ultrasonography as early as day 14-15 and foetal heartbeats can be seen from day 22. Foetal skeletons can be visualized on radiographs from day 43 of gestation onwards. No laboratory tests are currently used routinely for the diagnosis of pregnancy in cats, although there has been substancial work on the fecal excretion of progesterone.

The duration of cat pregnancy is 67 days on average (range 62-71). The average number of kittens born alive per litter is 4, with a range of 1-8 live kittens per litter. Approximately 5% of kittens are stillborn; the percentage is higher in Persian cats. On average, 87% of kittens born alive are reared successfully. There is no apparent breed difference in the duration of gestation.

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